Introducing: Staging Services "Keeping it Simple!"

Hi all,

Switching gears here on the blog again! With winter still hanging in there up here in Michigan, I have been keeping busy with a new project! Adding Interior and Exterior Staging to my business!

The health/weight loss blogs have been fun! They have really helped to keep me on track, and most of all,  I hope sharing my "Making a Lifestyle Change" journey helped you to reach for your best health!

But I think you all got it now, right? And if your not sure, please free to review my blogs anytime! Or send or leave me a message and I would be more than happy to offer anything I can to keep you, On the Right Path!

So what's new?

The Exterior/Landscaping Staging services: To some extent, that is much of what I have been doing with designing landscapes on a budget. This will just be focussed more towards those looking to add Curb Appeal to their home this wish to sell, to draw buyers in to see what is so great inside!

Interior Staging: For those who know me, know I have a passion for Home Decor and decluttering and design. So this just seemed like a natural direction to take. This service will be focussed small scale. Using pieces or modifying pieces customers already have in their home. And help with organizing areas to show their top potential to prospective buyers.

What's the objective?

Keeping it Simple! 

Are you looking to sell your home, or just need to declutter? Need some help simplifying your space? If so look for upcoming blogs regarding small changes you can do around your home that make big changes in your space!

And if you live locally, please consider giving me a call if you need my Staging, Landscape Design or Gardening services.


Finally, thanks to all who encouraged me to keep writing about my "Making a Lifestyle Change" journey, and to slip into this new venture. I appreciate you all! 

Hostas: The Art of Using One Type and Making it look Different

If you began your gardening with freebies as many of us did, you no-doubtly have found yourself dividing the same plant over and over again. Of course, there are a tremendous amount of varieties and types that allow us to do this. But for me the "go to plant" for standardizing a bed, is the hosta.

The hosta, though only flowers once in mid-to-late season, offers beautiful foliage and interest from spring through fall. Also its fairly drought resistant and easy care. Plus there is rarely a shortage of new plants available if you rotate dividing. Just one, three-year-old hosta can yield at least 10 new plants when divided.

The key, when using the same hosta through-out your garden and landscape- and make it look different, is to be creative. Think outside the box. In the pictures below, you will see how I used the standard, "Zager's White Edged"  Hosta, utilized in many different ways.

The hostas in this picture are from first year separations.
 I divided these back in May of this year.






Using Zager'sWhite Edge in combination with Sun and Substance Lime Green Hosta adds more color. These hostas are about five years old, and yes, started from one of my others.

Soon the daisies and daylillies,

will add color to this small garden bed. 

This "Hide Out" Hosta, is similar to the white edge one, but with a bit more white and the curling edges. This one is placed random alongside Knock-Out Rose and hydrangea.

This is my over flo garden. All the hostas in this garden are only three years old.

 Even potted, the hosta, can add to the garden.

And in this arrangement, I used hosta as a filler,

with ivy geranium and wave petunias.

Before: Path as shade garden

After: Path as sun garden.

Three years ago, we reworked the front of our house. (above) Ripping out two 50 year old pine trees, that were too close to the house and not doing well. The path was there, so I decided to incorporate it into the new design.  Lining it with two types of hostas, to create a wave effect. At first it was pretty sparse, as all were transplants. Now approaching its third year, you can see the wave! 

While I am content re-purposing the types of hostas I have, of course, there always a new ones on my wish list. For more to dream about, visit http://www.bhg.com/gardening/plant-dictionary/perennial/hosta/.

Winter Pondering: Last Summers Designs and Future Improvements

I hardly can believe it winter is half over! (In my defense, this is Michigan, and it was 50 degrees two days ago) But seriously folks, once we turn the calendar to February....it's just a matter of counting down the days til spring!

As many of you know, last spring, I launched my gardening and design business- and this blog, On the Right Path LLC. The season, included back breaking work, (loving it by the way). Great customers, and by that I mean really sweet people- and a chance to design some small landscape projects and install a few too.

You see the beauty of my small business is, I will design a plan that you can incorporate yourselves, or you can pay me to do the hard work. Its your choice. The plans come with a detail list of plants, a hand drawn layout of the design and where the plants go, and a custom picture/ or visual. (see below)

So it is cold and windy here in MidMichigan today, leaving me time to ponder last season's designing, and what this season might bring. So to get yours and my gardening juices/ideas flowing, I thought I'd start with a few of my garden/landscape designs from last season.

For this project, the beds were already in place and the owner hired me to design a plan then replant the areas. The dark brick needed plants with light and color to brighten the space. And with a front door and porch, front and center, the plantings needed to be low and gracious to welcome visitors.

This ranch-style home has a lot going on design-wise, with many corners and turns. I felt the design needed to create a flow around the house without taking away from the stone exterior and a focused area welcoming guests from the drive to the front door. (below)

As you can see, ranches vary not only in color and shape, but in overall design. For this ranch, the  long narrow drive, anchored the property, with a tall fence that was surrounded by large neighboring pines. This provided many needles and a bed of acidic soil. The front area needed a low ground cover with color, and the softness of grass. In the back, color and varying heights add to the landscape design.

 And this was my only office design last season. The actual work was put on hold, but the design offers another side to a plan that compliments and softens to welcome patrons.








I hope I've given you some inspiration as we look forward to spring! And if you look outside, and just can't visualize what you need, give a call and I would be happy to create a simple design for you!