A question for today

Today instead of an idea, I have a question: what's so wrong with decomposed granite?

I have no luck getting anyone to use it as a paving material even though it has so many advantages! It is cost effective (about a quarter of the cost of concrete). It drains well and is a permeable paving option, so from the perspective of stormwater management, it is ideal (and therefor pretty "green"). And, it is classic. To me it looks wonderfully rustic and elegant. I think of the south of France, or villas in Italy. I think of quaint courtyards and a certain patina of age that gives a garden mystique. To my clients, it seems to look messy. What do you think? I'd love to hear people's thoughts on this one....

Designer tip: planning your outdoor kitchen

An outdoor kitchen is often the focal point of an outdoor living space, in the same way that your indoor kitchen is often the focal point inside. Think of how all of the family gathers around your kitchen- wouldn't you love it if that happened outside on a warm spring evening? Before you pull the trigger on an outdoor kitchen, here are a few do's and don'ts to inspire you:

1) Do start with well-made equipment. Some people chose to cover their equipment, but for the times when you forget, you'll be happy that you chose a well-made grill. I encourage clients to start at a showroom like Barbecues Galore, where you can see a variety of brands. The one I recommend most often is Lynx. They are well made workhorses: made to last and mid-range for price. The top photo is a Lynx outdoor kitchen from their website.

2) Don't overdo it with the equipment. Ask yourselves which elements you will really use so the island doesn't become a clutter of stainless steel. The most popular options are the grill, side burner, fridge, and sink.

3) Do think of your outdoor kitchen design in the same way you'd think of your indoor kitchen design. Unfortunately, most outdoor kitchens get stucco siding and a tile counter. Would you do that inside? I wouldn't! Think about stone counters, a creative backsplash, or hidden cabinets. Think about the style you want and then worry about picking materials that will hold up outdoors. (This is something a designer can help you with.... hint, hint).

4) Don't skimp on counter space. A great kitchen island can serve so many roles if you design it to be flexible: it can be a bar or buffet for serving at a party, it can be slightly raised to accommodate bar stools and even replace the dining table. It can be extra storage space for outdoor cushions. But for all of these things, it needs to have enough free space (another reason to chose the equipment wisely). Think about the things you might want on the counter while grilling like tools, ingredients, or platters. Make sure you'll have enough counter space!

5) Do make sure that the outdoor kitchen fits in with your house. If your house is tiny, go for a more modestly sized outdoor kitchen. If it is a Spanish Colonial, consider using Malibu tile accents or wrought iron handles. The lower photo is an outdoor kitchen I designed to go with a Craftsman cottage in La Mesa. Since it is pushed up against the wall of the house, we faced it in aged cedar shingles (instantly aged for us by Pattengill Finishes) so that it looks like it has always been there.

6) Don't forget about shade. If the kitchen is going to be located in a hot part of the yard, consider a shade arbor, umbrella, or shade sail.

7) Do consider taking a barbecue cooking class. The flagship Barbecues Galore store in San Diego is in 4S Ranch. They offer a great selection of classes where you not only learn from a professional chef, you get to eat what he makes! I was amazed at how much I took away from even a single class. Plus, when have you ever seen ten full sized grills installed indoors?! Here is a link to their selection of upcoming classes.

Bird and Butterfly Gardens

Spring is definitely here in San Diego and it has me thinking about birds and butterflies. A lot of my clients want to attract hummingbirds and butterflies to their garden and ask me to put in plants they love. So here are a few good options (starting at the top left): Penstemon parryi, Mimulus aurantiacus, Lantana 'Irene', Caesalpinia pulcherimma, Centranthus ruber, Buddleja 'Royal Red', and Asclepias carassauica. As a general, easy-to-follow but imperfect rule, flowers that are shaped more like trumpets are adapted to having hummingbirds and butterflies as their pollinators.









