LAND DESIGNS UNLIMITED LLC

A Patient Craftsman Creating Exceptional Landscapes

Category: Masonry

Bird Baths and Husbands

Yesterday, I started the search for a bird bath for the back yard. I was hoping to find something simple, a flat stone with a bowl carved into it. Indeed I’ve admired a few like that over the years.

I headed off to Swenson Granite.

I spotted what I was looking for. Unfortunately, there was only one in stock and it was chipped. Therefore, I headed to the office to ask if they had more.

The model I was looking for was no longer available. Consequently, I asked about another bird bath I liked. It was a Deer Isle Lo-boy bird bath.

Lo-boy means the bird bath is half the height and Deer Isle is a darker, less showy, granite. The Lo-boy base looks, and may be, hand cut. I like that.

I’m not a fan of flimsy bird baths and sundials. They’re prone to lose their tops in the wind or shifting ground from freeze-thaw cycles.

Gregg lifted the heavy stones and gently placed the bird bath in my pickup. Thank you, Gregg!

Next, I placed the bird bath next to my feeding platform under the Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) where it can be viewed from the kitchen.

While the granite looks great it doesn’t match my low budget feeding platform. It’s like having a salt and pepper shaker that doesn’t match. In fact, I need a granite feeding platform too. But not this year.

Did you notice the second bird bath in the picture?

There’s a funny story to that.

Father’s Day Fun

Today was Father’s Day and my wife and daughter spent hours searching for the perfect bird bath yesterday, unbeknownst to me. They decided a lower style would look just right in the spot.

Yesterday, within minutes of arriving home, my wife spotted my new bird bath. Equally important, she couldn’t believe I bought myself something the day before Father’s day.

For this reason I’m a heel.

Consequently, my Father’s Day gift will be going in our Memorial Garden.

I bet more than one reader can relate to the story…

June 16, 2019
Do The Right Thing

It’s 8:30 at night on Labor Day as I write this post. I just got off the phone with a prospective client who needed some masonry work done to get the CO for their new deck.

After asking questions about the job it became clear what they needed more than a landscape designer was a mason. I assured them that when the time came for grading around the deck or designing the gardens I would be glad to assist.

I recommended they call a local company for the masonry work or visit Southbury Stone and Supply for materials and to get references for masons.

Some contractors would subcontract the job or make something up on the fly. I’ve reached the point in life where I know what I do well, and profitably, and what I don’t. I enjoy masonry work but my detailed mind can’t get the work done quickly enough and frankly its heavy work.

I don’t know if I did the right thing or not but I listened to my gut. If I’ve learned one thing in life it’s to always listen to your gut.

I hope I get a call to design and install some landscaping work around the new deck. It sounds gorgeous.

*Note: The featured image is a patio I installed in the late 90’s. I cut granite slabs to make the rounded corners and used flamed bluestone for the patio. The granite slabs I used for the steps had a ‘cushion edge’ to give them a weathered look.

My clients hired masons to build steps to their new french door. When the mason stepped on the patio he looked at me and said, “Do you think you’re working with wood?” That’s one of my favorite projects.

September 4, 2017
How to Create a Curved Stepping Stone Path

This week I finished installing a stepping stone path.

This stepping stone path is unique for a couple of reasons.

First, it provides a much-needed way to move through the garden. There’s no way to cross the garden without it.

Second, the stepping stone path gently curves to add interest. The path curves left to make room for a future PG Hydrangea on the right.

I’m looking forward to filming the garden when completed.

How to create a Curved Stepping Stone Path

When I started there was no way to get through the bed. The plants were randomly planted with no sense of purpose.

The white line is where the stepping stone path will be.

It took me a day to select, deliver and roughly place the stepping stones. It took a day and a half to install them. The work usually goes faster. I chose some odd-shaped and large stones. I’m very pleased with the results.

