tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-139404392012-02-01T23:13:47.460-08:00Musings on garden and landscape design, gardening, urban planning, man, nature, human nature, and basically life as we know it.Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.comBlogger2531100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-51979022211959324952012-01-03T11:34:00.001-08:002012-01-03T11:34:35.647-08:00

I recently caught up with a friend from Maine, where the ground regularly freezes to 6' deep and footings for walls need to be poured 8' deep to get below the frost line. Makes our winters here in Palo Alto seem positively tropical, and even though the recent frosts are sending lots of things rushing into dormancy, there's still plenty to do in the garden. Your roses may still look like they're

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-55061291760190817742011-09-08T00:28:00.000-07:002011-09-08T00:28:00.155-07:00

Pop quiz: Is this my style, or my brand? I was having an interesting conversation with a colleague the other day about "branding" in landscape design and architecture, from my perspective as a former marketing guy. "What's the difference between 'brand' and 'style?" she asked. I opined that your style is the outward representation of your work, the "character" of your product. Most of us in

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-3526798053492914332011-08-27T00:08:00.000-07:002011-08-28T13:21:58.818-07:00

In case you've ever wondered:  "Any Joe on the street can call himself a landscape designer. You don't need a degree. You don't need a license. That's a huge difference [compared to a Landscape Architect]." That's the wisdom of Dominic Zuccarelli, a 21-year-old landscape architecture major at Purdue University, as quoted by the Northwest Indiana Times.  *  *  *  *  * Bristle as I may at

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-63663853247870855682011-07-19T11:21:00.000-07:002011-07-21T13:21:03.392-07:00

The ASLA recently linked to the Synthetic Turf Council's new free guide, Synthetic Turf 360°, which promises "to showcase the numerous uses and benefits of synthetic turf [as] the first comprehensive, annotated tool of its kind". As skeptical as I am of marketing blather, especially from corporate consortia in almost any industry, I've got to say that description is just about spot-on. The guide

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-24281553652665645792011-06-18T11:15:00.000-07:002011-06-20T09:45:34.574-07:00

It's been an incredibly busy year so far, leaving me with lots of thoughts swirling around in my head but precious little time to put them in writing. But my daily travels take me past a few examples of poor landscape planning, and I'm never too busy to learn from the big guys. Today we examine some examples of what happens when the age-old rule "right plant, right place" is broken. It's a great

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-62492256213776584882011-03-21T10:34:00.000-07:002011-03-21T10:34:06.736-07:00

Now that Spring is here, my phone is beginning to ring a bit more as people realize they simply can't live any longer with their existing, unattractive yard. And while I really appreciate the consideration, unfortunately about half the time my callers are unhappy to hear that getting what they want in the timeframe they want it will take a bit more than a phone call. It occurs to me that a bit

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-42500497300347877142011-02-15T23:10:00.000-08:002011-02-16T15:54:29.730-08:00

It's time I let you in on my dirty little secret: I am completely worthless. The pretty pictures I make have absolutely no value short of fish-wrap, and anyone who would pay good money for them is a fool. That is, unless they actually intend to install the landscape I design. Then, the work I do is priceless—the ticket to a welcoming home and a life inspired. So what's the catalyst that

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-70161044317513351482011-01-28T17:28:00.000-08:002011-01-28T17:29:15.511-08:00

Occasionally I use this space to answer private questions in public. And occasionally I run out of new material. So today I'm addressing the second with a redux of the first, originally asked a couple of years ago but even more relevant in This Economy. Got a landscape design question of your own? Ask away! Does-It-Himself Greg in San Carlos took a break from remodeling his home to write: "

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-11674765170976319652010-12-31T00:16:00.000-08:002010-12-31T00:16:23.153-08:00

Some of my best landscape design inspirations come from simply walking around in the world. It's also a fantastic education, and you can't beat the price. Here are a few of the lessons I've learned this year — for worse and for better. The good: at NapaStyle, Yountville The bad: Carlsbad office park The just plain stupid: San Mateo mall Handle your water. Water in the landscape can be a

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-22071994597706256342010-12-20T00:05:00.000-08:002010-12-20T08:38:53.338-08:00

Just up the street from me lives the global headquarters of a little Internet startup named Facebook. The company moved into the former Hewlett-Packard digs at 1601 California last year, making some interesting architectural updates but not really touching the landscape. One of the defining features of the 8.5-acre site was a large Valley Oak (Quercus lobata), which unfortunately was surrounded

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-85615187359368785302010-11-15T06:00:00.000-08:002010-11-15T09:31:31.360-08:00

Warms the soul, sparks the imagination. Visiting places that have spent a great deal of money on their grounds is a perfect opportunity to see up close the best and the worst of landscape planning, and to continue learning from the big guys.  At one very chic, eco-conscious and rustically contemporary (is that a style? it is now) Napa Valley resort lives this charming concrete fire pit. This

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-71148448172491070182010-11-04T00:19:00.000-07:002010-11-08T16:55:21.650-08:00

Recently I delivered the installation plans — hardscape layout, planting plan, lighting plan, the whole set — for a very nice project. This is always a bittersweet occasion: while it's an exciting beginning of the "real" landscaping work, it's also the beginning of the end of my control over the design. From here on, my client will be working more closely with a landscape contractor than with me

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-34483910052947365702010-10-23T11:41:00.000-07:002010-10-23T11:41:43.282-07:00

