Executive Care Inc.

Welcome to our March issue. It is hard to believe that Spring is already here. I want to start off a little differently with this article by asking a question. The question is, what are the key ingredients for business success? An initial answer would be that it would depend upon the business and the end goal. However, there are general statements or goals that would benefit any business. Being unique or original, satisfying and/or surpassing expectations, great quality at a fair price etc., are all parts of a successful business model. But the one that I want to address in our March edition is being Proactive. How does this fit into the context of landscaping?

Landscaping, whether in Arizona, where the landscape is serene and the plant combinations consist of drought tolerant plants or in a tropical area such as Hawaii, where the landscape is full, lush and very green, must be done with the knowledge of the climate zone and its plant types. There are plants that are indigenous to those areas, as well as plants that have the “qualifications,” or better said, the adaptability to grow in those zones. No region, with maybe the exception of the Sahara Desert, is without its native plants. We can go anywhere and enjoy good landscapes, that invite you out or calms you down, and causes you –almost subconsciously–to be in a good mood. High end resorts, regardless of their location, invest a lot of money and time in their landscapes for this reason, and they are very good examples of the diversity, beauty and adaptability of the plant kingdom.

Apart from knowing the correct plant species and how to use them, it is also part of my job to pay attention to our weather and be ‘proactive’ in regards to those changes. Permanent climate changes I am not qualified to determine, for much of our weather is cyclic. However seasonal changes that affect us I am qualified to deal with. It is no secret that our rainfall has been limited this year, and though I have not heard of any water restrictions (as of 2/23) I do expect them. So , is it being proactive to install large areas of lawn? A case in point: I was just at a local nursery yesterday, and someone had bought approximately 2,200 square feet of sod. That is an area of 50 feet by 45 feet, and represents a fair amount of labor and materials when you consider the grading, drainage, irrigation, topsoil and lawn, to risk losing. I was quite upset, especially when there are so many good alternatives to installing a lawn like this.

Two years ago we had water restrictions, and I wrote a series on making your landscape “water restriction proof” which involved hybrids of lawns that, once established, only need one good watering a week. I also discussed next generation sprinkler nozzles that have the trade name of “water miser nozzles.” I also discussed the correct way to install a drip irrigation system, which, when done correctly, is the best system for the plants. The water goes right to the plant, we are able to quantify that amount, and nothing is wasted. So what is my point? Being proactive involves adapting to what nature gives us. Living within our “natural means” is only good stewardship. The good news is that we have the tools and the plants to do so without sacrificing the beauty and the pleasure of the outdoors.

So with the idea of being proactive, let’s start with this month’s landscape. I like to rotate between larger yards and smaller yards, giving everyone a chance to see concepts and designs that can potentially fit into their yards. Having just concluded a three part series on a larger yard, I am excited to share with you the concepts and designs that went into this smaller yard. We will start with the front this month, and review the back next month. The front, as the before picture shows, was the standard builder’s landscape. Which, while everything else gets settled with new home ownership, works. Our clients had been in the home for about six months, and were now ready for a change. Not wanting any lawn due to allergies as well as because of the maintenance they requested a lawn free landscape design with a Northern California/Asian blended theme. Often people ask how a theme is determined. With these clients it was a matter of preference. The husband grew up in Washington state and enjoys our Northern California look, with mixed ornamentals and conifers. His wife, Asian by decent, enjoys the influences of that theme. So a mixed theme is easy to understand. In this case it was more a matter of personal preferences; in other cases it depends on trying to match the surrounding area, or trees that will remain, or the outside architecture or interior decor of the house.

In designing a smaller yard, the challenge is making the different design elements and plant selections fit into the proportions of the yard. Everything from boulder selections, to stream width and length, to the maturing heights and width of plants and the amount of night lights comes into greater focus with a smaller yard. It is fun because of this challenge, but not easy. It is very easy to overcrowd a smaller yard in later years if all of these elements are not taken into account. Initially “over planting” looks nice, filling out the smaller yard and making it appear a little bigger than it really is. However, as the landscape matures, and the plants grow, just the opposite begins to happen. The plants crowd themselves and the area begins to appear smaller. The challenge is to resist the temptation to give a “bigger” look to the yard, and design for the future, which, for me, is the third year of growth. By then the plants are at the size that I want to maintain them. The trees of course will continue to grow, but by the third year, they have come into their own beauty. And if cared for properly, will only become more of a focal point in the landscape.

Next month we will discuss the back yard. Please however read the new column as we expand into two full pages. For next month the new column will be titled ” If Plants Could Talk ” which is going to be a fun column for you plant enthusiasts. However for this month, I feel it very important to give a review on drip irrigation—not as exciting, but it is the life line of your plants. Also this January and February I covered in detail lawn irrigation tips in the articles on my website under ‘Publications.’ Call if we can help, and please let us know if the request is for a family activity soon to happen, or if you have time. We are needing to rank our response according to client need.

OK, that’s it for now, have a great month, and Good Gardening!

Thank you for coming to Part II for both previous articles, The Giving of Grace and The Gift that Heals.

This article, Heaven’s Hope, Grace Unmeasured, as the other two, are written from the desire to heal wounds and help relationships. Having said that, there is one relationship that is paramount to all relationships and that is the relationship that God wants to have with us. To some this is common knowledge; to others this may be the first time hearing this and, undoubtedly, it raises questions. I will seek to answer those questions throughout the context of writing this. However, I have a question for you. Do you know God, and if you answer yes, by what means? On what truth rests your confidence, or what evidence gives you the assurance that you know the LORD? Now before I am misunderstood, I want to give some clarification. I am not challenging or trying to be confrontational. My goal is that by the end of this writing, there will be a clear Biblical answer to this question, so that there is no doubt that you know the LORD, and if you don’t know Him, that you clearly know the steps to take. That is my direction; that is my goal. Now to achieve that goal, I will step on some toes, lovingly so, but I will. Part of the reason for “stepping on some toes” is the truth of God and how to know Him is so misrepresented in our culture, that what I say may contradict a personal belief. So with that as an introduction, let’s start.

Christianity is viewed by many as divisive. That the “one way” message excludes many people, and if God was truly a God of Love, why would He set up a system of faith that was so narrow-minded? Right, is that not what people think, or maybe you think that? So do you want to know the answer? It depends on your perspective. Let me explain. It is just like looking through binoculars. If you look through them correctly, everything looks closer, more in focus. However, if you turn the binoculars around, everything looks extremely far, but it’s the same instrument being used. So why is that? Well it is a matter of your perspective, or understanding, on how to correctly use the binoculars. There is one way to correctly view through them, and the correct way even supersedes our natural vision’s capabilities. Christianity is identical. The “heart” of Christianity is not about doing good, or following a set of rules, but it is all about a relationship, and to understand that requires a specific “focus” or view. Here’s another example. We all have had, or have young children, or remember when we were one, although it might seem decades ago. When our girls were very young, we lived in a townhome with a very small front yard. The back was always shady, so much of the play occurred out front. However, the front was so small, that it took no time before the girls were out in the street playing. Problem with that is our street was busy. So Lisa or myself, or both, were always pulling the girls back unto the lawn, much to their frustration and the disappointment of their little friends. They had not the maturity or foresight to perceive the danger of playing in the street. To them, we were being “one way” in our determination of where they could play. So these are two simple analogies of a much more complex truth. However, they support my earlier statement: it depends on your perspective.

