Fountain Conversion: A Michalis in the Garden 

We have been fortunate to have Rebecca Sweet write for The Yardstick in the past and knowing that she has a sustained love for Mediterranean gardens and is busy with clients seeking her expertise and experience, we are pleased that she took the time to answer some questions about her garden design featuring Eye of the Day’s Greek pot, the Michalis, as a fountain conversion.  Rebecca is the author of several esteemed books on gardening and her work has been featured in Sunset Magazine, Horticulture and a variety of other national publications.  Her design firm, Harmony in the Garden, is in Los Altos California.

Q: Tell us a little about yourself as a designer and Harmony in the Garden.

I’m a California native, and though I’ve lived in both the southern and central parts of the state, I’ve spent most of my life in the Bay Area. Over the years I’ve seen this area’s sleepy suburbs transform into the bustling, densely populated, high-energy area that it is today. The people who call this place home come from all over the country, as well as the world, and have brought with them their unique perspectives on gardening. Having had my landscape design company, Harmony in the Garden, for over 15 years now, it’s been an incredible gift to be a part of these changes and to help so many people from different walks of life create their versions of paradise.

Q: What was your client’s goal for this garden?

As passionate gardeners themselves, the clients wanted to transform this part of their garden from a water-guzzling, and unsightly half-dead lawn into something that would require much less maintenance and water. This area is situated close to their home and can be viewed from several large windows, so it needed to look good year-round.

Q: What was your initial vision for the landscape and did that change over time?

My vision and theirs complemented one another perfectly, as we are all succulent fans. So, to reduce water consumption, as well as indulge in our love of succulents, we removed the lawn, replacing it with a low-water succulent and cactus garden. To help tie this new space in with their existing, and more traditional style of garden, we also incorporated   several flowering shrubs and perennials that were colorful, yet also drought-tolerant and low-maintenance.

Because the area is fairly large, we knew we needed to break up the space into smaller, more manageable planting areas. Wide decomposed granite pathways were the solution, gently meandering through the space, helping to bring down the scale of the oversized garden.

Q: Any unique issues or challenges for this project during the design or installation?

Initially, the homeowner wanted this garden to thrive without supplemental water but quickly realized that just wasn’t going to happen. This area is in full sun so even the cactus were suffering through the blistering summer heat-waves. Luckily, we had a feeling this might happen and had previously installed a framework of irrigation under the ground ‘just in case.’ We ended up irrigating the garden, on a very reduced schedule.

Q: What would you describe as your garden design aesthetic and how do you work with your client’s own vision for the landscape?

My own aesthetic is one that appears full and lush, yet is quite drought-tolerant. My passion for plants has allowed me to create drought tolerant gardens that don’t ‘look’ drought  tolerant, and is what I’m probably best known for creating.

Since so many of my clients come from around the world, their vision for their garden (and the    plants they’re used to seeing) can be challenging to translate with California’s lack of water. Luckily, living in a mild-winter climate such as ours, we have access to an expansive selection of drought-tolerant plants from which to choose.  I love interpreting their vision into a garden overflowing with plants that will thrive here.

Q: For garden décor, why the Michalis Greek pot for the fountain conversion?

When designing this garden, we knew we wanted a focal point to bisect the center of the pathways. To keep in scale with the large garden and home, we needed a large focal point.  The Michalis Greek pot an ideal choice for a fountain conversion and blends beautifully with their historic Mediterranean home. By converting the pot into to a fountain, we added the gentle sound of trickling water, entertainment from the multitude of birds that adore taking baths there, and the illusion of ‘coolness’ from the water itself. We couldn’t have chosen a more perfect focal point for this garden.

Q: What was your favorite part of this project?

My favorite part of this project was to see the joy on my clients’ faces as they saw their garden’s breathtaking transformation. I continue to visit them and their garden every few months and seeing the succulents grow and fill in, creating an ever-changing tapestry has given my clients so much happiness through the years – all while significantly reducing their water bill!

See Rebecca’s other work on our blog:

Rebecca Sweet On Shades of Gray in the Garden
Stylish and Sustainable Garden Design

What to Plant? The California Garden Checklist

Many of the landscape architects, designers and trade professionals  that have been frequenting Eye of the Day over the years are now friends and we asked a few of them what plants they like to use and why when designing for their clients.

