Beyond the pigmented leaves and pumpkin spice mania, there’s abundant activity taking place in the fall. Bears are stuffing themselves full and fat on anything they can get their jaws around. Squirrels are accumulating stockpiles like fuzzy doomsday preppers. Birds are aiming their beaks southbound toward warmer weather. And garden tenders—the savvy ones—are planting bulbs.

Bulbs exist under the broad category of perennial plants, or plants that live more than two years. Taken literally, the term perennial means “through the years.” Planting bulbs in the fall, if done correctly, will offer delayed but beautiful spring blooms for years to come. “Bulbs are the gems of the garden. They’re little treasures. You plant them and forget about them, then all of a sudden, they bloom, and they’re amazing,” said Moss Mahler, founder and sole operator of Hobo Rosa Landscaping.

There are “green thumbs,” and there are people like Mahler who have green fingers and toes as well. Her business, Hobo Rosa is founded on passion, and her experience is a result of twenty years of hard work and indulgence in her curiosities. “This is what I love, so I spend a lot of time geeking out on it,” Mahler said.

‘Tis the Season

The purpose of planting in the fall, according to Mahler, is to give the bulbs time to put down roots and establish themselves below the surface. Because nothing is happening above ground, especially during the late autumn and winter months, many people have the false assumption that nothing is happening below ground either. 

Bulbs should be planted when soil temperatures are around forty degrees, according to Amy Jo Detweiler, community horticulturist for Oregon State University Extension in Central Oregon. For successful flowering, bulbs also require a chilling period, or roughly ten weeks in a row at forty degrees or cooler. “September through October is going to be a good window to plant here in Central Oregon,” Detweiler said.

Choosing and Planting

Tulips, daffodils, crocus, hyacinths, scilla and snowdrops are the more common spring-blooming bulbs, but they are by no means the only options. “One of my favorites is the foxtail lily,” Mahler said. “I’ve been having really good success with them and they’re really showy. They get three or four feet tall with their flower spikes, and they like the drier conditions here.” While climate is a crucial factor in bulb choice, Mahler advocates for personal taste. Find something that will spark excitement at full bloom after a long winter. 

In preparing the bulb bed, typical weed removal, soil loosening and amending the soil with compost will all be beneficial for bulb development. Choose an area that will get at least six hours of daily sunlight in the spring, and follow the general rule of planting bulbs three times as deep as the bulb is tall, with the pointed end of the bulb aimed upward. For tuberous plants—another bulb-like structure—or bulbs that don’t have an obvious point at the top, plant them root-side down, or on their side just below the compost surface, with the indented side facing up. At the time of planting, both Mahler and Detweiler suggest adding a handful of fertilizer high in phosphates.

Time to Bloom

Big bloom or small, prepare to bear witness to a fresh splash of color in the spring. “The bigger the bulb, the bigger the bloom,” Detweiler said. “The size of the bulb, when buying them, has a direct correlation to flower size.” The exact timing of the bloom will depend on the variety of bulb and soil temperatures. The birds and bees will enjoy them as well, but beware of deer who have a strong appetite for tulips.

Appreciate the flowering period in the spring and understand that the flamboyant, above-ground life of a bulb is short-lived. “After bulbs flower, they go through an awkward phase,” Mahler said. “Daffodils are a good example, they flower, they look really great, and suddenly they look like they’re dying.” Similar to the planting and dormant period underground, this awkward phase is important. Where many people error is their impatience in cutting back the yellowing leaves. When the initial burst of beauty subsides, the remaining leaves—while sad-looking—are soaking up as much solar energy as they possibly can. Wait until the leaves are good and brown before cutting them back, and trust the perennial nature of the bulb—they’ll be back. 

