Real Estate Agents Recommend Landscape Enhancements

Improved landscaping can improve the sale price of your house.  A recent article on Yahoo suggests that $300-400 in landscaping can return up to $2000 on the sale price of a home.  Real estate agents recommend landscaping before listing the house on the market. 

Read the entire article.  Number 8 discusses landscaping.

Container Garden Plants for Tucson, Arizona

While on vacation in Tucson, Arizona I was asked to create a plant palette for a residential garden outside of town.  The location gets morning sun and parts of it get afternoon sun as well.  The pots serve as a foreground to an stunning view of Rincon Peak and Saguaro National Park.  The following plants were selected for their ability to adapt to local climate conditions, provide seasonal color with minimal maintenance, and attract wildlife:

Asclepias curassavica - Milkweed

Cuphea llavea - Bat-Faced Cuphea

Lavendula stoechas - Spanish Lavender

Hesperaloe parviflora - Red Yucca

Plumbago capensis - Cape Plumbago

Salvia greggii - Autumn Sage

Verbena bonariensis 

Further information about Tucson container gardens is available from the Pima County Master Gardeners program.

French Swimming Pool Design

This French swimming pool was inspired by an 18th century French stone water basin.  The classic limestone coping and decorative stone finials on the four corners add character to the pool.

Designed by Michel Biehn.
This pool was originally featured in an article in Architectural Digest.

Cool Swimming Pools From Around the World

Yahoo had an article featuring some of the best swimming pools (in their opinion) from around the world. 

Anantara Resort & Spa

 This resort is located in Thailand in the Golden Triangle.  Design by landscape architect Bill Bensley.

Stunning Italian-Inspired Backdrop for a Swimming Pool

 A Paladio-inspired garden wall serves as a dramatic backdrop for this residential swimming pool in East Hampton, New York.  The Paladian architecture of the house is echoed in the wall creating harmony between house and garden.  Desgin by architect Alexander Gorlin.

Mediterranean Inspiration

Developed by the Irvine Company, Pelican Hill resort is an artfully executed resort swimming pool along Orange County's Newport Coast.  Built by the Irvine Company.

A Tuscan Family Retreat

This rural farm house in Tuscany is a family retreat.  Views of the surrounding countryside were created by punching a window into an existing wall.  Designed by Boston architect Robert Brannen.

Morocco meets Key West

If it wasn't for the coconut palms, you would not believe that this delightful swimming pool was in south Florida.  The Morracan architecture and tile work look quite authentic.  Designed by architect Todd Black and landscape architect Craig Reynolds. 

Architecture and View United

This pool complements the contemporary architecture of the house and provides sublime views just a short distance away from Hong Kong's dense urban core.  Pool design by architect Jim Olson of Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen based in Seattle.

Cabo Style with a Swim Up Bar - Esperanza

This Baja California resort features great siteing and a relaxing swim-up bar.  Relaxing with views of the sea while enjoying a cool drink is one of the strongest features of this design.  Designed by architect Howard J. Backen and landscape architect George W. Girvin Associates.