Carter’s Garden Blog

I penned this one several years ago but it still gets read and brought up to me. This one was published in Tennessee Gardener & I have had many Master Gardeners bring the article to shows and events over the years. It’s still very relevant today so I wanted to re-blog it 😊 I don’t have all the original pictures that were published with the story anymore. Let me know what you think. It’s all about Ourdoor Living!

Outdoor Lifestyle Areas allow you to really enjoy the backyard. A Pond, Patio, grill and garden area to get comfy is the Ultimate! This is one of my Outdoor Room displays at Carters Nursery, Pond & Patio | Jackson, Tn. 38305

Living The Life Abundant

I see more and more people staying home these days… myself included. Instead of taking that trip to Spain, France or even Disney World, more and more of us are staying local and putting our time and money into our Homes & BACKYARDS! This is a huge trend across the country and it has been growing by leaps and bounds since 9/11. The trend has a name too, they call it “Cocooning ”.

It makes good sense to me! Instead of spending your vacation running around the country, spending all the money you saved, just to get back home more exhausted than before you left; Why not put your time and money into your home and backyard and enjoy it year round with your family and friends… Watergarden’s, Koi Ponds, Swimming Pools, Backyard Patios and Decks, Outdoor Kitchens with Herb Gardens and Pottery overflowing with Vegetables and Flowers 🤗 Sound good? That sounds like the ‘Life Abundant’ to me !

Lakeside Living at its Best

One of my clients recently decided to sell his beautiful home and build a new home in a local, private lakeside development. After I saw the lot I was as excited as he and his wife were! Living on the water is a wonderful thing! I was asked to work up a ‘simple’ backyard plan that would include a swimming pool with natural stone waterfalls, a watergarden with aquatic plants and fish, a stone patio with lots of space and a fishing area down by the lake. In other words, a resort right there in their own backyard. “Cocooning 101 ”!

We went to work right away and developed a ‘Concept Design’ for the back yard. With only a few minor changes we were ready to get started creating their new ‘Back yard Resort’. It was a fairly large scale job and the actual work took approximately 1 month to complete. We used specimen quality stone and nice mature plant material on this project so the first full season for this landscape looked like it had been there for quite awhile. Let me tell you folks… It changed their lives for the good!

This is a Google Earth image of the project that this story was written about over 10 years ago. Complete with a huge stone patio, large Koi Pond bordering/between the upper patio & the Pool deck/patio. An in-ground pool with a beautiful waterfall and jump rock & gorgeous landscaping right on the side of the lake. | Carters Nursery, Pond & Patio | Jackson, Tennessee

Just Do It

Whether you live on a lake or on any average city street, you too can create a Backyard Haven that you will love coming home to each and every day. It all starts with a basic Landscape Plan; Sit down with pen and paper and do a basic sketch, OR call me, I can help!  Include a place to sit within the garden, a deck or patio, be sure to include a Fountain or Watergarden, definitely  some beautiful Shrubs and Flowers, maybe some basic Vegetables and Herbs in the Landscape or in a container like Tomato’s or Basil and Cilantro. Before you know it, you will be eating dinner out there every night. Your Lifestyle will change for the better – and you my friends will be living the ‘Life Abundant’ !

Thanks & Merry Christmas! 🎄🎅🏻❤️