Signs of life....Phase 1-Planting

                                                     

Stone-Construction

Bringing in the big boys for demo...

                                                                                                                                                                         

Site layout for the dry creek bed

Boulder selection and dry creek preparation

Officall stone selection...in the vineyards, and crash course in beekeeping

A new home for the stone

One down...

So the story begins, a recent graduate of Landscape Architecture lands her first real job.  So what to do next...with a slim budget, and equally slim experience we begin the adventure with high hopes of good "after" photos and happy clients.

Pre-Construction

Its the little things in life

These are the people in your neighborhood, in your neighborhood...

So my sister and I were discussing my 12 year old niece and what we perceive to be her lack of foresight, which as we all know is common in 12 to say 40 year olds.  And in this conversation I remembered that I, yes I am about to turn 35!....God help me, and I barely have any foresight!

At any rate counting down the days to the birthday I realized that only in this year have I begun to REALLY understand and value my family as they deserve.  I am not sure what has made the shift, but I have begun to appreciate them in some ways I never thought possible.  Despite our quirky habits, we are coming together.

This weekend my aunt slaved over my taxes, untangling the ball of yarn that I have created through-out the year.  As usual my uncle takes me "shopping" in his garden for plants that I have wanted and not NEEDED for months. We find runners, divide, and re-pot plants for their new home in San Leandro where they will surely struggle to survive in my tepidly green thumbs.

As always we banter over who can grow what, where. I can grow more, but he gets the amazing blasts of color.  The Redbuds are in bloom and his peonies faired well through the snow. I NEED snow!!!!!!

Milo boy is following me around the property trying to make an appearance in ALL of my photos.  Can you find the Milo Man?

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       We are truely a dog  family, although I am not convinced Yorkies qualify as dogs.    

                                         

                                                               Dirt, mud, and puddles =

                                           Dirty, but damn happy dogs!

   Sedum 'Autum Joy' also seem happy about Spring

In our family we all know and understand that even if uncle Dan makes something look easy it isn't.  For example, picking up some leftover stained glass materials and creating a custom vignette of your own garden.  This is the window in the front door, approximately 2x3'.

And finally,Baby bear is never ready to go home

but doesn't move for about two days.

Architectural favorites

So yesterday we spent the day at the San Francisco Flower and Garden Show where although greatly downsized still had new and interesting inspirations to offer. Of course we all have seen the great shift to use "sustainable, green, water wise" plants and materials, and I understand the importance of this trend but for someone who enjoys a wide and varied planting palette it does begin to feel a little stifling.  But we DID find some new tidbits to take away. 

Some of my favorite plants despite my best efforts to have some semblance of originality ARE the drought tolerant and low maintenance plants that almost anyone in Northern California can grow.

If flowers are not your thing, consider using some of these brightly foliaged plants with emphatic presence.  Combining in mass can result in some very interesting combinations.

Begonia's for mom