Happy Fourth of July from LASN! This time of year - especially across the United States - people gather and celebrate outdoors.

Marking the signing of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, the founding fathers secured our independence from Great Britain, allowing us to now commemorate the day with fireworks shows, BBQs, beach days, parades, and a general sense of celebration outside that further prove the importance of Landscape Architects.

 
Firework Safety
As we all make our way to enjoy the land from sea to shining sea, it's important to note some important tips for all of our landscapes.

Before setting off fireworks, be sure to clear the area from zone 0 to prevent sparks igniting. Watering lawns and vegetation is also a helpful practice to minimize any fires. Further, well maintained and properly planned landscapes are always the answer.

Patriotic Landscapes
If fireworks aren't your thing, you can always make your backyard more festive with the addition of some plants, lighting, site amenities, and of course, flags.

To add red to your landscape try placing Baby Sage (Salvia microphylla) or annuals like Redhead Coleus (Plectranthus scutellarioides). For the white stripes try perennials like Shasta Daisy (Leucanthemum x superbum) or Annabelle Hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle'). Finally, for some blue select Blue Hill Salvia (Salvia x sylvestris) or Bigleaf Hydrangea in blue (Hydrangea macrophylla).

Get Outdoors
Just getting outdoors for the holiday is also a great way to celebrate Independence Day. According to the National Parks Service, while many popular parks timed-entry tickets, reservations, or lottery systems already sold out, they advise to arrive outside the peak entry times or to parks that don't require difficult to obtain tickets.

Parks like Zion National Park don't require a reservation to enter but select hikes make require tickets. Grand Canyon National Park, Yellowstone, Shenandoah National Park, Joshua Tree, and many more have similar situations.

Whatever you choose to do, LASN wishes you a happy, safe, Fourth of July weekend.