“When Your Favorite Room in the House…Isn’t in the House at All,” San Antonio at Home, Spring 2008

If you still have folding chairs, a picnic table and a charcoal grill on your backyard patio, it’s time to update your notion of outdoor living. 

For today’s homeowners, outdoor space is an important amenity that extends entertainment possibilities or provides a relaxing retreat.  This lifestyle trend has spawned lavish outdoor rooms with built-in kitchens, fire pits, water features and furniture fashionable enough for upscale living rooms.  Lynn Eldred of Summer Classics says, “People want outdoor living spaces with the same comfort and quality as indoors.” Contact for complete article.

“Window Shopping: What’s new in today’s windows,” San Antonio at Home, Winter 2008

Windows have moved beyond the basic function of regulating light and air into an important design element of today’s homes.  Windows provide a visual connection between indoor living spaces and the outdoors, and whether you’re outfitting new construction or replacing existing windows, you’ll be inspired by the many options available. Contact for complete article.

“Sharing Home Sweet Home,” Country Lifestyle, May/June 2008

Lori Olfers stands in the great room of her Austin-area home, looking up to the massive rock arches that introduce visitors to its award-winning architecture.  She’s quick to say that the spirit of this home is “not about the house” itself.

That’s a defining statement repeated often during a tour of the home’s 7,500 square feet.  “I love the way it looks,” Lori goes on to explain, “but that is secondary.”  Even as she says that the great arches remind her of the river Walk in San Antonio, she explains that “the look isn’t nearly as important as how it feels.”  Her husband Ron agrees: “It’s very warm and comfortable. It’s a great house in a great location, and we knew people would enjoy coming here.” Contact for complete article.

“When Your Driveway’s a Runway…Sky’s the Limit,” Country Lifestyle, July/August 2007

The loud hum becomes a momentary roar, and Joann Anderson steps out her back door just in time to wave to her neighbor as his plane ascends into the cloudless sky.  This is a common occurrence since her backyard ends at the runway of Lakeway Airpark. Contact for complete article.

“Going Green,” Country Lifestyle, May/June 2008

Talk “green” to garden lovers and they first think of lush, bountiful plants enjoyed and shared with passersby.  Proud Homeowners might wonder what’s better than a manicured lawn shaded by leafy trees and surrounded by shrubs and flowers.  The answer: Knowing that your landscape investment actually provides multiple advantages for you and your community—some you might not even realize. Contact for complete article.

“Super Succulents,” Country Lifestyle, March/April 2008

Some might consider a succulent garden just a patch of broadleafed cacti growing in the hot sun.  But flora from nearly 30 different plant families, including lily, amaryllis and daisy, make up the world of succulents.

They bring interesting combinations of color, texture and form to the garden.  They are disease and deer resistant, drought tolerant, and not too picky about soil conditions.  Gardeners enjoy growing them for two main reasons: immense variety and ease of care. Contact for complete article.

Poinsettias brighten any Christmas decorating scheme. This cheerful and long-lasting seasonal plant can be used as a table centerpiece, mantle decoration, or window dressing. Multiple pots grouped on the floor or in a large wicker basket create an impressive entry display, and plants paired with candles provide additional drama. Outdoor displays welcome holiday guests and set the tone of your indoor décor.

Using special techniques, commercial nurseries force these tropical plants to produce brilliant color just in time for the holidays. Garden stores have plentiful supplies in red, pink, white, or candy stripe hues. If you're feeling benevolent, there is almost always a local nonprofit group selling poinsettias as a fundraiser, so you can purchase a plant and help their cause as well. Contact for complete article.

Add a touch of elegance to your landscape with a garden arbor. Even if you already have a lovely garden, an arbor or trellis will accent your yard and create eye-catching architectural interest while providing a great medium on which plants can grow.

Arbors have been used for centuries in gardens all over the world. They provide focal points for landscapes and make great entryways over garden paths. Although wood is the most common material used today, Old World arbors were usually constructed of native materials such as stone in the United Kingdom, plaster and adobe in Greece and Turkey, and iron in Spain and Portugal. Whether the style is simple or elaborate, rustic or antique, arbors make striking additions to outdoor living spaces. Contact for complete article.

Gardening experts tell us that composting is good for the environment and good for plants, but what comes to mind when you hear the word? If you think of compost as a smelly backyard pile of decaying waste, it's time to learn what it really is, why you should consider it, and how to go about making your own. Contact for complete article.

Gardens can transform our yards from plain to pretty. As lovely as green foliage and blooming flowers are, art objects can add an additional decorative dimension to your little piece of paradise.

Garden décor will spice up your view and create a scene that reflects your vision of beauty. Here are some simple ways to liven up green spaces.

Create a focal point
You can build a garden around large structures such as arbors, gazebos or fountains. These are generally permanent and provide a base - just as your home does - around which landscaping is installed. Contact for complete article.

If you received an amaryllis, it probably came as a pre-planted bulb and may still be in bloom. The name means "sparkling" which aptly describes its glorious blooms in colors ranging from pure white to salmon, pink, red and even candy-cane stiped. Contact for complete article.

If you fell overwhelmed by myriad possibilities, consider hiring a landscape architect, a professional who combines technical and artistic talents to design an environment suited to your needs. Landscape architects like Matt Stevens of Blue Heron Designs do much more than create flowerbeds: "We transform outdoor spaces into new living areas," he says. Contact for complete article.

From the Greek word xeros, meaning dry, xeriscaping is a means of gardening using plants with low water requirements as well as hardscape objects like rocks, decks and paths to replace water-devouring grass. But, if you're visualizing a dull landscape filled with prickly cacti, know that a xeriscaped yard can be just as beautiful as one that needs frequent watering. Contact for complete article.

Your body knows different. If you work carelessly or exhaust yourself in the process, gardening activities can take a toll on your body. Contact for complete article.

All these are joyous signs of the holiday season. They are also potential hazards to your beloved pets.

"The holiday tree with all its trimmings and gifts aglow with wrapping and bows make for a potential pet disaster, says Dr. Stefanie Schwarts, a veterinary behaviorist. Contact for complete article.

last updated on: July 18, 2008 by Brandi Crouch