Landscape Architecture Ideas To Take Your Yard Through The Holidays
The holiday season is a time of joy, celebration, and another chance to incorporate seasonal color into your yard. Clients of Lanson B. Jones & Co benefit from the expertise of the team in seamlessly combining garden renovations with a festive touch. Below, Lanson Jones shares some tips and ideas for anyone who wants to create a stunning holiday landscape.
Setting the backdrop for color
Part of making your yard a showcase for holiday flair is giving it the best backdrop possible. Specialty trimming with streamlined precision - whether that’s getting greenery squared up or rounded - makes a big difference in a yard’s impact. European-style trimming makes any color look even better. Don’t forget to fill in any hedges where they’ve been damaged from the last few years of freezes.
Additionally, the application of power washing, mulching, and other standard maintenance enhancements plays a crucial role in enhancing the overall visual appeal of the garden, during the holidays and beyond.
The Three Ps: Personality of Client, Architecture, and Site
When it comes to choosing color palettes, LBJ & Co. emphasizes the importance of considering the three Ps: the personality of the client, the personality of the architecture, and the personality of the site.
“Whether it's a vibrant mix for outgoing personalities or a coordinated scheme for a formal setting, the colors should harmonize with the environment, reflecting the unique character of both the client and the space,” he said.
Analyzing the site's characteristics, such as shade and sunlight, influences the selection of plants like Cyclamen for shaded areas. Plus, the architectural style of the house, whether formal or reflecting a specific theme like English or French, guides the landscape architecture choice. More varied colors may be suitable for areas with full sun exposure, aligning with both the site's conditions and the client's personality.
Contemporary vs. Traditional Color Schemes
When considering multi-color combinations in landscaping, LBJ & Co. finds that certain pairings work exceptionally well. LBJ appreciates the elegance of white and yellow, as well as the effect of white and light blue. Of course, white and red can be a harmonious combination during the holidays too.
In a recent project, Jones says they achieved striking results with an all-cyclamen approach, incorporating patterns into the seasonal color layout. Combining an expanse of red with a white rectangle, or vice-versa, creates a visually stunning effect.
“The idea is to approach seasonal color with a sense of architectural design, treating colors as elements that can be patterned similarly to how one might apply wallpaper or choose the color of a house's shutters,” Jones said. “This way, the color scheme becomes not just a visual addition but an architectural element that enhances the overall aesthetic.”
Inspiring Design Strategies and Plant Combinations
In crafting a vibrant holiday landscape, Jones draws inspiration from a diverse set of creative design strategies. One go-to for the firm is integrating white cyclamen with matching white lights to create a visually appealing and cohesive theme. Adding a bold splash of red, as discussed above, strategically accentuates the landscape, making it stand out amidst the serene whites.
One showstopping idea is to transform an outdoor Christmas tree into a "living color tree" by adorning it with white cyclamen as ornaments. Incorporating lights on pleached trees—which are trees trimmed to look like hedges on stilts—will add a touch of elegance to the garden as well as offer pleasing flat surfaces to reflect the light.
Jones is also partial to the white, yellow, or blue pansy. While plants with fragrances aren’t especially hardy, phlox is a fragrant plant with colors from pale blue to bright red and white that can make a good addition. Poinsettias are a holiday favorite of many but are poisonous to pets, so Jones suggests proceeding with caution.
“They can be safely enjoyed in containers by the front door,” Jones said. “I plant them by the front in their containers to prevent stem breakage. By planting them in drainage gravel, you can effortlessly switch them in and out, ensuring a splash of color without the fuss."
Personal Touches and Family Traditions
The holidays are all about embracing traditions. For Jones, this could be setting a tablescape of personalized settings with greenery, florals, and meaningful mementos, or adorning a front door wreath with something personal to a client.
“My mother created a wreath for us one year with mini-nutcrackers and I always loved it,” Jones said.
During holiday entertaining, clients use a lot of their outdoor spaces, like pickleball courts where the umbrellas can be another space to decorate with holiday greenery.
“I have clients who use their fire pits as stogie stations for the men who want to smoke cigars,” he added.
Classic Elegance is the Key
Overall, the firm's holiday landscaping style is all about timeless elegance. By enhancing the natural beauty of homes and gardens with well-chosen seasonal elements, you too can craft a sophisticated holiday ambiance.
When planning your own holiday landscaping, keep the above tips in mind to turn your yard into a special setting that not only reflects your unique style but also embraces the season. Of course, you can contact the team at Lanson B. Jones & Co., Inc. to customize your landscape architecture for the December holidays and well beyond.