Posts Tagged ‘Love’
March 10th, 2011 | 
Author:
Redmond, WA (PRWEB) February 10, 2005
Imagine a garden filled with chocolate Â? chocolate mint; chocolate columbine; chocolate morning glories; chocolate nasturtiums; chocolate daylilies; chocolate foxglove; chocolate sunflowers and much more.
Imagination becomes reality this spring at Chocolate Flower Farm where owners Marie Lincoln and Bill Schlicht specialize in growing unusual, rich, dark plants that add a spot of drama and exotic beauty to the garden. Not just chocolate colored plants but plants in shades of maroon, purple and black and even several plants that smell like chocolate such as Chocolate Cosmos (Cosmos atrosanguiness), Chocolate Flower (Berlandiera lyrata) and Chocolate Vine (Akebia quinata).
What came first, the chocolate or the flowers? Â?Our nursery is named after Bill’s love of chocolate and my passion for gardening. I already was partial to dark plants and had quite a collection of them in our gardens, thus we combined our two passions and named our farm Chocolate Flower Farm. When we decided to start a specialty nursery it made sense to specialize in Â?chocolateÂ? plants since that was already our farm nameÂ?, says Lincoln. Â?Bill must have chocolate for breakfast, lunch and dinner but gardeners cannot live on chocolate alone so we grow many complementary plants as wellÂ?, adds Lincoln.
Black plants have become quite popular with gardeners in recent years and Chocolate Flower Farm offers an extensive selection, including black hollyhocks; black columbine; black violas; black snapdragons; black poppies and black grasses.
After spending several years collecting rare specimen plants and seeds for propagation and with the recent purchase of an eight-acre farm in Langley on Whidbey Island Schlicht and Lincoln will move from their Redmond farm to the Langley farm and Chocolate Flower Farm will be opening there in April. The new address and contact information will be posted on the nurseryÂ?s website www.chocolateflowerfarm.com.
Chocolate Flower Farm currently offers plants, seeds, garden accessories and specialty gifts such as chocolate candles via mail order from their website. They can be reached via phone at 425.681.9758 or email info@chocolateflowerfarm.com.
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Small garden bridges have become an all-time favorite form of garden decor. They add just the right touch that will turn a mediocre garden into something quite splendid.
This small structure is an ancient design that has been used across the ages for foot traffic and decoration, and it goes by many descriptive names: Foot bridge, ornamental bridge, landscape bridges, timber bridge, oriental bridge, Japanese bridge and garden bridge are just a few.
Small garden bridges are gently arched structures that span lengths from 5 feet to 20 feet, and are usually about 3 feet wide. Some bridges feature a flat platform.
The simplest garden bridge is the arched or flat plank structure without hand or side rails. More decorative garden bridges are built with ornamental and functional posts and side rails. Some side rails are specifically designed to protect children and other pedestrians; other side rails are strictly for decoration.
Garden landscaping bridges are not just for large, elaborate gardens. Many gardens that are small in size are large in beauty simply because garden bridges have been added in just the right places. Used over a small stream, rough terrain or even a little pond, bridges can add a wonderful, new dimension to any garden.
With such popularity, small garden bridges are easy to find. Garden centers and home improvement depots carry them, and one of the best places to find and compare garden bridges is online. Most bridges are shipped requiring some assembly.
How To Select Small Garden Bridges
Choosing the right garden bridge is easy with just a little planning. Look at the space you have and decide where a bridge would fit in. Consider more than one area and then choose your favorite. Always measure the area you intend your bridge to span.
When you measure the distance you want an arched garden bridge to reach across, you need to know exactly how long the bridge will span. Measure the actual span length of the distance you wish to cover and not the arch length. Some bridge builders may sell an “8 foot bridge” but it will actually only span about 6 or 7 feet.
Make sure the bridge is made of weather and water resistant wood, or sealed and stained wood. Most small garden bridges are constructed of cedar, teak, pressure treated pine, spruce, redwood, and birch planks and posts. You can also find garden bridges made with an attractive steel frame with wooden planks. The construction of the bridges should also use only stainless steel or galvanized hardware such as bolts, washers, nuts and screws.
Try to find a garden bridge that is very easily assembled with only a few tools required. Find out if the manufacturer numbered and labeled each board, each post and rail – so when it’s time to assemble it, you just match the numbers and put in the screws and tighten.
For Do-It-Yourselfers, building a small garden bridge is a great project. Garden foot bridge plans are always available at the same places you can find the actual bridges for sale.
Small garden bridges can be used in a host of garden and landscape settings. As a foot bridge over a stream, or as a decorative accent through a large flower bed, these simple structures instill a functional and captivating charm.
Copyright 2006 Robert Mosse