These light, intermittent rains that have been passing through the Bay Area are just what we need for Fall planting. Especially with our infamous clay soils, just this little bit of moisture loosens things up just enough that the nutrient-rich clay particles don't shatter when we dig into them; yet the soil's not so waterlogged that the clay gets compressed and compacted by our work. This is an

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-34175725914882767512010-09-21T12:03:00.000-07:002010-09-21T12:10:42.169-07:00

Yellow swallowtail enjoying Buddleja 'Nanho Blue' One of the greatest benefits of having a National Wildlife Federation-certified wildlife habitat is all the critters it invites: hummingbirds, songbirds, lizards, butterflies, honeybees and newts, just to name a few. And one of the greatest drawbacks of having a NWF-certified wildlife habitate is, yes, all the critters it invites: squirrels,

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-22808934656946667202010-09-15T14:36:00.000-07:002010-09-15T14:36:54.004-07:00

In my last post I promised to review the more landscape-relevant features of Vectorworks Landmark 2010. Since then, the company has not only changed their name to Nemetschek Vectorworks Inc., they've also released Vectorworks 2011, including more robust 3D features as well as scalable symbols — one of the features I really missed from previous versions. So rather than continue looking back at

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-64710396012481666772010-07-23T07:58:00.000-07:002010-07-23T07:58:00.227-07:00

©Nemetschek NNA It's been about nine months since the good folks at Nemetschek sent me an evaluation copy of Vectorworks Landmark 2010. Rather than rush to conclusions, I've used the time to put the program through its paces in a variety of real landscape design projects, and over the next several posts I'll share my experiences. This series is written for the landscape designer who has some

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-87479638956826929042010-07-08T20:48:00.000-07:002010-07-19T15:31:05.634-07:00

As my voicemail fills with eager requests for landscaping ideas before summer slips away, here's some wisdom from a few years back that bears re-posting. I'm often asked what my style of design is. It's a bit of a pat answer to say "your style," but it's not far off. After all, no landscape designer worth their soil is so inflexible they can't work with more than one kind of client or

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-51737756435005174892010-05-27T12:51:00.000-07:002010-05-27T12:57:56.461-07:00

© Cindy DyerA few weeks ago I had the privelege of being interviewed by one fantastic nature photographer, graphic designer and gardener, Cindy Dyer. The interview touches on some of the "day in the life" stuff that most of my clientele never get to see, and it's receiving some pretty favorable responses. I'm honored that people enjoy learning about me and my work. The interview was a lot of fun

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-46465519466148292072010-05-13T20:39:00.000-07:002010-05-14T08:22:17.974-07:00

So your rose bush is blooming magnificently. Bright, big flowers… glossy green leaves… gosh, it's doing so well it's actually blooming in two colors this year!Uh… not actually.In fact, if your rose bush is blooming in two colors, I'll wager that one of them is a deep maroon, a little smaller than the other, a little lower on the bush. Probably a little something like this:If so, you don't have

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-12495897695918261052010-05-04T20:02:00.000-07:002010-05-04T20:12:32.537-07:00

(By the way, I had nothing whatsoever to do with this combination of 'St. Josephs Coat' rose, unspecified iris, and Cerastium tomentosum… I saw it last week in a Los Altos front yard, and it just makes me happy.)I've written before about learning from the big guys, but sometimes we can learn from the little guys, too — particularly when they make mistakes that, although not big in an absolute

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-72298750089790788012010-03-30T00:34:00.000-07:002010-03-30T08:40:32.046-07:00

Interesting phenomenon: as soon as we got a few sunny days this month, my phone started ringing off the hook with people who "want new landscaping in time for summer." This actually is typical of this season, as it gradually dawns on us that winter may actually end some day, and we may get to spend some time outside again. No one wants to defer gratification, or make yet another summer's worth of

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-9178200566029960552010-02-08T14:32:00.000-08:002010-02-09T22:09:54.549-08:00

In a previous life I worked at one of the best ad agencies in the Bay Area. It wasn't quite Mad Men, but we did have our Friday open bar, our eccentric namesake, and our brilliant but misunderstood creatives — who gave me some pearls of wisdom that resonate to this day.Perhaps the most impactful was a simple graphic on an art director's door: a triangle with the words "fast," "good" and "cheap"

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-28372232222358208812010-01-18T14:02:00.000-08:002010-01-18T14:37:25.455-08:00

It's been hard to miss the message over the past year that we're in a drought. And Californians have responded remarkably well: residential water use was reduced by 9.4% in Santa Clara County, 12% in Los Angeles County, and up to 25% in San Diego County from previous periods. I still see far too many gratuitous lawns, thirsty "exotic" plants and wasteful irrigation systems. But on the whole,

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-73549326821146931172009-12-22T19:59:00.000-08:002009-12-22T20:06:43.198-08:00

[I wrote this piece a few years ago, but the History Channel's recent broadcast of Black Blizzard, along with Tim Egan's narrative and interviews with Dust Bowl survivors, makes it worth repeating.]"When the native sod of the Great Plains was in place, it did not matter if people looked twice at a piece of ground. Wind blew twenty, thirty, forty miles an hour, as always. Droughts came and went.

