After the sun sets, these flowers spring open in seconds. The trick is being there when it happens, since they take their time getting ready. The flowers in the video were shot at normal speed, no time lapse, no acceleration. The entire sequence was over a a bit under 30 minutes, starting just after sunset.Continue reading “Evening Primroses spring open after sunset”
Author Archives: mike
Water conserving color
The manzanita that was supposed to grow, twist and soar over the deck is long gone. After a long period of mourning, we removed its corpse and installed water conserving color plants. Hummingbirds love two of them, flying close as we dine on the deck.
Easy living outdoor spaces… and a “bigger” yard
If you think a yard is too small, it might be due to a lack of organization more than tininess. Linking spaces, opening up views and being generous with patios give more useable space, all fit inside the formerly too-small garden. Some of these things might be a bit controversial: the front path isn’t theContinue reading “Easy living outdoor spaces… and a “bigger” yard”
A Fresh Start
A complete makeover adds useable space, outdoor living areas and brings an open look to this back yard Sometimes you leave as many existing elements in place as possible. Other times, you keep key items and eliminate the rest. And sometimes you clean everything for a fresh start. A too-small shade structure, a screen thatContinue reading “A Fresh Start”
A tale of two landscapes…
One client wanted a classic, contemporary look with minimal maintenance. The landscape should look good all year long, and color comes from foliage contrast, not flowers that have to be clipped after blooming. The other wanted a haven for birds, especially hummingbirds, something full of flowers and seeds, where seasonal maintenance was and accepted trade-offContinue reading “A tale of two landscapes…”
Resilient landscaping for Southern California
This didn’t start out as a laboratory for resilient landscape design. It was just a low-maintenance garden for aging people to enjoy. Then one person was no more. The other lost mobility. Parts of the garden received no irrigation. Pruning back and weeding likewise disappeared. Yet the garden survived, mostly intact.
The “Other” Japanese Maple
The full moon maple’s Latin name, Acer japonicum, actually seems more Japanese than the Japanese maple, Acer palmatum. It’s native to Japan, of course. To confuse things even more, there’s Acer shirasawanum, also called full moon maple, sometimes considered a subspecies of A. japonicum. The ‘Aureum’ variety is an incredibly beautiful tree that’s incredibly difficultContinue reading “The “Other” Japanese Maple”
Where do big trees come from? Big trucks!
These large boxed trees originated in multiple wholesale nurseries, who mark their logos on the boxes the trees are shipped in. In this case, two logos and a lot of unmarked boxes. The shade cloth protects the trees from being whipped by the wind, and keeps them a bit cooler, too. Considering that trees don’tContinue reading “Where do big trees come from? Big trucks!”
Amaryllis are dancing in the garden!
The amaryllis are in bloom at a much needed time: mid-summer, when flowers are scarce.
We’re in Hearth and Home magazine’s Outdoor Rooms special issue!
The Outdoor Room, a special issue showcasing exactly what it says: outdoor rooms. More specifically, outdoor rooms with cooking centers and fire features, mostly. Our design had a challenge that was rather unique: we had to maintain access to the garage, and the owners had to be able to park a car behind the patio.Continue reading “We’re in Hearth and Home magazine’s Outdoor Rooms special issue!”