Steve Snedeker’s Landscaping and Gardening Blog

What is the future, then, of brick pavers?  Have all creative avenues been blocked owing to their new popularity or are there people out there discovering new ways of experiencing the art of driveway and Piazza construction? The answer to that touches on our personal and community expectations regarding our outdoor environments.  I am more than pleased to say that the future is very bright indeed, as can be seen in this tiny sampling relating to the possibilities inherent in the paving art.

Brick pavers have evolved to such an extent that pictures such as the one above now represent a possibility that never existed before in a non-modular form.  The freeing up of ideas based on modularity and small sectioned pieces represents amazing possibilities for the enterprising designer.

Here are some other examples of what could happen and has: The first one below was designed on a computer using musical references in a mathematical formula….”resonances”, I believe the architect mentioned. It is from a Toronto, Canada plaza outside a facility that features music. I can only imagine the contractor scratching his head over the placement of the pavers, lol. Like many architects, they design, we install.  “Figure it out and make it work.” is a common enough statement.  Just the same, it is a fascinating bit of work, beyond doubt.

Here’s your standard average serenidpitous piece of driveway reckoning, a little on the whimsical side and surely not for everyone.  I just enjoy the fantastic sort of element of it all, myself and, yes, I would use it.

Look out!  This one is a mind blower, lol, all pavers.

Aside from the whimsical, however, are other sizes and style of pavers a bit more standard, yet still interesting, allowing many different possibilities as well. These are your larger compressed concrete pavers that are also seeing wide usage any more:

Here is a variety of more standard pavers from the “tumbled” editions below in the prior post. These have some definite benefits over the tumbled variety especially when sealed with a “wet” looking sealer. The glossy appearance gives them a glossy sheen which really brings out color.

They start out much like in the picture below. Once installed and “grouted” with dry sand swept between the cracks, we then wash them off and apply this sealer for the above look. In fact, the first picture is a similar brick color as the one below. We actually opted not to seal the one below for reasons of budget and the overall effect, inasmuch as it is not the main driveway. But for anyone who might be interested, we generally do begin where we can establish a straight line, then work out from there during construction.

Here are a few more examples of non-tumbled pavers and their finished look:

Here’s a before an after look at a set of pavers we finished with the same sealant material, giving a glossier look as opposed to where we began.

I just love this “Bishop’s Hat” pattern of bricks. This is call “Cream and Tan” which seems to typify it very well indeed:

Others, the first one sealed with a semi gloss treatment, then those after, without sealant at all:

Originally, brick pavers were all designed to adhere to a strict sort of glossy perfection, all snugged up and colorful and astoundingly exact. But newer technologies developed a system of “tumbling” brick pavers which allowed them to thrash around inside a rotating container filled with sand and a few other pavers and which took off all the sharp edges and yielded a very interesting look - more weathered, almost antiqued. What it allowed was an interesting sort of sense of history right away.

The muted tones and apparently irregular edges of the tumbled product became another approach altogether.

Here’s a standard “tumbled” paver look that goes all the way around front:

This next one is paired with the one following it. It’s a downright huge patio using rough, tumbled pavers with an interesting laying pattern. Click the pictures to enlarge, especially the second one:

Click to enlarge

Another “rough” style paver (tumbled), offers some “antiquing” to a newer project:

Same place from the other side of the house, leading to the rear:

Same place, just walking around the house more:

We’ve been here before in this blog, and recently, but I thought these still bore a look, considering the theme:

At any rate, one can see how these do indeed look far rougher and more sort of “historical”. The cracks are always sand filled and the surfaces are generally easily walkable. Yes, care has to be taken to select pavers which won’t cause accidents from such things as high heels or walking canes - the pavers can get pretty chipped and miss entire corners - but that’s easy to do. Next, I will contrast these tumbled pavers with the fully intact varieties.

