All clients of Gardens ALIVE Design learn many valuable lessons about creating a healthy, thriving landscape. It is with joy that I’ve repeated myself hundreds of times when I say, “It isn’t just about putting plants in the ground. It is about all the pieces such as soil testing to see how deficient your soil is […]

What does it take to be a Certified Professional Horticulturist?  Ever wonder about endorsements in the landscape industry?  Why should I hire a C.P.H. for my landscape needs?  Learn more here . . . To become a Certified Professional Horticulturist there is a 3 part exam consisting of about 3 hours of testing that includes; […]

If you need help cleaning up your property Aaron O’Neal owner of Competition Hydro a power washing business operates out of Duvall, Washington but serves the greater Seattle area. Specializing in washing houses partnering with Amsberrys painting thru the summer months. Services: -House washes/prep for paint -Pressure washing concrete, pavers, and patios. -Cedar deck & […]

Hello Gardens ALIVE Design Clients and Friends, As you may know, we love our property in rural Duvall. We have a large yard, of course! And a bursting veggie garden along with 4 acres of fenced pasture that used to house my 3 horses that I had since I was 13. As animals do, they got old […]

Reasons to create an improved landscape differ from person to person. Sometimes, the landscape is simply there to be beautiful and admired by others. Houses left to stand in an unfinished yard can seem stoic with nothing to detract from squareness and predictable lines. In a neighborhood of closely spaced houses, overlooked landscape improvements can mean […]

Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center, located at 18675 NE 106 th Street, Redmond, WA, has finished compost available for use by the community. The compost consists of horse manure and wood shavings that have been processed in Little Bit’s commercial composting machine. The result is a nice, dry product that is relatively free from weed […]

From Pantone: Pantone’s Color of the Year, Viva Magenta 18-1750, vibrates with vim and vigor. It is a shade rooted in nature descending from the red family and expressive of a new signal of strength. Viva Magenta is brave and fearless, and a pulsating color whose exuberance promotes a joyous and optimistic celebration, writing a […]

My favorite tree service company is, hands down, Tolt Tree Care! I can’t speak highly enough of the professionalism, honesty and integrity. I find that they are very conservative with their tree removal suggestions, they are a very nice crew to work with and really clean up after they do their work. I am adding the picture below […]

The image above was the exact one that my mom shared with me while asking for my assistance in preparing her log home and ponderosa pine property in Eastern Washington to better protect against wildfire. It was then that I learned of firewise techniques and Firewise Communities. After helping her, a few neighbors of ours […]

Before there were gardens and flowers and veggies. Before landscape design and school and family. Before Duvall, Peace Corps and the wheat farm. My earliest memories were of horses, farms and animals. As a toddler, I was told that I would beg my Dad to carry me, rain or shine, to feed the horses and […]