9 minute read
OUTDOOR LIVING
Flower Cove. CHARIS PATIRES
CHARIS PATIRES
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Boaters on the Grand Glaize Arm of the Lake often take to Facebook to post and comment about “Flower Cove,” a private dock and tropical oasis that gets the attention of everyone passing by.
Located at the 9-mile marker in Patterson Hollow Cove, look for it tucked away to the left of the main arm as you are heading down the Grand Glaize Arm of the Lake.
“The Curran Family and the Lake of the Ozarks Land Title Company enjoy hearing all the compliments about Flower Cove,” the Curran family said. “They enjoy using the beautiful space they have created to meet with family, friends and clients. They enjoy sharing the elaborate flower display with the Lake community and always look forward to seeing fellow Lake enthusiasts pass by.”
The Curran family started this personal project in 1992. The dock has approximately 250 feet of shoreline and is just a portion of the 60-acre tract of land adjacent to the Lake of the Ozarks State Park.
The landscaping, visible from the water, encompasses several areas of the 60 acres. The landscaping is currently concentrated on about 1,000 feet of shoreline and approximately 15 acres.
Design and structural improvements are constantly being made to the area. Each year there are experiments with different combinations of plants, sculptures, and other design elements in an effort to improve the display and create a relaxing retreat.
Native plants to the area include Red Buds, Dogwoods, Walnut, Sassafras, Serviceberry, Chinquapin, Hickory and White Oak trees. Plants and flowers added to enhance the beauty include Beauty Bushes, Fire Bushes, Peonies, Azaleas, Plum Trees, Elephant Ears, Day Lillies, Canna Lillies, Sweet Potato Vines, Clematis, Roses, Mandevilla, Trumpet Vines, English Ivy, Japanese Maples, Petunias, Impatiens, Spirea, Hibiscus, Boxwood Hedges, Magnolia, Weeping Willow, Southern Pines, Forsythia Bushes, Wisteria and much more! This year, around 500 flats of flowers alone were planted on the property.
The hanging baskets are one of the main focal points of the landscaping. Members of the Curran family designed and created the first basket in the late 1990s, and the design has been improved upon since. These showstoppers hang right along the water’s edge and cannot be missed.
Preparation for the annual flowers begins in February each year. At this time, plants are purchased and bulbs are prepared. Planting typically begins some time in April. Once planted, constant upkeep is necessary to maintain the grounds. A crew of 1-2 people are responsible for maintaining the flowers and irrigation, mowing the lawn, as well as upkeep and improvements at the dock.
In the fall, bulbs are collected and stored for the next year. During the slower winter season, the soil is prepared for the next planting year.
The Curran family is always researching new elements that can be added to the display the next year. There are even plans to add sculptures. The family encourages everyone to stop by on an annual basis and see what’s new!
x Creating additional living spaces where people can enjoy their home has taken off in the last year.
w Special details and stone are being added to landscape
features. PHOTOS PROVIDED BY HEARTLAND LANDSCAPE GROUP
With COVID keeping people at home, and more people relocating to the Lake, the emphasis has been on making the outdoor space part of everyday life. This includes adding outdoor kitchens, edible gardens, structures that provide outdoor privacy and protection from the weather, and products such as fire pits that extended the outdoor living season. A visually-pleasing environment that brings the indoors out has become the goal.
Ronnie Gadberry, owner of Heartland Landscape Group and Southwest Stone Supply in Osage Beach, confirmed that the emphasis lately has been on creating a welcoming and useful staycation space.
“A lot of trends haven’t changed, but we do see more emphasis on the backyard and people staying home,” he explained. “Homeowners are making better utilization of the space they have and doing the projects they have been putting off.”
Ronnie’s company is a professional landscape design and build firm that employs those with specialized skills and knowledge to create outdoor landscape environments suited to the way families use their home. Established in 1996, they serve both residential and commercial clients.
“The emphasis is on backyards,” Ronnie said. “Small patios with firepits, radius walls and integrated seating are very popular right now. It seems we are always working on one of these.”
