HOME & Garden
Page 10a | The ReCORD-ReVIeW
fern-tastic
aPRIl 20, 2012
Nothing’s better than your own backyard
Continued from page 7A
dormant in the winter, so you don’t have to cut them back or take them out. It’s natural for them to do that, and the old leaves compost and produce the next generation.� In addition to consulting landscape designers such as Gilliland and Beyers, there are a number of reference books and sources on using ferns. Gilliland suggested Christopher Lloyd’s “Garden Flowers: Perennials, Bulbs, Grasses, Ferns,� William Cullina’s “Native Ferns, Moss and Grasses,� A.M. Armitage’s “Native Plants for North American Gardens,� and “Designing Gardens with Flora of the American East,� by Carolyn Summers as good references. And, unbeknownst to many local residents, there’s a fern expert living right here in Westchester County. Dr. John Mickel, senior curator emeritus at the Institute of Systemic Botany, lives in Briarcliff Manor. Interpretation of ferns to the public has been a major part of his career. As founder and only secretary of the New York Fern Society, and founder and editor of the American Fern Society’s bulletin, Fiddlehead Forum, Dr. Mickel is a longtime public lecturer on fern cultivation who has shared his expertise with a number of local garden clubs over the years. He is also the author of “Ferns for American Gardens: The Definitive Guide for Selecting and Growing More Than 500 Kinds of Hardy Ferns.�
T
he comforts of modern living have moved outdoors. In the last several years, a sluggish economy and high gasoline prices have motivated people to take “staycations� and relax in their own backyards. “You just have to provide people with a reason to stay home,� said landscape designer Tom Dieck, of TRD Designs Ltd., in Katonah. His solution for beautiful serenity, destination-style fun and open-air luxury is achieved through thoughtful space planning, perimeter privacy, and interesting special features. “The outdoor living room is a central concept in most designs these days,� he said. It usually involves a protected space — with a roof or canopy — to make it compatible with various weather conditions. Furniture sets, weather-resistant cushions and outdoor rugs complete the look. Beyond the outdoor living room, visuals are important. “It’s important to create focal points to draw the eye out toward something interesting or beautiful, such as a water feature, a sculpture or a pleasing plant,� Dieck said. “But it’s equally important to keep the eye inside your own backyard. You don’t want to be looking at your
neighbors while enjoying your outdoor oasis.� Stone walls, vine covered fences and large perimeter hedges provide appropriate natural screening. “With comfort and the right atmosphere, you’ll never want to leave,� Dieck said. 1) Pondless waterfalls: Pondless waterfalls offer all the benefits of a waterfall stream without the pond. As a perfect focal point, a waterfall adds elements of movement and tranquil sound to a garden. A waterfall also attracts wildlife — birds, frogs and butterflies — that seek it as a habitat. Pondless waterfalls fit into small spaces and are safe, low maintenance and self-sustaining. 2) Fountainscapes: Fountainscapes can be made out of natural stone columns, overflowing urns, stacked vessels, birdbaths or anything else that combines sculptural form with flowing water. Easy to maintain, fountainscapes are based on recirculating systems that refill by rain. Movement prevents the risk of mosquito larvae that normally breed in stagnant water. 3) Outdoor lighting: Backyards do not go away at night. With proper lighting, an outdoor environment will be as interesting by night as by day. LED lights offer the truest, brightest, whitest light — like moonlight. They last three or four times longer than halogen bulbs, and they burn cooler. Dieck recommends a combination of lights for the best effects and mood. Strong bright
lights should be reserved for areas where safety or security is a concern; path lighting belongs near walkways, and directed lighting can focus on task areas (such as a grill); subtle accent lighting best illuminates special landscape elements. “If done properly, you should never see the source of the lighting — just the effects,â€? Dieck said. 4) Outdoor ďŹ replaces, pits and hearths: Like water, fire creates movement, sound and interaction. But more than water, fire also generates inviting warmth and a pleasing scent of burning wood. A permanent fire feature extends the use of an outdoor space by generating comfort during cool evenings. The ability to roast marshmallows or hot dogs over an open flame is an added bonus. Just make sure they’re permitted where you live. 5) Breakaway patios: A breakaway patio is a cozy, intimate space in which an individual or a couple can find privacy for reading, conversation or romance. Breakaway patios are most evocative if they are not obviously visible. The area can be made of any material, such as mosaic bluestone, a small wooden deck or even grass. It should have a loveseat and subtle lighting, as well as a beautiful feature, such as a small fountain or specimen plant. Often, a subtle stepping-stone path defines the way to the destination patio, but the walkway should appear more random than obvious. The patio should feel like a discovered Eden. — TRACI DUTTON LUDWIG
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