This summer has been hot and beautiful, but also bad for the proliferation of foxtail barley in the city. Officials are warning pet owners, especially those in the southeast, to watch for foxtail barley when walking their dogs. It has a very dangerous barbed seed head that can get stuck in dogs’ fur, plus their…
It’s been a great summer so far in Calgary, especially if you are a mosquito. The whiney little biters, which have led a somewhat solitary existence in the city for the past couple years, have made a very annoying comeback in 2022. A recent Calgary Herald article put the mosquito count at more than eight…
Opinions about dandelions have changed over the years as we learn more about how to sustain healthy growing environments. It used to be that city crews and homeowners were out with their spades and herbicides at the first hint of the bright yellow bulbous blooms we are all so familiar with, however, as with everything,…
A well-designed property has the potential to raise your home’s value by as much as from 5.5% to 12.7% higher, or even more. Even a modest investment in landscaping could one day put tens of thousands of dollars in your pocket. As Calgary’s real estate market continues to boom, many are working to figure out…
We love incorporating lilies into our landscape designs. They are a strikingly beautiful perennial, bursting forth with gorgeous blooms that appear as though they should be in the tropics. They are so pretty that is may seem that they must be extremely delicate and hard to grow, but thankfully, however, this is not true. A…
There are lots of great reasons to install a water feature in your yard. The sound of running water encourages relaxation, and the calming white noise they create acts as a filter for sounds around you. A pond can help mask the distraction of traffic and construction noise. Water also provides a cooling effect during…
Community gardens have gone from being the rare curiosity to a relatively common sight in Calgary over the last 15 years. There are now more than 200 community growing spots in the city, as compared to just 11 back in 2008. Found on both public and private land, community gardens not only provide food, they…
Coniferous trees can make real statements in yards, with their stately size, interesting shapes, and deep green colour year-round. They are relatively easy to care for, provide plenty of shelter and food for Calgary’s birds, and are extremely hardy. These are all good things, but as we work with our commercial and residential landscaping clients,…
Over our three generations in the residential and commercial landscaping business, we have seen a lot of great developments in our industry. We enjoy growing along with and participating in the evolution of the landscaping field, and we want to be fully representative of what the consumer values are of the day. New business landscaping…
Flowering shrubs are beautiful additions to any property. Many species available appear delicate, but are actually quite hardy, and easily handle the temperature variations of a common Calgary summer. With more than three generations of experience, we at Mirage are professional landscape designers experienced with working in Calgary’s often-challenging climate. We know exactly where…