Maple Garden Design

Day trip to Santa Cruz

Recent visits to previous clients and some flower from my home garden!

2017 show sucked!!
this year was decent again but attendance was poor because of last year...

The late winter flowering trees are one of my favorite times of year. The saucer magnolia is just heavenly. Pictures don't even do it justice...

How to Plant a Plant!
I recently planted a Gardenia in my home garden and thought I'd show y'all how I do it. Each individual photo will have it's own instructions.

I entered a photo contest! My entry is near the bottom and titled "follow the yellow brick road." Forget may the best photo win, send me to the top baby!! http://www.sloatgardens.com/whats-happening/contests/

Contests - Sloat Garden Center ** Vote once each day through midnight, August 16th. We will announce winners on August 17th. Note: we will not accept new contest submissions now that voting has begun. Click images below to view larger version. General rules: If you have multiple email addresses, please refrain from sending a ph...

I did a lot of work recently on my plant lists I use when I design and thought I'd share the herbs section with y'all Enjoy! HERBS
Agastache foeniculum Anise Hyssop
Allium
sativum Garlic
schoenoprasum Chives
Aloysia triphylla Lemon Verbena
Anethum graveolens Dill
Angelica archangelica
Anthriscus cerefolium Chervil
Artemisia dracunculus Tarragon
Borago officinalis Borage
Brassica Mustard
hirta White
juncea Brown
nigra Black
Calendula officinalis Pot Marigold
Camellia sinensis Tea
Capparis spinosa Caper
Carum carvi Caraway
Cichorium intybus Chicory
Coriandrum sativum Cilantro, Coriander
Crocus sativus Saffron
Curcuma longa Turmeric
Cymbopogon citratus Lemon Grass
Echinacea purpurea Coneflower
Foeniculum vulgare rubrum Bronze Fennel
Helichrysum petiolare Licorice
Houttuynia cordata Hootenanny
Humulus lupulus Hops
Hypericum calycinum St John's Wort
Laurus nobilis Sweet Bay
Lavandula angustifolia English Lavender
Levisticum officinale Lovage
Lippia graveolens Mexican Oregano
Marrubium vulgare Horehound
Matricaria recutita Chamomile
Melissa officinalis Lemon Balm
Mentha
x piperita / spicata Peppermint / Spearmint
Monarda didyma Bee Balm
Nepeta
cataria / x faassenii Catnip / Catmint
Ocimum
basilicum / basilicum thrysiflora Basil / Thai Basil
Origanum
majorana Marjoram
vulgare Oregano
Perilla frutescens Shiso
Persicaria odorata Vietnamese Coriander
Petroselinum crispum Parsley
Pimenta dioica Allspice
Pimpinella anisum Anise
Rosmarinus officinalis Rosemary
Rumex acetosa Sorrel
Ruta graveolens Rue
Salvia
elegans / officinalis Pineapple Sage / Garden Sage
Satureja
hortensis / montana Summer / Winter Savory
Sesamum indicum Sesame
Stevia rebaudiana Stevia
Symphytum offinale Comfrey
Tanacetum vulgare Tansy
Thymus
x citriodorus Lemon Thyme
vulgaris Thyme
Valeriana officinalis Valerian
Zingiber officinale Ginger

Visiting last years' designs session one.

Early springtime in the home garden

I went yesterday with a friend of mine who is an orchid aficionado to the orchid expo in SF. Although orchids aren't really my thing who can resist flowers like these!!!

Home gardening science experiment time! So I needed to repot this marjoram plant and discovered an ant colony had made the pot it's home. I was not about to get covered in ants to repot a common plant. So I blasted the root ball with the hose, as you can see by the photo on the left, completely obliterated the root ball. Doing this could have shocked the plant and caused it much harm. Then I repotted it with brand new soil and wanted to see if it would live. And it did! Photo on the right is a few days later and it seems to be just fine. So go ahead and try this at home... at your own risk...

These quick design sketches and photos of new contractor installations are from consultations through the Contra Costa Water District Lawn to Garden Rebate Program where I'm a recommended designer. Find out about the programs by visiting:
http://www.ccwater.com/160/Rebate-Information
The Design Assistance Program info can be found here:
http://www.ccwater.com/274/Landscape-Design-Assistance-Program