An Introduction to Xeriscaping

After studying horticulture in Beacon, New York, Mary Catesby Halsey has spent the last decade working with florists such as Chelsea Flowers and Gardens, Hudson River Flowers, and Ovando and Banchet Flowers. Mary Catesby Halsey has a particular interest in the field of xeriscaping.

The term xeriscaping originated in Denver, Colorado, in response to the droughts of the 1970s and '80s. Trademarked by the city's water department, it derives from the Greek word “xeros” for “dry” and “scape” for view.

Xeriscaping essentially means incorporating drought-resistant plants, which may include a focus on native species, to create beautiful landscapes that require less water than traditional gardens or lawns. In addition to reducing water usage, such an approach often results in lower maintenance requirements.

Although the idea of drought-resistant plants may bring up images of desert cactus, it actually covers a diverse range of species. Some examples include ornamental grasses such as zebra grass or maiden grass, a variety of sedums to use as ground covers, the red bird of paradise shrub, and the sunburst honey locust tree. Drought-resistant flowers range from coneflowers to moonbeam coreopsis.

A Few Benefits of Green Roofs

A successful New York freelance gardener, Mary Catesby Halsey is the former manager of high-end boutique Hudson River Flowers. Currently, Mary Catesby Halsey focuses on gardening and landscaping services for corporate and private clients, often incorporating environmentally friendly techniques such as xeriscapes and green roofs into her designs.

An increasingly popular landscaping technique, particularly in urban areas such as New York City, green roofs hold ecological, practical, and aesthetic advantages. Green roofs are energy-friendly, as they filter the air and lower ambient temperature, requiring less energy to cool homes. This translates to a lower temperature throughout the surrounding vicinity, as well; green roofs can be effective in lowering citywide average temperatures as much as three degrees Celsius.

On a more practical level, green roofs improve a building’s sound insulation and can weather environmental forces such as rain and sun. Finally, green roofs add visual interest to a city’s skyline, while exposure to green spaces has been shown to reduce individuals’ stress levels and increase their sense of well-being.

Tips for DIY Flower Arrangement

A freelance gardener and floral designer, Mary Catesby Halsey has owned and managed MCH Floral Studio in New York since 2018. In addition to creating private and corporate garden installations, she makes custom wreaths, garland, and decorations for Christmas and Halloween.

For the DIY flower arranger, a few simple techniques can elevate work to a professional level. To ensure that arrangement lasts longer, remove the extra leaves and any damaged petals first. Then, trim the bottom of each stem diagonally and place the flowers in water with fresh cut flower food. Choose a flower vase with a sturdy foundation, and crisscross floral tape over the opening. Insert stems into the holes created by the tape so they stay firmly in place.

Add greenery such as ivy or eucalyptus first, creating an inverted triangle shape to give the arrangement vertical and horizontal interest. Then, add the largest, most attractive flowers first, taking care to achieve a natural rather than symmetrical look. Smaller filler flowers come next; clustering small groups of flowers together tends to look more organic. If you are including more delicate blooms such as baby’s breath, they should come last, so they don’t get buried by more substantial blooms.

Urban Landscaping - Bringing Natural Beauty to the City

Garden
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Mary Catesby Halsey is an accomplished florist and entrepreneur in New York City. While owning her own gardening company, MCH Floral Studio, she did the store's installation and design for the Macy's Flower show in 2018 and 2019. With the goal of beautifying both indoor and outdoor spaces, Mary Catesby Halsey has a keen interest in urban landscaping.

City living most often means there is limited space for outdoor gardens. But as long as sun and water are available to plants, an urban landscape design can take shape. Although space is limited, rooftops, balconies, and stoops can all be transformed into petite gardens with species of plants that can thrive in confined spaces. Container gardening utilizes window boxes, tree pits, and terraces where plants can be grown in small pots. Living walls or wall gardening uses vertical spaces by implementing hanging pots, trellises, and even recycled items to create a decorative display. These vertical gardens can include an integrated irrigation system, but whether irrigated or watered with a watering can, wall gardens need to be drained carefully when in restricted spaces.

A rooftop is an ideal place for urban landscaping with its direct exposure to sunlight and rain. Long vented plastic containers are often used for rooftop gardens. If there is no area that is well lit, gardeners can still grow plants that are tolerant of low light. These include herbs such as parsley, mint, and oregano.

The Three Most Popular Flowers for Valentine's Day Gifts

Red Roses
Photo by Sidney Pearce on Unsplash

Mary Catesby Halsey is an accomplished florist and gardener in Manhattan. She founded her own business, MCH Floral Studio, in September of 2018. Previously, Mary Catesby Halsey served as manager of Spruce Flowers, overseeing a move and relaunch by the Chelsea floral shop after the loss of its previous location.

One of the busiest holidays for florists is Valentine’s Day, traditionally a day of exchanging gifts with lovers or partners. Many types of flowers are exchanged, but these are three of the most popular Valentine’s Day flowers:

1. Roses are still one of the most popular types of flowers exchanged on Valentine’s Day. Red roses are said to represent passion and love, and many other colors contain different meanings. Red roses are also the favorite flower of Venus, goddess of love and beauty, making them a popular choice for Valentine’s Day.

2. Carnations are also a popular choice. The flowers are very affordable and have a feminine appearance with their ruffled look. Carnations come in many different colors, and are quite long-lasting as a cut flower, making them a great gift.

3. Alstroemeria, or the Peruvian lily, is also a popular Valentine’s Day flower. Alstroemeria are said to symbolize devotion, and, like carnations, they are long-lasting as a cut flower. They are popular as an additional filler in large bouquets, though they are equally beautiful on their own.