Sitting outdoors on our patios can get quite addictive.  Sometimes those gorgeous Summer nights can make us want to linger into the cooler hours - even quite late - alone or with a loved one and just savor what the quiet side of Nature and modern life has to offer.  It can be equally nice, or even nicer, to spend a cool afternoon or evening outdoors, simply because it is just so darn fresh and because it offers a sanctuary from the madding crowds. Many times, unfortunately, it is just too cool to really enjoy, in spite of how alluring the prospect of an hour or two out of doors might seem.

Fire pits are the modern landscaping alternative to outdoor heaters.  Their gentle flames remind us of the stark importance that fire itself has played in our development as a species.  Fire is the one element of nature which serves the most constructive and destructive services of our lives at the most immediate level. Fire cooks, but it also warms.  Of all the 4 primary elements, fire is the one most often lacking in our lives. The addition of fire into a landscape is an amazing element. In the modern push towards more outdoor living and comfort in 4 season climates, the  elevation of the constructed fire pit to an aspired-to factor in our landscapes is an interesting turn.

Whether a fire pit is an introduced item of some artistic interest, such as the pre fab piece above, complete with some rustic seating around it, or whether - as in the picture below - it is a literal “pit”, mixed into the floor mix among this cement in a Reno patio, they provide that warmth that can extend a party or a simple outdoor sojourn for hours.

The fire pits shown here are all gas-fed with controls, of course, allowing a certain amount of flame to generate the desired heat.  Dials are hidden below the brass caps which control the volume of gas used to generate the level of heating desired. Typically red lava rocks which retain heat so well, are placed over the grids where the gas emits and, as the top picture shows, artificial wood pieces can even add a semblance of rustic charm and authenticity.

Nor is this to say that gas-powered fit pits are the be-all and end-all.  The picture below shows a simple construction where we excavated a hole, laid in a grill, built up the sides with mortar and local rock and allowed this family to burn wood when they chose.  It worked marvelously and is often the focal point for parties.

In the end, fire pits and constructions dedicated to providing heating outdoors of any kind are a terrific development in landscaping construction.  They allow us to spend yet more time outdoors, away from televisions and computers and give us that chance we so often need to commune with nature and with one another, late into otherwise cool nights. Naturally, the innate fascination we find regarding fire itself - the licking flames and fire behavior in general - are among the most fascinating scientific and spiritual subjects in our entire history.

If you enlarge this picture, you can see the gas line feeding this fire construction from the bottom.

Reno, Nevada has endured watering restrictions for some long years now. From my travels over the internet and over the literal geography of America and elsewhere, I see these same restrictions now applied to cities as diverse as Melbourne, Australia and, currently, Atlanta, Georgia. Obviously the reasons are an acute shortage enough of water to limit its usage in irrigating home landscapes.

Regarding lawn watering, most restrictions - world wide - have come to a point where watering is only allowed on 2 days a week. This is implemented in many different ways but the bottom line is that there are generally two 24 hour watering periods per week offered to those homes and businesses who are under the restrictions. In most areas, gardens devoted to food are exempt. The return on people eating their own food is found to far outweigh the restrictive policies of doing totally without water, nor do these gardens take up anywhere near the amounts of water used for lawns and landscapes. Omitting food gardens seems to me to be the height of wisdom.

Nor, for that matter, should those who are not under watering restrictions ignore the fact that proper watering technique is worthwhile. Far from it. Wasting water is a luxury of the past and we now realize it is a world-wide concern. Your water bill will tell you as much, if nothing else. By adhering to some simple principles, in any case, even those without restrictions from their particular city can gain immeasurably by following some standard industry standards.

What is required in all cases of watering lawns and, say shrubbery or trees, is a watering that penetrates the earth down to the lowest level of root extension beneath the soil. This is commonly referred to as “deep watering”. The lowest layers of roots are the ones which generally are the most important. Where roots have expanded, they consume the available minerals and organic products and move onwards, looking for more. Water is the essential ingredient in maintaining the growth of roots. Water allows those roots to transmit the beneficial products up into the plant itself in a very similar fashion to that of our human blood supply. By transmitting the needed phosphorous, nitrogen and potassium upwards, we find robust plants, strong in every way, including grasses. Minerals - which are as vital - get transmitted in much the same way as grains and then broken down further up the plant.

