“The crabapple standards at the start of our walk just had to go, they had become so overgrown and had been poorly pruned when we bought the house,” laughs Natalie Selker, landscape designer. “Our landscape was boring, and we were ready for a change. I wanted to make the front of our landscape full of color and welcoming to pollinators.”

At our office, we have an expansive pollinator garden to show clients. It’s a very lush, intermingled garden. But not all clients have the room, or desire for such an extensive garden. We are not ones to say you must relinquish your lawn for a new garden. We see the value in a lawn to set off a new garden, as well as to offer kids and pets a place to play. This belief held true when Natalie added a pollinator garden to her own landscape. A balance was struck between the need for a lawn and the desire to plant for pollinators.

“The space along the street was the perfect place to add a pollinator garden. This beautiful garden greets those driving or walking our street, and it welcomes our guests as they walk to our front door,” explains Natalie. “I still have room for my two my boys and the dogs to play: it’s a perfect balance.”

Our landscapes don’t have to be all or nothing. A thoughtful landscape supports native wildlife including people. Too often the human element is taken out of the equation when discussing planting for nature.

“We are part of nature, so why shouldn’t we create landscapes that are welcoming to us as well as the birds? If landscape entices kids to play outside in the yard, we are supporting a healthy way of living. If we add to that space a garden where they can observe and learn about nature, we are really succeeding,” says Peter Wimberg.

Pollinator gardens can be acres or as modest as a collection of containers. “The same design principles are applied to an expansive garden as those applied to a simple city garden. We look to add color, textures, movement, blooms throughout the season, and winter interest,” shares Natalie. “Tiny gardens can pack a huge punch while supporting nature and enriching our lives – beautifully.”

The post Wonderfully Tiny first appeared on Wimberg Landscaping.

“When I know a design needs to be installed in stages, I can design a plan that moves seamlessly from one phase of the installation to the next,” shares Wimberg Landscape Designer, Natalie Selker. “Calling in a designer, or worse yet, a different designer for each stage of the landscape redesign, often leads to replication of work and needless extra expenses.”

This is one reason why knowing a client’s budget is so important. When we have a clear understanding of the client’s vision for the final project and their budget, we can create a plan that addresses both. When needed, we can break the project into stages while ensuring each phase of the design is visually appealing, lends itself well to the next phase and adheres to the budget.

“When I am given the opportunity to plan for a phased landscape installation, the entire process is enjoyable and rewarding,” explains Natalie. “A design installed over time doesn’t have to look unfinished or mismatched until the final design is in place. It can, at each phase, look like a well executed landscape that’s visually appealing and within the client’s financial comfort level.”

If you have a landscape project that you believe will need to be tackled in stages, call us. We can create a master plan for your dream design and then organize the installation to be completed in stages.

The post Designing for Phases first appeared on Wimberg Landscaping.

Some of my favorite pollinator plants are naturally drought resistant. So while the heat dragged on a bit too long, many of my go-to plants were, and still are, looking rather fine. Add to that, the plants are still attracting pollinators in droves. Even plants that are starting to fade a bit are still covered in bees. And should this oppressive heat and drought carry on one week too long, the pollinator-friendly trees and shrubs, chosen for their texture and architectural form, will sustain the beauty of the landscape.

Of course, a new landscape deserves a bit of tending to with extra watering. But once it’s established, watering is an infrequent task.

So let this be the last end of summer season that you look out at your landscape and think it’s all over until spring. We can make your landscape something wonderful to behold, year round. ~ Natalie

The post Pollinators Carry On Through the Seasons first appeared on Wimberg Landscaping.

Such was the case with this Hyde Park home. In a way, I feel like we took what the original idea was for the landscape and rearranged it a bit, injected a bit of Southern influence and added cleaner lines and a lovely splash of color in the side yard.

New stone work was a must. Crumbling, uneven walks are distracting and unsafe. A new front  walk, and retaining wall in the front of the home made the property feel fresh and well-kept: even before the new plants and sod went in.

Along the side of the house, a new walk gently curves to the side door, reflecting the stone wall and creating a sense of calm. It’s amazing what soft lines can do. And from the kitchen window, one that is often looked out, we added a simple garden of boxwoods and drift roses: it’s a soothing sight to start and end the day.  –  Natalie

The post A Simple Elegance first appeared on Wimberg Landscaping.

Natalie, let’s start at the beginning. Where did you study landscape design?
I earned an undergraduate degree at the University of Colorado in Boulder in Environmental Design with an emphasis in design. I went on to earn my master’s degree at the University of Colorado in Denver in Landscape Architecture. I built upon that well-rounded design degree by specializing in landscape architecture where I learned design theory, history and overall concepts. I was taught to design big (with no budget to be considered) which pushed me to go beyond what was typical and expected. Today, I apply that out-of-the-box design insight to all my projects, from pocket-size backyards to large commercial projects.

Everyone has that moment when they fell in love with designing with plants. What was yours?
I discovered landscape architecture my junior year in college. I enjoyed creating models so I shadowed the masters program where I fell in love with the landscape architecture studio and using plant material to design interest through layers, textures and colors. It was at my first landscape design job after graduation that I was given the opportunity to study for the LEED exam. Even though mostly architects were taking it at the time (it is very architecturally focused on building systems), I felt that it could only help me professionally. Throughout the years I have been contracted to help on various residential and commercial LEED projects.

What landscapes inspire you and why?
Natural landscapes in any capacity always intrigue me, from the simple colors of a prairie to the colors of the mountains. On the other side of the spectrum, I love the very formal and manicured gardens found throughout Europe. Surprisingly, one of my favorites was a kitchen and herbal garden in Ireland because not only was it beautifully laid out and quite formal, but it was juxtaposed with the irregularity of the plants and vine’s natural tendencies.

What makes for a successful landscape?
A successful landscape needs to be loved by the one experiencing it. If I can help a homeowner create outdoor spaces and rooms they love whether that’s in the form of a simple garden bed re-design or creating a space they’ve always dreamt of, it doesn’t matter, as long as they are happy with the result. However, I believe the most successful designs have varied colors and textures that can be experienced through all seasons in some capacity.

What do you first notice when visiting a new landscape?
The first thing I want to ascertain is how is the outside of the client’s home going to be used. Do the homeowners entertain? Do they garden? Do they like to experience their garden from the outside or would they prefer to experience from the inside looking out? Having a clear understanding of the client’s expectations enables me to create a beautiful landscape plan that makes their vision come to life.

How do clients benefit from your LEED certification?
I am more conscious of how my client’s landscapes affects their home’s sustainability.

When you are not designing, how do you spend your time?
I love spending time with my husband and two boys, especially when we are traveling. My family and I love snow skiing and biking the many trails Cincinnati has to offer. I enjoy growing herbs and making delicious meals. Baking is my true passion, I love baking pies, cakes and of course cookies!

Call today to set up an appointment with Natalie.
Natalie Selker
Landscape Designer
LEED AP BD+C

The post ONE-ON-ONE WITH NATALIE SELKER first appeared on Wimberg Landscaping.