Second Carmel Valley gardener earns honorable mention in same competition

By Karen Billing

Two Carmel Valley gardeners have shown that being water-wise and having drought-tolerant landscaping dont have to mean ugly.

Amelia Lima's water-wise front yard won first place.

Carmel Valleys Amelia Lima was named the winner of the California Friendly Conservation Landscape Contest sponsored by the city of San Diegos water conservation program and public utilities department, while another Carmel Valley resident, Nancy Dalton, received an honorable mention.

Both womens gardens are alive with more than just rocks and a couple of cactuses they are colorful, lush and full of visual interest.

Im very concerned about water in our climate, as everyone should be, said Lima, a landscape horticulturist who owns her own landscaping company.

Lima said between 50 and 60 percent of all water in Southern California is used outdoors and, for the most part, people overwater their gardens. She said many people mistakenly think if a plant is not doing well, its because it lacks water. Her biggest tip is instead of dousing those struggling plants with more water, to find plants that actually want to live in this unique environment.

A dramatic sweep of river rocks in Nancy Dalton's garden gives the illusion of water flowing past plants.

Lima said that San Diego is a Mediterranean climate and only four other regions of the world share that climate the Mediterranean basin, South Africa, Australia and Chile.

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Carmel Valley gardener wins San Diego conservation landscape contest

Virginia Smith

Thursday, August 07, 2014

Hughes is that rare soul who prizes what other designers and gardeners despise - more so if it's scarred by deer browsing, insect damage or disease.

That's because, in addition to designing ecologically responsible landscapes, Hughes, 46, is a skilled woodworker who makes rustic furniture from garden "debris," a kind of plant-world Dumpster diver.

"It's a nice marriage, landscaping and woodworking," says Hughes, whose five-year-old business is called Weatherwood Design. It comprises about 70 percent landscaping and 30 percent woodworking.

Storm-felled trees and gnarly vines make good raw materials. So do pruned branches, old barn boards, and stuff plucked from the side of the road.

An arborist friend scouts out intriguing branches and discarded trunks. Hughes helps the Natural Lands Trust and local preserves thin out invasives or dead trees. And every July 4, again with permission, he rescues unwanted driftwood from death by bonfire at a public beach on Maryland's Eastern Shore.

The wood might sit for years on the 0.4-hectare property he shares with his widowed dad, Merritt Hughes, a retired English teacher. Logs, planks, oddball sticks and scraps are stacked along the driveway, in the yard, and in and around Hughes' densely packed, unheated 50-square-foot workshop.

"It's hard to throw anything out," he says of the jars of nails, screws and bolts, the bits of this or that, and the saws, planes and other tools of his trade.

Drying wood outside is challenging. But if rain and snow are his nemeses, water is also a friend. "My best ideas come in the shower," he says.

See the article here:
Poetry in the wood

Connie Osiers favorite color is purple. How do I know? It was pretty obvious when I drove up to her South Hill home for this interview for the July Garden of the Month sponsored by the Inland EmpireGardeners.

Her front yard was a sight for sore, heat-stressed eyes. Velvety purple petunias, pink and white Stargazer lilies and light purple zinnias lined the walk to the dark blue front door. The lilies fragrance added to the sensual treat. A magnificent purple-leaved laceleaf Japanese maple draped over a wall at the foot of the sidewalk. Container plantings of mixed purple

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PAT MUNTS photo

Connie Osier shares a moment in her award-winning garden with Zamboni her tuxedocat. (Full-size photo)

Connie Osiers favorite color is purple. How do I know? It was pretty obvious when I drove up to her South Hill home for this interview for the July Garden of the Month sponsored by the Inland EmpireGardeners.

Her front yard was a sight for sore, heat-stressed eyes. Velvety purple petunias, pink and white Stargazer lilies and light purple zinnias lined the walk to the dark blue front door. The lilies fragrance added to the sensual treat. A magnificent purple-leaved laceleaf Japanese maple draped over a wall at the foot of the sidewalk. Container plantings of mixed purple annuals and chartreuse sweet potato vine adorned the front step and border beds. Below a small sitting area by the front door are large Endless Summer hydrangeas that rounded out the color theme. More on themlater.

Osier and her family have lived in their 1939 house for 25 years. We basically had to demo the yard in the beginning and start from scratch, she said. Osier helped the process along by taking landscape design classes at Spokane Community College which helped sharpen her skills for creating an exciting series of spaces starting with her entrance garden through to her backyard full of fruit trees, vegetables andchickens.

The space along the east side of the house is planted with aspen, alpine firs and wildflowers that combine to make you feel as if you are walking along a North Idaho trail. This garden was created after a major water line break meant everything including a large pine had to go. The pine was rotten and hanging over the neighbors irreplaceable tile roof, shesaid.

