We provide the complete range of services from initial design through construction to continuing landscape maintenance and development. Our collective experience in each project phase informs subsequent phases and future projects. We are a plant savvy company, and believe in the value and beauty that plants bring to projects. Young gardens can be vibrant and […]
Spring has sprung and the natives are flowering on local hillsides. I especially enjoyed a hilltop just north of Black Mountain Rd. It recently burned and was not weedy. Here’s a great combination of Dudleya pulverulenta surrounded by a gazillion Dichelostemma capitatum I also saw nice Allium praecox and Stipa cornonata.
The days are shorter and cooler, and with any luck more winter rains are on the way. Consider increasing the time between irrigation events. For many people that could mean removing one day a week from the schedule. For some it could mean turning the irrigation off altogether. One of my pet peeves with many […]
I initially built the walls pictured below to divide my flat and featureless garden, taking the eye away from the prominent edges of our relatively small suburban lot in Leucadia. The division also helped create a distinct space on the far side of the wall. From the house it provided some screening from the expanse […]
I’ve recently had run of requests for landscapes to complement modern architecture, and thought I’d share some photos and thoughts on the subject. I’ve had the pleasure of working on recent projects designed by talented architects including Architects Magnus, Domus Sudio, and Sanctuary Architects. I certainly appreciate the clean lines and simplicity of modern architecture, […]
I have noticed Ceanothus flowering spectacularly this season in San Diego on the hills east of Encinitas. Two different Ceanothus species dominate these local hillsides, one with blue flowers (Ceanothus tomentosus) and one with white flowers (Ceanothus verrucosus). In addition to being spectacularly lovely when covered with flowers both species are fragrant and attractive to […]
We recently completed this little project in Mission Hills. Designing, fabricating and installing this steel edge planter was something new and fun. My pop makes beautiful brass and stone doorknockers , I guess metal work is in my blood. Magnus Architects did nice work on this modern style house.
Warming weather and longer days have spurred our citrus trees into active growth. Now is a great time to feed your citrus. Unlike most of the ornamental landscape plants I tend to use, citrus are heavy feeders and need regular applications of fertilizer for best appearance and production. I fed my trees back in February […]
I was up in the San Francisco Bay area last week for a meeting of APLD (Association of Professional Landscape Designers) and to visit friends. UC Botanical Garden Horticulturist Meghan Ray and husband Eric Anderson kindly hosted me a day and took me to see the recent installation by green wall guru Patrick Blanc at […]
I like how this very small space packs in a lot of utility, with an outdoor shower, a couple different seating areas, a vegetable garden. The other thing that makes this space work, that makes any garden space really work, is the feeling of enclosure and privacy. The aesthetic is clean with wood and concrete, […]