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The classic white picket fence has been a symbol of American culture since the late 1800s—offering enough security to pen in a golden retriever, and a short height to allow for friendly conversation with neighbors. While there’s some truth in Robert Frost’s line, “Good fences make good neighbors,” from his poem “Mending Wall,” there is more to modern fencing than the creation of a simple barrier along a property line. Whether constructed by professional builders or whitewashed by a gang of fooled school children, under the tutelage of Tom Sawyer, fences today not only serve a purpose, but offer an opportunity for homeowners and builders to flex their design muscles and create something beautiful. In Central Oregon, fence styles run the gamut, with horizontal, vertical and diagonal wood designs in various colors and stains; ornamental iron fencing or iron details; and standalone panels or barriers to bring privacy and decor to a stylish backyard.

Functional Entry 

Gates offer a designated entry point into and out of a fenced area, and when executed well, are a crucial element and the most interactive component of a fence, according to Tim Davis, the owner and operator of Cedar & Stone, a Bend company specializing in artisan, residential fencing and gates. “I really love a well-swinging, cleanly latching gate,” said Davis, who has honed his expertise in fence design and construction for the better part of the past decade. “That satisfying snap when the gate latches. I know my gate is closed. I don’t even have to turn around.” With a creative mind and keen eye for detail, Davis helps his clients match form with function, with well-designed gates and fences in a variety of styles.

Aesthetics and Material

Today’s trends in fencing include simple, minimalistic designs with clean lines, and mixed material fences that combine wood with iron, cinder block or corrugated metal each offering a mix of curb appeal and privacy. Long-lasting, low maintenance fence varieties include those made of vinyl, aluminum and composite materials. 

One Central Oregon company executing custom fencing in the region is Between the Boards, which has operated for more than fifteen years. When considering the current trends, Nathan Jacobson of Between the Boards said popularity in design can vary. “It changes month to month. We’ll do seven horizontal fences one week, then we’ll do ten vertical fences the next,” Jacobson said. Where modern vinyl fencing has been the less common option, ornamental iron fencing and the natural taste for various wood fences make up the bulk of their work, Jacobson said. “Cedar fences are what most customers are looking for. The horizontal fences have become much more desirable, for both fashion and durability,” Jacobson said. 

For Davis, material type, color and orientation of the fence are all considered when designing a custom project. When acquiring lumber for wood fences, Davis hand selects each board and powder coats the hardware himself to ensure the highest quality. He also partners with local fabricator Damien Teitelbaum of Bent Metal Works, for custom steel frames for gates, adding another element to highly functional fences that can feel like art.

Privacy

There’s a delicate balance when building a fence for the purpose of privacy. Too little fence leaves a property exposed, but too much fence disrupts the landscape, obstructs views or can feel confining. Additionally, some Bend neighborhoods have HOA regulations guiding whether fences can be built and the design guidelines of doing so.

Cedar & Stone has embraced creative ways to offer privacy without violating HOA regulations. Davis constructs privacy barriers using beautiful off-set horizontal panels. Using ingenuity and the same functional art approach, Davis can give homeowners the privacy they desire without devaluing the aesthetic or interfering with wildlife migration.

Durability

An investment in quality fencing means that the structure will hold up to temperamental Central Oregon weather, which can be brutal on poorly constructed fences. “So many fences in the world are awful,” Davis said. “The gates sag, they drag, you have to lift them up to get them to latch.” It is the duty of a skilled builder to address potential wear from wind, snow, rain and sunshine when construction is first happening, lessening the chance that bad weather turns a good fence into an eyesore. For Davis, solid construction can include digging holes as deep as two feet and using 120 pounds of concrete per post to ensure a sturdy foundation. In many designs, Davis also includes a feature when an entire panel of fence can be removed by removing just a few screws. Without harming the integrity of the fence, this component allows access for future landscaping projects which might require large equipment. Features like these show how fences have evolved from the early days of a simple white picket fence into a design element that meets the tastes of the modern homeowner. 

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The goal of creating a spa-like bathroom is to feel enticed into a serene atmosphere, to be pampered and to leave renewed. The difference between an ordinary bathroom and a spa-like space hinges on both design and detail. For some, the anticipation of stepping into a freshly remodeled steam shower might transform the experience from average to extraordinary. For others, a bamboo bath mat and a lush houseplant might be enough to boost the charm.  

