Facial lift project

A few weeks ago I was asked to make some improvements for a client whose lobby and bar area badly needed a facelift. It was challenging because we had some monsoon weather for about two weeks and had to work between the raindrops.

For the bar area soil mix was put in around the palms after removing the stones. Boston fern and Cardwell lilies were then planted to soften the area.

The pond area I used Travertine tiles for the back wall and glass mosiacs for the pond. Bamboo ginger was added to the side planters.

Pond project

 I was asked to build this elegant pond for clients who wanted a home for their Victoria water lilies

 The site was breathtaking and HOT

 Work was interrupted several times by heavy showers

 The pond was finally completed and the Victoria water lilies were installed by the owner

I was busy a few weeks ago managing  this pond project on the south coast of the island. The owners wanted a home for their two Victoria water lilies. The pond was built on a concrete base that measured 9 ft x 9ft and the pond measured 8ft x8ft x 2ft deep. This is quite an easy project for a beginner and this is a great pond for small gardens. The materials used were 2x8 for the sides and 4x4 pressure treated pine lumber for the supports.  Foam was used to cushion the liner on the bottom  and roofing felt on the insides. So stop moaning about wanting a pond for your garden, just make it happen!

Landscaping adventures part 3

 left front entrance before

after

right front entrance before

after

pathway towards back before

after

pool deck before

 villa's right side  before

 after

Golden criniums, purple feather grass, heliconias  were used to create a dramatic display of colours.

I was asked to renovate this garden that had been neglected. Many of the plantings were old or not suited to the garden. Major surgery had to be done by way of removing vegetation that was not needed. Additional soil was brought in to renovate the existing beds. My client wanted a bit of drama and I gave her colourful foliage where they were best suited. Begonias were used for colour and fillers at the front entrance until the larger plants grew. Tropical gardens require lots of  maintenance in the rainy season since every thing grows twice as fast.  Many neighbours came over to have a peek at the garden and I was told by another landscaper months later that garden was the prettiest he had seen.

Landscaping adventures part 2

My clients who were owners of a historic manor had a rather bland look to the front the entrance to the house. I thought that this was not befitting for a house of this stature, so after convincing them that I can improve the entrance they agreed.

 Grass was removed and new plantings and river stones were installed keeping three of the original  shrubs the owners liked.

 The owners were quite pleased with the results and so was I.

My landscaping adventures part 1

 In March 2007 a dear friend and her husband wanted to do something to their backyard. They lived part of the year in Barbados and owned a town house with limited  garden space. The yard was nondescript, consisted of a large mahogany tree that was severely cut back and some golden palms and love lies bleeding (amaranth) or locally known as cat tails. The owners Helen and Chris hated this eyesore and were not sure if it could be removed because of our laws protecting local mahogany trees.

 My friend Helen wanted more space so that the patio could be extended. I was asked to get someone to come and do the job for them. Well I love an adventure so I volunteered to do the job (yes I was used to doing stuff around my garden so what the heck , this was just another garden).

 

 I had a few mishaps with the first carpenter who wanted to cut corners, so I got the rid of him and I called  in a  good carpenter who had worked for me before.  The grass was removed, the ground leveled  and the footings were dug, I used concrete (cinder) half blocks. Ground cover fabric was laid with a couple inches of gravel on top. The joists were laid on the concrete block footings, then the flooring was put down. Notice how George cleverly worked around the tree with the deck boards. I used pressure treated pine which can be used outdoors and  was treated  for termites, believe it or not pressure treated timber will outlast hardwoods.

I rented an orbital sander that nearly broke my back trying to get it out of the car. A friend at the rental place gave me some sound advice n how to sand a floor. I started on the diagonal and sanded the deck  with a coarse sand paper, then I sanded along the grain with a finer grit sand paper. It took almost a day sanding the deck boards.

After consulting with the clients on the deck colour I cleaned and stained the deck. I gave it several coats.

 I then had George my carpenter build this trellised arch and I stained it.

 

I then went to work on the garden with my garden helpers.

 We dug out the old plants and shrubs many of them unsuitable plantings for that garden and round paving stones leading to the deck were laid.

 I installed colourful foliage like the oxblood heliconia, purple leaf crinums, begonias, cuphea, Brazilian fire spike, crotons, desert roses and thunbergia errecta. The Air conditioning unit was to be hidden so I used the thunbergia errecta to do just that.

 

 I planted yellow mandevilla to run up this arch.

 The garden  five months later,  gardens in the tropics  grow very quickly and must be maintained on a regular basis.

Orchids were planted on the tree stump these were later removed when the tree stump was cut lower to make a table base.

My clients were very pleased with the results and so was I. Chris my client said that I was very brave to take on a project like this and Helen said that I should do this professionally. I laughed and told her that I would think about it.  Chris and Helen sold the property last year and have moved to Aruba. I wonder what it looks like now.