With the arrival of spring, this week brings back the memories of my beloved Airedale Rex, who left us this time last year after a long and rewarding life as our Family dog.

Of course, he was a lot more than just a dog, and over the years he became a trusted friend, walking partner, family companion and gardening buddy. We spent many a day in the garden here in Massachusetts and also up in Vermont, where he loved the winter as much as he did the spring and summer down here in Massachusetts.

The season of spring is of course associated with renewal, and being outdoors made me reflect on my special times with my friend as I prepared bringing back the garden from the dreary days of winter to the vibrant days of spring and summer. Memories of days past and those anew with fresh ideas for the body and soul abound and I am already planning on introducing Ziggy(see picture), our new canine family member to the long hours ahead as we plan and plant the garden this season.

It is a good time to reflect on memories past and “dig up” some innovative projects to augment your garden at home. Renew your inspiration and plant something special this season and dispel the notion that spring is only for the dogs.

With the recent weekend deluge in the Northeastern USA, I was forced to will the rains to abate and finally, they have after four days of non-stop rains.

This made me focus on the topic of rain and the impact of managing water sustainability in gardens and how we design landscapes today. Just about one percent of all the water on our planet exists as fresh water suitable for human consumption. Of that, about a quarter to half of that is used for irrigation, which is why it is so important for design professionals to carefully consider viable options that minimise use of potable water to maintain the landscapes they design.

We live in a time where droughts seems to be more prevalent and when the rains do come, they seems to be more damaging and sustaining. This begs the question to be more proactive as homeowners to establish environments that capture this excess water. In so doing, we can use this stored rainwater in concert with piped irrigation and diverting the flow to storage lessens the impact on the public drainage systems and alleviates localised flooding on your property.

We need to be sensitive to the concept of “bioretention”, which uses plant materials to retard and capture water, which forces us to think differently about surface flows and the designs we create. In fact, rain gardens can and often do incorporate beautiful designs that are functional and inviting. With the increase in environmental concerns, we need to more proactive in our embracing of this concept and better utilise these elements of nature and instead of willing the rains away, say “let it rain”.

After the winter doldrums, it is a welcome sign to wake up to warmer temperatures, sun shining, snow melting and birds singing- Happy Spring!

With the season of renewal rapidly approaching, I would like to add to the excitement of the season by focusing not on the usual rituals associated with spring gardening activities, but to look at the culinary culture associated with warmer climes coming, specifically the art of outdoor dining.

Over the last number of years, the concept of the outdoor kitchen has moved from the “somewhat unusual and exotic” to the “must have” status on almost every upscale residential design.

To really understand how to artfully design these outdoor kitchens, I think it is imperative to first and foremost master and understand the cultural nuances of the art of barbeque and outdoor dining and cooking forms. No-one can deny the necessity and utility of a design professional needing to master proficiency in art and architectural history to carefully evaluate sites, home architecture and clients personal persuasions when designing an outdoor landscape. Likewise, to artfully design that perfect outdoor kitchen, I think that we as design professionals need to be well informed on the latest culinary trends of barbeque and other outdoor dining options.

The days of hibatchis and kettle drum barbeques have given way to more evolved options, with outdoor grills offering charcoal, gas, infa red, ceramic, smokers and wood burning options, to name a few. Most new grills also have the option of being built in with additional outdoor appliances like side burners, pizza ovens, refrigerators, ice makers, sinks with water and even dishwashers.

It therefore becomes critical for us to better understand how the proposed outdoor kitchen space will be utilized and knowing a thing or two about the epicurian trends associated with outdoor dining can only enhance the design results and better enhance the experience associated with this popular trend in entertaining.

To all I wish you a great spring, a time of renewal and a bon appetit!