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Gardening: July garden showcases the color purple - Thu, 07 Aug 2014 PST

LOS ANGELES (KABC) --

"That's the main thing that people probably don't believe. It did not cost me anything," said Cordero.

Because California is in the midst of a water crisis, local water agencies are offering homeowners rebates up to $3 a square foot for removing water guzzling turf and replacing it with plants and mulch that use much less of our precious resource.

A new company called Turf Terminators will take those rebates in exchange for a new drought-tolerant yard.

"We've done a lot of planning. We've streamlined our operations, and we've actually come to a point where we can offer these services for a cost that is lower than the value of the rebates that we get. Therefore, we don't have to charge the end user and the customer any money," said Andrew Farrell with Turf Terminators.

After an initial consultation with the homeowner to choose plants and a variety of mulch, Turf Terminators will file for the rebate and handle the rest of the labor.

Another great feature of this type of landscaping is all of the irrigation is underground. With traditional sprinklers, there's a lot of evaporation in hot and windy conditions, which costs you money.

"A study of the city of Santa Monica and Santa Monica colleges says that for a 2,000-square-foot yard that's green and lush and has proper upkeep, switching that with drought-tolerant landscape...can save up to $2,200 in a given year," said Farrell.

However, if your yard is just dirt and weeds and not green-growing grass, you're probably not eligible for the rebate.

For now, Turf Terminators is only working with Los Angeles Department of Water and Power customers. But it plans to expand all over Southern California.

Read more:
Drought-tolerant yards can be free with rebate

Like dandelion sprouts carried by the twisting, battling winds to every corner of the yard, many of last Mays high school graduates are beginning to scatter throughout the college landscape, to military service or other opportunities.

There is a new horizon in each of their lives lives which never again will be able to return to carefree childhood years.

Among this group are many athletes who I got to know either personally or through article coverage during the past many years.

For these departing seniors, this is a time of great excitement and great sadness the latter being felt especially by the parents or guardians. There are pills for headaches, diarrhea, toenail fungus and many other ailments but theyve never discovered a quick cure for separation heartbreak or homesickness.

Time and gratitude for all those past years and memories are the best remedies.

As Ive reflected on the departure of so many of yesterdays high school athletes and hard-working students and overall good kids, Ive thought back to some of the lessons Ive observed during the years.

First, when someone nears the end of life, I doubt theyre going to regret not having gone to more meetings or having missed a Saturday round of golf, or be thinking of the game-winning shot they hit during a pick-up basketball or the perfect grade they received in calculus.

Not that those things arent important in their own sphere.

But, history tells us many people who are on their death bed have their last thoughts on their families, the way they treated other people and their faith.

With that in mind, I think its a good idea to:

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New horizon for each departing senior

By Veronique DUPONT

LOS ANGELES, August 3, 2014 (AFP) -- Lush green lawns, a symbol of the American way of life, are under attack in California, where "cash for grass" programs have sprouted like weeds amid a severe drought.

With the western US state struggling to conserve water, locals are re-landscaping their outdoor spaces as attitudes shift about what constitutes an attractive yard.

And municipal monetary incentives -- reflecting the dire circumstances depleting reservoirs and underground aquifers -- are making it that much easier for many to make the switch.

Los Angeles, for example, is offering $3 for every square foot of grass that is replaced with more water-efficient options such as drought-tolerant plants, rocks and pebbles.

Under the "Cash in Your Lawn" incentive, property owners can get up to $6,000 for making the conversion.

"People forget we live in the desert -- why do we try to make it the Midwest?" asked Larry Hall, a jazz musician and LA resident as he ripped up his front lawn to replace it with a more environmentally friendly one.

His wife Barbara said the city's program made it possible to actually follow through and foot the bill for the project.

"We've thought about it, we've had estimates on re-landscaping but they were a little bit too high," she said. "So the rebate made it more of a reality."

Similar programs have sprung up elsewhere in California as the three-year drought shows no signs of abating and threatens the water supply of the state's 38 million inhabitants.

Continue reading here:
Amid drought, California declares war on lush lawns

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We create gardens first and foremost for our own enjoyment. But any garden, no matter how small, can also be a haven for some wildlife.

Its my belief that a wildlife-rich garden provides a far greater source of interest, relaxation and pleasure than one from which nature has been virtually banished by pesticides and herbicides.

When my family moved from the low desert of Palm Desert, Calif., to the high desert of Rio Rancho, we knew we would be making some adjustments as we were going from 30 feet below sea level to 5,282 feet above sea level.

However, we did not anticipate the adjustments that would be necessary to build a successful garden in this climate. However, our most rewarding adjustment was learning to co-exist with the wildlife that we would encounter in our Cabezon neighborhood.

Our initial impression of our property was a barren, sterile, scraped-clean lot with a great view of the Rio Grande Valley below.

Upon closer inspection, we could see field mice scurrying into holes along the bottom of the block wall, beetles burying into the sand, ants scurrying into their perfectly formed hills, rabbits hopping down the street, quail walking along the top of the block wall and coyote tracks and scat in the dirt.