So clearly, we have two perspectives, or two roads, to introduce another analogy: God’s and ours. The first is the road God invites us to travel. The second is the road we choose for ourselves. Even for the best of us, the most moral of us, the two roads go in opposite directions. God’s road is one that includes Him in your life. He is driving the car of your soul and you are the passenger, verses you driving the car of your soul, making your own decisions, facing your fears alone, etc. The big problem with driving our own car, and I am bypassing a lot of theology to make this point, is that no matter how well we drive and which roads we select, we can never drive or always choose the right roads. We will take wrong turns, speed, get into accidents, cut people off, etc. In other words, spiritually speaking now, we fall short. To drive perfectly is to “live perfectly” and none of us meet that criterion. Yet the LORD is perfect (Holy) and hence our lives can never be in “agreement” with His.

Holiness is a hard concept to grasp; there are no examples, but internally I think we understand. The only word picture I know for Holiness is the red hot coals of a fire. If you have camped, had a fire in the fireplace, or even better yet, had a fire insert, you are able to see the very center of the fire—the fire that comes off the coals, which is pure and extremely hot and has no smoke associated with it. The coals are so hot that the impurities have already been consumed: utterly pure and utterly untouchable. If I were to ask you to pick up a red hot coal with your bare hands and bring it to me, you would say I am crazy! Who would do that? Yet God is like those red hot coals and more so. His Holiness is beyond comprehension. If we will not grab a red hot coal, something of this earth, what makes us think we can stand justified before a Holy God with nothing but our own efforts representing us? We are blinded by our ways, our perspective of God is off because we are unable to comprehend the Holiness of God.

I do not believe I will be challenged if I say that we are not perfect. Even with our limited understanding and definition of the word perfect, none of us would stand and say, “Look at me; I am an example of perfection.” We are not perfect. We all have faults, shortcomings, and regrets for past actions. To be human is to be faulty, but GOD is not. He is without fault, for He is HOLY. Now I know some of you may not believe in GOD, and I am not going to try to prove His existence to you. But I will say this. When you see a painting, you acknowledge a painter; when you see a nice landscape, you acknowledge a landscaper. But what do you acknowledge when you see all of creation, something so vast and much greater than what the hand of man can do, from the beautiful diversity of fish and coral in the oceans, to the mountain tops with beautiful flora so delicate and yet living in such a harsh environment? Creation speaks of a Creator.

The LORD says of Himself in Isaiah 55, verses 8 and 9, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” Just as we have a generational gap between age groups, we have a spiritual gap between us and a Holy God. What is the solution? Is there one? And here begins the main point of Heaven’s Hope, Grace Unmeasured. As mentioned earlier, Christianity is seen as divisive with its “one way” doctrine. Again, it depends from which side of heaven you are looking. In Isaiah 1, verse 18, God says, “Come now, let us reason together says the LORD. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be like wool.” And in John 3, verses 16 and 17, it says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever would believe in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” So how is it that Christianity has become a religion viewed as divisive, when from God’s perspective He is reaching out through Christ to save us?

So, is Jesus Christ the bridge between a Holy God and sinful man? Is it He who “fills” the spiritual gap of our imperfection so that we can be one with God, granting us a presence before a Holy God? Is it possible? In 2 Corinthians 5, verses 14-21, we find very enlightening scriptures. I will share versus 17-19 but encourage you to go back and read all the scriptures, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation.” And in verse 21, “God made Him (Jesus) who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” Did you catch that, “that in him we might become the righteousness of God”? That is amazing! It is not about me, my works, or my faulty life and attempts to be good. I do not have to fear the Holy Fire of Righteousness. I do not stand alone before a Holy and Righteous God. I have an Advocate, a “Holy Buffer.” Because of what He did for me on the Cross and because I came to agreement with Him about my sins, receiving His forgiveness, I have standing before God. It is important to understand that Holiness demands righteousness by the very definition of Holiness. That cannot be changed. But God also is loving and is seeking a relationship with us, so He has provided an atonement, a provision for man to be forgiven. Christ is that provision of righteousness for me. I become a new creation! I am united back to God to live in peace. The Greek definition of peace (the original language of the New Testament) means “to set at one again,” as something broken, or broken off, that has been set back in place. Divisive may be the name that those of us who are seeking our own way would call Christianity, but for those who come under its shelter and are restored back into relationship with a loving Father, sins forgiven and peace within, UNITY would be a far better word.

I would like to end with a poem of sorts, which I wrote the other day as I was contemplating this article. The poem is simply entitled Adoption:

Adoption

We are orphans, raised on the streets
We steal for a living, fight to survive
Adoption became a road, an offering by a King, something I didn’t understand
But it represented food, shelter, and a permanent home
The King paid my debts, made right my wrongs,
He gave me a new name, nice clothes to wear, and freedom from hunger and fear.
One day I was a street orphan, next day I was heir to a Throne
How is that possible? How can such a transformation occur?
It is the King’s doing, nothing of my own
Just my willingness to accept His offer, come to agreement, and acknowledge my need
Inside me, I sense a light, something not of me—a quiet peace and encourager
Yet, I still sense much of me: bad habits, self-willed thoughts, consistent wrong actions
These all still lie present within me. How do I change?
I must spend time with the King, hear His words and allow them to settle inside me
I must read His writings, store them up in me, and watch how He acts
By abiding in Him, slowly change will occur,
By His Grace, Forgiveness, and Kindness, I will change
I have hope of a better me and a better life.

The Hope of Heaven is that we come to know the LORD through Jesus Christ, and in relationship with Him, there is Grace Unmeasured for the journey we will travel. So let’s do it, not by our strength, not by good works, but by learning of our Savior through reading the Bible, praying, and attending a church that teaches the scriptures, worships, and models prayer for us. As I like to say, the Teacher is always teaching; just show up for class with a humble heart and a readied mind, and Truth will enter your soul and change will occur. It is His doing and your willingness to participate. Amen.

If this has touched you, I would like to know. Please send me an email at arthur@executivecareinc.com and let me know of your decision. I will contact you.

Wishing God’s Blessings to all of you.

Welcome to our Christmas Holiday edition.
For those of you who follow our monthly writings, thank you. Your readership means a lot to me. As you know, each month we have been talking about the challenges we face as landscapers in converting our client’s yard into something that is uniquely theirs and uniquely beautiful. It takes time, thought, questions, and creativity, but by not hurrying the process, the end result are the pictures that I have been pleased to show you. Life is like that. It takes time to raise a child, to be a good spouse, and to develop your skills at work. Also, it takes an act of one’s will to keep moving forward in life and not become trapped in negative emotions.

