LARGE BACKYARD AT NIGHT TIME

 Last week I uploaded a video of a garden that I designed and the process of it's in stall.  Today I wanted to show you what that garden looks like at night.  Enjoy!  

I will upload both videos here so you can watch both.  

WHY I AM SEMI ANTI SOLAR LIGHTING

Fist of let me just say that solar lighting is OK if you live in a condo like me with no land to garden in.  It becomes your only option.  But if you live in a house with land then I highly recommend getting a lighting system installed.  You get more light and greater control.  Also if there happens to not be enough sun to charge the solar lights then you may not get sufficient lighting.  With LED you won't have that issue.  With LED lighting, you can control the amount of light that each fixture gives out.  You also get a ton of design options. 

This picture is of a garden in north Tustin and I designed.  As you can see in the photo, there is a bright light highlighting the rocks with the pot and plants.  In the distance there are path lights lighting the putting green.  There are also other path, up and directional lights throughout the rest of the garden. 

The lights are timed to go on and off and can be remote controlled using an app, which is a feature that you don't get with solar. 

There is also the issue of longevity and cost.  Yes solar is cheaper, but does not last as long as LED would.

2018 LANDSCAPE INDUSTRY SHOW

Today was treat.  Every year the California landscape contractors association has its annual landscape industry show.  A show where landscape architects, landscape designers and contractors can go to see the various products that are available on the market.  It is also a great place to network and attend some seminars. 

This year was a highlight of lighting, irrigation, artificial turf and a mixture of various other products.  It was nice to see the brands that I love to support and to get to meet other professionals. 

That being said I have to admit that attendance was not what it used to be.  This is something I have a hard time understanding.  If this is a great show to promote and grow your business then why not be there to learn and grow.  I think that educational institutions along with employers should do more to encourage their employees/students to attend such events.  Now I understand that this means having to take a day off of work, but that is worth it if it means that your employee gets to network and help build your business.  Perhaps tomorrow will be better than today.

ASKING A FAVOR FOR ALL YOU EARTH FRIENDLY LANDSCAPE LOVERS

This is a garden in Fullerton that was designed by me.  I have entered this garden into the Roger's Gardens CA friendly garden contest and would love to get the most likes.  All I ask is that you click on the link and hit the like button.  This would involve having a facebook account so if you do not have one then no sweat.  It's all good.

A few details about this garden for those who are curious:

• 60% of the plants are CA native
• 20% of the plants are CA friendly
• 20% of the plants are succulents
• There is a dry creek bed that leads to a secret garden
• There are decomposed granite paths
• There is an energy efficient overhead irrigation system (natives like to be overhead watered to mimic natural rainfall)
• There is also an energy efficient lighting system 

SANTA ANA LAWN GONE

When I received a phone call from a husband and wife in Santa Ana to bid designing their front yard and creating a lawn less garden, I was thrilled.  I love killing lawns!  To be truthful I don't like the actual labor aspect of it but I do enjoy proposing it gone on paper and seeing it gone in the real world.  If you have kids or animals that are going to realistically have use for lawn then by all means have it.  I have even designed gardens with lawn just for that purpose but in this case no was using the existing lawn space.  

The design intent was (aside from removing the lawn) to have a California native plant palette, decomposed granite pathways with accents of flagstone, a round flagstone/DG seating area and an energy efficient irrigation and lighting system.  Other design features include two pilasters at the entry with a 4 feet wide decomposed granite path that was designed to mimic a sidewalk that did not previously exist.

A few of the plants we are using in this project are:

• Arctostaphylos densiflora 'Howard McMinn'
• Ceanothus thyrsiflorus 'Skylark'
• Cercis occidentalis
• Erigeron glaucus 'Bountiful'
• Salvia meulleri 

 In the end these homeowners are getting a garden that suits their every lifestyle, is within their budget and most importantly was professionally done in a reasonable time frame.  They did not have to do any work and were able to go about their normal day while someone else (me and the contractor) took care of it for them.

I you are interested in renovating your landscape but are not sure where to begin then I have an option for you (OC residents only).  It's really simple!  A complimentary landscape design consultation at your house to go over what your needs are and give you ideas on what is possible in your garden.  If you are interested then simply contact me and we can get rolling.

SOLAR LIGHT MASON JARS

I live on the second floor in a condo complex and the only light source I have is standard condo lighting which is nice and bright but sometimes I just want a bit more mood friendly lighting. I can't have anything permanent, which meant that I had to get creative with what I could do. It had to be functional and something that my HOA would not frown upon. I decided that I wanted to have solar lights that could hang and thus created solar light mason jars.

Supplies you will need are:

• 8 oz mason jars - $10.99 at smart and final for a 12 pack.
• Solar lights - at the 99 cent store
• Aluminum foil tape - at the 99 cent store.
• String - any color that suits your fancy

I chose silver colored solar lights and aluminum tape because the lid of the mason jars are silver colored, which coordinated well together.  

Steps to  making the solar lights:

1. Remove the lid from the mason jar and remove the solar light from it's base.
2. Wrap the solar light twice with aluminum tape to ensure that it stays snug in the jar without falling to the bottom.  
3. Trim off the aluminum tape excess. 
4. Wrap string around the solar light 
5. Place the solar light in the jar.
6. Put the top on the light.
7. Hang in your desired place.  

In total I spent about $30 in materials (about 30 minutes to an hour of time) and have 12 mason jar solar lights in my front porch garden.  This is even something that you can do with your kids. Super simple and easy.

SOLAR LIGHTS AT BIG LOTS

I live a few blocks away from a Big Lots and like to go in there every once in a while when I need a break. Yesterday I was there and found some outdoor solar lights that I though I would share with you for two reasons. First of all because there are a lot of cool options and secondly because they are reasonably priced. I am not saying that this is a great alternative to having a lighting system installed but if you need temporary lighting then I would highly suggest trying these. Below are some images of what I found that you might be interested in. They also have a collection of garden ornaments and things you might like.

THE CANDLE LIGHT

I love how you can see a wide range of landscape products at the landscape industry show, some of which I will blog about and share. One product that just looked so cool was a candle light by Light Club USA. Connect this candle to your lighting system and it's almost as if you have just lit a candle without actually having done it.











Click on any image for pricing information. I want one of the right images for my front porch and those thankfully are the plug in kind while the others are not.