Welcome to our Vision of Landscape Architecture and Gardens

"The garden is as important as the living room and kitchen! The front garden serves at least three purposes---one to ground your house into the landscape; two, to welcome your guests to the front door; and three, to welcome YOU home. One of the most common problems we address in Los Angeles, is over grown plants. Home-owners find these small beautiful plants at the local nursery and plant them without any thought as to what it's mature size will be. By hiring a professional that has good design sense and a working plant knowledge will save you money in the long term. Do it right, or don't do anything, we say! By hiring a professional landscape architect, not a landscaper, you will have a classically trained professional that can not only add style, color and direction to your garden, but also a plan that will not have to be taken out in three years. It's really that simple. Several of our projects this year have been "corrective landscape architecture"--this is exactly what we have discussed above. Planting a garden---wanting it to look as though it has been there for years! Well, three years later, it is a maintenance nightmare and expensive to correct. So....If you are going to spend money on a "fine" garden---consult Indah Bulan. We can help you plan the ultimate garden (large or small) and probably save you lots of money. We will also work with your contractors to make sure that what is installed is what you are paying for, and make sure it's done to our high standards. Now, THIS is a good thing!"---Stephen Swafford

Kate Unger Glendale, CA	Stephanie and Randy Horton Memphis, Tennessee	Linda Lee Worlow Claremont, CA
Carol Holder and John Mallinckrodt Claremont, CA	Tom Braun Claremont, CA	Special Features in Gardens Stephen Swafford, BLA

Indah Bulan... thoughts on landscape design
and Selected Project List

Welcome to the Landscape Architecture and Garden section of Indah Bulan. We hope that you will find inspiration and learn that with proper planning anyone can have a beautiful, enjoyable garden.

Did you know that 70% of the water we use in Los Angeles goes to watering our lawns and gardens? Even if every garden in Los Angeles was museum quality, this would still be unacceptable. Water is our most precious resource, and that percentage should be scaled back by half. Notice in the projects below how we use California Native plants and plants that thrive in dry regions to create lovely, lush gardens. This concept of water-wise gardening applies to every region of the globe. We advise using the native plants of your region. Not only will you save money and precious water, but having a native garden will encourage more of your native butterflies, birds and the good insects to visit your garden. This just makes sense. Be water wise!

Meditation Garden; Indah Bulan, Come on in!

Meditation Garden; Indah Bulan, Come on in!

Other than seeing our clients enjoy their gardens, planning environmentally friendly gardens is probably our favorite part of designing a garden. Specifically we promote the use of deciduous trees (one that loose their leaves once a year) in areas of the garden that need shade. In the winter time a deciduous tree will allow the sun to come through and warm your house or garden, in the spring time there is that joy of seeing the new green leaves open, in the hot summer these wonderful trees provide much needed shade, then there is the show of color in the Fall. These trees, if the proper variety is selected, can work for you by saving energy to heat and cool your home, and provide year round changes in your garden. Another bonus is wonderful FREE mulch from the fallen leaves.

Plant materials are an important tool landscape architects use to solve problems and add beauty to your home. For those of you who want a garden to look like it has always been there, a lesson in patience is yours, there are no shortcuts as the TV shows would have you believe. The most common mistake is over planting, it may be fantastic the first year to those who don't know, but I guarantee you'll have a jungle in three years and not know where to begin to tame it. Proper planning is key... and remember there are no shortcuts to gracious living. Another wise idea for any garden is to plant native species. These varieties, thank goodness, are making a huge comeback, largely, because they are so well suited to their particular climate and rain fall amount. They also attract all the right insects which help these jewels stay relatively disease free. Be sure to look into native plants for your own area or region. This just makes sense, why plant Azaleas in the California desert, or why plant cactus in Mississippi? One key to a well planned garden is to find out how large that pretty little one gallon plant becomes. Countless times we have heard how small that huge tree was when they brought it home from the nursery (and planted it a foot from the house!)

Hiring a professional landscape architect will actually save you money in the big picture. Proper planning is what we do best. �

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Joe Cardoza Claremont, CA	John and Vicke Selk Claremont, CA	Tom and Heather Hartshorn Los Angeles, CA
Carol Holder and John Mallinckrodt Claremont, CA	Tom Braun Claremont, CA	Barbara Cheatley Ontario, CA
Ken and Sue Andrews San Antonio Heights, CA	Peggy Blake Upland, CA	Our Garden South San Gabriel, CA
Steve and Cindy La Canada, CA	Highlights from Other Gardens California, Washington, Florida	Francesca Di Franco South Pasadena, CA
Develyn Gorby Glendale, California	Norman and Gloria Howe Pasadena, California	Kent and Debra Page Claremont, CA
Karen and Ruben Glendale, CA	Kim Clarkin Claremont, CA	Judy and David Tanenbaum Claremont, CA