This year’s Christmas article was a personal challenge for me; not in writing it, but whether to write on a new topic, or because of all the responses from last year, to allow The Gift that Heals to run again. The topic of the article deals with the harder side of life, which is an area that is always difficult, and knowing several people who are right now dealing with this, my decision became clearer. So, allow this article to be like a “diagnostic test” for you to check the health of your soul, for this is one area that can cripple us and rob us of any joy or peace or love of life we might have. And I would prefer us to enjoy the holidays to the fullest and not be hindered. Also, I would invite you to read Part II of this article, Heaven’s Hope, Grace Unmeasured, by going to our website and clicking on publications. Scroll to December and click on Part II. I promise you it will be more than worth the read.

Now let’s get started. As a landscaper, it has been my privilege to build relationships with our clients and their families. Over the course of a project, I am blessed to become a friend, at times a counselor or an encourager, and in some cases even “Uncle Arthur” to the children. That is how I come to you today, not as a professional, but as a friend. We will not talk about the gardens we plant but rather the “garden of our soul.” I will be sharing my faith with you—the beliefs that guide my life.

Like a garden, our souls need tending. We can get weeds (attitudes), we need pruning (character development), and we all like water and fertilizer (love and encouragement). Today, I want to talk about a weed that can devastate our relationships, be it spouse-to-spouse, parent-to-child, friend-to-friend, neighbor-to-neighbor, or coworker-tocoworker. In agricultural terms, it would be classified as a “noxious weed,” which means that it is so incredibly invasive and hard to control that it must be eradicated at all cost. It is a weed that if left unchecked could ruin the whole crop. One of the most “noxious soul weeds” is the weed of resentment.

Resentment has one face, but it can be sown into our soul through many means. The “seed” is a personal offense—someone has offended me in speech or action. It could be someone close to me, like a family member or friend or a coworker or neighbor— but in one form or another “my rights” were violated. Something was taken that was not given or injured and not made right. Sometimes people are not even aware that they have offended us. In other cases, the wound is inflicted more purposefully. Either way, we can seek to “pull the weed” or let it spread. In medical terms, we can “treat the wound” or let it fester. A festering wound is the soil in which resentment becomes a noxious weed.

Webster offers several definitions to describe resentment, including, “exhibiting intense animosity” and “rawness.” If these deeply intense feelings were physical weights on one’s shoulders, it would be like trying to carry ten pieces of fullypacked luggage on our backs and under our arms for the whole of our life! How inhibiting and emotionally exhausting that would be, and we definitely would be rubbed raw. At times, we may even wonder how the situation got so out of hand. Well, just like in gardening, to be inactive is to allow the weeds to be active. Unkindness breeds unkindness and resentment breeds resentment; bitterness breeds bitterness and hatred breeds hatred, and there is no end to it. It is a poison that runs deep and contaminates much beyond the borders of two people. It even affects “nontarget relationships” (an agricultural term describing damage done outside the target area). In other words, our resentment hurts others not directly related to the situation, bringing more injury to ourselves and creating barriers to other meaningful relationships. If you are honest with yourself, you know this to be true. Resentment is always there, only a thought away. It makes us snappy, impatient, angry, and in general a pain to be around. We become a burden, instead of a burden lifter; our presence alone becomes a weight to others. Some of us learn to compartmentalize our hurts, and as long as we stay away from that person or from thoughts of them, we do alright. At least that’s what we think. In reality, it’s like running a complex software program while working in another; it weighs down the overall performance of the computer. Our souls are no different; emotional energy is being expended.

As “unworthy” a person may be of forgiveness, to not forgive and contaminate or potentially ruin other relationships that could bring you happiness and enjoyment is not wise. Regardless of whether the offender has asked for forgiveness, forgive for your sake. Let the bitterness and resentment stay in the past. Why bring it into the present? Allow the love of others to come into your soul, diluting the poison that still remains. Resentment and bitterness only keep YOU captive. It is much better to engage in life again, for behind the bars of bitterness, surely what flicker of life is left will soon go out, leaving only a darkened soul.

I know I’ve said a lot, and I can hear some of you say, “If only I could…” Some wounds which we carry are so deep, they seem impossible to release. I understand, so let me share with you a story that might help. It is a parable that Jesus told.

The story involves a ruler and a servant, but it starts with a question from Peter regarding forgiveness (Matthew 18:21-35). Peter asked Jesus, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” (Peter thought he was being generous.) Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy times seven.” In other words, there is no limit.

To illustrate his answer, Jesus told this parable: “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents (millions of dollars) was brought to him. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had to be sold to repay the debt (this was common practice). The servant fell on his knees before him. Be patient with me, he begged, and I will pay back everything.”

Now, as a side note, the servant’s words are just words in a time of great difficulty. There was no way this servant would ever be able to pay back such an astronomical debt. He was obviously a servant with authority, one of position under the master, but he was a terrible steward with what he was entrusted. Undoubtedly, he was spending the master’s money to his benefit. You might say he was a thief with royal protection until now that his stewardship is brought into question. Yet, “The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.”

If you’ve never heard the story before, I am sure the master’s response came as a surprise. You would also think that the servant who had been forgiven so much would be a changed man. Let’s see: “But when the servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii (a few dollars in comparison). He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded. His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’” The servant refused. Instead, he had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt.

The servant’s hard-heartedness and incredible lack of mercy is incomprehensible. He could not find it in his heart to forgive a fellow servant, an equal; the greatness of his own pardon had not been valued. So when the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything. Then the master called the servant in. “You wicked servant,” he said. “I canceled all your debt because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?” In anger the master turned him over the jailers until he should pay back all he owed. The servant’s lack of mercy came back to judge him, and found guilty, he will spend the rest of his days in jail.

So let’s ask some questions. In the story, who is the master? The master is God. And who is the servant with the enormous debt? We are the servant. Finally, who is the other servant? He is our fellow man, whether a spouse, child, coworker or friend. The point that Jesus was teaching was if God, who is Holy and Just can see to forgive a repentant heart, who are we not to forgive one another. If the Greater forgives the lesser, should not the lesser forgive his or her equal? Indeed, which of us has not offended; which of us is so much better than the rest that we can stand as judge? As stated, who are we hurting by not forgiving? We are only hurting ourselves. How much better it is to forgive! How good it feels to forgive, to release the offense, and to seek peace. It’s healing to our inner being and to the fractured relationship—a fresh breath on life. Why would I want to keep all that poison inside? Would it not be to my betterment to “forgive my fellow servant”? For before a Holy God, we all stand guilty. Not one of us is holy, just, and without sin. We are all like the servant who owed much more than he could ever repay. Yet, God is willing to forgive us completely.

