This is a path that I laid at the home of sculptor Stephen De Staebler and his wife Danae Mattes.  Stephen passed on May 13th last year and among the beautiful and varied sculptures he left behind, are the remnants and rejects of clay fragments (many beautifully painted).  My task was to create a path down to the studio using such fragments.  This was a fun project, not only for the artistic license afforded me...but the sense of collaboration and opportunity to hopefully honor such an esteemed artist!

2011 Sea Cliff Back Yard

 Here's an update  of the previous posting.  You can see that the purple Loropetalum hedge has filled in nicely along the driveway.  The 'Rodgers Red' grapevines blanket the arbor and follow the fence.  Their vigorous growth requires regular pruning to maintain just a few main branches. 

At the back of the garden is a hedge of Loropetalum x Ralphii.  This wonderful evergreen shrub is about 3'x8' and has very fine texture (tiny white flowers in spring).  It is flanked by Fremontodendron.

2009 Sea Cliff Back Yard

This is a design I did a few years ago that started with a meandering flagstone path that eventually became a green path irrigated by sub-surface irrigation.  Sub-surface irrigation is drip that is layed below ground instead of on top (requiring a flush system to prevent roots from clogging the emitters while the lines sit full).   This eliminates overspray and uses less water.  Curbstone stairs are meant to replicate the historic S.F. curbstone at the clients request.  A nearby former property of Ansel Adams provided the inspiration for the stair/paver combo set into the lawn path.   The property is lined with a 90' redwood fence and ends with an 8' tall arbor with 2 levels.  Initial plantings look minimal here.  Stay tuned for update photos!

October Rains

Periodic rains are beginning, and with it come crucial garden assessment decisions.  Left to their own devices, pests will overwinter and multiply come spring.  Easily noticed are the Ants marching in the house, not so easily noticed are the ones that are herding aphids.  Some species of ants "farm" aphids, protecting them on the plants they eat, eating the honeydew that the aphids release from the terminations of their alimentary canals. This is a "mutualistic relationship".  A similar relationship exists with scale as well.  If this infestation persists the health of the plant will surely fail.  One solution is a product called "Tanglefoot", which is a sticky resin you put in a ring around the base of the infected plant (especially check those citrus!).  This prevents the line of ants from ascending the affected plant.

Other pests such as spider mites can be kept in check with this organic concoction; 2 tbsp dish soap, 2 tbsp white vinegar in 1 gallon of water (non-edibles can use 1 tbsp of Murphy's Oil Soap as well).  Regular application deters the pests, while a simple hard spray with water once in awhile helps as well. 


More to come on Pest Control!

Eat Real festival 2011

City Slicker Farms was at the festival this year with veggie seedlings in tow.  City Slicker sets up back yard community gardens in low-income neighborhoods with the goal of establishing productive edible gardens to help supply local City Slicker farm stands.

http://www.cityslickerfarms.org/

Another great local business  (N. Oakland, Lake Merrit and Berkeley) was "The Beet Box", a local C.S.A. with weekly and  bi-weekly  boxes $24 full share and $14 half share

http://www.phatbeetsproduce.org/

Arctostaphylos 'John Dourley'

 Above is my favorite of the manzanita groundcovers, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi 'John Dourley'.  This variety tends to mound higher than the species or 'Emerald Carpet' which is pictured below.  It has a silvery sheen to it and the new growth on the ends of the spreading branches are an attractive crimson that matches the iconic manzanita branches.  It's size varies with climate but tends to be 3'h x 8'w.

                                 Arctostaphylos uva-ursi 'Emerald Carpet'

after

 I prepared 2 designs for this space from which the client chose a tasteful combination of Arizona Sandfire flagstone and Quartz lime select for the 12' circular patio.  I chose the color of the house to compliment the peachy sandstone path.  Subtle copper lighting fixtures (with uprights in the mature apples) and a simple obelisk water feature combined to give extra elements of enjoyment to this garden.  Not seen is the left fence with 6 in 1 grafted pear tree (espallier) and an overhead 'Rogers Red' grape vine.

before

This was a foundation to finsh house in Twin Peaks. The lighting transformer and irrigation timer were mounted on the opposite side of the house in the laundry room.  I wired both through the walls during this stage of construction. .

Dry Stacked Retaining Walls

This is a retaining wall we built about 4 years ago (update photo coming soon).  The stone is called Marco's Bluff and is no longer available through local suppliers.  The advantage of dry stacked walls are that moisture and rainwater are allowed to drain as opposed to backing up behind a mortared (or concrete) retaining wall.  Local stone suppliers offer a wide range of colors to accentuate the desired palette.

D.G. Planting

Planting directly into D.G. allows for many color contrast opportunities.  Soil beneath is ammended properly and covered with filter fabric.  Cut an X into the fabric and plant into soil allowing rootball to remain 3" above fabric.  Lay decomposed granite and compact, making sure to keep the D.G. off the base of the plant (to prevent root rot).  Any drip irrigation needs to be pinned UNDERNEATH the fabric

Indian Summer

September can be our hottest month!  As the Central Valley cools down, it no longer draws in the high blankets of fog that shield us for much of the early summer.  This allows for a nice strong finish on our summer bloomers.  It also gives us nice weather to prepare for the fall.

Cold season vegetable crops/seeds should be planted now.  Onions, shallots and garlic are best planted from "sets" which are easily ordered on line, while leeks  do best from starters or seed.  Beets are best in containers, lettuces and dark greens should be bedded while peas and beans need a support.

Bulbs are bought by the bag or the box, a hillside of narcissus will easily naturalize and fill in after just a few years.

This is also the best time of year to do planting.  Upcoming rains establish the young root systems to give them a head start come spring.  In garden planning we should take advantage of the fall color in our nurseries to pick the exact colors we expect to see this time of year.