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-63413035249859465942009-11-19T13:02:00.004-08:002009-11-19T16:57:30.917-08:00

One of the things I hear from clients who have moved to California from other regions of the country is, "there's no fall color here." And while I'll grant that the Bay Area is no New England, I have to say that this autumn the trees seem particuarly brilliant. While lots of factors influence fall leaf color, what I've noticed this year is that [a] we had a fairly mild summer, so fewer leaves

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-79114093347811889112009-11-11T15:19:00.000-08:002009-11-11T15:19:36.617-08:00

As much as I love the possibilities afforded by designing larger estate landscapes (as in, trees! I actually get to spec trees!), small gardens hold a special place in my heart as well. Here's the last of five bite-size tips to make the most of bite-size spaces:Dry out. Because small yards are often planted right up to the house, using water-thrifty vegetation is one way to ensure foundations

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-68285976736707761602009-11-02T23:52:00.000-08:002009-11-02T23:53:02.530-08:00

As much as I love the possibilities afforded by designing larger estate landscapes (as in, trees! I actually get to spec trees!), small gardens hold a special place in my heart as well. Here's the fourth of five bite-size tips to make the most of bite-size spaces:Get wet. A modest fountain can create a big impact in a small space, especially with interesting lighting. Vertical columns of basalt

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-89184937649702093522009-10-27T00:20:00.000-07:002009-10-27T00:20:52.819-07:00

As much as I love the possibilities afforded by designing larger estate landscapes (as in, trees! I actually get to spec trees!), small gardens hold a special place in my heart as well. Here's the third of five bite-size tips to make the most of bite-size spaces:Think big. Small spaces get cluttered quickly, so resist the temptation to landscape on a petite scale. Instead, make a statement with a

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-50499920997032086582009-10-21T08:55:00.000-07:002009-10-21T08:55:31.609-07:00

As much as I love the possibilities afforded by designing larger estate landscapes (as in, trees! I actually get to spec trees!), small gardens hold a special place in my heart as well. Here's the second of five bite-size tips to make the most of bite-size spaces:Be colorful. Knowing that bright colors seem to advance toward us, and dark colors seem to recede, create depth and dimension in small

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-71367762145319270372009-10-12T22:51:00.000-07:002009-10-18T14:23:09.532-07:00

As much as I love the possibilities afforded by designing larger estate landscapes (as in, trees! I actually get to spec trees!), small gardens hold a special place in my heart as well. Here's the first of five bite-size tips to make the most of bite-size spaces:Go vertical. A small space quickly draws the eye to its perimeter. Interrupt that line of sight and create a three-dimensional yard with

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-20664036863946857992009-09-17T09:04:00.000-07:002009-09-27T22:41:52.442-07:00

Yesterday the city of Palo Alto completed its removal of some 50 trees, mostly holly oak (Quercus ilex), from sidewalks and medians on California Avenue. This is the first phase of an urban facelift that promises additional pedestrian-friendly features such as crosswalks, benches, and new red maple (Acer rubrum) shade trees.It's a bit disturbing, especially for someone in my business, to witness

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-7211851191963758262009-09-03T01:48:00.000-07:002009-09-06T21:51:53.625-07:00

You've probably heard of The French Laundry, chef Thomas Keller's definitive nouveau American restaurant that launched a little Napa County town called Yountville into the culinary stratosphere. You may even know that The French Laundry grows their own produce, mostly in a two-acre plot across Washington Street that brims with herbs and seasonal vegetables—from broccoli and Brussels sprouts to

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-15367064459404254782009-09-02T01:13:00.000-07:002009-09-02T01:49:21.721-07:00

There's nothing quite so satisfying as learning that not one but two peers whom I respect a lot seem to feel mutually. Both Susan Cohan, APLD, and Laura Schaub have been generous enough to nominate me (me!) for a MeMe. I respectfully accept the MeMes, and thank Susan and Laura for their support.Apparently the MeMe has a few, simple, rules:1) Link back to whomever nominated you2) Reveal seven

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-60563814538881379322009-08-21T00:25:00.000-07:002009-08-21T02:14:38.591-07:00

Image courtesy GroovyVegetarian.comI've been watching more Food Network lately than usual, which can only mean that autumn is around the corner.What I like about Food Network is that it makes food — or, more precisely, an elevated dining experience — approachable. I'm no gourmet chef, but I can still up my cooking game thanks to Bobby, Rachel, Giada, Alton et al.However, such egalitarianism

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-17828873196359863552009-08-12T23:52:00.001-07:002009-08-13T12:28:08.257-07:00

In case you haven't heard, these are the prime viewing nights for the Perseid meteor showers. And this year's show is supposed to be especially good. Except, when I stand in my backyard, all I see is a fireball.Yes, our neighbor has taken to leaving her back patio light on at night. All night.Apparently she's oblivious to the fact that the fixture is of a design that emits light up and out as

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-13450587584301398772009-08-06T00:01:00.000-07:002009-08-06T19:00:37.423-07:00

In the previous installment of this series, I wrote about spacing plants appropriately (or not). Courtesy of my commercial neighbors in Palo Alto, here's an example with a smaller species, where tight spacing feels entirely appropriate. Betula nigra, or river birch, is one of my favorite trees — its exfoliating cinnamon bark is visually arresting, and its canopy provides delightful dappled shade

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-76469704606972538292009-07-27T13:27:00.000-07:002009-07-27T22:49:11.176-07:00

