December 21, 2025 8:35 PM PST
The summers in
Clive, IA are beautiful, but they can be fleeting. We all want to squeeze every ounce of enjoyment out of our patios and backyards before the snow flies. However, many homeowners limit their outdoor time to the daylight hours of June, July, and August. By integrating fire features and outdoor lighting into your landscape design, you can extend your outdoor season by months and enjoy your property well into the night.
The Fire Pit: The Heart of the Backyard
There is something primal about gathering around a fire. It draws people together. A fire pit becomes the focal point of the backyard, a place to roast marshmallows with the kids, share stories with friends, or just decompress with a glass of wine after a long week. In Clive, IA, homeowners have two main choices:
1. Wood Burning: For the traditionalist who loves the smell of smoke and the crackle of logs. We build custom masonry pits with fire-brick interiors and stone veneers that match your home.
2. Gas (Propane or Natural): For the busy family. With a push-button ignition, you have instant warmth and ambiance without the smoke or ash cleanup. It’s perfect for a quick 20-minute relaxation session on a Tuesday night.
Seat Walls: Comfort and Function
To make a fire pit area truly functional in Clive, IA, we often recommend installing "seat walls." These are low, semi-circular retaining walls that surround the fire pit.
· Permanent Seating: You don't have to drag plastic chairs out of the garage every time you have company. Add a few cushions, and you have luxury seating for a crowd.
· Windbreak: On breezy Iowa nights, the wall acts as a windbreak, keeping the heat contained and the guests comfortable.
Landscape Lighting: Painting with Light
When the sun sets, your beautiful landscape shouldn't disappear into the darkness. Landscape lighting brings it to life in a whole new way. In Clive, IA, we use lighting to create "outdoor rooms."
· Bistro Lights: Stringing lights over a patio or pergola creates a festive, cafe-style atmosphere perfect for dining.
· Hardscape Lights: Installing lights under the cap of a retaining wall or on the risers of stone steps adds safety and a subtle, sophisticated glow.
· Uplighting: highlighting the architectural features of your home or the canopy of a majestic oak tree adds drama and depth to the yard.
Technology and Efficiency
Gone are the days of expensive, energy-hogging halogen bulbs. Modern landscape lighting uses low-voltage LED technology. These fixtures consume a fraction of the power and last for years. For the tech-savvy Clive, IA homeowner, these systems can be fully automated. Astronomical timers adjust to the setting sun automatically, so your lights come on at dusk every day, regardless of the season. You can even control the system from your smartphone, dimming the lights for a romantic dinner or brightening them for cleanup.
Extending the Season
Imagine sitting outside in Clive, IA in late October. The air is crisp, but you are warm next to your gas fire pit. The soft glow of the landscape lights illuminates the fall foliage. You are enjoying your home in a way that simply isn't possible with a dark, cold backyard. Fire and light transform your yard from a "summer-only" space into a three-season sanctuary.
Conclusion
Don't let the calendar or the clock dictate when you can enjoy your home. With the right design elements, you can push back the darkness and the chill. For residents of Clive, IA, Larkin Landscape & Design offers the expertise to create cozy, illuminated outdoor spaces that maximize your enjoyment of the Iowa seasons. Let us help you light up the night.
This post was edited by Larkin Design at December 21, 2025 8:35 PM PST