Thus, trees, shrubs, flowers and grass all share a similar need, down at their lowest rooting levels. What has been found is that the deeper waterings which can penetrate any number of feet below, serve this end perfectly. Indeed, watering below the strata of roots may even provide water for a longer period owing to the rising nature of evaporation in general. So, deeper watering can not only mean that fewer waterings can serve the same purpose, but actually may even be better in the last analysis. Much research has gone into this style of watering and many businesses have opted for fewer watering days - just more intensely - as a result. The science actually says this may be a superior form of watering as opposed to daily and shallower waterings.

While the jury may be out on whether these restrictions are actually superior modes of watering - and, yes, there is a school of thought that advocates it - the fact remains that it is not a disaster at all. Living with restrictions can be a simple process of understanding what occurs under the surface of our soils and living withing the parameters offered.

Here are pictures of a project before we began……or AS we began. Notice the orange paint which gives us an idea of where the next developments will ideally proceed to. We walk the site with the homeowner and use these marks as the ideational underpinnings of the deal. Here, the paint is shown indicating where the bed lines will be - at the forefront -

(click any pictures to enlarge)

…….And at the rear. In the picture below, we see the general outline of where we’ll be putting pavers. The goal is to increase the size of the walkway, for one thing. The 3 foot wide little approach to the stairs was not fun for bringing in furniture, lol, nor was it particularly attractive. We’ll see how successful we were when it gets all done. The other dire need was a for an updated irrigation system that actually worked. It would necessitate some drastic and total measures, just tailor-made for El Destructo and his Minions of Aesthetic Pain! (That’s us, by the way.)

These next pictures are my personal favorites! Imagine seeing the above pictures and then coming home that night to this!

“Steve- we changed our minds! Can you put it back like it was???”"

Or this??? Looking better already!!!

I was in Beirut once……………….ouch.

And, yet, we rallied! Yes, we needed to destroy it in order to save it, but we are - the very same week - showing signs of actually knowing what we re doing! This is not a small thing! To say this was a relief to the clients would be an incredible understatement. Fortunately, they had no choice but to believe what we told them. So we had that going for us.

So, after taking away those humongous piles of old sod, tree roots, defunct piping and the amazingly homely pile of junk which now constituted their front yard, we began actually accomplishing some order out of the Chaos.

First, we laid in the new pipes and redid the entire irrigation system. Burying that up meant we could pour our curb edging next, following lines we tried to remember! So we come up with something like this:

We begin laying pavers at the very remotest spot, back where it all “ends”, and work our way forward. Kenny is shown here addressing this issue on his knees and looking buried. But Kenny secretly enjoys it. Meanwhile, Cory goes for the cutting Kenny presents him with, having drawn lines in crayon and which he expects Cory to implement perfectly. Sadly, Kenny beat poor Cory to a pulp over his inability to get it right. But then Cory got revenge by over-feeding Kenny’s dog, but that’s another story.

Working his way out front, Kenny looks for shade! By the way, you can also see the flexible Funny Pipes for the relocated irrigation sticking up. Later, we will cap them with the heads and nozzles in the appropriate spots. Here’s the effervescent Cory at his station, worrying whether or not Kenny will kill him over this cutting business. Or did I say that already?

Hey, it’s taking shape! Having finished the project - as yet unmentioned - on the other side of the wide driveway…..shown here:

Which resulted in this:

They were somewhat happier now, on the Client end of things. So, back to Kenny seeking the always-elusive shade in Reno, Nevada. At least he is handsome, anyway. Things are definitely taking shape.

Ken buttoned up this bit of the paving, we adjusted and oriented the irrigation appropriately and pretty much wrapped this up in a day or two following the above picture. Laying the sod was always going to be quick - there are not a lot of easier chores in landscaping. We did add better soil and planted with some plants in the bed out front, giving us pretty much this finished product. What do you think? More curb appeal?