The Bible teaches that God is not only willing to forgive, but also that He forgets our sins when we confess them unto Him. He who would have every right to keep record does not. In Isaiah, Chapter 1, Verse 18, God speaks tenderly to His people saying, “Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as (white as) wool…” Amazing! The Creator God wants to come to reason with His creation! Yet, as incredible as that is, it is true. The divine mercy He offers is the key to us becoming a more merciful person. For once you experience the graciousness of God and His forgiveness and love for you, you understand how much grace we all need. Giving The Gift that Heals begins with receiving it, and by receiving it and being changed by it, we in turn are able to extend it. So let’s get the weed of resentment out of our souls and begin to live life.

Thank you so much for spending your time with me. What better way to enjoy your landscape creations and one another than to know the Creator of All. Have a wonderful Christmas, and if I can be of help, do not hesitate to email me at arthur@executivecareinc.com or call me.

I will be at the Northern Cal Expo show in January, sharing a booth with Patio Perfections in the Landscapers building. I would love to meet you personally. May God richly bless you, as we journey into 2012. *Part 2 (Heaven’s Hope, Grace Unmeasured) will be posted soon.

Welcome to our November edition. We will be taking a break from our series for the next two months. I remembered that students usually get a Thanksgiving and Christmas break, so we will take advantage of this time to cover two important topics. This month we’ll look at winter planting. Then in December we will focus on “landscaping for the soul,” which should prove to be a very enjoyable and heartfelt read. So let’s begin.

I am often asked when the weather gets colder: “Is it too late for planting?” The answer is always “no.” The best home for plants, regardless of season, is always in the ground. I will explain.

The containers we buy plants in are hot in the summer and cold in the winter. They offer no insulation. In fact they can make summer heat even worse. The black can on our hottest days is actually hot to the touch. In the winter, the container is not colder, but all the cold is borne by the plant, and the water in the can will actually freeze when our night temperatures drop to freezing. For plants whose cold tolerances are border line in our climate, this means death. The tops of a plant can freeze, and the plant will still live, new shoots will emerge in spring. However if the roots freeze, the plant is dead. So while in the container, the plant has no protection from the extreme temperatures; it is vulnerable. Even for plants that are hardy, remaining in the container is harder for them. If the same plant is in the ground and in a container, the plant that is in the ground will fl ower and leaf out sooner than the exact same variety in the container. This tells us something: the ground is a much better insulator.

We landscape year round, knowing that getting plants in the ground is always better. Also the bark we add not only is aesthetically pleasing, but it also acts as an extra “blanket” of insulation for the plants. This double protection allows plants to survive our temperature extremes much better than a plastic can. As I’ve already noted a sensitive plant may lose all its leaves or die back to the ground in winter, but they will produce new shoots in the spring because their roots were insulated and protected. During my years as a grower in the wholesale nursery business, we had a saying: “Grow roots and shoots will follow.” It’s a simple truth, but it helps you to understand how important it is to protect and provide a “safe haven” for the roots to grow.

So, no, it’s not too late for planting. In fact, there are advantages to starting a landscape project now. First, you will be able to watch your landscape come alive. I always tell my clients, “Wait till next spring, and you will see all the surprises I have planted for your enjoyment.” Our landscapes always have color year round, but after coming through winter, spring color is so welcoming and warming, it puts a smile on your soul!

Also starting a project in the winter is like going Christmas shopping before Thanksgiving. You avoid the Christmas rush. There’s less of a wait; I can attend to you sooner; and it is more convenient for you. Since you are spending more time indoors, you won’t “miss” opportunities to be in your garden. So in conclusion, it is not too late to plant, and in fact winter has some advantages of its own that the other seasons do not have. I wish you all a blessed Thanksgiving. Thank you for your support and faithful readership. –Arthur

We have completed our first “class” and, based on the appointments I have had since the start of the Landscape 101 series, I would give you all A’s. The appointments have been on track, with each client having a list of important descriptive phrases and potential themes. This has made our meetings more productive and enjoyable.

Now that you have graduated from Landscape 101, I would like to tell you about what happens next, hence our title Landscape 201. Before leaving our first meeting, I will schedule the second meeting approximately two to three weeks out. During this time I am working on the estimate, using Quick Books to type out the process of getting from an unattractive yard to a beautiful one. You could say I am mentally landscaping from the ground up or, more accurately, from below the ground up because I must include drainage and irrigation. I take the key points from out meeting, noting the changes and the additions to the yard. From this, I calculate the labor hours required to accomplish the work and list all the materials to be used.

Upon the completion of the estimate, there is a dollar number for the labor and an itemized list for the materials. The estimate is an education in itself, allowing our clients to see all the materials and labor required to accomplish the transformation. This process takes time, and I am aware not all landscapers approach the process in the same way—but, for me, it is the most important part of what I do. It takes creative time to convert verbal descriptions into physical representations, matching hardscape, plants and design to the theme. I’m tired after the process, but it is a good, satisfied kind of tired.

After the planning work is finished, I begin the design. That is the topic we will cover in our next edition. Until then, thank you for your support and please remember to call back if you do not hear from me after a couple of days. I look forward to meeting those of you who need our expertise and count the opportunity to serve you as a privilege. Enjoy fall. It’s a great time of year- Blessings, Arthur.

Welcome back to Landscape 101 and a continued discussion of the thought process and design principles that are used to create an attractive landscape. This is the final article in the series, so I am going to begin with a brief review.

In the first article, we showed how your ideas about what you want are the starting point of design. Some example statements are “I want my yard to invite me out into it,” or “I love color,” or “I want to feel surrounded by the landscape,” or “I want to see green and color but open space and order.” These are quotes from past clients, and to me they describe a design, plant selection, placement and a hint at a theme.

Next, we took three editions to examine what a theme is and why it is important to design. Some example themes are Tropical, Mediterranean, Tuscan, and Asian. A theme gives the landscape a particular feeling, or mood. Theme is also used to narrow plant selection.

In today’s article, I am going to explore how your descriptions translate into a theme and how we move toward a specific design. If a client says, “I want something Zen,” I would lean immediately to an Asian theme. However, statements like, “I love color,” could find expression in many different themes. So to help my clients determine which theme they want color to be expressed through, I take them through our portfolio. This way, I am able to show what different themes might look like and explain how some themes lend themselves better to their comments. If you look at the many different themes in the slide show on our website, you will understand how the portfolio review gives clients an opportunity to talk very specifi cally about what they like or don’t like. Usually by the time we’ve finished looking at the book together, the client’s choice of theme is fairly clear. The portfolio is also used to spark ideas for the landscape. Think of it as a landscape catalog that not only shows different plant themes, but also different water features, hardscapes, retaining walls, etc. It helps you decide what features you want included in your design.

As important as it is to choose a theme and to think about desired features, any serious discussion about design must also include a discussion of budget. Here again, the portfolio is especially useful. I am able to use it to show what I call Volkswagen, Chevy and Mercedes landscapes and describe the differences. The distinctions are not a judgment, just a practical way to talk about expenditures. By describing landscapes in this manner, it makes it possible to effectively discuss cost, and what might be considered a later phase. For example, if there is a desire to have a water feature but it puts the job over budget, we can pre-plumb for it and add the water feature in phase two.