The Jesusita Fire raged for days through Santa Barbara, California and continued to burn until the Santa Barbara County Fire Department declared the fire to be officially under control on May 22, 2009. In its wake, the fire burned over 8,700 acres of land and destroyed 80 homes.  — Santa Barbara Botanic GardenOn my recent vacation we passed through Santa Barbara and stopped by the fabulous SBBG,

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-73759284440287742582009-07-14T22:09:00.000-07:002009-07-14T22:12:35.462-07:00

What a difference four degrees makes.That's the difference in latitude between my office in Palo Alto, Calif. (37.4 degrees, just south of San Francisco) and my current vacation spot in Carlsbad, Calif. (33.1 degrees, just north of San Diego).Up north, we can't grow Jacaranda mimosifolia very successfully due to our typically frosty and occasionally freezing winters. Down here, the tree's vibrant

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-48647444867510680542009-06-29T23:27:00.000-07:002009-07-01T11:05:51.070-07:00

Last week I met with a client whose landscaping was recently completed. As we sat poolside in the shade of an umbrella, he told me, "this is my favorite place in the world. I just step outside and I'm on vacation." Who was I to disagree?Even if we're not attempting to recreate Bali in our backyard, don't we landscape in hopes of making a destination for ourselves, a getaway that's more "get" than

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-41697070337529192872009-06-23T23:41:00.000-07:002009-06-24T15:46:16.928-07:00

Today marks the fourth year of this blog, and it's incredible to look back and note how much has changed since that first post. It appeared almost a full year before the venerable Garden Rant, a month before the venerable Pruned. House & Garden was still in publication. There were still gardening shows on HGTV."Social media" really wasn't, yet. There was no public Facebook, no Twitter. (Given

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-43714772909707533362009-06-15T22:49:00.000-07:002009-06-18T10:10:29.112-07:00

I wrote previously on when and why to take on your own project. In a nutshell: do what you love because you love to do it, not to save money — then hire a pro for the rest. But if you're inclined to do any of it yourself, you probably are conscious of the money. So whether you work with a designer first or go straight to the contractor, here are a few ways any homeowner can work more efficiently

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-16972725274489847932009-06-15T17:16:00.001-07:002009-06-18T10:00:24.196-07:00

I can't tell you how to pronounce it, but I will tell you the 'Lochinch' butterfly bush (pictured here with pink Cistus 'Victor Reiter') is one of my favorite Buddlejas for the garden. Its light blue-gray foliage is a wonderful foil for almost any other color—burgundy Berberis, purple Limonium, white 'Iceberg' rose, orange poppies or Gaillardia—the list goes on. So, too, do the fragrant blooms,

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-75210810843985530342009-06-09T21:01:00.000-07:002009-06-10T20:25:28.057-07:00

Not low cost—just high valueI went to a presentation today sponsored by a couple of my favorite suppliers, Bamboo Pipeline and Monrovia Growers. And one of the executives, whose job it is to understand things like business cycles, described our current era as "the Age of Value": consumers obviously aren't throwing money around indiscriminately; but despite our economic woes, neither are they

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-12770097570049693662009-05-27T09:51:00.000-07:002009-05-27T10:27:56.176-07:00

…sigh…Apparently, I'm obsolete. Not as in outdated; just as in, well, redundant. It's a shame, really, This was going to be a good career. It seemed to have everything I wanted: the chance to create beauty, inspire people, help the planet, soak in a little sun and learn a little Latin.Sure, I wasn't going to get rich at it. But affording the mortgage by drawing pretty pictures and tromping

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-90903397081543663872009-05-18T22:52:00.000-07:002009-05-19T00:36:20.929-07:00

It's that time of the year when perfectly good landscape designers seem to vanish into thin air. Gone are the witty blog posts. Gone are the tweets. Emails languish. Voicemails vanish.Where is everybody?!Most likely, we're at one of three places:Our computers and/or drafting tablesOur clients' homesThe local nursery, rockyard, or furniture storeIn other words, we're in our primetime, working like

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-67250597736839000912009-05-15T09:37:00.000-07:002009-05-15T09:49:35.166-07:00

One of my absolute favorite California native plants, Romneya coulteri or Matilija poppy, began throwing out its huge fried-egg blooms a couple of days ago. At 7' tall and even wider in just its second year with me, this perennial is too large for many gardens (including mine, but that hasn't deterred me). And unfortunately, it resents being transplanted, and is notoriously difficult to propagate

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-76717801959933582812009-04-11T11:20:00.000-07:002009-04-11T13:02:50.021-07:00

Some of the knowledge we lose living in urban and suburban areas is how plants naturally grow. As in, how BIG. As a result, we put big shrubs in the garden where little shrubs should go (I tend to make this mistake with Viburnum); and place trees too close to structures or crowd them together.In this example at a Peninsula elementary school, two redwoods and one Atlas cedar have been triangulated

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-35172043231524282282009-04-08T16:39:00.000-07:002009-04-08T17:19:29.845-07:00

Today the purple (or orchid) rockrose, Cistus purpureus, began its show. This is one of my favorite shrubs: drought tolerant, evergreen, resinously aromatic foliage, and of course these flowers that go with any color I can imagine. I especially enjoy it with silver companions such as Salvia chamedryoides, Santolina, and Lavandula stoechas. In fact, my only problem with the Cistus is that it gets

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-23719216536110088522009-04-01T00:07:00.000-07:002009-04-01T00:26:53.811-07:00