Here it is:

Later……..Kenny’s dog gained 15 pounds. Cory had to leave town.

I took some time off from this blog to concentrate on some other stuff. It’s funny, but I missed it here and kept devising posts in my mind. Among other themes I badly want to pursue are “The Future” of design and of landscape design in particular. Paving alone has gained so many avenues of expression and design interest, it just blows the mind.

But for now, why not visit the plants I often speak of but so seldom show? I have to also face the fact that I tend to take abundant pictures of homes and businesses I have just completed and then stay away, to my detriment. I like to believe it is an attribute of not only giving good advice on maintenance but also in the fact that I have so few call backs for flaws or dying plants. To those who wonder, I adore plants and planting them, opting for the best locations and juxtaposing them with other items of interest.

Here’s green smoke tree (Cotinus). I have always liked those fluffy blooms. They look so airy and insubstantial yet they last for weeks. These are a mid summer treat and usually a real surprise.

And here is a close look at the “Cotinus Purpurea”:

Below, this “Gaura” blooms for months all through the summer. It begins incredibly tiny yet continues to produce long stems with the tiniest white or pink flowers on the end, producing a splash of color and interest in it’s own lacy sort of way. A perennial the red varieties of Gaura are famously used in dried flower arrangements. The often 3 foot long stems are amazingly thin but durable and they can be encouraged to become a dazzling crimson color by hanging upside down and drying. We’re talking ridiculously crimson.

To the rear are another couple of trees I often use. On the right is a Smaragd Cedar, (Thuja Occidentalis) - always dense and always a deep green, a water-loving plant with a tendency to be choosy about its owner. To the left is a Deadora Cedar, one of my all time favorite trees which grow to fairly immense sizes and which we have sort of Banzai’d here to keep it more compact.

The Cedars all trimmed in the topiaries below are Smaragd Cedars as well. They have many great qualities, one of which is a rapid regenerative style which quickly compensates for pruning errors.

We’ll finish with this Laburnum, otherwise known as a Golden Chain Tree, shown blooming here in early Spring with a style that doubles yearly until it gets to a more permanent condition. This one has a partner at the rear of this picture, providing an entire wall full of color as it grows.

I happened down to the Portland Rose Garden in Washington Park a week or so ago while out with family. I am not generally one for “bloom pictures” - my stuff typically revolves around construction and design as a main emphasis. Still, plants make the environment, any way you look at it. I have many favorites - Euphorbia’s, succulents of all types, Rhodies, Azalea’s of all types, Cotinus (Smoke Trees) and the never-ending perennials all comprise a short list of fave plants. Rhododendrons may be my all time favorite blooms, just owing to their extreme size and profuseness when they arrive each Spring. But for sheer Summer beauty, Roses do indeed take the cake. I am no Niels. He knows far more about roses than I could pretend to know, yet, I do know many of them and have planted thousands, when told to. But, still, I know what I like:

The smells of the Garden are wonderful. This day, there was a Celtic songstress who played harp and serenaded with some amazingly beautiful music. It was a hugely calming and sensual sort of lyrical feast, perfect for the warm day with its still air. I am generally restless enough NOT to enjoy a rose garden and the idiot who supplied the camera forgot to bring new batteries, so that made me miss some really good pictures. Oh, wait! That’s me!

Nor am I a great photographer, I readily admit it. But I can sure point out why roses are so highly-regarded in any landscape, especially a landscape where one is prone to paying attention to them.

Here’s an overview of the place:

And still more, including two of Portland’s “Beautiful People” posed under an interesting arbor.

More roses and fun. It was an extremely cool day, all in all. Our sister was up from Reno and we toured a bit, including here. A very nice change of pace and a rose festival of our own.

I have no idea what species this rose is but I could have sworn it was a dogwood at first glance. I apologize for the blurred camera work bit it does seem to have single petals of an amazingly rich creamy white color. It made me hungry just looking at it.