Going through this whole process together gives me a thorough understanding of the client’s desires and expectations. When I understand the “all” of the job, I am able to give the client a rough estimate of cost. Nothing disappoints a client more than being presented with a design that is not affordable, so I always make sure that a budget is agreed upon before I begin the actual design. My rough numbers are confirmed when I have run all the labor and material costs. These final numbers are presented to you with the completed design.

Through Landscape 101, I have walked you through my fi rst meeting with a client, including the things I listen for and the basic decisions you will make. Thank you for going through the process with me. If there are subjects that you would like me to cover in future articles, please contact me through our website. If you leave a voice message, please call me back if I do not respond within two days. I cannot always understand the messages. Blessings, – Arthur

Welcome Back to Landscape 101

This is the third and final section on the importance of determining a landscape theme. In Part 1, we introduced the concept of a theme, using interior decoration as an example. We want our rooms to have a certain look and feel, which could be described as a style or theme. Then we choose our furnishings to create the look we want. Landscaping is no different. We have to narrow the playing field. Nature gives us themes via different climate zones and/or environments, which determine what grows within that region. An easy example is that cactus does not grow with ferns; they are climatically incompatible.

In last month’s Part 2, we discussed types of themes such as Tropical, Nor. Cal, and Asian. We said that what GPS is to navigation so theme is to landscape. It helps us—the client and landscaper—to be on the same page with mutually agreed expectations. We also discussed how to select a theme. Our choice may be according to personal preference, to coordinate with the style of our home, or we might take cues from our surroundings.

With that brief review, we will now take a look at blended themes. Let me give you an example. Around my pool I have a Mediterranean setting with palm trees, sagos and plants that give a Mediterranean feel. Then, as you step away from the pool and move toward the garden, there is a large Redwood. The Redwood acts as a transition to the Nor. Cal. theme that defi nes the rest of the garden. Examples of other combinations are Tropical/Asian, or Mediterranean/ Tuscan, or English/Country.

While any of the themes listed above can be used to define the whole landscape, they create another “feel” when they are combined. Let’s look at some examples. English alone is formal and very green. There is a lot of topiary with manicured hedges. Adding Country to English brings in a variety of flowers and leaf colors, softening the otherwise formal appearance. The same is true with Mediterranean and Tuscan. Tuscan will have the gray and green foliage. The plants within this theme are more drought tolerant by nature. Rosemary and lavender are good examples, and for accents it will in particular have red, as in red roses. When we add Mediterranean to it, we incorporate palms, sagos, grasses, and more color. Mediterranean softens a Tuscan landscape, much like Country does to English.

One of my favorite combinations is Tropical/Asian. Asian, like English, has lines; it’s vertical. Yet within Asian are the soft and graceful Japanese Maples, sculptural bonsai and raked gravel. The vertical lines are softened further by adding more Tropical plants with broad leaves, such as the burgundy-colored Canna Dark Knight. Palms and ferns also soften because they drape. Incorporating rich color and softening plants to the Asian theme creates the most restful, Zen-like landscape you can imagine.

Of course, the best theme choice is the one you make because it makes a statement about you. I was just asked to do a “Classic Drama” theme, and recently completed a Contemporary Asian/ Mediterranean landscape, which is pictured here.

Now that we understand the importance of theme, we will move forward next month. The Landscape 101 series is an outline of the thought process and design principles that are used to create an attractive landscape. Until next month, good gardening, and remember to call me back if I do not respond in a couple of days. I cannot always understand the voice messages. Blessings- Arthur

Welcome back to Landscape 101 and a continued discussion on the importance of theme. Last month we noted that the plant kingdom is vast, but nature breaks it into groups. Every region has specific plants that lend themselves to the climate of that environment. Every environment has a unique “feel.”

With this as our framework, we can communicate the types of themes you might choose from. We have Tropical, Mediterranean, Tuscan, Asian, English, and within English is Country (though County is not just English, it is most commonly thought of that way). There’s Mountain, or what I call it Tahoe, and then there is our own Northern CA., which has Coastal as a subgroup.

Each of these themes should create a picture in your mind. That picture is recreated in a landscape by using plants that represent the theme and give the desired feel. So choosing a theme gives you an objective for your garden. Both you and your landscaper know the goal and have proper expectations. Theme is to landscaping what GPS is to travel. It provides the direction so we arrive at our intended destination and do not get lost along the way. With so many interesting and beautiful plants to choose from, getting lost is not hard to do!

We are fortunate that so many landscape themes work in our climate. Only within the Tropical theme do we have to use caution. Some of the varieties can be damaged when the temperatures go below 35° and/ or will not survive freezing temperatures. Plants within this grouping need to be covered with frost blankets to help protect them, or they can be planted close to the house for shelter. All the other themes do quite well.

So how do you decide on a theme? Aside from personal preference, the only other strong determiner would be the style of your home. Other considerations could be your surroundings and soil conditions. For instance, if you live in a more rural area, you may want to select a Nor. Cal. theme to blend in. If your soil is sandy, a Tuscan or a Native/Drought tolerate theme would be good. So these are some examples of how I go about helping the homeowners choose their theme.

Once chosen, the theme controls the plant selections. This is where the knowledge of the landscaper comes in. If he has a good working knowledge of plants, he should be able to come up with twenty to thirty plants that fi t into the theme, from full sun, partial sun to shade. These are the common light conditions of most yards, especially if the project includes front and back yards. To accomplish this, it is not unusual for me to visit at least three nurseries; none seem to carry all the varieties that I want to use, so I need to shop.

Once the plants are selected, the placement of the plants begins. I refer to this as “show time”. Though up to this point we have been installing drainage, irrigation, topsoil blend, etc., most clients don’t really get excited until the plants show up. With plants in sight and design in hand, our clients can get a real visual on how their yard is going to look.

Next month we will conclude our discussion of themes by looking at “blended themes.” Until then good gardening, and remember to call me back if I do not respond within two days. I cannot always understand the voice messages. Blessings – Arthur

I first discovered ornamental horticulture in high school, through the Future Farmers of America. Through that organization, I was able to rent space in green and shade houses, as well as a full sun area for growing plants to sell. I was responsible for the plants, the sales and the business records. From the money I earned I paid for my gas and my dates, so I was hooked! This early exposure has led to a life-long career in plant care and landscaping. After working in wholesale nurseries for many years (since 1978), I started Executive Care, Inc. in 1989.

Executive Care’s philosophy is very much based on my own experience, education and values. I strongly believe that great landscaping comes down to four things: theme, plant knowledge, proper marriage of hard and softscapes, and talent. The theme determines the choice of plants, as well as the color and style of the hardscape. Choice of theme is ultimately what distinguishes one garden from another and allows homeowners to personalize their landscape.

