Solar Path Light

Currently, most solar garden lights are gawky and awkward, shaped like their predecessors but with a small photovoltaic glued on top. Add to that the fact that they cast a dim glow for a few hours after sunset (at best), and I find myself talking clients into a hard-wired low voltage outdoor lighting system instead. So when I came across this prototype for a solar garden light, I was excited that a designer was finally heading in a new direction.

These fixtures, by designer Damian O'Sullivan, were displayed in the New York MoMA until May 2008. (I came across them on the Sietch Blog). He calls them the Solar Lampion. His exhibition focused on design's reaction to changes in technology and science. Hopefully, this is one case where art will inspire a change in product design and put an end to those gawky awkward lights we have all gotten too used to seeing.

Want to add night lighting to your garden? Ask us how! Please go to www.sageoutdoordesigns.com and fill out the contact us page.

Aqua Box for easy small fountains

I just learned about this company, and I wanted to pass the information along. I think a small fountain feature still has a place in a waterwise garden, as a small oasis that draws wildlife and provides wonderful dancing sound and movement. Using this company's product, making your own small fountain just got easier. Aqua Box is an underground ricirculating system: just add the feature itself and some gravel or pebble to hide the system, plug it in, and you are ready to go.

A few places I like to go searching for features: Planter Paradise on Chase Street in El Cajon for amazing deals on pottery, Rolling Greens in Los Angeles for more designer pottery, and Stone Forest for beautiful carved stone bowls, pillars and basins.

Want your own small fountain feature? We'd love to help! Go to www.sageoutdoordesigns.com and fill in the contact us form.

Style trend: Junipers?

Lately I have been noticing that in the world of popular drought tolerant plants, there is one genus that teeters on the edge of popularity but hasn't quite made it back into style yet. In the debate, I am on the side pushing to bring back the juniper.

Junipers have a reputation: dated. They remind us of gardens that have been neglected since the 1960's. Hollywood Twisted Junipers, especially popular in the 60's, grow very large in their old age, and are by far the plant I remove from gardens the most often.

I think that they are about to see a huge rise in popularity and here is why: They are drought tolerant and they are green. Really green. Green-green in a way that most drought tolerant plants are not.

A few other reasons to recommend them:
They are so easy to grow. In fact, this is why I think they have such a bad reputation. They are still here from the 60's! While many garden plants have long since kicked the bucket, these just keep on growing.
They come in a huge variety of sizes, shapes, and colors. They do not all have to be the huge shrubs we remember. Plenty are only 12"-18" tall, and many others are compact groundcovers.

So here is to rooting for the junipers! The one shown above is Juniperus scandia (18 tall). Below is Juniperus 'Old Gold' (3'), Juniperus 'Blue Chip' (8"), Juniperus 'Armstrongii' (40"), and Juniperus 'Arcadia (24").

Giveaway winner!

The winner of our first ever giveaway is Angela! Congratulations!

Angela- You don't have to do anything, a rep from All Modern will contact you by email.

Our first ever giveaway!

With help from the folks at All Modern, we are hosting our first ever Kate Presents Giveaway! All Modern has a great selection of contemporary furniture and accessories. If you find it a little tough to navigate straight to their modern outdoor section, try clicking here and it will take you straight there. I love that the prices are shown clearly on each piece, so you don't have to wait days for a sales rep to get back to you.

Our giveaway item is this fabulous stainless steel watering can. I love how its clean lines blur the barrier between beauty and functionality. Want it for your very own? Here is what you do:
1. To Enter This Giveaway, leave a comment on this post

2. Only one entry per person, please

3. Only Continental U.S. Residents are eligible to enter

4. A winner will be randomly chosen on 10-23-09, using www.random.org and will be announced on the blog on 10-26-09.

Thats' it! The more entries the better so please feel free to tell all your friends to try for it as well!

Follow-up on Buddleia's

Thanks to Jeremy for his comment on my last buddleia post. This Buddleia is absolutely amazing- when can we get it here?!

This is Buddleia 'Bicolor', a new two-toned flower in lavender and orange. Does anyone know where to get it locally? Here is where he found it, a British website. If we have any nursery professionals on here, please leave a comment and I'll post it, or if anyone has seen it at a southern California nursery, please do the same.

Got a xeriscape plant you think we should all know about? Post a comment and I'll highlight the plant.

Seeking: designer to share studio space

I have a goregous new studio space on 25th Street in Golden Hill in the 830MXD building. I am looking to share my 350 sq.ft. space with another designer. The rent will be $375 a month, furnished with a "L" shaped desk suitable for a workstation or drafting. The office has it's own bathroom and kitchenette and a small balcony. It is available Dec 1.

If you don't know the building, 830MXD is the brainchild of architects Mike Burnett and Craig Abinella. The mixed use building houses an architecture firm (theirs), a cafe and wine bar called Counterpoint (to open this month), an artist, a graphic designer, a non-profit, live-work spaces and a few apartments. It has recently received quite a bit of press as a key step in the redevelopment of the Golden Hill area.

Please give me a call at 619-618-6410 if you think you might be interested in the space!