Join Dave as he walks through Azalea Hill at the USNA. The garden puts on such an incredible display that thousands make a trek to view these blooming shrubs. Azaleas are easy to grow shrubs that thrive in high filtered shade or partial sun. The Azaleas Collection is just one aspect of the dramatic flower filled grounds. Then it’s off to explore the rich foliage filled gardens of the National Tropical Botanical Garden on Kauai. The McBryde Garden showcases a rich collection of rare plants endemic to the Hawaiian Islands, saved from extinction by the hard work of the NTBG team of botanists. Visitors can walk at their own pace along the Palm Walk or Canoe Garden to take in vistas of hillside, ocean and a rushing valley stream. In this episode of Garden Travels, Dave’s favorites include: Oakleaf Hydrangea and Matilija Poppy.
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You can have the most elaborated back yard from the entire neighborhood, but if it isn’t functional you have built it in vain. We all want to have beautiful and flourishing gardens, but when we have a family, we must also take into consideration the needs of the other members of it. Divide the space of your yard in two or three visual spaces, one for play and relaxation, one for gardening and maybe one for pets.

An open space, covered by lawn is ideal for your children. Here you can install a table for open air lunches or for a romantic summer evening dinner.

Do you have a fireplace? Keep a portion of your garden especially for depositing fire woods, but make sure it is at a considerable distance from the house or animals that can cause damage.

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How about pets? You can build for these little members of your family special spaces, in which they can play and exercise. Before you plant bushes and ornamental plants, surround the pet space. Cats and dogs tend to be attracted exactly by the things we try to keep them away from.

Keep the by-passers’ eyes away from your personal life. Before planning the scenery, you must have in sight a place for the garbage cans. It wouldn’t be very nice to have a wonderful garden right next to the garbage cans. These can be efficiently hidden in some kind of surrounded space, decorated on the sides with life fence.

Functionality is an important factor in your garden, so you have to think about children, little pets and family assets before you plant anything. Save a portion of the yard especially for you, in which you can plant whatever you want and leave for the others some space to breathe freely.

You will find it more satisfying this way, once the whole family is happy with your garden and they might even bring their personal ideas for it. It is important that personal space is respected and that is why the garden must not be very wide, taking up all available space. Build from time to time a pathway or some benches where you can just relax and admire your work.