Once the theme is determined, proper plant selection and placement is critical to the success of the design. Knowing the strengths and limitations of a wide range of plant materials and understanding the variables that affect plant health (such as light, soil quality and moisture levels) makes the difference between a garden that struggles and a garden that thrives.

The third aspect of a great landscape is the proper marriage of landscape to hardscape. If you look at photos of finished landscapes, you will see that many landscapers are actually hardscapers; they specialize in cement, blocks, cultured stones, etc. The actual landscape, which is also called softscape, lacks texture, depth, color and creativity.

So while the hardscape is nice, the softscape is flat. There is no marriage between the two. The theme is not clear and the plant selection is limited to what you see at shopping centers. Those plants are appropriate for commercial settings, but your own garden can and should be more interesting.

When you go into a nicely completed backyard, do you look at the cement, or the plants? What draws your eyes? They naturally go to the trees, flowering bushes etc. It’s not that we don’t notice the hardscape, which brings function to the space while supporting the theme. Yet what speaks to us, calms us, are the plants. So by determining the type, location and use of plantings fi rst, we are able to create vibrant designs that center on the natural, soothing beauty of Creation.

The fourth aspect of great landscaping is talent for design and execution, which comes in varying degrees. A landscaper’s website is a clear indicator of talent because it shows the range and caliber of completed work. The proof is in the pictures, so to speak.

Whenever I talk to prospective clients, I encourage them to view Executive Care’s website, where they can see a variety of settings, themes and designs, as well as before and after photos. This way, the client is confident that we have the talent and ability to bring lasting beauty to the landscape while giving expression to the unique tastes of individual homeowners.

I believe that talent is a gift from God, so I try to be a good steward of the talent I’ve been given. I seek always to grow it through continued education.

I follow trends, read trade journals and carefully study the work of other landscapers. Keeping up-to-date allows Executive Care to bring the latest in styles, plant health and conservation to our clients through fresh design.

Since I work with nature every day, I also work to be a good steward of the land. Water wise irrigation and drought tolerant plants greatly reduce water usage. Square foot gardens and edible landscapes take advantage of nature’s bounty while reducing our carbon footprint. These things and many more, allow us all to be wiser stewards of the world around us.

Thank you for reading and thank you for supporting Executive Care. It is nice to be appreciated within the community. Please be patient as we get into our busy season. It’s just the three of us initially meeting everyone—me, myself and I—and we three work on a quality basis, not quantity. Even so, I always return calls within a day or two. If I do not call within that time period, it means I couldn’t hear the phone number clearly enough to reach you. So please do call again. Now as always, Good Gardening!

We left off in October discussing what occurs between our first and second meeting, the procedure of going from an unattractive yard or bare dirt to a landscape that is both beautiful and functional. However before beginning, I hope Christmas and New Year’s were enjoyable, and that during our break from this series you found the two publications, November’s ’A Good Time to Plant’ and December’s ‘ The Gift that Heals,’ as meaningful and beneficial reading. I have received several very positive comments about our December article, for which I am most grateful.

For this edition I am going to do a review of October’s Landscape 201, and then go into greater detail about the procedure I follow to create the design and estimate. In our first 201 article, I explained that at the end of our first meeting we have decided on our theme, some specific design features (water features, decorative walls, specific plants, flagstone etc.) and a verbal estimate of cost. Before I leave the yard I take measurements and fill out a form that I use to determine the materials needed, both in hardscape and plants. In the process, the design details become clearer in my mind.

This is the beginning of translating our conversation and selected theme into a physical representation. The best way for me to describe what’s happening is to say that everything in the yard “floats.” Nothing is fixed or permanent unless we decided during our meeting that it was to remain. The idea of floating rocks, plants or hardscape sounds strange, I know. It has taken a while to train my mind to see past what is visible to what is possible. Each designer sees the possibilities a little differently, so it is always important to visit a designer’s/landscaper’s website and look at examples of their work. Remember not all landscapers are also designers, and vice versa. I am grateful that we can do both.

Upon completing the materials form, my field work is done. I normally need between 10 days to three weeks to complete the design and estimate, depending upon the complexity of the job. In the busiest times of the year, which come upon us almost overnight, my project load increases, so please plan ahead, especially if we need to be finished by a specific date.

Back in my office, I begin to develop the design using my notes and design software. At times, I do a “rough” estimate prior to the design, especially if there is a “tight” budget. This way I know the ratios I need to work within, between labor, hardscape and plants, which allows me to use the budget I’m working with more effectively. When both the design and estimate are completed, I am ready to review them with the client(s).

Sometimes, a drawn design is not necessary, for example when the hardscape is going to remain largely unchanged or when I’m working with a client who can “see” what I am suggesting. In situations like these, I am able to return to meet with the client sooner.

So this explains the procedure I follow, from verbal concepts to design. Next month, I will begin to discuss design challenges. Using these photos, I will explain the particular challenges of this project.

Remember we landscape year round. In most cases the winter weather does not hinder us more than a day or so. The plants also will be happier in the warmer ground as opposed to remaining in a cold plastic can.

Finally, I will be at the Northern California Home & Landscape Expo in the Landscape Pavilion Building, sharing a display booth with Patio Perfection. Look for us midway, south end close to the speaker’s corner. I would enjoy meeting you. Blessings and Good Gardening.

Welcome to our February edition of House2Home. Last month we recapped our discussion on our fi rst visit and talked about what goes into the design on a conceptual basis, how we go from verbal concepts to a viewable design. Through the use of a form I use, notes taken and with the aid of some computer software, we are able to reproduce a plot plan and hence the design. This is what the second visit is about. We review the design, making sure that we addressed all the concerns mentioned, as well as specific requests, such as favorite plants or trees, color areas and or water features etc. All this is covered in the second meeting. At times clients will ask how we come up with so many distinct designs, especially after having viewed our portfolio. It is a challenge to make each job unique, stand alone, but we are all different people, have different landscape settings, concerns and needs. We are all asked to solve problems in our job, and it is no different with landscaping. Whether it be a slope that appears to be too daunting to landscape, or a landscape that faces south and is unbearably hot, or so small an area that it “appears” that nothing much can effectively be done with it. In these cases and others like it; it is the concerns that infl uence the design. As in the landscape picture before us, you can see in the before picture what the “canvas” looked like. So in this edition I want to review three key concerns that the client had, and how we designed the landscape to solve them.

However before we get started I want to say a word of thanks for all the encouragement I received from our readers at the Home and Garden Show in January. It was great to see you all, and hear how much you appreciate our writings- thank you.