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - April 1, 2009 - Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) today lifted the state's year-long drought emergency order on the news that an enormous water reservoir has been discovered along California's western border. Although the exact size of the aquifer has yet to be determined, reports indicate it may be hundreds of miles across

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-66155137243756305412009-03-22T22:51:00.000-07:002009-03-23T01:06:46.165-07:00

Raymond in Sonoma County, who believes the return of circa-1998 wealth is more likely than romantic evenings in his hot tub, writes:"I have a 10' x 10' concrete slab that was designed for a hot tub, but in these troubling economic times, we've decided to simplify and use the space for a vegetable garden. My question: Can I build a planter box directly over the concrete? And if so, how deep would

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-53088568916661242802009-03-20T14:12:00.000-07:002009-03-20T15:06:07.112-07:00

In trying economic times, folks are inclined to grow their own produce. George Ball (of Heronswood Nursery, Burpee Seed Co., The Cook's Garden et al.) recently wrote that, despite declining sales of ornamental plants, "we’re awash with early orders of herb and vegetable seeds, transplants and fruit bushes." And yesterday we learned that the First Family is putting in a little plot as well. (

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-25684423480589411222009-03-20T10:13:00.000-07:002009-03-20T14:50:34.574-07:00

If you were following me on twitter yesterday you know I was at the SF Flower & Garden Show. It's an interesting show for a number of reasons: the new venue, the specter of finality (since lifted), and — I'm sorry, I have to say it — the meh-ness of the gardens themselves.Why do people go to garden shows? In a word, for inspiration. We want to see the newest plants, the prettiest pots, the

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-79400083321291315172009-03-19T11:35:00.000-07:002009-03-19T21:29:35.265-07:00

Seriously? You're going to build this big beautiful shallow stream, connect it to a pedestrian mall with an enticing sun-drenched lawn... then say "no water contact allowed"?Nice.

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-10225286885238797352009-03-18T15:27:00.000-07:002009-03-19T21:30:40.115-07:00

Not to be left behind, the first few Tulipa 'Juan' started blooming today. In addition to the name and the fantastic hot orange/yellow flower, I really like the purple variegation on the foliage. This has naturalized quite nicely here in Palo Alto; again, from www.brentandbeckysbulbs.com .

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-39892180517510540232009-03-16T10:06:00.001-07:002009-03-19T21:30:27.616-07:00

The first buch of Tulipa 'Lady Jane' opened up today, one year naturalized. (That's fragrant Narcissus 'Falconet' in the background.) Both from www.brentandbeckysbulbs.com.

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-26642361825245589402009-03-13T20:18:00.001-07:002009-03-13T22:02:26.911-07:00

The sun's been shining for a week now, so it's officially spring around here no matter what the calendar or thermometer say. If you need further proof: both my neighbor and I busted out our lawn mowers in the last week for the first time in months; my broccoli, which I swear I just planted, has bolted and gone to flower; the annual weeds like dandelion and Italian ryegrass have kicked it into

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-80550547801500975182009-03-03T00:50:00.000-08:002009-03-03T02:00:52.924-08:00

Rain or no rain, it's officially a drought emergency. I hate being right about things like this.So: are you ready to cut your water consumption by 20%? Even before you kill your lawn, schedule a house call: water agencies in San Francisco, the East Bay, Redwood City, and most* of Santa Clara County offer free basic inspections that calculate water usage and point out opportunities for

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-34252445957420899442009-02-24T12:24:00.000-08:002009-02-26T00:02:40.215-08:00

“unless the next six weeks deliver rains of biblical proportions, Californians will face major shortages this summer”So writes Kelly Zito in today's Chronicle. When I wrote about the drought a couple of weeks ago, Lake Shasta was at 31% of capacity. After two weeks more or less full of rain... Lake Shasta is at 32% of capacity. For us down here at ground level, it seems like things have really

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-62443809258110935852009-02-18T17:02:00.000-08:002009-02-19T00:24:16.154-08:00

I never really take off my designer's hat, and so I'm always seeing examples of good and not-so-good designs. Two of my favorite places to look for both are corporate campuses and public works: not only do they have to satisfy technical requirements far beyond anything I'll have to deal with in a home garden, they also have the budget to do it right (not perfect, just right). If one of these

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-44280474931171767752009-02-17T08:56:00.001-08:002009-02-17T10:59:42.876-08:00

Twenty-four hours later, the billabong has percolated most of its contents back to the groundwater. I would guess there's about five gallons remaining here, and that's even with a steady light rain over the period.And that's what makes this a detention basin more than a billabong, a vernal pool, or even a rain garden: its function is to slow down urban runoff, not trap it for months, just enough

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-19515789488304102612009-02-16T07:51:00.000-08:002009-02-17T10:59:59.195-08:00

Now that's more like it...This is probably 70 gallons of rainwater from the past 2 days. I am very pleasantly surprised that the "pond" is keeping pace with the rain; Palo Alto has had close to 3 inches so far.Not that a rain garden is the perfect solution for everybody's front yard, but I do get a warm fuzzy feeling knowing I kept this water (a) away from our foundation and (b) out of the gutter.

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-53043580773126385432009-02-15T22:27:00.001-08:002009-02-15T22:33:02.319-08:00

Brian Doyle at Orion Magazine recently reviewed Rick Van Noy's A Natural Sense of Wonder: Connecting Kids with Nature through the Seasons.Brian gets it. And I need say nothing more.

