California is in a drought, and it looks like this is not going to be a rare event going forward. So we’re getting selective. This means losing potential clients, who may not share these values. “I don’t want your values in my backyard!” anonymus caller No, that did not go well. Never mind that they’reContinue reading “Did we become snotty tree huggers? Or just insist on designing for the future?”
Tag Archives: pervious paving
Provence in Sacramento
When you can’t get away as much as you like, create your destination where you live. You can play pétanque, dip in the pool, relax on the deck, entertain, enjoy a glass of Côtes-du-Ventoux with your friends. No arduous plane trip required! Maybe you can even speak a bit of French… Materials: Zellige tiles inContinue reading “Provence in Sacramento”
Concept for a sloping site
We’ve been busy doing consults. They’re not affected much by social distancing since they’re outdoors and we email back the drawings. Staying home in a wonderful new garden space is not a bad thing! New Style A bold, modern desert look is up next, transforming an ordinary suburban landscape into a bold, water conserving statement.Continue reading “Concept for a sloping site”
Getting ready for the Gardens Gone Native tour
Grasses wave in the wind, lupines finish their blooming season, new plants adapt to their new home, hummingbirds gyre above native sage and honeysuckle. Aggressive weeds have been pulled, trees trimmed, the compost heap is full, hot and full of insects. The Gardens Gone Native tour is always a good excuse to work like crazyContinue reading “Getting ready for the Gardens Gone Native tour”
Big storm tests the rain garden
There’s nothing like a few minutes of heavy downpour to check that the garden’s ecological systems are doing what they’re supposed to. Today brought pounding rain and hail to the garden. There’s standing water over the gravel in one area, the rain garden is filling up, and the pervious paving is definitely working hard. OnceContinue reading “Big storm tests the rain garden”
Urbanite: Using old concrete for new construction
Using urbanite paving with crushed rock creates a pervious walkable surface.
Gravel Paving II
With the garden tour happening the next day, we decided that the paths should have some kind of relatively level walking surface. So, instead of relaxing and letting our muscles recover from the previous work, we moved two yards of road base, tamped it down and wet it to reduce dust. The road base shouldContinue reading “Gravel Paving II”
Installing a gravel path
How to lay down gravel paths in the landscape.
Recycled concrete, Chapter 2
Recycled concrete slabs in the landscape
Dirty hands: demolition & fun with recycled concrete
Who says landscape architects never get their hands dirty? That they sit at their computers from the rising of the sun to its sinking in the West dreaming of landscapes, creating plans and never having, say, a pair of pants ruined by getting splashed with uncured concrete. Well, our showcase garden isn’t going to buildContinue reading “Dirty hands: demolition & fun with recycled concrete”