It would be my challenge to create an environment that would allow me to garden, then to thrive, and one which would attract other native creatures such as butterflies, birds, bees, ladybugs, praying mantises, hawks, lizards, shrews, toads, squirrels and chipmunks.

Pat Barger has adjusted her gardening techniques to allow for and encourage wildlife to live among her plants. (Courtesy photo)

To share or not to share

Link:
Master gardener tells how to welcome wildlife to landscape

Aurora Energy is offering an improved landscaping plan and less reflective paint for an electricity substation it wants to build near the Hawea Whitewater Park in Camphill Rd, Hawea Flat.

Hawea River kayakers and mountain bikers were among those who made submissions against the Dunedin City Council-owned energy company's proposal at a notice of requirement hearing on July 24.

For the two kayaking organisations, landscape architect Anne Steven submitted the substation was an ''industrial-type'' facility that would be visible from the river corridor and silhouetted against the sky.

''This would compromise the natural and open characteristics of the river margins.''

She considered the substation would detract from the ambience of the river corridor and would impact on the recreational enjoyment of the whitewater park.

''It is not possible to mitigate the substation in this location and to ensure that it is in harmony with the landscape.''

Low-level planting might ''soften the edges'' but would do nothing to limit the impact of ''the bulk, height and density of the structures and associated lighting''.

She called for Aurora to find an alternative site.

On Friday, Aurora responded to points raised at the hearing with a right-of-reply by counsel Bridget Irving.

Ms Irving pointed out the site for the substation was not within the ''outstanding natural feature'' of the river or the river landscape.

See original here:
Substation paint, screening revisited

Longwood resident uses yard as a natural garden.

After more than two years of battling Longwood City Hall, Florida's court system and his neighbors along with racking up nearly $200,000 in code-enforcement fines Sean Law has cleaned up his yard.

"It is an improvement it looks dramatically better," City Commissioner Joe Durso said. "But we've still got some more work to do."

Law's attorney Dwayne Gray Jr. said the property at 402 E. Maine Ave. only needs to be re-sodded.

"He wants to be a good neighbor and resolve his issues with the city," Gray said.

Law's neighbor Kathy Ettman said she is delighted.

"I'm glad to see it this way," Ettman said, standing on her driveway and looking at Law's front lawn across the street.

"Oh, I hope it stays this way."

Law drew national attention after the city of Longwood began issuing him fines in 2012 for having high grass, weeds, dead wood and other debris in his yard at the corner of East Maine and South Oak Street.

Law called his home's junglelike landscape an "ecosystem" that is in compliance with the 2009 Florida-friendly landscaping state law, which encourages homeowners to grow yards that need little water and no chemicals. He added that he was growing fruits and vegetables.

Follow this link:
Longwood man cleans up yard after two-year battle

By Steve Jacobs, Nature Designs

The old saying if something seems to good to be true, it probable is is quite fitting when it comes to hiring a contractor for your home or yard construction project. While it is smart to shop around, get quotes, etc., dont fall into the trap of trusting an unlicensed contractor promising a great price. More times than not, the cheapest contractor will actually end up costing you the most in the long run. Here are some important things to consider when looking for a contractor.

Licensing

First, make sure that your contractor has the appropriate licensing (it is actually illegal for a contractor to provide services or products over $500 without a license). This is proof that he or she has met certain industry training standards and is allowed to work in your area. Its also important that your project meets all of the proper local building codes and obtains the necessary permits.

Each contractor is required to list their license number on their website, trucks, business cards, and all marketing materials. If you dont see this, ask them why and have them provide their number, then check the status of their license and insurance coverage on the Contractors State License Board website: https://www2.cslb.ca.gov/OnlineServices/CheckLicenseII/CheckLicense.aspx

Disputes

Working with someone who is licensed also gives you an avenue of grievance should a dispute arise. The contractor is held accountable by the Contractors State Licensing Board, so the contractor has incentive to do things the correct way, and you have an authority to contact if they do not. Working with a contractor who does not have the proper license and therefore cannot get the appropriate permits can severely hurt your property value. When a house is sold, certain facts must be disclosed to buyers. If it is revealed that something was not done to code or was done without a permit, this could negatively affect your homes value and you may be the one to pay for improvements to meet code standards.

Insurance

Licensed contractors are required to insure their work and their workers. Contractors should carry two types of insurance: liability and workers compensation. Liability will protect you in the event that the contractor causes damage to your home, and workers compensation will cover an injury that occurs on your property during construction. Dont be mistaken by thinking that your homeowners policy will cover these mishaps. Most policies are voided if the project is being done by an unlicensed contractor. Its not hard to imagine how catastrophic it would become if you were liable for the damaged property or injured worker.

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Why Hire a Licensed Landscape Professional?