Natural Art Landscapes

07/07/2025

A San Marino front yard makeover.
Work Includes:
- Tree trim
- Reconfiguration of lawn and planted areas with steel header
- Planting, selected to enhance the homes architectural qualities
- Water wise irrigation and low maintenance moving forward
- Low voltage lighting
- Gravel mulch areas
- Sand set flagstone auxiliary pathway
- Topiary boxwood globes.

05/31/2025

Visiting the Sunningdale GC in the UK, I came across a sensational, rare, and exotic looking orchid bloom, Dactylorhiza maculata or the heath spotted orchid….wow!

04/29/2025

Permeable Driveway and Motor-Court Options:
Weighing the Pros and Cons*

Are you considering a permeable driveway or motor-court for your home? There are several options to choose from, each with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Here's a rundown of some popular options:

# 1. Gravel Lock and Gravel
Pros: Low cost, simple, natural look, low environmental impact, security deterrent
Cons: Stone chips, loose stones, not suitable for sloped areas, dusty, maintenance required

# 2. Permeable Concrete
Pros: Uniform look, can be colored, low maintenance, flat and stable surface
Cons: Not attractive, hard to find good installers, can crack easily, dirt accumulation, expensive

# 3. Permeably Set Modular Concrete Pavers
Pros: Attractive, hardwearing, versatile, low maintenance, clean and worry-free
Cons: Expensive, time-consuming installation, can look industrial, large tree roots and land movement can be a concern

# 4. Open Cell Modular Concrete Pavers with Gravel or DG
Pros: Relatively low cost, stable and hardwearing, low maintenance, modern look
Cons: Stone chips, loose stones, dusty, awkward to walk on or work on

# 5. Open Cell Modular Concrete Pavers Planted with Real Grass
Pros: Green environmental look, relatively low cost, stable and hardwearing surface
Cons: Hard to sustain healthy turf, irrigation challenges, grass can stain concrete, maintenance can be challenging

# 6. Open Cell Modular Concrete Pavers Installed with Synthetic Grass
Pros: Relatively low cost, very low maintenance, looks good, clean, no debris or stone chips
Cons: Artificial grass needs reactivation, can get hot to the touch

When choosing a permeable driveway or motor-court option, consider factors such as cost, maintenance, durability, and aesthetics. Each option has its unique benefits and drawbacks, so it's essential to weigh these factors carefully to find the best fit for your needs.

Which permeable driveway or motor-court option do you prefer? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below!

04/08/2025

Stunning Contemporary Landscape created in collaboration with SALT landscape architects.

Take a look at this breathtaking landscape at Royal Oak Drive, Encino! Our team crafted a harmonious blend of natural elements and modern features to complement the home's sleek architecture.

Design Highlights

Textural Contrast: Plant materials with unique forms and textures complement the clean lines and simple forms of the building.

Symmetrical Entryway: Soothing rhythmic symmetries created with jewel-like succulent plants.

Contrasting Materials: Custom vertical freestanding fencing and vehicle gate add a touch of sophistication.

Harmonious Ground Covers: Pebble mulch, gravel, and stacked stone blend seamlessly with the roof slate and driveway pavers.

Elegant Lighting: Simple, clean black low-voltage light fixtures add a touch of modernity.

Mature Trees: Existing oak trees are beautifully complemented by Arbutus marina, field-grown olive trees, and pittosporum hedges.

Low-Maintenance Ground Covers: Creeping red fescue (no-mow) and ceanothus Yankee point add a touch of greenery.

A Perfect Blend of Form and Function

This landscape design showcases the perfect blend of natural beauty and modern functionality. We're thrilled to have worked on this project and can't wait to share more!

04/03/2025

03/31/2025

Transforming a Former Preschool into a Thriving Outdoor Oasis

I had the privilege of working on a unique project: transforming a former preschool in West LA into a vibrant outdoor space for the Methodist Preschool in Pacific Palisades.

A Five-Week Turnaround

With a tight deadline of just five weeks, our team worked diligently to bring this vision to life. We aimed to create an engaging, interactive, and educational environment that would foster a love for nature and exploration in the children.

Design Highlights

Our design incorporated a range of features to promote imaginative play, sensory experiences, and outdoor learning:

• A vegetable garden where children can cultivate their own fruits and vegetables
• A sensory pathway featuring varied textures, colors, and scents to stimulate curiosity
• A large shade structure providing protection from the sun and a cozy spot for outdoor play
• A mud garden with a play pump, encouraging creative play and exploration
• A nature garden with shade trees, creating a peaceful retreat for relaxation

Challenges and Solutions

One of the primary challenges was working within the existing site constraints. To address this, we:

• Incorporated existing play yard fixtures into the design, revitalizing them to ensure a seamless transition
• Designed storage spaces to keep the outdoor area organized and clutter-free

A Successful Collaboration

This project was a true collaboration between our landscape design team, the preschool administrators, and the contractors. We're thrilled with the outcome and proud to have created an outdoor space that will inspire imagination, creativity, and a love for nature in the children.

02/27/2025

A crevice garden is a superb landscaping option, offering natural beauty and practicality. This instillation uses upright, closely spaced flat pavers which are usually a less expensive form of stone and which are easier to handle - arranged to mimic natural formations. The gaps between the stones will retain moisture and create ideal microclimates for drought-tolerant plants, alpine species, and hardy perennials. Careful thought to its exposure and orientation is necessary as the stone will heat up in prolonged direct sunlight.

02/20/2025

Revisiting a contemporary Spanish style courtyard garden in Santa Monica…this landscape has filled in beautifully. The project includes tiled water features, corten steel vegetable planters, decomposed granite, gravel and perfect sand finished concrete walks, custom woodwork fencing and gates, and detailed planting throughout.

01/12/2025

Demo, brush clearance, abatement, erosion control and grading. We have a dedicated, hardworking, conscientious crew.

10/25/2024

Be kind to your lavender…Carefully trim to keep a healthy plant.

09/21/2024

Inspiration pallet for a Palos Verdes project

12/26/2023

Occasionally I come across a photograph that immediately inspires. Beautiful winter, cherry blossoms in China tea plantation.