Nome I Aaron C. Kalmar
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Nurturing
ature
erhaps, like most people, your
mood lifts along with the
mercury in the thermometer
as you welcome back spring. Flowers
blooming, a dozen shades of green,
the first robin pecking for worms
in the backyard ... spending time in
natural landscapes has been proven
to decrease mental fatigue, restore
mental clarity, increase a sense of
well-being and may even boost the
immune system.
Why not invite Mother Nature into
your backyard?
Highland-based landscape designer
Aaron Kalmar has been specializing
in abstract natural gardens for the
past 20 years. "Formal landscape
gardens are overscaled," said Kalmar,
who uses mostly native Michigan
plants in his designs and works with
elements of the Earth, such as wood,
Natural landscapes can boost your mental health.
p
stone, water and fire to create a
natural feng shui setting.
GETTING STARTED
It all starts with a plan that can be
built on, says Kalmar, who consults
with his Oakland County clients on
landscape designs that can be done
in phases.
He recommends his clients start
with the hardscaping. Kalmar uses
all natural stone to build boardwalks,
realistic water features, stone
E rAl t Aaron C. Kalmar
(creator of Natural Habitats)
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LANDSCAPE DESIGN • INSTALLATION
We are a custom
landseape compan
specializing in data-
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Serving Claklaid
County for 20 years!
Only the finest
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Expert Landscaping
by Award-Winning Aaron C. Kalmar
16 I Open Door Magazine • May 2012
benches or fire pits.
"Next come trees," says Kalmar,
who takes his clients to nurseries to
help them choose the trees for their
yards. "I'm there to help them decide
what will fit for their particular
property — what needs sun or shade,
for example."
The next phase of design comprises
choosing the shrubs and perennials.
Kalmar uses mostly native plants
— 80 percent — with exotics or
cultivars used as accents to add color
or drama.
Sometimes, Kalmar will work with
a client for years to create the natural
landscape of their dreams.
A personal backyard shangri la —
filled with natural beauty — is the
answer to today's high-tech, busy and
stressful world, a place to find peace
of mind, any time you need it.