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-15826217102763379302009-02-04T23:33:00.001-08:002009-02-05T01:16:29.998-08:00

Since I wrote last summer about the threat of drought, things have gotten worse — much worse. The Sonoma County Water Agency has announced mandatory usage cutbacks of at least 30%. In the East Bay, EBMUD has called for 19% reductions, and implemented rate increases for all usage. Bolinas has already emptied one of its two emergency reservoirs, and is limiting household usage to 150 gallons per

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-71713451133096703092009-01-28T10:47:00.000-08:002009-02-01T22:15:36.370-08:00

AP reports that a Fagus sylvatica 'Purpurea', or purple beech tree, planted in 1786 at Versailles Palace for Marie Antoinette has been felled by a storm.The 82-foot high specimen, whose canopy measured 72 feet across, will be cut up and sold to paper makers.I love just about everything about beech trees, from their smooth muscular bark to the undulating leaf margins, and the purple-leaved variety

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-60405009769423978732009-01-27T09:33:00.000-08:002009-01-27T01:46:49.814-08:00

As your blueberry bushes start blooming, you might notice the flowers look almost exactly like the little bells of madrone (Arbutus). And then you might think, "no, I'm going crazy: one's a smallish deciduous shrub that makes tasty little antioxidant bombs, the other's a big evergreen tree that makes barely-edible globes of mush. No way they're related."Not that you're not necessarily going crazy

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-47579389322493808642009-01-22T09:46:00.000-08:002009-01-22T09:59:27.527-08:00

Today's New York Times holds a plethora of good stuff, from inspiring advice on winter-blooming shrubs and greenhousing, to a sobering outlook for New York's famed zoos and gardens, to an encouraging (if vapid) effort by PepsiCo to assess how much carbon it takes to make orange juice. The moral of the latter story: it's nitrogen fertilizer, not transportation, that leaves the biggest footprint.

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-32427299316860345082009-01-20T00:16:00.000-08:002009-01-20T15:29:16.115-08:00

Now that Senator Obama is President Obama, I'll set down my champagne for a moment to briefly digest his environmental past and promises. In 2006, Obama introduced the Healthy Places Act in Congress, an effort to create accountability by helping local governments assess health impacts of new projects. His website details his new administration's "comprehensive plan to invest in alternative and

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-67335923863769482612009-01-12T17:37:00.001-08:002009-01-13T22:39:38.847-08:00

Pantone, perennial tastemaker and producer of fun swatch books, has decreed that mimosa yellow is the new black.Uh, okay.

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-91255344132794624752009-01-10T22:55:00.000-08:002009-01-10T23:32:00.036-08:00

"In 1994, Congress transformed the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday into a national day of community service to further commemorate a man who lived his life in service to others. Never has it been more important to come together in shared purpose to tackle the common challenges we face."—USAService.orgActually, Jan. 17-19 is a three-day weekend of service, and this handy event finder will show you

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-68698036779890915092008-12-29T10:39:00.000-08:002008-12-29T11:17:33.233-08:00

Look, Ma, no stubs!Yesterday I spent a lot of time in the company of wood, from pruning my scarlet oak to (finally) stacking up the firewood that used to be our old and decrepit acacia tree. The stacking was a particularly tedious exercise, puzzling out the best match between the voids in the pile and the weird sizes and shapes of the logs. But somehow it seemed appropriate that the process

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-46888560921939332392008-11-27T21:57:00.000-08:002008-11-27T22:36:58.742-08:00

For rain, and sunFor daffodil tips poking through the clayFor fluorescent autumn foliageFor an abundance of work I enjoyFor a warm, dry place to sleepFor two young roostersFor a patient and lovely partnerFor the mutual enrichment of friendsFor the capacity to createFor another nightFor another dayFor my clients, my friends, my colleagues, my readers, my family… Thank you.

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-79060200405495595972008-11-06T22:33:00.000-08:002008-11-06T22:54:47.777-08:00

The recent rains were exactly what the Bay Area needed, and not a moment too soon. The billabong started to fill, but drained out just as quickly since the soil isn't anywhere near saturated. Amazing how a long drink springs the landscape to life: my sullen Arctostaphylos suddenly greened up again, and today I noticed the first Narcissus tips poking out of the soil. (Of course, the weeds and

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-64649260997737107912008-10-27T13:55:00.000-07:002008-10-28T01:48:42.678-07:00

One of the most important aspects of my work isn't a knowledge of plants, or construction techniques, or materials costs: it's communication. After all, if my clientele or my contractors can't understand what I have in mind, then my horticultural prowess doesn't matter much.A hand-drafted design conceptTo translate my vision, I rely on clear, detailed design plans. There are any number of ways to

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-27293360806495032282008-10-19T16:10:00.000-07:002008-10-20T11:10:49.791-07:00

Dining this afternoon at the Hard Rock Cafe, whose "Save The Planet" slogan is everywhere... Especially all over their kids' activity book (5 pages of 30% recycled paper), plastic cups, and cellophane-packaged aspen tree seeds with paper insert. How many people will actually plant those? Will aspen trees even grow in your climate zone? (They will survive, but certainly not thrive, in mine.) Would

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-81134504704686066822008-10-14T19:24:00.000-07:002008-10-15T23:10:14.366-07:00

One to file under "poor planning": this tree and patio heater likely were installed at the same time, so there's no excuse for them to be located so close together--about 2 feet apart, to the obvious detriment of the tree.Working with a professional garden designer, who knows how big a tree will get (and how much clearance to give furnishings like tables, chairs and heaters), can help you avoid

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-78573023793952396832008-10-09T22:42:00.000-07:002008-10-09T23:00:28.612-07:00

In light of my recent concerns about how much paper my industry consumes, I was intrigued by the idea of this conference on increasing the sustainability (as well as the profitability) of our communications, in part by reducing paper use. I was amused to see they gave away posters.

