Category Archives: General

On-Line Design—If “George Jetson” had a garden.

California Style, Design Ideas, General, Patio Design, Water Conservation, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

During the Pandemic we had to figure out how to work without being onsite.  With the magic of Google Earth and County records we have been able to continue designing landscape gardens from Los Angeles.  We began by helping friends from around the country create social distancing spaces in their garden.  That turned into being shared to their friends.  This opened up designing for people in other States.  We’ve worked on projects in Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Louisiana, Wisconsin, California, and Washington. Before the Pandemic we accepted projects out of state, but we would actually go to the client in person.  We were surprised at how well on-line designed worked.  I think the biggest benefit has been talking more to clients about their landscape needs and dreams which has made for better projects.  We turned working in isolation into talking more to our clients.  It not only helped our friends and clients, but helped us.  That extra time going over details made for better projects.    Today, we work on full landscape plans and also small areas using video technology.  Here’s how it works.

Once we are contacted, we have a video discussion about your project to see if we all get along before any commitments are made by a potential client.    We learn about the area(s) that needs our help and offer a few general ideas. There is no charge for this initial video conference.  After we all agree on a direction; then, we use their input to start organizing the space.  One of the obvious issues is not being there in person, which normally would be essential.  With technology and input from the owners, we can use Google Earth for an overview, street view, what the neighborhood looks like and the county-at-large (to look at the lay of the land).  We also look at public County records to see if a property map is available online.  Most Counties now have property maps on their websites.  A few times we have called in a surveyor for a more accurate property map, but this depends on the scale and scope of the project and the accuracy of the County Maps.  Once we have the property map and locate North, we ask for specific photos of the site.  It’s not the same as being there, but it really has worked well, especially for small projects that need professional organization and ideas.  

Once we are familiar with the property, we look at the climate, locate your hardiness zone, and how the Sun moves through the garden in order to  create an organized preliminary design to discuss options in another video meeting.  (A preliminary design is a rough layout of what you have asked for, plus our ideas in plan view.)  As we discuss the ideas in the preliminary design we expect changes based on your feedback before we prepare the Master Plan.  Since we’ll most likely be hiring a landscape contractor to install the garden, the amount you want to spend on the project is good to know.  This amount is private between landscape architect and client.  Knowing a ball park figure helps us design within your budget.  The preliminary design meeting could be repeated a few times, until we are all comfortable with the plan.  We’ll also want to talk about a plant palette; colors, art, and any furnishings, so this may require a few meetings.  By using video conference, we are able to share our screen and show you the drawings and photos of plants in real time to make alterations to the preliminary plan in real time.  We want you to feel comfortable with the every aspect of the garden before we start preparing the Master Plan.  Most clients are not blue print savvy, which is normal.  We take the time to orient our clients with the plans, so they can understand what is being presented.  

We’ve had a few clients that want to install the landscape themselves; in this case, we create features that can be built in the DIY mode.   We also provide on-going consultations during the construction.  Now that the pandemic is not as critical, we could also come to you to help layout the garden.  It’s a good idea to have a plan for future work, so when it’s time to do a project, we know it will fit into the greater property design;  thus, some want a plan for the whole property… a guide for the years coming. 

After we have agreed on the preliminary design, we refine the design based on our discussions with you.  From this point, we prepare a Master Plan.  A Master Plan is a series of drawn documents based on what you have requested and approved in the Preliminary Plan.  One page is the general overview of the property and what will be done.  All features are presented in context to one another.   After the Overall Master Plan, pages are organized by planting, lighting, irrigation, hardscape, electrical needs, and details.  Some will only want a planting plan and that is fine, too.  It’s a flexible system based on what is required to build the landscape.  The whole process could take as little as a few weeks—it’s all up to our client and how involved they want to be in this process.  It’s really a modern living process that is actually kinda fun.  This is all possible  because of technology and the Internet.   For us, it has been a terrific result of the Pandemic as it gives us an opportunity to help folks in other areas and States, before we had a few projects out of California, but most of our projects were/are here in Los Angeles.  I love it!

After we present the full set of plans based on what you require, we can help you find a landscape contractor, source materials, furnishings, and plants.  We’ll walk you through the whole process and be there for you during the project.  We are a small business, and we offer personal attention, our designs come from our minds and experience not computer cookie cutter designs.   We can make a site visit on any item that is critical and requires our advice.  

We charge by the hour.  Our normal fee is $175 per hour, but for online design it is $135 per hour.    Typically a plan costs between $3,000 – $5,000 for a full garden, it could me more or less based on your needs.

