GRAPHIC CONCEPT IDEAS

When it comes to designing for clients I normally don't delve into doing 3D work as I find that it cost the client more money than what they should be spending on design fees.  But every once in a while I come across an opportunity where designing in 3D or some version there off is less costly than drawing a plan.  In the case of my Irvine client (I should mention that I have many clients in Irvine) the husband wanted to keep some of the existing plants and add some edible plants while his wife wants some low maintenance groundcovers.  I felt that there was no need to measure the site as this would not be a complete redo and therefore decided to design via photos.  Bear in mind that these are concepts and not set in stone. 

The plan is to add some dwarf Lemons, Kumquats, Dwarf Holiday Avocados along with some California native shrubs that will bring in the beneficial wildlife.  Since some of the existing non native plants are edible it will become easy to create cohesion.  

The natives that are proposed are drought tolerant and won't need much care.  One native in particular is the California woodland strawberry (left picture) that can tolerate both sun and shade and will produce lots of edible strawberries.  Another is the Emerald Carpet Manzanita (right picture) which much like other Manzanitas (Arctostaphylos) has red bark and bright green leaves.  Both of these groundcovers are great as they don't need much water and don't like to be maintained much.  I am meeting with the client this Saturday and will have more to share with you next week.  Additionally if you have been able to successfully incorporate edibles and natives into your garden then please share.  I would love to see what you have done.