GRAVEL DRIVEWAY GARDEN UPDATE IN HUNTINGTON BEACH

The homeowner had already renovated the back yard years prior and was ready to tackle the front.  Given how much work she put into the back, she new that this time she did not want to do the work herself.  She was clear that she wanted a California native garden.  She also wanted to experiment with having a gravel driveway.  This is what the garden looks like after being installed for 10 months.  

SPRING GARDEN SHOW 2024

Last week I visited the South Coast Plaza spring garden show.  A nice array of demonstration gardens that gave me some design ideas and lots of booths selling plants and garden related things.  In this video I give you a look at the gardens so you too can get a look at what was done.  

The way the show works is that designers/contractors, partner with a home store in that mall.  This allows each designer to have access to furnishings and whatever that hone store has to offer.  This is something new that has been done for the past few years.  

IRWD CLIENT GARDEN UPDATE

In October I decided to visit a garden that was installed 9 months ago.  This garden is a mixture of California natives and a few non natives.  In this case the homeowners were awarded $5 per square foot by the Irvine Ranch Water District for removing their turf, installing a sustainability feature and drought tolerant plants. This garden is for sure the envy of the neighborhood.  This is an updated video of what the garden looks like.  

This is the original video that I posted about the garden just after the installation

This is the video I shot in Oct. showing the garden update. 

DROUGHT TOLERANT LAKE FOREST GARDEN

I have had the great pleasure over the last 15.5 years of being able to design gardens of all types, shapes and sizes.  As of late I have been doing a lot of turf rebate designs and having a blast.  In this design I transformed this front yard in Lake Forest, CA in to a drought tolerant garden.  

$5 PER SQUARE FEET OF TURF REMOVAL

If you live in the Irvine Ranch Water District purview then this is perfect for you.  Currently IRWD is offering $5 per square feet of turf rebate.  This simply means that for every square feet of turf that you remove, you get $5 per square feet.  

Now this money won't cover the entire cost of renovating the garden, but it will help offset some of the cost.  Not to mention that you are ultimately going to have a garden that will benefit the local wildlife.  

If you are interested in more info and to apply, then please visit this link:  IRWD turf rebate.  

This video shows a project that is going to collect such a rebate in the IRWD purview.  

MUSHROOMS IN A GARDEN

I love doing design work.  I went to school to study landscape architecture and loved it.  I never thought though that I would someday be self employed.  15 years later and wow.  Is this really my life?  It is...  It is also true that over the last 3 years I have done a shit load of turf rebate designs.  Until now I was not able to share any of those designs with you but now I can share some with you.   This is the first of many.  Designed in 2022 and looking great.  Well, great with the addition of mushrooms.  Enjoy!

RED LAVA ROCK USED AS MULCH

 When you are designing a space you have to consider all aspects of the project.  What is existing, desired and how to connect both cohesively.  In this Fountain Valley project I did just that.  

The direction was clear and to the point.  Expand the planting area, but keep most of the grass.  Use drought tolerant plants and make the space look visually appealing.  I did this but creating a curve that would extend the planting space using a mixture of California native plants and some Aenoiums.  

The decorative boulders are called red cresta form South West Boulder and Stone.  The mulch used is red lava rock that really adds a little something something to the project.  

Overall I am really pleased with how this project turned out.  This video details the installation.  

The plants I used were:  

• Salvia clevelandii - Cleveland Sage
• Hesperaloe parvilora - Red Yucca
• Trichostema lanatum - Woolly Blue Curls
• Strelitzia reginae - Bird Of Paradise
• Festuca 'Siskyou Blue' - Siskyou Blue Fescue
• Calylophus hartwegii - Sundrops
• Aeonium

POURED IN PLACE CONCRETE BACKYARD INSTALL

During this pandemic, I feel lucky to have work.  Grateful to be able to do what I love.  So when I was contacted by a lovely couple in Corona Del Mar to renovate their backyard, I will in.  They did not want to keep anything other than a few plants and wanted a space to entertain outdoor and roast some marshmallows.  

I began this project much like any by measuring the site, creating a site plan and taking analysis of the site.  Most of the site is full son with a few shady spots.  The existing concrete patio was not working for the owners and needed to be redone.  A space to have a fire pit was requested and the owners wanted a drought tolerant plant palette.  

I continued by designing two options to show what is possible for the space.  From there the client selected a design that was better suited for their needs.  Then I created detailed drawings that two contractors bid off of.  

This video depicts the process of installation.  I will post another video of what the project looks like in the evening.  

DRAWING FLOWERS

Recently, I came across an artist on Instagram and was intrigued by her work.   What I like most about her work is that it is easy for someone like me, that is still learning and growing in the art of watercolor to recreate and learn from.   So this past Sunday I decided to recreate one of her Instagram posts about drawing flowers.  

This is why I love following other artists.  I can follow their adventures and be able to learn and grow.  I also like getting inspired by the work of others.