Now to get started. The yard shown in the first picture above was extremely unsightly and quite embarrassing for the homeowners. They are very conscientious neighbors and wanted to do their part in contributing to the overall good appearance of the neighborhood. So concern one was a new landscape, and any new landscape well done would solve their most pressing problem. However, there were two more concerns that needed to be considered in the design. One, they did not like that the only access to their front door was via the driveway. They both had sizable cars that took up much of the space which if left out, caused their guest to have to maneuver around them; or if guests parked in the driveway it caused subsequent guest the same inconvenience. So a walk way of some design was necessary. Next, in the new design they wanted to retain some lawn but were not sure how to place it. Aside from the poor appearance of their existing lawn, the lower slope portion of the lawn was always muddy and slippery to walk on. So once these problems were identified and the theme decided on (which is Mediterranean) I went to work.

Challenges I had in solving these problems had to do with the limited space of the yard and a large house. Not fully visible in the pictures, but the height of the house made the limited yard seem even smaller. So whatever we did, we had to do in a “bigger” way yet keeping everything in proportion. The “easy” part was the landscaping. I had already selected my main plants for the job, so that was not going to be a challenge, especially once the trees and their roots were removed, the ground became very workable. The challenge was incorporating the steps into the landscape. Typically steps need to be at least three feet in length with a ten inch tread. Given the smaller yard I felt the landscape could not give up that amount of space and still be balanced. In other words, I did not want the steps to be the main focus. I needed something less intrusive yet functional, so I needed to think on this. The concern the clients had with the lawn was an easy solution for us, or better said, we had the answer but it took a bit to get the “pieces of the puzzle” together. I first needed to know that I could purchase the same veneer that the house had, so identifying the veneer was step one. Once the veneer was identified, I was able to call around and found out that it was not out of production, and that locally there was enough in stock to complete the project. So that took a big concern off me. Now it was just a matter of designing the proper portion of lawn to landscape and building it. Not hard, but not fast either, it has it’s proper time. When you do a radius wall, cutting/fitting the blocks and capstones is always time consuming. However, by building the raised wall we were able to keep the lawn level, and with a French drain inside the wall there would be no concern of water collecting- and it gave a “bigger look” to a small lawn.

Finally as we were finishing the wall the solution of the steps came to me. It took some creativity to incorporate hardscape in a way that it was not designed, but it was very do-able and solved our problem. So with the steps in place and the raised wall planter completed, we were ready to landscape using plant material true to our theme. This picture is of the landscape just finished, so the plants are still somewhat small, especially given the height of the house. To help with a “tall face” we used two Tiny Tower Cypress, you can see on either side of the front window. Clients were amazed at the transformation, and we were happy. They said, and many clients say this, that they couldn’t wait to get home each night to see the progress. So that’s cool.

Last note, we are already booking appointments for March, so if you are planning a landscape please call as soon as possible. Thank you, and Good Gardening.

Welcome to March’s edition of Design Challenges. For this month and next, we will look at a large landscape project and discuss the design challenges it presented. In this edition we will give the background, note the challenges, ask the questions but answer them in our next edition (like a good mystery novel).

The project I’ve chosen is typical of many backyards in the Folsom/El Dorado/Rocklin area where a portion of the yard is given over to a slope. The percentage of level ground versus the percentage of sloped area varies with each yard. In some yards, the slope is only 20% of the yard; in others it is just the opposite, making for a very challenging job. This particular client’s percentage of slope varies, depending on whether we are viewing the west side or the east side of their yard. The pictures shown here are of the west side where about 20% of the yard is a slope. Next month we will view the other side, which is about 70% sloped.

Looking at the pictures, you can see the Before, with a bare yard and a block wall under construction, and the After. The difference is more than aesthetic. This design, like all good designs, needed to address the concerns of the homeowner. What were those concerns and what design challenges did they present? Aside from the bareness of the yard, there were three.

The most apparent, of course, is the slope. A combination of soil, rock and lava cap, it posed both a design and a physical challenge. This is jackhammer work, and at the end of the day your arms are still vibrating.

The second concern was the need for privacy and screening from the glare of a couple street lamps. Look at the After picture. Just to the right of the fi rst tree you can see one of the street lamps, and the roofs of neighboring homes. And outside the camera’s view, there is another street lamp and more exposure to the neighbors’ balconies than is desirable. As my client put it, “They can look right into my kitchen from their balconies, and at night the street lamps shine into our bedroom.”

The third challenge was related to access. My client’s husband is only mobile with the aid of a wheelchair, so elevations needed to be gradual for her to move him in and out of the house. So access from kitchen slider to the patio, from the patio to the spa (not shown), and the width and slope of sidewalk (not shown) required special attention.

Now here’s the question: How does one create a landscape that is inviting and beautiful, and yet addresses these very specifi c concerns? I think it is a lot like women’s purses. How do you design a purse that can carry the multiplicity of stuff you ladies carry and still look stylish and feminine and not like a small suitcase? On a much larger scale, landscaping is the same thing, solving at times huge problems but having the end result look like there was no problem to solve.

The answer always begins with the theme, for whatever materials we select to address the problems has to fit within the overall theme. Fortunately the theme of this yard is Northern Cal, which is a very easy theme to work with, many colors and hardscape elements agree with it. So with that said, we have laid our foundation, understand the client’s concern (and our challenges) and know the theme. Next month we will see from a “landscaper’s eyes” what the solutions were.

Welcome to our September edition of Design Challenges, and this back yard definitely had its challenges. So hang on to this copy, it will take two or possibly three editions to cover the full subject. Our clients could not have been more pleasant. In fact, with them being many years younger than I, I have appointed myself to being their Uncle Arthur. Overall, we have been blessed with great clients, I just can’t be everyone’s uncle. With that as our introduction, let’s get started.

As you know with each and every edition, theme is always front and center, and for our clients it was pretty much set. They have vacationed in Hawaii and having enjoyed it, wanted to bring some of that home; so tropical was our theme. With each theme, I always discuss what I consider to be the benefits and the challenges. With a tropical landscape, high maintenance and frost concerns would be the challenges. Given those concerns, I was able to encourage them into a Tropical/Mediterranean blended theme. It is very worrisome and impractical to go out each night forecasted to freeze, and cover eighty or so tropical plants. So the blended theme maintains the “feel”, but introduces plants that are hardier.

With the theme decided, what were the design challenges? Was it the weedy condition of the yard? Well admittedly that didn’t help, it is always helpful to see the contour of the yard, but that was not the challenge. It was the layout of the yard. The yard is divided into very distinct sections, both in size and shape, and in sun light. The dividing aspects are the pool and a sizable wood deck that encircles a large Oak (not shown). Creating a harmony or a flow was going to be the challenge, especially with the varying light, from full sun all day, to shade for most of the day. Also capturing the fullness of the yard in a picture to show is just not possible. There is not one picture or position that can capture the whole yard, so as mentioned, keep your copy and next month we will see another area.

I am always asked, “Arthur if this was your back yard (or front yard) what would you do?” I have about five minutes to come up with a general design. So how is that done? Well I look for the obvious first, which the Oak tree could not be more obvious. It told me that I would need to use larger sized palms and trees. The next thing I look for is if there is a need for privacy. This is a big deal for you ladies, and yes there is definitely a need for that. Next what request do the clients have? They had two, one was to create an area for a future fire pit, and the other was to use stepping stones in the landscape.

