admin | February 2, 2012
The dirt on my dirt. After waiting all of December and half of January, the rain finally fell on the North State. But while it is still a long time before the last frost date, one of the most important acts of an effective garden needs to happen now. That is the act of preparing [...]
admin | April 21, 2011
Ever notice there are things you do around the garden that come so naturally to you that it is hard to remember that others might not have the same effective habits that make you such a good gardener? Or conversely, do you wonder why some gardeners seem to have such Green Thumbs while yours seems [...]
Firefox | August 30, 2009
30ft + 70Ft =100ft of defensible space! Lean, Clean and Green: the first 30 feet. Lean: *Create an open area near the house free of fuels, woodpiles, and clutter. *Ideally have a solid paved or clean, raked gravel walkway that allows room to walk the entire perimeter of the home. Clean: *Instead of decks and [...]
Firefox | August 19, 2009
A few weeks back I posted the proposal for a garden on Dolores Street in Carmel. Today the garden was finished and I wanted to talk about the transformation. Originally, the garden, a 25 by 2o foot plot shaded by oaks and a massive pine, was spotted with a few ferns and some grasses. The [...]
Firefox | July 29, 2009
I took this photo in the my old East Border down in Big Sur last year. It shows a great combo of fire safe plants for summer color. The combo features Aloe x nobilis with red blooms, purple flowers from Teuchrium, Scarlet Flower Carpet rose, Gaillardia Goblin, Gold strap leaves of Phormium, plus blue Perovskia [...]
Firefox | June 30, 2009
When the Spanish missionaries explored the landscape of California, they often named canyons or valleys for the plants that grew abundantly there. Many features, even in Death Valley, are named for the native California Grape, Vitis californica. This hardy, drought tolerant vine scrambled over rocky cliffs, or over trees along stream banks remiding the explorers [...]
Firefox | June 14, 2009
I remember when I was small having to sit outside the Salinas City Hall one afternoon while my mother dealt with some issue inside. The lawn was bare except for a very strange small tree growing against the white concrete wall. The tree had big puffs of pink fluff couched among purple leaves. Years later [...]
admin | June 12, 2009
The sustainable, fully recyclable, ultra modern chic, fire-safe tables and benches by Orange 22. Epigram is the new series with quotes by Milton Glaser with proceeds benefitting the International Rescue Commitee
Firefox | May 21, 2009
The new East Border is looking so good right now I had to take a few photos. It’s hard to believe these beds are only 6 months old! Though there were a few things that survived from the old scheme, like the magnificent Purple Robe Cotinus in full bloom. Out of the fire comes flowers, [...]
Firefox | April 27, 2009
I am often asked what makes a plant “fire safe”? Is it a succulent? What can I plant to help protect my home? There is an easy answer: forget the plant lists and think about how a fire safe plant grows and what it contributes to your overall sustainable garden. Here a few examples we [...]