I definitely need to improve my watercolor skills and following random artist helps me do that, then I am all for it.  

DRIP VS OVERHEAD IRRIGATION

Some people will say that overhead (spray) irrigation is the only options since plants in the wild are not drip irrigated and like to be watered in such a way that mimics natural rainfall.  This is not inaccurate.  But this does not mean that plants which are not overhead irrigated won't survive.  In fact if you irrigate properly based on the needs of the plants then most will do just fine. 

On that note in the next coming weeks I want to touch on this subject more with Wednesday blog post showing different types of irrigation materials based on several categories such as, overhead systems, drip systems, valves, controllers etc. 
Perhaps this will help you when trying to determine what system will work best for your garden. 

TOP 5 WAYS TO ADD COLOR TO YOUR LANDSCAPE

I love designing colorful landscapes. I also like create designs such that when you get sick of a color,  it becomes easier to switch out that color is you so choose to.  So in this video I share with you 5 ways to add color to your landscape.

The first thing you can do to add color to your landscape is with flowers.  This means that you have endless options and if you design with the seasons in mind, then you can have pretty colors each season. 

Second, you can add color with the furniture.  You can buy a basic outdoor bench and add decorative cushions and pillows that can be switched out as the seasons change.

The third way to add color to the landscape is through colorful accessories.  This can be done through garden art, ornaments and other decorative accessories. 

Fourth, add color through decorative pottery.  In this case I would suggest adding pottery of the same color tone to create a cohesive look. 

Finally you can add color to the landscape by painting one wall in your garden.  Ideally, this should be an accent wall that will be seen from various parts of the garden.  The specific color that you choose will depend on what other colors and textures are going to be in your garden. 

TOP 4 WAYS TO ADD EDIBLE PLANTS INTO YOUR GARDEN

As much as I love designing with California native plants, I also like being able to eat off of my own garden.  And while there are some California natives that are edible, there are also some plants I love to eat that are not native.  So in this video I share with you 4 ways to add edible plants into your garden and still make it drought tolerant.

The first thing you can do to add edibles into your landscape is by having raised beds.  This is a great way to keep all your edibles contained in one area. 

Secondly, you can add edibles to your landscape is through pottery.  In this case you can add a hint of color to your garden with the pottery, yet still grow edibles. 

Third, you can garden up.  You can use vertical garden pockets that are screwed to a wall to not only add interest to the blank wall but also have extra room to grow just about anything.  Including edibles. 

Lastly you can grow edibles directly in the ground.  In this case I would suggest creating an area in the landscape where all your edibles will be so that they are contained in one mass.  Or, you can use edible groundcovers throughout the garden. 

MIXING NATIVE WITH NON NATIVES

I love designing with California native plants, and believe that you should incorporate some in your garden.  But I also believe that there are some non native (California friendly) plants that are very drought tolerant that I myself would have in my own garden (if I had land to garden in). 

In this video I share with you how to incorporate California native plants with non native plants. 

TOP 3 WAYS TO BEAT THE DROUGHT IN YOUR GARDEN

Sadly I believe that California may always be in a drought.  Having said that I also believe that you can make small changes to make this environment a little better for your health and that of your loved ones.  In this video I share with you 3 ways that you can beat the drought in your garden.

First method of beating the drought is to use drought tolerant plants.  Plants that don't need to be watered as much, will survive better then most other plants.

Secondly, you can beat the drought by collecting rain water through rainwater harvesting.  Free water courtesy of mother nature.  You can also connect your laundry water to your irrigation system.

Third, you can beat the drought by reducing the size of your lawn.  Do you really need a big amount of lawn?  Perhaps that space can be better served to create an enchanting habitat for the local wildlife. 

PICKING PLANTS FOR MY PATIO

 As I design my new patio and slowly work on renovating the space, I also have to think about plants.  I don't have land to garden in and thus can only use pots.  This though creates a tricky situation as some plants may not do well grown in pots.  Sadly, my favorite plant aka Cleveland Sage is one of those that will not thrive in any of the pots that I have, due to size.  But there are smaller alternate species that may work. 

I am going to do a video, where I go to the nursery with my plan and show you what I am thinking of choosing.  In the meantime, below are some plants that I am thinking about. 

The three that I have in mind for now are some version of Salvia clevelandii (Cleveland Sage), Dudlya, because it is a great California native succulent that needs little care to grow and Satureja douglasii (Yerba Buena). 

IN THE GROOVE OF WATERCOLOR

When I set out on a mission to watercolor and create art more often, I had one goal.  At least once a week create something.  Sometimes something that I really like and sometimes things that don't spark joy.  But that is part of the fun, to be consistently creating. 

So on Saturday I went to a coffee shop with the premise that I would paint something, while sipping on some tea.  I spent a few hours there and wound up with 6 paintings.  I never have a specific thing that I paint.  I just scroll though the nature, design, landscape hashtag on Instagram and pick an image that appeals to me and go from there. 