A few other things to know before you get started on your own bird and butterfly landscape design: you need to provide year-round options if possible (such as winter berries for the birds like Pyracantha or Heteromeles) and plants that the butterfly larvae can live on. Keep in mind, the larvae typically consume the leaves of the plant when they hatch. So if your Asclepias carassauica (aka butterfly weed) is suddenly looking like it is being eaten by caterpillars- don't spray it! Those caterpillars aren't pests, they are your baby butterflies! If you have a maintenance crew, point out the plants the larvae are growing on so they know not to hurt them.

For more information, the Sunset Western Garden Book has a great section on plants for birds and butterflies. Want to know which ones are easy to grow in San Diego? Go to our website and fill out the contact request form and ask!

A Kate Wiseman design featured in Garden Ideas Magazine

I am very proud and excited to have one of the gardens I designed featured in the Spring 2010 issue of Better Homes and Gardens: Garden Ideas and Outdoor Living magazine.

The focus of the article is using color and texture in the built elements of the garden (as in, the bits that aren't plants) to give you year round interest. It also has a great how-to section where the homeowner steps you through making your own glass mosaic.

Just a few thank-you's: I want to thank master photographer Ed Gohlich for his amazing skill behind a camera. I'm pretty sure he could make me believe I wanted to live in every single garden he photographs! I'd also like to thank Andrea Caughey for keeping an eye on me and Andrea Hayday for her very conscientious process. Also thank you to Derby and Catherine Pattengill for being such fun, kind, and creative people.



Want your own colorful outdoor living space? Visit us at Sage Outdoor Designs!

Take the Monrovia style quiz- it's fun

Monrovia nursery has an amazing website full of useful plant information and great images. I also recently stumbled on this style quiz tool, which I thought was a lot of fun. I have seen many of these images before because clients have shown them to me, so maybe you've already stumbled upon the quiz. But if not, give it a try and see if it can interpret your style!
For some of the questions, I felt like I wanted to pick two choices, so I tried the quiz twice. It decided I like a "Contemporary Style" (see image above) and an "Eco-Friendly" style (see images below). I think they are right on both counts. Of course, as a designer, I find almost every garden style fascinating.... so perhaps I'm not the perfect quiz subject.











Feel like the style quiz didn't help you enough? Sage Outdoor Designs can help you find your garden style. Visit our website for more information.

A great plant for a modern landscape design

Because of their elegant form and wonderful color, variegated Agaves make a perfect addition to a modern landscape design with one notable drawback: most of them have long and strong spines making them a dangerous choice for near walkways or around children. The solution you often see is Agave attenuata, the gentle blue spineless agave. But what if you want the gorgeous variegation and something a little more unusual? Aren't we all getting a little tired of seeing modern landscapes covered in blue spineless agaves (or is that just me)?

The two plants shown here are both a great solution. The first is the bright lemon yellow variegated Agave 'Kara's Stripes'. It has the same form as Agave attenuata but in a startling bright color. "Kara's Stripes' was discovered by Gary Gragg of Golden Gate Palms & Exotics Nursery, who removed it as a sport emerging from a plant growing in his garden and named it for his wife. It is being marketed in the U.S. through PlantHaven but you can find it now at many of the good local retail nurseries around the county.

The second option is to look for a gentle look-alike. The image on the left is Furcrea 'Mediopicta'. It has the same rosette form and bold variegation, but with soft flexible leaves- making it both safe and beautiful. It is a striking specimen plant and works wonderfully for very modern landscapes, or for a tropical look that is water wise.

Want your own modern landscape design? Please take a minute to see how Sage Outdoor Designs can help you!

Photo of the day: beautiful Craftsman garden gate

This is a gorgeous little gate that I walk by often in South Park. I love the Craftsman detailing and the hand-made look. Also, I like the stain they chose, and the small light fixtures, the tiny stained glass panels, and the rock-work on the columns. In fact, I like so many things about this gate that I just had to share it!