Rick Button of Rick Button Landscaping

Some of Rick’s favorites:

• OLIVES – They are simply beautiful in leaf, form and symbolism. I can make a case for them matching up with any vernacular of architecture.  They belong here.
• AGAVES – Where I am allowed to include them, I am always pleased. They are pure sculpture. Beautiful color. Put them with anything.  They steal the show.
• CURRY – That gorgeous little shot of silver. Put it right next to a vibrant yellow green and you do not need another color in the garden. I keep them cut close without ever blooming and they become big billowy mounds.
• ROSES – Always.
• BOUGAINVILLEA – Always.
• CITRUS – Always.

Puck Erickson of Arcadia Studio

I am going for Aristida purpurea.

• PURPLE THREE-AWN – One of my favorite California grasses, it is worth the weight as it settles into the landscape. A great substitute for the invasive Mexican Feather Grass which should never be planted. Its delicate texture and subtle color picks up our afternoon light and it moves easily in the wind.

Bridget Walker of Arcadia Studios

Bridget also asked some of her colleagues for their favorites:

• FRUITLESS OLIVE – A beautiful evergreen tree with silver green foliage. Olives are a great choice for drought tolerant landscapes; they are low water usage, love full sun and can be planted in many forms.
• CLUSTERED FIELD SEDGE – A low-growing native grass commonly used as a drought tolerant lawn alternative. Perfect for informal lawns and meadow gardening
• GIANT ORANGE NODDING PINCUSHION. A low mounding South African Native with course green foliage. Spring brings spectacular orange blooms 4-6″ wide.  Great in the green or for cut flowers for the home.

Sally Farnum of S E Farnum Associates

Sally gave me a list so long I had to make my own choices from her list:

• CEANOTHUS “RAY HARTMAN”. Pale blue, fragrant blooms, it requires little water, no soil disturbance, no fertilizing, no drip and no application of soil amendment.
• LANTANA “CONFETTI”. A shrub-type Lantana that loves the sunshine, it produces masses of flower clusters in yellow, pink, purple and wine-colored hues, it is drought and deer-resistant.
• Many roses are cultivated for low water use, such as Meidiland, drift roses, knockout roses and some David Austins

If you are interested in more suggestions for drought-tolerant plants, please let me know: I have more recommendations for our friends.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Arcadia Studio 

Book Review – Reimagining the California Lawn: Water-conserving Plants, Practices, and Designs

Continuing on a road we have just begun to travel, this month’s book,  Reimagining the California Lawn: Water-conserving Plants, Practices and Designs gives us another look at drought tolerant plants from around the world and offers design ideas and practical solutions to complement our Mediterranean climate.

From greenswards and meadows to succulent and kitchen gardens, this book presents alternatives to the traditional lawn that can reduce water use, beautify the landscape, and attract birds and butterflies. The horticulturist authors of Reimagining the California Lawn, Carol Bornstein, David Fross, and Bart O Brien, wrote the award-winning book California Native Plants for the Garden.

“After considering the resources and maintenance that most California lawns demand – from heavy irrigation to regular applications of fertilizer to frequent mowing with power equipment – one conclusion becomes inescapable: we need to find alternatives to turf grass that are more environmentally sound.”

When you’re ready to remove or down-size your lawn, this inspiring book will be the perfect companion to help with the process. Reimagining the California Lawn is illustrated with more than 300 color photographs and offers a variety of plant palettes to choose from as you begin to create a more sustainable landscape.

The book’s publisher, Cachuma Press was founded by John Evarts and Marjorie Popper and has been a California corporation since 1991. Cachuma is a place name in the Santa Ynez Valley, where Cachuma Press is located. “Cachuma” comes from the name of a Chumash village on the Santa Ynez River which the Spanish spelled Aquitsumu. The Chumash word for the village, ‘Aqitsu’m, means “Constant Sign.”

For an interesting and cool plus, John and Marjorie were some of our first friends in the Santa Ynez Valley when our family moved there in 1991 and their daughter, Naomi went to school with, and was great friends with our daughter, Daisy.

Photo Credit: Image via Cachuma Press

Shrink Your Lawn or Ditch it All Together

Spring Equinox ushers in longer days and with  the recent arrival of the first day of spring and Daylight Saving Time just kicking in this means more time to devote to our outdoor spaces and gardens. We need to be sure to take time to enjoy our roses’ first flush of blooms, the most glorious of the whole year.

Assess Your Garden
Take a look at your yard. Do you really need that plot of water-guzzling lawn? Across California, lawns are the leading consumer of outdoor residential water use. Let’s be honest, with very little to offer in the way of habitat value, thirsty traditional lawns could be smaller in favor of providing habitat for butterflies, birds, and bees.