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-53084170338080608252008-10-04T01:40:00.001-07:002008-10-04T02:16:15.173-07:00

I'm fortunate enough to be married to an artist, whose current body of work just happens to encompass a genre of plants I'm not particularly knowledgeable on: succulents.Saturday night she'll be debuting this series at Modernbook Gallery in Palo Alto; and so we figured it might be a good idea to be prepared for the inevitable questions with a few answers on what, exactly, she's photographed. No

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-76363141040655272462008-09-27T14:54:00.000-07:002008-10-15T23:11:03.556-07:00

I was feeling a little righteous when I castigated Carlsbad for the gross mismanagement of water there, but my own town is no better. Here's the scene at a corporate site at Foothill/Hillview at 2:50pm today. Sigh...

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-73824597181899475592008-09-26T08:32:00.001-07:002008-09-26T08:37:52.589-07:00

Anyone remotely connected with anything remotely connected to green building is at the West Coast Green conference and showcase this weekend in San Jose. In case you can't be there in person — or, even if you can, in case you can't be everywhere at once there — you have an intrepid proxy in Green To-Do, who is live-blogging from the conference with their usual panache. Check it out, one way or

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-6729060884230537122008-09-25T18:56:00.000-07:002008-09-26T08:30:49.477-07:00

In case you missed it, autumn is officially here. Some tree species seem to get the memo sooner than others; Callery pear, Liquidambar, Chinese pistachio and one of my favorites, American ash (the aptly named 'Autumn Purple' cultivar is pictured here) are already showing their true colors.Among shrubs, you'll start seeing autumn colors soon on heavenly bamboo and viburnums; and some grasses such

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-26943949407933081042008-09-06T16:02:00.000-07:002008-09-06T16:04:02.082-07:00

From the desert of Carslbad, Calif., which is worse:A) The pointless fountain that cools and refreshes no oneB) The expanse of lawn upon which only gardeners set footC) The incessant runoff of said fountain into city sewersD) The city government that allows A, B and CE) All of the above

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-22291359005475678742008-09-04T14:42:00.000-07:002008-09-04T15:50:18.877-07:00

Dramatization by professional actor on closed set.I've been known to use a few pencils in my line of work, and Slate has a nice analysis of whether mechanical or old-fashioned wooden ("manual"?) pencils are more sustainable. (Note that the article is written with a bent toward forgetful 12-year-olds; although I am slightly older, I am no less forgetful.)Pencils are one thing; but what really

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-23294772691486397242008-08-30T08:00:00.000-07:002008-08-30T14:12:47.453-07:00

California is officially in a drought (although personally I suspect this is our normal climate and those other years were just extra wet). Some water districts have implemented mandatory rationing, while others are still able to request voluntary cutbacks… for now. But it behooves all of us to be conscious of our water use, and water-wise landscaping is an easy first step.The Santa Clara Valley

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-73256125607017046542008-08-15T14:28:00.000-07:002008-08-15T14:56:51.948-07:00

In the grocery store today, I overheard a mother say sternly to her young, spirited child who was enjoying the store's music as only young, spirited children can: "Spencer, stop dancing. This isn't dance class. You don't see anyone else dancing, do you?" How often do you hear that same voice in your own head? Does it keep you from having a garden that's truly yours? Does your front yard not sing

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-16540502315978107262008-07-15T01:43:00.001-07:002008-07-15T01:46:27.722-07:00

Don't you just love it when people are passionate about what they do?Here, a love affair with strawberries: http://www.manytracks.com/Garden/Strawberries.htm

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-46341600866575312542008-07-14T09:43:00.000-07:002008-07-14T10:38:03.700-07:00

Lately I've been playing the Gas Mileage Game: with my car's feature that tells me my current average MPG, I see how much I can goose my fuel efficiency by, say, accelerating on downhill grades and coasting as far as I can on the uphills. It's a great trick to play on yourself to begin the game just before hopping onto the freeway, where even an SUV like mine can exceed 25 or even 28 miles per

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-25233720647389432882008-07-10T22:48:00.000-07:002008-07-14T09:43:33.915-07:00

My youngest assistant, seen here, hasn't quite got the concept down, but you can: the most efficient way to irrigate (especially in these hot dusty times) is to put just as much water as needed as close to the plant's root zone as possible. This is the principle behind drip irrigation, and it can work equally well with attentive hand watering (for which 4-year-olds are not known).The other half

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-44374852967860836122008-06-21T12:22:00.000-07:002008-06-21T21:07:39.877-07:00

Geez, it's hot. It's been hot all week, even in San Francisco, even with overcast skies and a westerly breeze that normally chills things to a level that Kenmore should aspire to. Nope, it's been hot, 80 degrees at 5pm in The City, the same at 10pm down on the peninsula. There's a sort of ritual among old-timers here: when it gets hot like this, open the doors and windows all night to flood the