In the picture shown at the top, notice that the center area remains without plants, which represents the location of the future fire pit. Also notice the stepping stones, they curve around and go down a side planter. At first I tried to persuade them to not use the stepping stones, the area down the side was already so narrow, but they wanted them. Of course the client always wins. In the end I really liked them; it was an added feature that tied the two sections together. By planting two mature palms on either side of the pathway it emphasized the pathway. The look is similar to how an archway emphasis an entrance into a garden. These are some of the things I look for, and the questions I ask when coming up with an initial plan. So in answering the question, I emphasize the need for larger plant material and the need for privacy. And since the trees will be so close to the pool, they need to be evergreen and smaller trees.

Lastly we would repeat the use of specific plants in all the planters to tie the yard together. It is the obvious things I start with, and as we finish discussing and I’m left alone to start taking measurements and counts, more ideas come to me that I share with our clients later in our second meeting. However this gets me started. I have yet to repeat the same landscape twice which is amazing to me, and a big Amen; for I know where my inspiration comes from. Until next time – Good Gardening.

Welcome to our August edition, in which we will look more closely at our NorCal shade garden with Asian accents. In last month’s article we used two phrases to describe the challenges of this project.

The first was “turning a negative into a positive.” We were renovating an area in the garden that had not been used or cared for in some time. At the same time, we were creating usable space on a slope. With that quick review, it is important to note that the challenge of turning a negative into a positive is not unique to slopes. It is what good landscaping is supposed to do. Slopes simply intensify that challenge.

The second phrase we used last month was a quote from Mr. Miagi to the Karate Kid, “Balance, Daniel, balance.” I will be focusing the rest of this article on balance because it pertains to everything from the size of the patio, the size of the steps, the boulders, and of course the maturing sizes of the plants. It all has to “fit” –and not just fit this year, but next and the next. So let’s start with the hardscape first.

In doing this particular hardscape, I decided to layout the size and shape of both the patio and the steps on the ground with marker paint. Though I was working from our landscape design, seeing it on the ground assured me of the balance that I wanted. It is not easy to make adjustments on hillsides, especially when space is at a premium.

Once the area was outlined, we began to excavate and create a trench for the footing for the walls of the patio. Proper footings for patios, walls and steps on a slope are very important. Getting that first row partially below grade locks it into to the hillside, and assures the stability of the rest of structure. Once completed, both patio and steps, it really started to come to life for our clients, and they were in for a wonderful surprise with the plant selection I had planned!

Balance with plants deals not only with plant sizes as they grow, that one plant does not grow over another in the process of maturing, but also with the final size at maturity. For example, look at the fence line. Behind the boulders you see a row of Thujas. They make a very nice “green fence” and as they mature will give the area a sense of place. A sense of place is a design term used to describe a setting that has a unique feel, different from but complimentary to its surroundings. The Thujas serve as a backdrop to an assortment of plants with varying heights and widths, and which adds visual interest. Ninety five percent of these plants selected do not grow beyond a 2 ½ foot size, both in height and width, and many are under that. The few that exceed that size are deciduous, and can be hard pruned in the winter.

Correct plant sizing is critical in all landscapes, as is determining what plants go next to each other. We want a full landscape, but also a feeling of space and variety so that there is something interesting and beautiful to look at from all angles. Designing a small area like this one is much like buying a sports car. You want it to have everything the bigger cars have, but in proportion.

In addition to sizing, the conditions of the garden must be taken into consideration. This particular slope is largely shaded, but you can see in the pictures that there is some light. It is an east west exposure till about 2:30 when the sun goes behind some very large Redwood trees. Before that, different areas of the garden receive varying amounts of light, some filtered, and some direct. Knowing the shade and sun times is essential to a good design because it contributes to the balance through appropriate placement of the plants. Some shade plants can handle direct sun, and obviously some cannot.

As you can see, a well- balanced design takes many factors into account. The result is a garden that is both beautiful and functional for years to come. Until next time – Good Gardening!

Welcome to our July edition. I think it is safe to say that summer has arrived, and it seems to be making up for lost time. At the time of this writing (June 20th) we are in the low 90′s, and the high 90′s are forecasted for the coming week. So before starting, let me make some suggestions with pertaining to watering our landscapes. Most of us understand lawns. We can see if we are not watering sufficiently, the lawn becomes a dull gray green and then turns brown without added water. So the best tip and the easiest is to make sure that the sprinklers are clearing the lawn by two inches. This will provide even water distribution. Many dull or/brown spot is for lack of adequate sprinkler clearance. Other reasons could be a nozzle malfunction (has debris, turned wrong or wrong size) or third, you simply have poor coverage in that area and need to add another sprinkler.

Now plants on the other hand are a different story. They are not as easy to tell when they are stressing, but they do give signs. Their interior leaves yellow, they lose color, the tips wilt, and/or poor to erratic growth, are some of these signs. Watering times for plants, assuming each plant has two emitters with proper gallon age, and that is a BIG ASSUMPTION because most yards do not, would be a half hour (1/2hr.) of watering five to six days a week, depending upon whether the yard is full sun or divided between sun and shade. If your drip system is not set up as described, or you have not done the suggestions for the lawn then that would be your first task and the best investment in caring for your landscape. If you need help, call. Now for the article.

Many years ago when I started Executive Care (in 1989) I was on a maintenance consultation in Granite Bay, and the client was talking to me about the steepness of his back yard and the challenge it was to achieve what he now enjoyed. He made a particular comment that grabbed my attention, he said (a direct quote) ” that a negative had been turned into a positive” and truly it was a yard that I enjoyed being in. From then till now, his words have stayed with me as I have viewed several hundred yards in my career. Those words remain right in the fore front of my mind.

So our landscape this month is no different, taking a negative and making it a positive. In fact this area of the yard has become our clients favorite place to “hang out”. It is a great place to have morning coffee, or evening dinners. It is unique in that it is a shade landscape with a slope – most slopes are full sun or somewhat filtered. By no means a large area, it necessitated careful selection of the plants and the right sizing of the design features. We did not want to overwhelm the area or make it too busy, and we wanted it balanced for years to come. As Mr.Meaugee told karate kid- “balance Daniel, balance”. Those are good words for this yard, and a principle design challenge when working with smaller spaces.

The theme is for this yard is Northern Cal shade, with some Asian accents – a nice combination considering the shade and the surrounding mature landscape. Prior to landscaping this area it was the trampoline/gang up on Dad area. However with the kids now young adults, the area has not been used for some time. It also is right next to a major walking/viewing area, and had become an eye sore for our clients. We completed the landscape in February, so the landscape still has a lot of maturing to do. Next month you will see a current picture of the landscape and can compare the growth. I am very pleased with the results, and more importantly the clients are, so it has become truly a negative turned into a positive. Next month we will get into the design challenges that I noted. Until next month – Good Gardening.