Guest article by Ali Sanderson. Photo by Fauzan Saari on Unsplash. Why Faking the Lawn is Worth the Trouble New Orleans set a new record with a temperature of 96 degrees in May 2018 according to the National Weather Service. Tending to your lawn in hot temperatures that come with humid warm air is not anywhere close to pleasant. However, people do spend several hours a week keeping their lawns immaculately manicured so that their grass is always greener than the other side. The reward is people constantly pausing at front lawns just to take a look and some even bending to touch the grass. So it’s not hard to imagine why a “veteran natural lawn-maintainer” would look down on people who go the easy route with synthetic turf. Artificial grass is cheaper to maintain Artificial grass or synthetic grass is simply an outdoor carpet that looks…
The temperature has dropped (slightly) and the Holidays are upon us! We wanted to take this opportunity to offer some inspiration to get your home ready for the season! A simple, yet festive way to create a Holiday look is by adding ornaments or colorful bulbs to your outdoor planters. Simply drop a few into your existing potted plants and your home will suddenly look Holiday ready. Of course, at Exterior Designs, we love the idea of incorporating fresh greenery into your decor. Some of the best front door designs we have seen stick with a theme. Whether you go with a playful look and incorporate colorful bulbs with Christmas characters, or a more elegant theme using fresh greenery and white twinkle lights is totally up to you. Choose a theme special to you and your family and run with it!…
It’s Valentine’s Day and I can’t help but to think of the love I have for New Orleans – our city is so diverse in its culture, music, food and even landscapes! We have traditional New Orleans courtyards that Exterior Designs has become somewhat of a local legend for designing. We also get a lot of requests for outdoor patios, kitchens and comfortable areas to entertain guests when grilling, boiling crawfish or crabs, or hosting a fish fry. More recently, we have been asked to design meditation gardens. That’s right, a place where residents can get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and retreat to a relaxing, tranquil garden in their very own back yard. I think this trend is a result of our busy schedules – we’re running around town, working full-time, carting our children to after-school…
Often viewed as a symbol of resurrection and renewal, butterflies are a sure sign summer is on its way. In south Louisiana, we have approximately 55 species of indigenous butterflies, bumblebees, honeybees, ladybugs, as well as 12 species of hummingbirds. Pollinators are biotic agents, like bees, butterflies and certain birds, that move pollen from male to female parts of flowers. They are responsible for assisting over 80% of the world’s flowering plants and play a crucial role in the ecosystem. Without them, food would be very scarce! Why not build a garden to invite these important colorful pollinators to your yard? Size does not matter. Your garden can take up the entire yard or can be as small as a window box or few containers. The most important thing is to choose a mix of native annuals and perennials that…
The Historic New Orleans Collection (THNOC) is a museum, research center and publisher dedicated to preserving the history and culture of New Orleans and the Gulf South. The institution was founded in 1966 by General L. Kemper Williams and Leila Hardie Moore Williams—collectors of Louisiana materials who wished to share their holdings with the public. So of course Exterior Designs was honored to be selected as their resident landscaper to continually maintain their many courtyards. Each courtyard is designed to be welcoming so guests are encourage to discovered what’s to come. We incorporate seating areas so guests have a good vantage point to enjoy their surroundings. Commercial landscaping is one of the many services offered by Exterior Designs, Inc. A New Orleans landscape designer, Exterior Designs will maintain your commercial landscape ensuring your exterior looks great throughout the year. Contact us to…
Exterior Designs was awarded 2nd place for their booth display design at this year’s Spring Garden Show. The New Orleans landscaping company took a step in the right direction with colorful flowers arranged in a foot shaped planter. “I was inspired by the idea of tip toeing through a secret garden and finding wonderful surprises around every turn”, says owner Beverly Katz. The Spring Garden Show in the New Orleans Botanical Garden took place on April 5-6, 2014. The annual event invites visitors to explore horticultural exhibits and enjoy educational lectures and family-friendly activities. The festival includes plant and garden product sales, a Plant Health Clinic, the Children’s Discovery Zone, Art Market and live music on the Haspel Outdoor Stage. To learn more about the show and upcoming dates, visit: http://www.neworleanscitypark.com/events/spring-garden-show Exterior Designs, Inc. is a full-service design and build landscaping company offering construction, installation…