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-37124854015901707312008-05-28T19:06:00.000-07:002008-05-28T21:51:05.031-07:00

What a difference four degrees makes.That's the difference in latitude between my office in Palo Alto, Calif. (37.4 degrees, just south of San Francisco) and my current vacation spot in Carlsbad, Calif. (33.1 degrees, just north of San Diego).Up north, we can't grow Jacaranda mimosifolia very successfully due to our typically frosty and occasionally freezing winters. Down here, the tree's vibrant

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-76736755713123453982008-05-21T17:59:00.000-07:002008-05-28T19:08:06.163-07:00

The interface between "developed" spaces and "protected" ones is an increasingly hot topic. Lots of properties around here abut open space harboring coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia) trees; I recently came across one of these California natives living on county land just across someone's property line, and growing at such a tilt to push against the residential wall that post-dates it by probably

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-19055812691740763232008-05-16T04:28:00.000-07:002008-05-16T01:30:02.795-07:00

So your rose bush is blooming magnificently. Bright, big flowers… glossy green leaves… gosh, it's doing so well it's actually blooming in two colors this year!Uh… not actually.In fact, if your rose bush is blooming in two colors, I'll wager that one of them is a deep maroon, a little smaller than the other, a little lower on the bush. Probably a little something like this:If so, you don't have

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-60940248786366156722008-05-15T10:25:00.000-07:002008-05-15T22:20:13.821-07:00

As my colleague Andrew over at land8lounge reports, New Mexico is finally discovering the benefits of grasscycling. For some anecdotal support: I've been using a mulching mower for about 10 years at my home, and have only needed to supplement with fertilizer three times in that period (and have never had to contend with weeds). As for watering, I recommend the guidelines provided by UC Davis; if

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-22093443198342647602008-05-13T11:04:00.000-07:002008-05-13T11:45:02.076-07:00

Even as East Bay MUD proposes its first water-rationing measure in two decades, this week temperatures are expected to soar toward the century mark.For your garden, this means get a head start (i.e., now) on keeping your plants hydrated. If you're irrigating with a spray system, see whether your controller can be programmed to repeat cycles — so that rather than watering once for ten minutes,

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-54892001328172353392008-05-09T01:23:00.000-07:002009-06-23T15:11:15.486-07:00

Does-It-Himself Greg in San Carlos took a break from remodeling his home to write:"Here's the problem: I'm a cheap bastard. More specifically, I like a nice yard with blooming vines, healthy hydrangeas and lush, jungle-green ferns. And if there's any way I can plant them and care for them myself, I will."After our remodel we're going to need to do some substantial landscaping to the front and

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-77482588371064200562008-04-27T23:14:00.000-07:002008-05-03T00:39:36.370-07:00

Especially when you're trying to increase your home's curb appeal, it pays to pay some attention to what's happening next door. Let's consider some of our typical neighbors, and how you might take a cue from them:The Yawner Lawner. A square of grass, a few annual flowers, a couple of shrubs anchoring the front entryway… woo hoo, party time in suburbia. You have a couple of choices here: match

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-73015505621791105992008-04-22T10:12:00.000-07:002008-04-22T19:24:52.772-07:00

Hooray. It's "Earth Day." One day, 24 hours, for us to be more aware and appreciative of the Earth's environment.Woo hoo.Never mind that the other 364 days of the year we're driving our SUV around town, alone and comfy in our captain's chair. Or that we still leave the water running while we wash our hands with antibacterial soap.Or that our salmon are now in as much trouble as our tuna.I put

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-60234939140168679982008-04-21T00:00:00.000-07:002008-04-21T08:58:18.755-07:00

If you're thinking the last few days have been a little cold for April, you're right. In fact, yesterday San Francisco tied its record low for the date and Oakland set a new record, according to NBC11.By itself the cold snap wouldn't be a problem; but with the weather so deliciously warm for the past few weeks, just about every last plant that had been holding on to dormancy has decided it's

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-71000686424471329122008-04-12T19:42:00.000-07:002008-04-12T20:46:45.505-07:00

If you're planning a construction project here in Palo Alto later this year, odds are you're going to be held to a higher standard than ever. As reported in the Palo Alto Weekly, a proposed building ordinance will require that residential construction ultimately comply with the "GreenPoint Rated" checklist developed by California's Build It Green initiative; and that commercial projects meet

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-63542150496828428742008-04-11T15:50:00.000-07:002008-04-12T20:43:57.126-07:00

OK, I admit I was having some fun with my April 1 post. But Jane over at Garden Design Online alerted us to a feud (in my own community, no less! what kind of investigative journalist am I, anyway?!) (oh, yeah, I'm not) that really does demonize the venerable redwood: Basically, as reported back in February in the Los Angeles Times and more recently in the New York Times, a half-dozen existing

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13940439.post-9700886719988057442008-04-07T12:28:00.000-07:002008-04-07T16:37:57.081-07:00

Photo by Vanessa RoachIf you haven't already signed up for the Gamble Garden Spring Tour, don't wait another day. Not only do you get exclusive access to five of Palo Alto's most beautiful private gardens, Gamble's own grounds will be buzzing with a plant sale, helpful master gardeners, a home and garden vendor fair, and chocolates, tea and cookies. This is the premier event from one of the

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08851101802601837019noreply@blogger.com0