Sun-Drenched Gardens
The Mediterranean Style
Monday, September 03, 2007
For those of us on the Central Coast, a Mediterranean garden is a no-brainer. It suits our dry, sunny climate perfectly. In “Sun-Drenched Gardens,” author Jan Smithen visits stunning examples of the style in Italy, France, Spain and California.
Central Cost gardeners can learn a lot from this book, not just about design and appearance, but about the benefits of the plant species that make up a Mediterranean garden—their love of sun, their drought-tolerance, their classic shapes and inimitable fragrances. She also delves into the hardscape and the structure—the fountains, terraces, statuary, topiary, pergolas and terra-cotta pots that are the fundamental elements of Mediterranean style.
This beautifully illustrated book is an inspiration to local gardeners considering a change to a more eco-friendly landscape while retaining color and density. Our fortunate climate allow us to enjoy Mediterranean gardens to their fullest, whether, as in this book, in intimate courtyards or grand estates.
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Tool Thyme
Botanical Style for the Handywoman
Friday, June 08, 2007
You’ve never looked so good hammering a nail or clipping a rose as you will with these ‘’pretty useful tools’’ from the Victoria and Albert Museum Shop.
The gardening set is a must-have for the stylish gardener - the hand trowel and cultivator is decorated with the vibrant Cray chintz design by William Morris. The Daisy tool set includes a combination hammer (with 4 screwdrivers in the handle), slip joint pliers and a 6-in-1 screwdriver all printed in a gorgeous “Daisy” design by William Morris, a naively drawn image of meadow flowers.
The firm of Morris & Co. designed and produced a wide range of glass, tiles, furnishings and textiles which went on to become synonymous with the Arts and Crafts movement and the Victorian era as a whole. “Daisy” was the first wallpaper pattern to be issued by the company in 1864.
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Fescue to the Rescue
New Material Puts Green Back in the Driveway
Monday, January 15, 2007
It’s a lawn! It’s a driveway! It’s actually drivable grass — a new take on the old dilemma of how to combine aesthetics and environmental considerations with the demands of the automobile.
Drivable grass is a concrete grid made up of 2? x 4? mats. You fill in the grid with soil, plant grass seed and soon you have a green driveway. Because the surface is permeable, it allows runoff to soak into the ground where it can be absorbed and filtered. And a swath of green is always more appealing than a swath of concrete or asphalt.
Do-it-yourselfers can install drivable grass or contact Soil Retention of Carlsbad for a list of local installers.
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Fire and Ice
A Cool Accessory Heats up Fireplaces
Friday, December 22, 2006
Glass comes from fire. And now fire comes from glass. The latest in fireplace accessories looks like flames rising out of ice crystals. And it’s not only compelling to see, it’s beautiful, clean, affordable and safe for the environment.
Fire crystals are nuggets of tempered glass used as a replacement for gas logs in natural gas or wood burning fireplaces and fire pits. No soot, smoke or ashes, just brilliant color and gentle warmth.
The 10 available colors include red, sapphire, burgundy, orange, gold, green and white. You can use one color or mix and match. Colors won’t change or degrade.
And while the crystals look cool, the glass itself radiates heat, providing a constant flow of warmth. It is said to produce up to 600% more heat than gas logs and to be more efficient because there is nothing blocking the radiant heat produced by the flame and hot glass.
Cleanup is easy – if dirt builds up, just scoop out the glass and wash it with dish detergent followed by a thorough rinse.
You can find crystals locally at FireCrystals in Paso Robles. Or visit their online store, which has a handy calculator to help you figure out how much you’ll need (their tip: use less expensive glass on the bottom.) Crystals are sold by the pound and there are no minimum orders.
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Get the Lead Out
Planters With an English Accent
Monday, October 09, 2006
No English garden is complete without lead planters. The iconic English gardener Gertrude Jekyll wrote, “There can scarcely be a doubt that the happiest material for our garden sculpture and ornament is lead.???
The classic lead planter features raised panels and oftentimes classical motifs. The material lends itself to the addition of monograms and other personalization. Planters come in all shapes and sizes, but the edged square is probably most identified with gracious English country homes and gardens.
Owning a lead planter means carrying on a long and rich tradition. The first architectural use of leadwork in England traces back to the Romans. By the Middle Ages, church roofs and spires were frequently clad in lead. But it wasn’t until the late 1600s that golden age of English leadwork began, when elaborate ornamentation began to appear on architectural lead and the material became popular for statues, urns and other garden features.
Today, lead fountains, planters and statuary punctuate many of England’s finest gardens. Here in the U.S., homeowners are just beginning to appreciate the classic look, rich heritage and easy-care longevity of lead. In fact, lead has been known to last hundreds of years — the surface of rain-washed lead forms a protective layer of carbonates which prevents deterioration.
For those who want the look of lead without the weight, faux lead planters fill the bill. The lightest are made from fiberglass. Another, more natural-looking option is a clay mixture which, because of its naturally retained salts, ages naturally. Both alternatives are lightweight, durable and water and UV resistant.
A premier regional source for real English lead is Proler Garden Antiques in Los Angeles, 310 459 0477.
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Quit Wining
And Make Some Furniture
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
California furnituremaker Whit McLeod turns out award-winning pieces from his Arcata studio deep in redwood country. But his furniture is made not from the surrounding redwood but from wood that has already done duty farther south, in wine country.
McLeod’s singular pieces are almost entirely constructed of reclaimed lumber. Specifically, salvaged oak quartersawn wine barrels. His current inventory consists of material from six different California wineries, made of great oak trees from as close as Mississippi to as far away as France and Hungary.
McLeod’s professional career began in Northern California redwood forests, on the other side of the bark as a wildlife biologist. His reverence for the natural world is reflected in his line of handmade Arts and Crafts furniture.
That spirit of preservation informs his manufacturing process, from relying on vintage machinery that McLeod has retooled himself, to scouring scrap yards for copper to be melted down in his foundry for tiles used in tabletops. Accordingly, every facet of work is done in-house — unusual today but not during the heyday of the Arts and Crafts movement.
His folding chair feels like museum-quality sculpture. Made from white oak, each chair is numbered by the artist on the underside of the seat and branded with the name of the winery where the barrel was used. Finished with natural linseed oil, the chairs retain their original color when used indoors or age gracefully outdoors.
McLeod’s furniture has been featured in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Fine Woodworking and numerous other national publications. He has been given the American Crafts Council Award of Achievement and his work has been exhibited in the Oakland Museum. Working with McLeod are his wife Kristy and a team of three craftsmen.
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