Monday, August 29, 2011

Saturday, August 20, 2011

NEWS!

I've started a new blog over on Tumblr--this blog will allow you to come with me as I start new jobs and then transform them! Also, I now have a Facebook page and a Twitter for you to check in on...Come on over and check them out. This blog will remain here for your reference.

Friday, March 18, 2011

Spring in Brussels!



How Amazing...a vast carpet made of flowers! It really is breathtaking. Spring is about renewal - it's nature's celebration after the darkness of winter, where it bursts into flower and birds into song. With all the earth changes, the tragic natural disasters that have recently devastated Japan, Haiti, New Orleans and Chile (they recently had an earthquake) we can count on the Spring and know that all is well and where the cold and snow stripped the flowers and the leaves and made things seemingly dead, they were only sleeping and now they are awakening again for a new start.

Sunday, March 13, 2011

LEED Platinum

The Design-Build team (of which I am a part) at Habitat For Humanity are very proud and honored by this certificate. We have created beautiful, energy efficient homes for hard-working, low income people. This house that was awarded Platinum in the LEED Certification still has a credit on their energy bill of $50.00 after nine months of living in the house - and full use of the heat and air during the summer and winter months!
Hey Look! Sunset just came out with a new soft cover book. It's in grocery stores and on the newsstands until May. It recaps a lot of great ideas from the last few years - from vertical gardens, creating herb beds and before and afters...and they included both of my previous articles. One is of my house and getting rid of the lawn and the other is about a side yard renovation. It's $10.00. Check it out!

Monday, February 14, 2011

Habitat For Humanity

Last night was the 17th Annual Hammy Awards (after 'Grammy') put on by Habitat For Humanity. It's always a lovely and moving event and I am so happy to be a part of it. During the course of the evening Francisca Flores spoke to the large room. She is a recipient of a Habitat Home. Since moving in over 8 months ago, she still has a credit on her SMUD bill of a little over $50.00. Her home and the homes that we work on are energy efficient, and Francisca's home is a Platinum - LEED certified home.
Francisca Flores told her story of how she had her first job at the age of 6 years old in Mexico. She eventually married and had 6 children. Her husband was an abusive man and would not permit her to work, only to stay home and take care of the children. They divorced after 20 or more years, and Francisca was left with her children (3 of whom were now out of the house) and the other 3 with whom she lived with in a 1 bedroom apartment. Two of the younger children slept with her in her bed and the older boy slept of the sofa. Being untrained, Francisca found a job doing janitorial work. Eventually she went to work with K-Mart up in Grass Valley. Over time, with her hard work and dedication, she was made a manager of her department. Working full time and raising her children, Francisca went to school. I forgot which community college, but she studies in the evening and is working on her degree. With all of this, she still put in the 500 'Sweat Equity' hours that is required to qualify for a Habitat Home. While she stood before us in the hall, she started to cry as she told us how she felt when she received the keys to her new home...it was so moving.
Dan Wilson, who is the head of building and the head of our Green building 'Charette' introduced me to the room, kindly saying that he couldn't say enough about me. He said that since I started working with them I had not charged them a dime. When you hear the stories of the families that have worked so hard and suffered so much in the way of trials and tribulations, but always went forward with their hopes and their dreams, creating a landscape design is not about being paid with money; it's about the joy I receive knowing that I can contribute in some way.

Thursday, February 10, 2011


Spring is almost here...I have changed my vegetable garden over to a flower/herb garden due entirely to my new family of cats!

2011 Home & Garden Expo



The 2011 Home & Garden Expo was a hit! This year I took on the challenge of designing a 50'x20' demonstration garden, and the crews - Jeff Abdallah with Sacramento Valley Landscape and Roger Pajo with Creativescapes put it all together.
A very big thank you to Theodora from Green Living Design Solutions for lending me and bringing up the beautiful copper cut-work panels from Parasoleil; they were truly the hit of the show. I believe Sacramento was introduced to them in a big way! (To see more go to: www.greenlivingdesignsolutions.com)
Another thank you to Emigh Casual Living for lending their fabulous outdoor furniture. I used a set from Gloster that was also show stopping! Lara Hawthorne from Sierra View Nursery is, as always, the best - and her plant stock wonderful! Cascade Rock...you guys...I don't know where Sacramento would be without you! I have been working with them for over 12 years. Their rock selection is great and their service is even better! Green Acres supplied the beautiful pottery and the fountain.
Delta Blue Grass came through with a no-mow, native grass. Absolutely beautiful. A lawn that you can mow or now and takes 50% less water than a normal lawn!
Thank you everybody!