The first three painting were of leaves.  An Oak, Maple and Redbud.  I paint exactly as the image looks.  I try to add my own spin on things.  I know that it will never look 100% but that's ok, because I like a little imperfection. 

Of these three my favorite is the Oak leaf.  There is just something about the shape that appeals to me. 

I will for sure try and draw other leaf shapes.  Maybe I should get into drawing just trees of different types.  Perhaps an experiment in painting California natives. 

Once I had drawn the leaves, I moved to a whale planter,  potted Sage and Poppy in the middle of a path.  The plant in the whale pot image was one stem, but I decided to make it more my own by adding other stems.  Creating a unique to me piece of art.  The potted Sage in the original image was in a bathroom.  Nope, that did not fancy me so I took the pot and tried to make it look like it was nestled among some rocks.  This allowed me to get creative.  Just the way I like it.  The last painting was of a Poppy that had sprouted in a decomposed granite path.  The path led to some wooden steps that let down to somewhere.  In my mind the path led to a secret area of the garden that was hidden.  A private area that you can go to at night with your loved one, with a glass of wine. 

Admittedly, my next challenge should be drawing people and animals.  Two things that I cannot do draw well.  I am sure that if I practice I will be better but for now I will play too scared to try card. Hah!

MY NEW PATIO DESIGN

I had let my patio get into a state shit.  Literally, I had let some plants die and with the recent rains, all kinds of leaf litter had spilled into my patio.  I finally decided it was time to redesign it and give it a good clean.  I made a video of what it currently looks like that I will put at the bottom of this post. 

I decided to use most of what I already had so that I would not have to buy anything new other than plants and maybe a few accessories.  I have not completely redone the patio as I am still not 100% on the plants I am using and may wait until after the IRS had bled me dry before I buy anything.

I have 4 white pots of varying sizes, two green metal chairs, a DIY bench, a worm bin, 4 Greenbo railing planters and a woolly pocket.  As I do for all my clients, I drew a scaled plan.  This one is 1/2" scale. 

In my case I face the challenge of the space being 100 square feet of concrete and there being a gate that opens all the way.  This means that I have no land to plant in and need to leave room for the gate to swing open. 

STRUGGLING TO WATERCOLOR

Sometimes I know exactly what I want to paint and other times I struggle to even pick up the pencil to start drawing something.  Anything.  This is a temporary obstacle that is overcome by allowing the obstacle to just sort itself out.  You may not have the groove in that moment but soon enough you will.  You see, in life there are two main types of obstacles.  The ones that you can immediately control and the ones that you cannot control, that will sort themselves out if you are willing to be patient. 

Since I had no mojo to draw I decided to watch some videos on YouTube.  After about an hour I picked up the pencil and drew something.  Not something I would be totally proud of but something.  Something is better than nothing. 

I look at this much like life.  You will always have obstacles.  Fear, doubt, lack of trust, eating unhealthy etc., but you do not need to keep those obstacles.  You can consciously choose to change and rid those obstacles from your life.  And if there are ones that you cannot control then you can ask God, the universe and your ancestors to help you. 

This is a prayer that I say to myself when I am in need to be calm and still.  "In the name of Allah most gracious most merciful.  May I have the serenity of mind not give two shits, about that which I cannot control.  Control that which is within my grasp and the wisdom to know the difference.  My I also have the compassion to treat others with kindness and respect, regardless of how they treat me."

 

WATERCOLOR ON A LAZY SUNDAY

Some Sunday's are lazy.  There are no plans and all you want to do, is not much of anything.  This was the case for me yesterday.  Which made for the perfect day to just sip some tea and watercolor.  So, I do my usual routine of sifting through Instagram under the nature and decor hashtag to see if there is anything there that might inspire me to paint and sure enough there was.  The first was a picture of a pot with one plant in it sitting son top of a brick.  The second was a pot of plants randomly staged on what I assume was a counter top.  As always I don't draw exactly as it looks in the image.  I try to put my own spin on it, to make it my own. 

The other thing I do when I paint it just remind myself that this is just meant to be fun.  It may turn out great or not.  That does not matter.  What matters is that I tried and had a great time doing so.  The more I try, the better I get.  This approach can also be applied to others parts of life. 

EXPERIMENTAL WATERCOLOR

I decided to experiment with the different greens that I have and paint some trees and shrubs.  It was meant to be a test to see the different shades of that color that I had and how it would look if I mixed them.  In some of the plants, I also added a bit of yellow and/or white to play with.  Overall I am happy with the result.  This was also a way to practice drawing plants, which is something that I am struggling with. 

Truth be told I want to have an art business that generates a decent income, but I fear that I won't be able to market and promote it as I intend to keep my landscape design business, which is my bread and butter.  Somehow I will figure it out and make it work, without burning myself out. 

I recon that is what life is all about.  Experimenting and thinking of ways to do what you love and generating income at the same time.  Sometimes it's harder that it looks and other times it's not, but it is always fun and educational.