Photo Contest for a chance to Win a FREE Tree!

Winter Blues? Us too...Summer Vacation Photo Contest

We're bummed out by the as of yet snow-less winter. So, we are willing to offer a prize to whoever uploads the summer photo that cheers us up the most! Whether it be a photo of you and your family enjoying the beach, or your own pool, let's see 'em! The winner gets a FREE flowering tree!

Visit our facebook page to enter and try your chances at winning a free tree!

Sunset @ Indian Rocks Beach (downshore from Clearwater, FL).

Add Winter Interest to your Outdoor Space

The view from your window doesn't have to be dreary and barren! There are many things you homeowners can do to add visual interest to your yard for the winter months. With a little imagination and planning, you can actually enjoy looking out your window this season!

Landscape Elements

People often overlook winter-hardy plants as a viable option to add bright colors to their planting beds and instead opt to merely regret the passing of summer and fall color. There is no need to wish away the winter when there are such plants as Winterberry Holly, Heavenly Bamboo, Witch Hazel or Snow Roses to bring your landscape back to life:

Holly can make a sturdy and colorful hedge. Its strong green leaves and bright red berries are festive throughout the cold seasons.

Witch Hazel is a small tree that produces an explosion of long-lasting fragrant, yellow blossoms in December.

Hellebores (also known as Christmas or snow roses) produce plentiful white, pink or red blooms as early as January.

The semi-evergreen, delicate foliage of the Heavenly Bamboo (Nandina Domestica) shows different colors every season, turning bright crimson in winter.



You can even bring the warmth and beauty of winter plantings closer by creating container plantings for your deck or front porch--a decorative urn filled with dogwood branches, rose hips, milkweed pods, sedum, hydrangea and ornamental grasses will brighten your patio all season long!

Patio Heating Solutions to Extend your Outdoor Living Season

Winter tends to make us feel trapped, as we spend more time indoors. However, we don’t have to feel that way. With recent trends and advances in outdoor living, the ability to enjoy nature year-long isn’t just for the extreme weather outdoorsmen or mild climate dwellers. Portable and permanent outdoor heating options on the market today allow you to easily and comfortably enjoy a cup of hot coffee from your back porch or patio regardless of the season. Outdoor heaters create welcome environments for you and your guests allowing you to utilize your outdoor patio year long.


This outdoor fireplace acts not only as a source of heat on cool nights and winter days, but also
is an architectural focal point that draws attention and creates the feeling of an outdoor 'room'.

Outdoor heaters are available in a variety of sizes and styles, using different fuels, and across a wide range of budgets. One of them is sure to fit your particular needs. When shopping around for an outdoor heater, make sure to consider these needs: how large is the area you are looking to heat? What temperature range are you willing to battle? How many people will be using the heater at a time? Asking yourself these questions will help you determine which type of outdoor heater is ideal for your needs.

Electric heaters: Electric heaters use electricity with halogen elements to produce heat. This option is more efficient than anything else on the market, which makes it the economist’s choice as well as the environmentalist’s due to its zero carbon emissions. These reasons make electric heaters the best option for frequent usage. Electric heaters come in free standing or wall mounted appliances. Mounted heaters are an excellent option for limited spaces, whereas free standing heaters offer portability.

Gas heaters: Gas heaters can use either propane or natural gas and are best for heating large areas because they produce enough energy to heat up to a 15-20 foot radius which is attractive to those with large porches or patios. Most are run on propane gas although a plumber can hook it up to a gas main if you have one. Propane offers more portability than natural gas, so make sure you consider your needs prior to purchasing. However, keep in mind that is at or below 40 °F, propane starts to liquefy and will not give good performance.

Wood heaters: Available wood heating options can add a significant amount of beauty if you are going for a nostalgic look. Our custom designed and installed fireplaces and fire pits fall into this category and can provide year round enjoyment. Wood is fairly cheap and can be had without too much difficulty. This heating option is a versatile element in any landscape design, as it performs above and beyond its basic purpose. Stay warm during the winter, roast marshmallows during the summer, and enjoy the year round beauty and character that a fireplace or pit adds to your backyard.

Although outdoor heating solutions can prolong the enjoyment of your outdoor living area into the colder month, it is important to keep your expectations realistic. Remember that as the temperature decreases heat loss will increase. This means that on those really cold days, you will have to be within close range in order to stay warm, or sit in a more enclosed space.