Flower Carpet roses are the easiest rose to grow

So I can imagine getting some disagreement when I say that Flower Carpet roses are hands-down the easiest roses to grow. By all means, leave me a comment if you have a rose you'd like to nominate instead! But, I'll take some convincing....

Flower Carpet roses have been around for almost 15 years now and are unique from the other major rose categories (ie. floribunda or hybrid tea) because they produce new growth from their roots. A rose that doesn't have to stand as ugly bare canes in the winter- whoever thought of it is a genius! You can literally runs these things down with your lawnmower and they will grow back even more beautifully. They are covered in blossoms throughout the spring and summer, especially the red, pink (apple blossom) and white. The orange (amber) and yellow are a little less vigorous and have a taller, less compact shape where the flowers are mostly born on stalks that stand out a bit above the foliage.

I always find myself wishing for more plants in the 18"-24" height range and these fit that niche perfectly. As you can see from the photos, they look great in mass plantings.

There are a lot of knock-offs now, like "Floral Carpet", and I have less experience with those, although I expect that they are fine and may even be grown from the same stock. I tend to stick with the Monrovia trademarked Flower Carpet, since then I know they will be top quality.

My ode to tile (cont.)

If you know me, you probably already know about my obsessive love of tile. Every once in a while, my love for it gets strong enough to be worth sharing. These are two tile companies that definitely meet that criteria.

Before I wax poetic about them too much, I do want to put forth the warning that both of these companies are expensive. The best tile usually is. The key to using it is to keep two things in mind: 1) search for small spaces where tile will have a big impact since it is a high cost per square foot. For instance, think backsplash instead of the whole kitchen, or waterline instead of the whole pool. 2) Buy tile that will stand the test of time. Classic eras of tile like Malibu and Batchelder are still considered beautiful almost a century later. When you think in those terms, the expense for really good tile starts to sound worth it.

The first photo is Heath tile (distributed by Ann Sacks, or here is a direct link to the Heath website). This tile line was started on the north coast of California in the late 1940's and is hand made with a focus on sustainable manufacturing. I especially love their dimensional tile for its wonderful tactile quality. I can imagine spending my life running my hand along the ridges in the tile as I walked through that doorway, and being pretty darned happy about it.

The second photo is a local company out of Encinitas, Laird Plumleigh. They specialize in Craftsman and Batchelder tile, so if you are working on a restoration project, you might want to start here. I love the fiddleleaf fern design in the outdoor shower, but they also have a lot more than just tile on their website. Spend some time there- the lanterns alone are worth the visit.

Considering tile in your outdoor space? We'd love to help with the design! There are a lot of ways to get in touch with us through our website, www.sageoutdoordesigns.com

My favorite source for boulders just got closer to home

My long-standing favorite source for rock and boulders, Southwest Boulder and Stone, has just opened a brand new stone yard right here in the center of the city. Here is their new address, just across the Five from Pacific Beach:

4770 Santa Fe St. San Diego CA 92109 (619) 331-3120‎


Here are a few reasons that I love these guys:

1) They have the best selection of boulders in all shapes, sizes, and colors. Most other stoneyards in town have one or two color options. These guys have twenty.
2) They have a wider selection of flagstone, too. Lots of interesting colors and textures; not just the usual stuff you see everywhere (I'm sick of Arizona Buff flagstone, aren't you?)
3) They have better river cobble and pebble, at least twenty different colors to chose from.
4) They are a family owned business with great customer service and a good attitude. Working with them, you will be supporting a local business and you'll get a much more personal experience.
5) With them, I can pull that thing that designers do.... I can call them up and say something like, "I need a ledgestone with some mint green, grey, and olive colors to it... can you get me something like that?" and they can. It's lovely.

So if you haven't been to their yard because it used to take a 40 minute drive to get there, now is your chance! Stop in and take a look. You'll be glad you did.

The photo attached shows their beautiful 'Desert Marble' boulders. Up close, they have wonderful swirls and striations!

Cor-ten, how do I love thee?

This is a project I am working on in Mission Valley, the completely remodeled Discount Technology Building. We just started planting it, and I am so happy with how the new entry came out that I just had to share!


The architect, Phil Reyes, stripped off the horrid 1970's lava rock facing this planter and replaced it with Cor-Ten Steel. I love the effect: both modern and earthy.

I can't say enough good things about the remodel of the building itself- is is almost hard to believe that the structure of the building is identical because it is almost unrecognizable. Just so you can see how much the building has been transformed, I'll give you a "before" photo (yep, I know, it is hard to look at):

Lawnless in South Park

This garden is hands-down the most gossiped about front yard in my neighborhood. It was designed by Kendra Berger at Revive Landscape Design and was installed about a year ago. I love how much it varies from the expected in almost every way: color, texture, and a complete lack of a front lawn (I especially like this last bit).

I'm sure you all know by now about my obsession with blue-green and blue-grey foliage, and this garden uses them in abundance: two different types of Scenecio, dymondia, Dasilyrion, and Festuca ovina glauca.

And she plays another of my favorite games: she adds splashes of burgundy for contrast: the flowers of kangaroo paws (maybe Anigozanthos 'Big Red'?), New Zealand Flax, and a few things in the Protea family (looks to me like Leucondendron 'Safari Sunset'). Some other plants she uses that I love: Aeoniums (maybe Aeonium 'Cyclops'?), Pittosporum crassifolium nana, and the little weeping tree Leptospermum laevegatum.

I wonder what the back yard looks like.....

Nice things to add to your outdoor design

I don't think I have ever done a write-up on Kate Presents of an online retailer just because I like them, so here is a first for me. I keep finding nice little things on the Ballard Designs website. I wouldn't call it especially fancy, but whoever does their buying for them just has nice taste, and the prices are very reasonable.

Here are a few of their products that I thought were worth a second look (photos above): a screen that seems like it would be great for hiding things like ugly AC units ($249), mock Toulon planters (the large one is $149 compared to authentic imports for more like $600 a peice), a cute and simple fire feature that runs off propane canisters ($399), and their armillary sphere ($149: not bad at all for a peice of outdoor art that is actually tasteful).

And they have a small but nice selection of outdoor furniture. This set, including all 7 peices, is just a little over $1,000. That isn't easy to find, and it especially is tough to find if you want a more traditional look. So if that is your style, they are a great place to start! (For inexpensive furniture with more of an earthy look, I start with Cost Plus, but they only have outdoor furniture in the spring and summer. Target can also have some good options).

A go-to plant: Lavatera

Lavatera is a go-to plant for me. It is reliable, a fast grower, pretty when it isn't in bloom, and very pretty when it is in bloom. And best of all, it is in bloom so much of the year! And then the kicker, this is a really waterwise plant that takes all sorts of punishment including bad soil, and just keeps on keeping on. What's not to love?

I use them most often as large screening shrubs or on hillsides where you want a large pop of color but don't have easy access (and therefor want looooowwwww maintenance). Don't be worries if you buy them very small because even a tiny one gallon plant will be four feet tall and wide in six months. They have soft fuzzy leaves shaped like grape leaves, and the fuzziness gives them a delicate grey color. I trim mine back severely every winter in late December to keep them from getting woody, because I prefer them with a softer look, but it is also fine to leave them be and let them reach their full height of about 8 feet.

The photo above is the most common variety: Lavatera maritima or Lavatera bicolor (depending on the nursery you are buying it from). To the right here are two other lovely options, the white/pale pink flowers of Lavatera 'Barnsley' and the rich deep pink of L. 'Red Rum'.

I especially love using these to get an English Garden look without the water!