Tag Archives: Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado

Life Outside: Luxury and Leisure in your Lansdcape

With each day that passes, more and more we are moving our leisure time outdoors. You may have been thinking about some things you can have done to your landscape in order to make your life outside more enjoyable, but what are some of the problem areas that you want to deal with?

Take a look at these questions from the ALCC, they may help you identify 2012 yard projects:

  • Are there ongoing problem areas like low and mushy areas that always give the dog muddy feet?
  • Are there pretty places where you would love to sit if only there was shade or some privacy from the neighbors?
  • Would the earth elements of fire and water add some drama to your outdoor scene?
  • Is the sprinkler system not much more than a hit-or-miss operation?
  • Is the overall ambiance a little drab and in need of colorful plant pizzazz?
  • Would an outdoor food prep area near the grill save lots of steps?

From the questions you’ve probably gathered that planning a yard project is partly pragmatic and partly ambiance. What good are all the pretty flowers in the world if they can’t solve the aggravation of the mud hole in the corner.  Then when you turn it around, simply having the mud hole fixed won’t add that beauty to your yard that bright pink petunias will. It’s all about balance.

Have you seen any problem areas in your yard lately?

 

Know the Plants that are Toxic to your Pets

Photo Credit: coosacreek.org

Are you sure the plants in your landscape and garden are safe for your little furry family members, meaning your beloved pets? Believe it or not, there are some plants that are safe for humans to eat but are toxic to pets. Cats and dogs don’t usually eat plants but to be on the safe side, here are a few common landscape plants to avoid:

  • Foxglove digitalis – can cause heart failure
  • Lilies - cause GI upset and vomiting in dogs, plus day lilies will cause renal failure in cats
  • Spring bulbs – Daffodil foliage, for example, will cause GI upset, but the bulb itself can cause seizures.  Most spring-flowering bulbs are toxic if the dog digs them up and chews them.
  • Plants in the onion family – toxic to pets when raw or cooked
  • Seeds of stone fruits – like peaches, cherries and apricots contain cyanide which can poison pets
  • Rhubarb is toxic to pets
  • Chamomile is also toxic to pets

Lifescape Associates understands how much your pets mean to your family. If you would like more information on how you can keep your landscape safe for your precious pets, consult your landscape contractor and your veterinarian.

Source: Alcc.com

Lifescape Associates Wins 2 ALCC Excellence in Landscape Awards!

The Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado (ALCC) honor the most spectacular and innovative landscapes around the state. ALCC’s Awards competition celebrates landscapes designed, installed, irrigated, renovated and managed by association members. The 2010 Excellence in Landscape Awards dinner took place in late February and was a great place to celebrate and discuss the year’s success. Lifescape Associates is proud to have won two Awards of Excellence, one for a renovation project in Denver, the other for a water features project in Cherry Hill.

“These winning landscapes provide a snapshot of the most innovative landscape designs and cutting-edge trends seen in Colorado landscaping today,” – Kristen Fefes, ALCC executive director via landscapeonline.com

The categories from the awards show ranged from landscape construction and xeriscape to interior landscape and use of color.The Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado has over 700 members across the state and is the premier professional organization for Colorado’s landscape contractors.