Westwood Living Home & Garden – September, 2026
Presented by Laurel Wreath Homes

Publisher’s Note – We are proud and excited to introduce our newest monthly feature, Westwood Living Home & Garden, which will take us inside and outside homes in our community. We are actively seeking a presenting sponsor of this monthly content feature, and sponsorship will include integrated exposure in print, online and through Westwood Living’s social media channels on Instagram and Facebook. Please reach out to Tom Leyden by email at tleyden@bestversionmedia.com if you are interested in learning more about becoming our presenting sponsor of Westwood Living Home & Garden or would like your company’s ad placed within this section of our publication.
 

Working The Bloom Calendar

 
David Foucher takes great pride in the numerous blooms and various colors that highlight and showcase his property perfectly. Throughout the season, different flowers bloom at different times. The key goals of a successful bloom calendar are achieving continuous color, identifying empty transition weeks and coordinating design by matching flowers and foliage colors so overlapping blooms complement and don’t clash.

 

Front Porch Garden

A thoughtfully designed front entry should feel like an invitation. Here, masses of Blue Plumbago bloom from late spring into early summer, creating a soft ribbon of color guiding visitors toward the porch, while layers of shrubs and perennials provide texture and year-round interest. Together, they soften the home’s architecture and create a warm, welcoming first impression that only gets better as the landscape matures.

 

Baptisia & Dianthus

Baptisia (False Indigo) is a standout native perennial producing elegant lavender-blue flower spikes in late spring before transitioning to attractive seed pods that add interest well into fall. At its base, vibrant Dianthus provides a colorful carpet of blooms from late spring into early summer, creating a beautiful contrast while attracting butterflies and other pollinators. Together, they deliver four-season texture and effortless beauty in a low-maintenance landscape.

 

Blue Plumbago & Salvia Border

A sweeping drift of Blue Plumbago bursts into bloom in late spring and early summer, creating a carpet of soft blue flowers naturally guiding the eye along the driveway. Behind it, the rich purple spikes of Salvia add height, texture and long-lasting color while attracting bees, butterflies and other pollinators. Together, they create a welcoming entrance that delivers vibrant beauty with minimal maintenance.

 

Raised Vegetable Garden

A raised vegetable garden combines beauty with practicality, creating an organized space where fresh vegetables, herbs and flowers can thrive. Elevated beds provide excellent drainage, healthier soil and easier maintenance, making gardening more enjoyable while adding a charming, productive feature that complements the surrounding landscape throughout the growing season.

 

Fern & Hosta Shade Garden

Shade gardens come alive through texture, and few plants do it better than Lady Ferns and Hostas. Lady Ferns unfurl their vibrant green fronds each spring, while Hostas provide bold foliage and delicate summer blooms, creating a layered landscape that thrives in filtered light. Together, they soften the home’s foundation and bring a cool, lush elegance to spaces where colorful flowers aren’t always the star.
 

Outdoor Living Landscape

A beautifully designed landscape should do more than frame a home—it should create inviting spaces where people naturally gather. Here, colorful Daylilies, graceful Ferns, and ornamental grasses soften the patio’s stonework while providing continuous texture and seasonal interest from late spring through summer. The layered plantings seamlessly connect the outdoor living space with the surrounding landscape, creating a backyard that’s as beautiful to enjoy as it is to admire.

 

A Memorial Space

With their broad, textured leaves, Hostas are among the most dependable shade perennials, providing beautiful foliage from spring through the first frost. Here, they frame a quiet memorial garden, creating a peaceful, contemplative space where the beauty of the landscape honors cherished memories.

 

Tropical Hibiscus

With its oversized, vibrant blooms, Tropical Hibiscus delivers a burst of tropical color from late spring until the first frost when properly cared for. Whether placed beside a patio, pool or outdoor gathering space, it creates an eye-catching focal point that instantly transforms the landscape into a backyard retreat, bringing a vacation-like feel to everyday living.

 

Blue Hosta

With its bold blue-gray foliage and graceful lavender flower stalks, Blue Hosta is one of the most elegant plants for a shaded landscape. Blooming in mid to late summer, it provides striking texture from spring through fall, while its oversized leaves create a beautiful contrast with finer perennials, adding depth, color and timeless appeal to woodland gardens and shaded foundation plantings.
 

Astilbe & Woodland Garden

Few shade perennials make a statement like Astilbe, whose feathery plumes bloom in vibrant shades of pink, red and white from early to mid-summer. Paired with graceful ferns and the rich foliage of Japanese maples, Astilbe brings color, texture and elegance to woodland gardens, transforming shady spaces into peaceful landscapes that remain beautiful throughout the growing season.