While bathrooms are a necessity for modern living, all are not created equal. Here are a few ideas for turning an ordinary bathroom into a revitalizing space. 

Creating Ambiance

It’s no secret that people flock to Central Oregon seeking the beauty of the outdoors. Connecting the outdoors with the indoors is one way to create a spa-like atmosphere, according to architectural and interior designer Kirsti Wolfe of Kirsti Wolfe Designs in Bend. Wolfe has thirty years of experience in transforming ordinary bathrooms into zen sanctuaries. She makes a point in her design work to examine and accommodate for all the senses. Iridescent glass shower tiles might offer visual and tactile satisfaction, while a Japanese soaking tub provides the feel of a hot spring. “A simple fountain or water feature can add that sound quality of nature,” Wolfe said.

When going for the spa-like feel, it’s essential to sweep out things that make a space feel busy in order to inspire peace. For starters, minimize objects in sight. Shoot for clean lines and large tile slabs to avoid a grid of grungy grout lines.

Wet Rooms

Wet rooms are a relatively new bathroom design trend that may be intensive to create, but worth every ounce of effort. A wet room creates an all-inclusive, waterproof area for a shower and/or bathtub. These areas are visually appealing, allow for easy accessibility and can add value to a home. To make a wet room both beautiful and functional, don’t skimp on the waterproofing. Include a comfortable bench in the shower, and consider heated floor tiles outside the wet room to avoid a chilly slap back to reality when exiting the wet area.

In both wet rooms and areas of traditional bathrooms, there is a growing desire for large format tiles, Julber said. “It used to be exciting to have a twelve-by-twenty-four-inch-tile, but now there are twenty-four by thirty-six or twenty-four by forty-eight inch tiles—the less grout lines you have, the less grout lines you have dirt in,” she said. 

Inviting Lighting

Light is one of the key factors in turning a room referred to in the past as a “water closet” into a spa-like oasis. Optimize natural light by any means necessary. If installing skylights or expanding the current window dimensions are possibilities—do it. Improving both natural and vanity lighting in bathrooms is something Patricia Julber, owner and design director of Bend’s Complements Home Interiors, implores her clients to do. Tantalizing touches such as a small chandelier, visible from the bathtub, have also become a popular addition.

Julber also noted chromotherapy as an emerging technology for showers—utilizing colored lighting, adjustable via smart device, to affect mood, physical tension and even mental health. At the very least, it’s nice to have an option for dimmable lighting and adjustable color. The last thing anyone wants are added wrinkles from squinting into harsh lighting.

Getting Steamy

Space permitting, a sauna might offer the greatest return on investment in terms of health and wellness, and it certainly evokes the feeling of being at the spa. In addition to being a luxurious addition to a home, according to a study shared by Harvard, sauna use might actually prolong your life, too. The study showed that regular sauna use by middle-aged men in Finland reduced the rates of death by 24 to 40 percent, depending on how many times a week the sauna was used over an average time period of twenty years. What better excuse can there be to bring a sauna into your high desert home?

Aside from the traditional wet or dry sauna, infrared saunas are becoming more popular for their ease of installation and acclaimed health benefits. For those who are not ready to pull the trigger on a sauna, a steam shower is a great compromise. “People love a steam shower when they’re coming down off the mountain. They’re cold and chilled to the bone—it’s wonderful,” Julber said.

Little Spa Details

With accessories, use the wisdom of iconic architect Ludwig Mies Van Der Rohe, who said “Less is more.” Moving products into reusable, label-free containers makes for less visual input and more serenity, while voice or touch-activated faucets add functional luxury without demanding additional space.

Last but not least, regardless of budget—including a bidet is another great bathroom accessory. After the toilet paper shortages of the past couple years, this accessory can offer peace of mind well into the future. Overall, creating a spa-like bathroom is something that will pay off on a daily basis. No reservations necessary, no time-limit, and no compromise in comfort or happiness.

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