Post Note: For those of us who like to be different, hiring someone from another area or State is probably the best way to achieve that with your garden. Typically in a city or town there is a “look” that is fine in most cases, but those us who strive to be unique, the sameness is boring. A landscape garden should reflect those who use it and not necessarily what is typically done. There are just too many wonder inspirations out there to conform to the norms just because they are normal. Though good design shines no matter what.

Here are a few of the project we have created using this new fangled technology.  

  • A plan for plant relocation.
  • A new color scheme diagram.
  • A preliminary plan in Memphis
  • A courtyard for Condos in Tennessee
  • A preliminary plan for a project in Mississippi
  • A diagram illustrating the photos we need.

Water Conservation in Indah Bulan Gardens…

California Style, Design Ideas, drought, General, Patio Design, trees, Water Conservation

Californians, when presented with problems, tend to look for answers; which is what has occurred with our ongoing drought.   One of the first projects I worked on when I moved to California 26 years ago was a Water Wise Demonstration garden for the San Bernadino Water District.  At the time it seemed odd to me as I was used to making sure water shed properly off of a site rather than trying to capture it.  As I researched for this project it became apparent to me that drought is a natural part of the weather cycle of the West.   A cycle tends to last seven years,  wet for seven years, then dry for the next, then repeat.  With our poplulation continually growing these dry periods are growing more difficult.   There is actually plenty of water, but we landscape architects have been trained to moved water away from houses quickly to the storm drains. Currently our fundamental change in our design of gardens as we now want to allow that rain water a chance to absorb into the ground, repleneshing our ground water.

With each of our garden designs, we consider how to create a garden that absorbs more water without causing a flood.  It is a delicate balance.   The solution must also be appropriate for the way the garden is intended to be used by the residents and guests.

Perhaps our greatest inspiration is a natural feature in California called “Vernal Pools”.   They are simply temporary ponds.  Most of the year they are dry, but during rains they fill up with water, as the water is absorbed into the ground specific wild flowers germinate and fill the pools with plants that expedite the grounds ability to absorb that pooled water.    We have adapted this natural feature in the gardens we design.  It is important that these depressions look beautiful year round.

So first on our list in garden design is where to create a swale, (a drainage depression)–a place where we can safely move water coming from the gutters and water running off the property to a place designed to capture a large portion of that water, allowing overflow to drain away. Then we select plant material and other materials that will aid the ground in absorbing that water.

Another way we capture water in the garden is using less concrete, substituting gravel,  pavers, decomposed granite, and porous concrete.  These materials allow the water to be absorbed into the ground by slowing down the runoff, allowing the ground to absorb it.   It’s also a good idea to look at existing paving and deciding how that surface can be reduced, too. Even breaking up sections of concrete and planting a tree can help immensely.

There has also been a great movement to use only native plants.  I generally agree with this.  But, there are some amazing plants on our planet.  Most of which can handle drought if established properly. The key to establishing plants is making sure they are in their proper conditions.   All plants have a preference in soil types (acid or alkaline), some like well drained soils, others prefer heavy clay soils…. Etc….    My only issue with California natives, is they tend to be rather big, so they need to be planted with room to grow.  There are small plants, but typically the ones that catch our eye are the big ones, which is why they are more readily available.    We use plants as architecture and as tools to help the soil thrive. There are some amazing American Native plants that work well in California gardens.

Rain Barrels are another water to capture water…. But typically they are just too small to make a real impact.  They can fill up in minutes.   They are still a good way to capture some water!   A better solution is a large sisters that can water your whole garden.  Although they are somewhat of a temporary status symbol, they require a location where they become a cohesive part of the working garden.   Rain water is far superior to irrigation.  Our water contains flouride and chlorine, which plants do not need.   Irrigation sustains, rain nurtures.

I think one of the simplest ways to help capture water is to make sure your garden soil isn’t compacted.  Most of our soils are… It can be quite diffuclt to aerate soils with existing plantings.  It is best to do this as a garden is begun.  To keep a well aerated soil, it is important to add compost, and organic nutrients to the soil.  Gardeners typically blow out leaf litter, but those leaves are free nutrients and mulch.

It is also important to maintain ones’ irrigation system.  If your system leaks then any water conservation is pointless.  Also, make sure faucets and hoses do not leak.   Overspray is another wasteful byproduct of irrigation.  Changing the heads on your existing irrigation system is an easy fix.  The new heads are much more specific as to how they water.  Also, water less often, but for longer periods.  This allows more water to seep into the ground.  Watering the top inch of soil does not promote healthy growth.  This is why there is root damage, and toppeled trees.

So, one can see there is something we can do to survive a drought not just in a drought, but when we have rains!   Let’s work together to create beautiful gardens that say we are problem solvers!