Placing the stones is a two-step process. First I roughly place the stones. Next I put an X in the middle with a grease crayon and space them 26.5″ on center. The first and last stone go 13.25″ from the edge of the bed. The beginning and end never work out perfectly. I spread the difference between the last few.

Set stepping stones 2-3″ high so they aren’t covered by mulch. Nothing is more annoying than covering your freshly placed stepping stones.

I’ve been working on a lake the last couple weeks and enjoying some incredible views. The mulch in this bed is pure Hemlock Bark. My favorite.

A while back I filmed how I install stepping stones. While I’ve gotten better at producing videos the way I lay stepping stones hasn’t changed a bit.

April 20, 2016
Old-Fashioned Craftsmanship

After a day of office work I decided to take Theo for a walk.

It was a beautiful evening. The temperature was around 68 and the sun was shining. I admit I wasn’t in the mood for a walk. Too much office time drains my energy.

After 45 minutes of walking I had a choice.

Continue straight and be home in 15 minutes or take the dirt road to the right and add an hour and a half to my walk.

I chose the road less traveled.

I love dirt roads. I love old houses. I love walking through the forest. I love walking in the rain?

This dirt road was right where I wanted to be.

As Theo and I headed down the road a shower started with the low rumble of thunder.

I didn’t mind. The rain was warm.

While walking I saw some old-fashioned craftsmanship.

The arch through this stone wall gives the stream a stylish way through.

The stream running through the stone wall. The job could have been done easier plenty of ways. None would have looked better.

Here the masons used a large boulder to support the wall over the stream. I like how the masons tied the large stone into the wall.

A rebuilt new england farm wall. Modern stone walls often have wide mortar joints and randomly cut stones for quick construction.

There’s more to the story of this fence than stone posts and cedar rails. I’m sure that fence had different rails when it was originally built.

Notice how the maple tree engulfed the stone fence post. I wonder if that Sugar Maple was planted to shade the house.

Theo and I left for our walk a little before six and returned a little after eight. We feel refreshed and renewed albeit a little damp.

April 1, 2016
Keep Dirt and Mulch Off Your Siding

A drip edge is a trench filled with gravel that prevents mud from splashing against your home. You install it where water drips off the roof. I also use a drip edge when the grade next to the house is the same level as the siding.

Install the drip edge one foot from the siding when controlling a grade and a little outside the drip line of a home when controlling splashing water.

If your grade is level with the siding install a drip edge level with the mulch. Leave a 1-2″ gap from the top of the edging to keep mulch from touching the siding.

I removed mulch touching the siding before installing the drip edge. You can see where the mulch touching the siding blocked the painters.

Use commercial grade metal edging for drip edges. No rolled plastic from a box store. It comes in 1/8″ and 3/16″ widths that are 4″ tall and 10′ or 16′ long. This is heavy-duty stuff. If you have tight curves go with the thinner metal. There are fitting available for the edging for corners and splices to make the job look more professional.

Fill your trench with a minimum of 1″ diameter gravel. Gravel smaller than 1″ blows out of the trench when cleaning up leaves. The gravel also blocks sunlight and preventing weeds.

A stick cut the distance you want from the house is the best tool for measuring.

Draw a line on the stick to control the depth of your trench. Avoid over excavating your trench. You want soil there to hold the edging.

You have to be creative with existing plants when installing a drip edge.

I use gravel with earthy tones that blends with the landscape. A river stone with rounded edges works nicely too. The choice is yours.

I don’t use weed fabric under the gravel. Weed fabric traps sediment and the gravel will soon be sprouting weeds. Not using fabric also makes the stone easier to remove should the need arise.

You don’t have to use metal edging to create a drip edge.

Apply black spray paint where you cut the edging to prevent rust. I use a Milwaukee Portaband to cut edging. A hacksaw, some elbow grease and a lot of patience works just as well.

Time spent installing a drip edge will keep you from having to replace siding, or worse, down the road.

By John Holden

June 15, 2014