The David Lubin Garden Tour

Garden Five of the David Lubin tour, 2009

Owners: Schnetz’s

Embellisher: Stems

The David Lubin Garden Tour is a tribute to the eponymous man with the intention of enriching the Sacramento community by means of the David Lubin Elementary School’s Student Enrichment Programs. The tour takes place on Mother’s day weekend, and had we (Roberta and crew) had our minds about us, we would have let more people know that it was happening! Be that as it may, the tour was a success and Roberta’s garden looked, well, ravishing. Her clients’ home was Garden Five on the tour. On page twenty six of the Lubin Tour program, Betsy Ronsheimer wrote that Garden Five’s flow aided by ambling paths and hardscape elements such as an outdoor fireplace, “seamlessly [married] the garden to the home,” which is something that Roberta believes every garden should do – expand one’s living space.   Ronsheimer goes on to write about the “relaxing” quality of the design—providing shade in the summer and a place to entertain, “what more could a busy family want?”  Well I’m not sure Betsy, but it’s a good start.

Announcing my Plant Dictionary website!

I have recently added a component to my landscape design services: a plant dictionary. When I finish a design I take the plant list and make it into a book that includes a photograph, description and care instructions for each plant.  This way I don’t have to carry my monstrous and taped Botanica everywhere, and when I leave clients’ homes they can refer back to the book whenever they need… a year later when a question arises regarding pruning, when a neighbor asks what a plant is, etc. The reception to these books has been wonderful so I have decided to extend the service to past clients and even those whose yards I have not designed.  The website for these books is now up and ready so check it out and pass it on!

Plant Dictionary website

Another episode of Gardening by the Yard!

Tune in once again to HGTV's Gardening by the Yard on June 7th, 7:30 am EST.

"Host Paul James shares tips on wrangling your raindrops in a method of landscaping known as xeriscaping. Then, David Salman gives an overview of drought-tolerant plants that save time and money. Meanwhile, Roberta Walker demonstrates how to construct a low maintenance landscape, and Paul gives the trick on [one] of the wisest water practices around."

Xeriscaping, Drought-Tolerant Plants, Wise Water Practices