Garden Show

Go check it out!!

Here are a couple quick pictures but it's better in real life. Definitely worth the drive to San Mateo!!

Contemporary big at San Francisco Flower and Garden show!!!

I went to the San Francisco flower and garden show yesterday and was exited by how many contemporary designs were displayed! The new owners have done a great job in providing lots of good designs, useful information and lots of plant suppliers offering the latest in plant trends. It's a really good show and I encourage you to go if you can.

Succulents were definitly represented and are the hot trend as well grasses and edible landscapes. The best though was to see how the contemporary ideals of innovative, sustainable and environmentaly friendly played a part in almost every design and product!!!!



I will post dome pictures from the show tomorrow but.....GO SEE the San Francisco Flower and Garden show!!!!!

3 different types of grapes!

Legendary shade provider. The Grape plant can be a sustainable cooling source for a patio or gathering area, providing cooling shade in the summer and letting the warming sun shine during the winter. Add to that the fruit that you are growing locally and therefore not using fossil fuels, packaging and energy to transport from somewhere else and you have quite the environmentally friendly cooling solution.... with a very yummy bonus!!


Thompson Seedless

Flame! Great producer, very tasty and seedless.

Black Corinth....Sooo Yummy!!!

Cluster ripening

Past veggie gardens..and grapes!

I was looking through some old photos (which made me realize I need to take more pictures!) and I came across some shots of our garden in Vallejo from a couple years ago. This is my most favorite veggie garden of the past (not counting my mom's garden in Newtown, CT that was so big and productive I will always be envious and remember it. We grew so many things in that garden from corn to watermelon. I was 9 years old and I grew peanuts; I thought that was so cool!).

I grew a lot in the Vallejo garden. I had some space and I built two big raised beds (if you have the room this is one of the best ways to grow veggies) faced with recycled fencing. I then surrounded those with gravel paths and on the perimeter had more, at grade, planting beds. We grew artichokes, beans, tomatoes, peas, strawberries, squash, herbs and other kitchen garden veggies but my favorite part was that I grew 3 different types of grapes (Flame, Thompson seedless and Black Corinth ‘Champagne grapes’ - so yummy). I had replaced the existing side-yard fence with a new grey stained fence that had a trellis feature on top so that I could grow grapes. There is something so rewarding about growing grapes. Maybe it’s because they are so delicious, maybe it’s how they grow. Whatever it is I found great pleasure from growing them and the family and friends loved eating them. There were so many I even made some into raisins.

Grapes are fairly easy to grow. They need good pruning, a sunny spot and a trellis (so many options there) but given that there are many varieties that will work in many different climates. On top of the fruit they provide great shade, dappled sunlight that is inspiring on a summer day and brilliant color in the fall. Really in a class by itself the grape, grown for centuries, can be a great addition to your contemporary landscape.

The next post will have some photos of the grapes. I did take pictures of those!

Let it Grow....Time to plan out that veggie garden

Ah the start of spring!!!!!

One of the most exciting facets of contemporary landscape is the renewed interest in growing your own food. Many residential, resort/hotel and even some commercial projects include areas set aside for vegetables and fruit. The next couple posts will focus on growing food, how growing your own food has an impact on the environment and how this all plays a very important part in Contemporary Landscape.

The first day of spring arrived this weekend and with it warmer temps here in Northern California. As it seems every year at this time I started thinking about my vegetable garden. The first warm days of spring have a way of waking me up from winter and immediately inspiring me to plant the years veggie garden. After years of experience though I know to take things slowly. Those first warm days that can get you thinking not only of veggies but sunscreen, taking out the outdoor furniture and even the beach can quickly be replaced by cool nights or a late season cold front bringing rains. The soil needs to warm first before sowing the seeds or setting out those transplants. I will wait a couple more weeks before doing either of those. That didn't stop me from getting out there and starting to turn the soil, clean up from the winter and start to think about this years crop. I encourage you to do the same. I will post some more about planning a veggie garden soon but I encourage you first and for most to think before you plant. Sounds simple but really...what do you want to grow? What will you and your family eat? What grows best in your area. What do you need to do to prep your veggie garden area for planting? While the threat of cold temps still lurks around the corner I will think and plan out my veggie garden.

In the beginning....

Land Studio C is now entering the blogosphere!!
I hope this is a fun and enjoyable way to spread the word of
Contemporary Landscape Architecture.

"Using innovative, sustainable, and environmentally friendly solutions to address your landscape design needs.

www.LandstudiocC.com