Outdoor kitchens & living spaces
Summers in Wisconsin never seem to last long enough to enjoy the outdoors completely. An outdoor kitchen extends your entertaining, eating space and allows you to enjoy your yard beyond the summer months. An outdoor kitchen can be as simple as a grill and table or as elaborate as a fully equipped kitchen with built in appliances and seating. Fire Features such as fire pits, fire tables, fire walls and fireplaces are the new trend in outdoor living spaces. They can be designed as simple, authentic wood burning features or as elaborate as your budget will permit. A well ...
A secret garden addition
When the Ronald McDonald house built their large new addition in 2014, they came to Hawks for installation of the landscaping. Part of the project was the installation of an extension to their existing “Secret Garden” space. Hawks created a small patio, with walkways connecting the new main entrance, the maintenance garage, and the existing Secret Garden space. The patios and walkways are classic clay pavers that echo the materials of the building, and a variety of flowering trees, shrubs and perennials creates a colorful and peaceful space for visitors.
Back yard entertainment area
Hawks was able to completely renovate the back-yard of this Menomonee Falls home. Taking down multiple trees and clearing brush paved way for Hawks to create this Back-yard entertainment area. The walls are designed at seat height to provide extra space for guests as well as defining this outdoor room. The fire feature adds ambience and warmth to this outdoor space that can be enjoyed all year round.
Alex Mathison
Flame Grass (miscanthus sinensis purpurascens)
My favorite ornamental grass is a variety called Miscanthus sinensis Purpurascens. It is also called Flame Grass. I use it quite often in my designs. Plants form an upright 4-5ft clump of dark green leaves, turning flame-orange and bronze in the fall. Tall spikes of soft pink-beige flowers develop into silvery plumes which hold up well into the winter. It is super hardy and can be divided in the spring. A wonderful addition to any garden!
Monarch Trail in Wauwatosa
Hawks Landscape recently donated plant material to the Monarch Trail in Wauwatosa. The group “Friends of the Monarch Trail” http://www.themonarchtrail.org/ organized the planting as a local Eagle Scout project.
The Monarch trail is a great place to visit. Friends of the Monarch Trail have making great strides in restoring habitat and protecting the all important Monarch migration and we are proud to have done a small part. They are truly a great organization to be involved with.
My favorite tree: Apple Serviceberry
One of my favorite specialty plants is the Serviceberry or Amelanchier. This is a plant that fits in any landscape as a specimen plant. It can be used near a home or in a planting and will not get to large for its space. The Amelanchier is a native plant and can be found in woodland settings growing along edges between shade and sun. Its habit is upright- vase shaped and will grow 15-18' tall and about 8-10' wide. Generally, it will be grown multi-stemmed and will become a beautiful plant. It is a slow grower and will be comfortable in most residential ...
A Beautiful Staircase to a Grand Entrance
The homeowners of a beautiful Wauwatosa home with a prominent position above Wisconsin Avenue asked Hawks to design a new staircase in front of their home. The old staircase was falling apart, and didn’t create a visual connection to the house. Hawks designed a beautiful new staircase with natural, custom limestone steps and bluestone landings which blends seamlessly with the existing slopes. Skillful installation was necessary to lift the stairs in place and create the graceful S curve. The result is a stunning staircase which visually ties the house to the ...
Herbs
Planting an herb garden or container is a great way to expand your garden. Herbs are not only edible but, also provide fragrance and interest in your garden. Many herbs like mint, chives, oregano, sage and thyme are perennials so you only have to plant them once. Tender herbs like basil, rosemary and marjoram need to be planted each season. With a little planning, you will be able to step out into your garden to cut fresh herbs and turn ordinary into gourmet.
Dry Stream Beds
If you are looking for an attractive means to conduct water on your property, consider a dry stream bed. This is a shallow swale that has water running in it only in wet weather. Line with decorative gravel and various sized boulders and plant edges with plants associated with water such as iris and sedges. Make sure it is meandering not straight so that it looks more natural. The origin of the water can be your downspouts or maybe you just want to divert water away from your foundation. This sustainable solution allows much of the water to percolate into the soil, ...
Turf installation
Correct installation of turf can prevent many problems down the road. Your turf is in constant competition with weeds, diseases and insects. Installing 3-4 inches of good topsoil and making sure the turf maintains a 1-2% minimum pitch goes a long way to giving your turf the advantages it needs to win that competition by allowing for a healthy root system. Hawks can help your turf be a winner through proper installation the first time. We can also renovate most older turfs to help them compete better.
