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© Jeremy Levine Design

A top landscape designs firm in California has made the 4th of July a time to celebrate great design by adding a resort theme to the backyard. Del Conte's Landscaping has been a leading designer in the Bay Area for almost 40 years.

They are experts at helping homeowners to choose the best year-round eco-friendly design investment to improve their lifestyles at home. For example, one of the home landscapes they helped design in Pleasanton, CA is now in line to win a prestigious design award. It features a unique covered, outdoor kitchen and dining area. There's also an eco gel fireplace, a deck, a custom water feature, built-in seating and vertical garden. These innovative features have transformed the home's backyard into a mini-resort for the ultimate year round "staycation" retreat.

© La Citta Vita

Landscape designs for patios require you to consider many different elements, the first of which is how large or small you want the patio to be. Also consider what you will mainly be using it for, such as family dining or entertaining. When considering materials for your patio design, patterned bluestone is a lovely choice due to its full range of color, which can look great with a variety of home exteriors.

You should also consider whether you want additional patio features like raised terraces or seat walls. Especially for those in hot and sunny climates, you should consider adding some shade trees to your patio area. An outdoor pergola is another way to create interest and shade. A patio pond makes an orate addition that can be built right into the patio as well.

© La Citta Vita

There are large parks in both the cities of Madrid and Barcelona, Spain, where visitors can get a good feeling for Spanish landscape designs. For example, the Parque del Buen Retiro in central Madrid stretches out over 350 acres. There is a lake at its center, and wide walkways that are always filled with pedestrians, bikers and skaters.

There is a botanical garden just blocks away from this park called the Real Jardin Botanico, which is home to an amazing number of garden displays. In Barcelona you will find similar parks and botanical gardens, including the Jardi Botanic, the Parc de la Ciutadella, and the Parc Guell which also features art and sculpture from the famous Spanish artist Gaudi. In recent years Mediterranean style landscaping, such as that which you'll find in Spain, has become more popular with American gardeners.