Posts in outdoor living
It's been a while

Happy Fall! It's been awhile since I've posted and I thought I'd catch you up on what's been happening. There are lots of new projects to share. The first one is one I call Montecito Mediterranean in the Oaks. This one is extra special for many reasons.

We have worked here for decades, this is owner number three who we have helped! I think this is the best. Outdoor kitchen, wood-fired pizza oven, pergola, edible gardens and new Flagstone patio.

Enjoy! Happy Fall. xo Lisa

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Luxury Without Lawns

Lawns are beautiful, but are they sustainable in the West? I think many of us are rethinking that. But, rather than focusing on what we can’t have, let’s put attention on what we can have; beautiful, luxurious gardens without lawns.

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Dog friendly landscape design

Are dogs and gardens mutually exclusive? The answer is no! As long as you keep certain basic design concepts in mind….

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You can have your landscape and eat it too

Want and edible garden? Try adding edibles into your existing landscape, here's some ideas on how to get started

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Seasonal Surprises

I love seasonal surprises, don’t you? Oh, and I’m not talking about the stream of relatives visiting for the summer! I’m talking about creating a garden with year-round color! Read on….

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Move over Kendall Jenner

Watching the Met Gala red carpet reminds me how landscape design is like fashion design. Just as there are design classics, so there are garden design classics. There are always trends in design, wondering where to start? Read on

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How Homemade Pasta and Backyard Chickens Just Might Save The World

Ever wonder how homemade pasta and backyard chickens might be able to change the world? I wondered the same thing see what I found out

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Landscape Design-Five Pro Tips for Fall

Happy Fall! Your garden can look gorgeous all year round, here are my 5 pro design tips for a beautiful year-round garden

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Hope Ranch Paradise

Peak behind the gates of Hope Ranch at our latest garden reveal that is both drought tolerant and beautiful

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5 Secrets to Beautiful End of Summer Garden

Summer still has a month to go and after a long dry spell your garden might need a little help. But it isn’t the kind of help you might be thinking. Here are 5 secrets to a happier summer garden.

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Garden Design For The Senses-Part One-Sound

How sound in a garden influences your mood

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The Essential Ingredient

Creating a private paradise in your backyard is the real purpose of landscape design. A garden provides refuge, a sanctuary from the sometimes hectic pace of life; a place to recharge, regroup and get away from the pressures and demands of daily life

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Gardening, Optimism and Leaf Blowers

To be a gardener is to be an optimist and being an optimist is a good thing. Who would you rather spend time with: Someone who complains about how bad it all is or someone who can find the good in any situation?

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