In our mild climate, consider the many relaxing benefits of a water feature in your turf-free zone. Many no-turf options combine the use of local native plants, inviting paths, seating areas, perhaps a small meadow of flowering perennials, and water features.

Thoughtful Design
Think about your outdoor activity needs and limiting turf to places where you really need it (like a kids’ play areas). Some types of grassy lawns require less water than others so consider this when combining drought tolerant plantings alongside a lawn. Or, try eliminating it altogether—it’s the most effective way to reduce your outdoor water use (plus it gets you out of the mowing grind).

So if you don’t use it, why not ditch it? Beautiful landscapes that replace turf with easy care, drought-tolerant plants will make you wonder why it took you so long to make the change.  Eye of the Day has over two acres brimming with pots converted to fountains, multi-tiered fountains, beautiful statuary, antique wrought iron, birdbaths, patio furniture and staff who will happily guide you through making the switch to ditch your lawn, and to create a beautiful, peaceful outdoor space.

Photo Credit: Bee, Creative Commons, Pollen covered Bee by Bill Damon is licensed under CC by 2.0 

Right-sizing your Garden and Saving Water
By Deana Rae McMillion, Garden Enthusiast and Master Gardener

Right-sizing our gardens in order to reduce water usage is imperative. Just taking out your lawn isn’t necessarily the answer. Many people who do remove their lawns aren’t doing the necessary research and are planting water thirsty plants or invasive plants that use more water or rob their soil of nutrients.

If it seems overwhelming to remove your entire lawn, one thing you can do to save water is let it go brown. In this severe drought the most important thing to save are our valuable trees. But why not look at this as an opportunity to right-size your garden and plantings? California is a summer dry climate and that is not going to change even when the drought is over.

11 Ways to Conserve Water in Your Santa Barbara County Home Landscapes

1. Select water-efficient plants that grow well in your climate and microclimate.
2. Be hyper-aware of plant selection and be sure not to choose invasive plant species
3. Hydrozones: Place plants with similar water needs together and irrigate them accordingly (high, medium, low, and very low zones).
4. Let roots of established plants dry out between irrigations, water deeply and infrequently slightly below the root zone.
5. If you do not use or enjoy your lawn consider replacing it with drought-tolerant plants. If you decide to keep your lawn – water it based on University of California’s “Drought Irrigation Tips”
6. Mix soil amendments (compost, etc.) evenly and deeply into sandy and clay soils (40% or more by volume) before planting.
7. Spread a 2-3” layer of mulch on top of the soil around garden plants and trees.
8. Water early in the morning.
9. Control weeds.
10. Avoid over-fertilizing.
11. Sweep walkways and driveways; do not hose them down with water.

Have a home landscape or gardening question? Contact the Santa Barbara County Master Gardener Helpline at 805-893-3485 or email anrmgsb@.

Please allow 3-4 business days for a response as the Master Gardener helpline is staffed by volunteers. Please be as detailed as you can in your query when leaving a message. Photographs are also helpful in our responding to your gardening concern.
Resources:
Santa Barbara Master Gardener Program
California Garden Web: Drought Gardening Tips
Plant Right: Home Gardeners

“We’ve reached a stage where we can no longer follow past practices unthinkingly, particularly when those practices are wasteful and injurious to the environment. It’s time to get rid of the old-fashioned lawn and embrace a sane and healthy future: the designed meadow.” – John Greenlee

In The American Meadow Garden: Creating a Natural Alternative to the Traditional Lawn, “grass guru” John Greenlee leads us into a new way of thinking about grass.  He uses the words “glade,” “grassland,” “mead,” “savanna,” “pasture,” “sod,” and “meadow” among other terms, to describe areas around the world that are largely treeless, grass-covered landscapes.

These words paint an image of golden or green grassy carpets, rippling in a breeze. In this beautiful book, we are given a portfolio of meadow gardens and a guide to grasses for meadows and how to maintain them.

We’re constantly looking for ways in which to cope with our water-challenged world in California and Greenlee offers alternatives to our lawn habit. In many areas, aquifers are dwindling and water is increasingly scarce. There is no longer enough of it to supply lawns. Growing populations and dwindling supply is our scary future and our landscapes must change with the times. The American Meadow Garden was published in 2009, but the relevance of the information and ideas within its covers increases every year.

The American Meadow Garden: Creating a Natural Alternative to the Traditional Lawn, by John Greenlee, Timber Press 2009