Executive Care Inc.

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!

Welcome to Landscape Design 101. This series of articles will help you understand the thought process and design principles that are used to create an attractive landscape. In today’s piece we are going to look at where design starts.

Many clients I work with don’t know exactly what they want, but they can describe how they want their garden to look and feel. So I always start by listening for adjectives, such as “inviting,” that can be interpreted into a design. “Inviting” makes me think of a forest path that leads to a meadow. The path beckons you to come and explore, but doesn’t reveal where it’s leading until you get there. That sense of mystery and discovery can be recreated with a pathway leading to a garden bench, or a small patio where you can enjoy a cup of coffee.

Another adjective I hear is “colorful.” That may seem like a pretty straightforward description, but I have learned by experience that the word means different things to different people. So, when I visit the home of a client, I pay attention to the décor. I look for color schemes. What kinds of colors are used? Are they jewel or earth tones? I also look for the way color is used. Are the pillows on the sofa matching or contrasting? These kinds of observations help me understand what “colorful” means to the individual.

In addition to listening for how clients want their garden to look and feel, I listen for how they want to interact with their garden. They might say that gardening is a passion, or that they want something low maintenance. This helps me know what kinds of plants to select. For folks who love to garden, I can and should use plants that require some maintenance, like daylilies. (Daylilies need to be dead-headed, and the stalks should be back when the blooms are all gone.) I can use this type of plant because I know it will get the attention it needs. I should use this type of plant because the work gives pleasure.

Low maintenance is a far more common request because we lead such busy lives. As with the word “colorful,” I make sure I know what low maintenance means to the individual. Is it an hour a week, or just mowing the lawn? I am looking for a measure of time, as well as for attitude. Is yard work a duty or a pleasure? When I understand these things, I can better suggest plant selections and design.

As you think of what you want in your own garden, think about the adjectives you would use to describe how you want it to look and feel. Think also about how you want to interact with your garden. This is where design starts.

Next month we’ll look at the importance of having a garden theme. Until then, thank you for taking the time to read and visit with me. Executive Care Landscape is a local full service residential landscape and commercial maintenance company. To learn more about us, visit excutivecareinc.com. To schedule an at- home consultation, click on “contact,” then fill out the form. I look forward to meeting you.

Welcome back to Landscape 101, our series of articles on the thought process and design principles that are used to create unique and attractive landscapes. Last month we encouraged you to think of the adjectives you would use to describe how you want your garden to look and feel. We also asked you to consider how you want to interact with your garden—specifically is gardening a love or a chore? If you missed this article, please visit house2homeshowcase.com or executivecareinc.com.

This month we will begin to discuss the guiding principle in design, which is the theme. Why is the theme so important? A familiar example will help you understand. In your living room, you have a sofa and love seat. What led you to choose the sofa? You had many options, but something attracted you to this particular one. It matched your color palette and fit the style (or theme) you wanted to achieve. And why did you buy the love seat? Well it went together as part of the set.

Now, let’s begin to apply this idea to landscape design. Does a cactus go with a palm tree? Does an oak tree (which needs summer dryness) go with a bog garden? These examples are exaggerated because I need to establish a foundation. Plants in nature are grouped according to the environment they grow in. In the natural landscape of Northern California, we have a group of plants that can tolerate hot summers but rely on winter’s rain to survive. The plants in Arizona also rely on winter rains, but receive far less. The Arizona landscape is distinctly different from ours, both in classification of plant species, as well as in feel. Each region has a unique style, or theme.

While nature dictates the natural landscape, I can select the plants that will be used in a landscape design. Many years of nursery experience have taught me that the possibilities are virtually endless. Determining a theme narrows the “playing field.” I tell clients that I know approximately 600 plant varieties that can be broken down into six themes of a hundred each, and another six combination themes.

So once a theme is decided on five hundred plants go to the back of my mind, and a hundred stay forward. Then we determine full sun or part sun, and fifty go to the “back” and fifty stay forward. These fifty now become our plant palette, just like an artist’s palette of paints. This is, in fact, the way we describe what we do: “As a fine artist creates a painting of beauty, so we at Executive Care use the canvas of the earth to create a landscape of beauty and rest.” This approach makes the difference between a welcoming landscape that tells a story and one that only communicates confusion and unrest.

We will continue our discussion of theme for the next two months. , I encourage you to preview a landscape company’s website before making an appointment. As with fine art, there are many interpretations of the same scene. Make sure that what you see is the “painting” you want.
Until nextmonth, good gardening!

As we begin the New Year, I want to wish everyone a very good year. I trust that Christmas went well, and its purpose of giving and receiving was meaningful (more than just material gifts, but time spent with family and friends). We are caring for our aged mother (she will be 89 this year) and cannot be easily moved, so family comes to see us. So for a few short days the home is full, with my wife cooking away while I was recuperating from a “minor surgery” (I don’t think any surgery is minor, it all hurts!), so I was of no help at all. This time of year between Christmas and New Year is probably the only time that business, with the exception of retail, takes a much needed pause, so I hope you took one. Especially you ladies, you are the “stars” of the Christmas/Holiday season; so thank you for all you did, and continue to do.

Continue reading ‘January 2010: A Time For Growth’

For those of you that follow our monthly writings, thank you. Your readership means a lot to me. As you know, each month we have been talking about how we use the interview process to develop a landscape. It takes time and purposeful questions, but by starting off right, we end right. Life is like that. In fact, I am often amazed by how much we are like our gardens. Continue reading ‘Dec. Part I – The Gift That Heals’