Less yard maintenance has become a need at the Lake, Ronnie explained, as people want to spend more time relaxing and engaging in water activities. Gravel or rock cover in the yard is replacing grass, and water features are enhancing the space.
“Waterfalls and stream beds have become very popular,” Ronnie said. “Bubbler rocks are also being added to add appeal to backyards.”
A bubbler rock, he explained, is a 1,500-pound boulder that is pre-drilled. It is self-contained with a pump and self circulates the water that is stored inside.
“People are looking for unusual and natural stone selections,” Ronnie said. “They want something different than what their neighbors have. And natural steps and stone are replacing older steps and railroad ties that were used for these purposes.”
Small patios with firepits, radius walls and integrated seating are very popular right now. PROVIDED BY
HEARTLAND LANDSCAPE GROUP
Brown Jordan is the ultimate in outdoor cabinetry. This stainless steel cabinet is available in a variety of powder coated finishes. Pictured here is the Key West door style with a weave insert. The tops are a polished natural stone.
John Falter specializes in landscape design and sales at Doctor’s Lawn and Landscape in Sunrise Beach. He has seen the same increase in business from those who want to create the perfect outdoor space.
“We’ve seen a significant surge in business from homeowners who want to make changes to their outdoor space,” John said. “They want to improve the appearance with plants that are low maintenance and deer resistant.”
Established in the spring of 2004, Doctor’s Lawn and Landscape provides a variety of services. In addition to new outdoor construction and landscaping, they offer lawn mowing maintenance, fertilization and weed control.
John said people are adding plants, mulch and trees to enhance the appearance of their backyards. Retaining walls, firepits, patios and water features have also been in high demand.
“We are finding people want a spot near the water that includes a patio and firepit, even if the area is small,” he said. “Natural lines with less uniformity has become popular.”
John confirmed that water features are in high demand, including streams and re-circulating pondless water features that are low maintenance.
These are also NatureKast cabinets. Pictured here is the louvered style with cypress grain in. The tops are Hi impact DEKTON in Soke color.
PHOTOS PROVIDED BY RAGAN CABINETS
Faith House has a degree in architectural design and is the senior designer for Ragan Cabinets in Osage Beach. They specialize in outdoor kitchen cabinets and design to create outdoor kitchen spaces ranging from simplistic to fabulous.
“Because the Lake stayed open during the COVID shutdown, people who had second homes here began transforming them into their primary homes,” Faith explained. “We are exceptionally busy. We have cornered the outdoor kitchens poolside, on the deck and on the dock.”
Ragan Cabinets offers Brown Jordan, Danver and NatureKast brand cabinetry. The NatureKast have proven to be the most popular, and Ragan Cabinets is the only company in the area that specializes in them.
Danver is another stainless-steel powder coated cabinet made for lasting durability. Pictured here is the Key West door style in Champagne finish. The tops are stainless steel. PHOTOS PROVIDED BY RAGAN CABINETS
NatureKast offers 100-percent weatherproof cabinetry, panels, trim and more. Made of PVC and resin, they give the appearance of real cypress or teak. They come in a range of colors that are stained, painted or weathered finishes with a variety of door styles. The other manufacturers offer stainless-steel options.
Some of the outdoor kitchens Faith has designed would appeal to the finest of five-star chefs. In addition to the cabinetry and kitchen design, these include ice makers, pizza ovens, beverage fridges, full size refrigerators and more. Faith explained that matching television cabinets are also available which house large screen TV’s.
Although outdoor living spaces have been growing in popularity for years, the restrictions imposed by the coronavirus created an even higher demand for added space and new ideas. Being able to spend time outdoors with family became the escape people were searching for. The backyard has replaced the family yard as the place for families to make memories.
w NatureKast is an all-weather cabinet made of Hi density PVC resin offered in many styles and finishes. Pictured here is the louvered style with cypress grain in a walnut finish. The tops are polished quartz.
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