Photo - Natural Stone Pavers

Natural Stone Pavers are an elegant way to upgrade the entrance to your house.

Pavers installed by Dandy Landscape Construction.

Photo by Doug Kalal, taken at a client's residence in Encinitas

Photo - Chinese Elm (Ulmus parvifolia)

The Chinese Elm is a terrific shade tree for San Diego. This tree is will reach 30 to 50 feet in width 

and 20 feet in height. The Chinese Elm is also a drought tolerant tree.

Photo by Doug Kalal, taken at Santee ASA Softball Fields

Photo - Fire Pit Table

This natural gas table was built in place by Dandy Landscape Construction. 

Photo by Doug Kalal, taken at a client's residence in Carmel Valley

Photo - Decomposed Granite Courtyard

Photo by Doug Kalal, taken at a client's home in La Costa

Photo - Outdoor Living Room with Firepit set on Travertine Tile

This cozy living room centers around a portable fire table that runs on a propane tank. 

Travertine tile is the floor material that give this space a sense of elegance.

Photo by Doug Kalal, taken at a client's house in University City

Photo - Alumawood Shade Structure at Night

A nice outdoor light and twinkle lights add ambiance to this patio.

Photo by Doug Kalal, taken at a client's garden in Encinitas

Photo - Variegated Brazillian Aloe (Furcraea foetida 'Mediopicta')

Photo by Doug Kalal

Photo - Variegated Lily Turf (Liriope muscari 'Variegata')

Liriope is a great plant for shady areas (especially under trees).  

The flowers are not that interesting, it's the foliage that makes a statement.

Photo by Doug Kalal

Photo - Wood Burning Fire Stand

Doesn't this look cozy?

Photo by Doug Kalal, taken at a client's garden in La Jolla

Photo - Outdoor Living Room with Fireplace and TV

Photo by Doug Kalal, taken at a client's house in Encinitas

Photo - Hopseed Bush (Dodonae viscosa)

This drought tolerant shrubs is great for slopes and screening. 

Hopseed bush can reach 12' tall x 10' wide on a slope.

Photo by Doug Kalal, taken at a client's garden in Rancho Bernardo

Photo - Outdoor Living Room

A great outdoor room combines multiple spaces to allow for versatile entertaining.

Photo by Doug Kalal, taken a client's home in University City

Video - Water Fountain

Video by Doug Kalal, taken at a client's garden in Carlsbad

Video - Jacuzzi Fountain

Video by Doug Kalal, taken at a client's house in University City

Video - Pondless Water Feature

Video by Doug Kalal, taken at a client's garden in Encinitas

Photo - California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica)

 

The California Poppy is our state flower and this is the time of

year when this golden annual is exploding all over the state.

California Poppies bloom in late March and Early April,

set seed and die by late May. They are a great plant for

drought tolerant gardens since they survive only on rainfall.

Photo by Doug Kalal, taken in Shepard's Canyon (Tierrasanta)

Photo - Evergreen Pear Tree (Pyrus kawakami)

The Evergreen Pear Tree is noted for it's beautiful canopy of white flowers in the early spring.  Unfortunately, here in San Diego, this tree can become infected with Fire Blight, a virus that is spread by insects. Fire Blight can result in branches dying and looking like they have been burned.  There is no cure for this disease.  Once the branch is infected it must be removed to prevent it's spread through the rest of the tree.

Photo by Doug Kalal

Photo - Impatients

Impatients are a great annual for shady areas under trees and on the North

sides of houses.  Here in San Diego they will continue to survive all year if 

the yard is frost free.  Impatients also self seed a lot, so you can a constant

supply of color.

Photo by Doug Kalal

Photo - Wood Arbor

Photo by Doug Kalal, taken at a client's garden in Point. Loma

Photo - Hybrid Tea Rose 'Secret'

 

Photo by Doug Kalal, taken at the Balboa Park Inez Parker Rose Garden

California Natives Garden Tour

Garden Native and the California Native Plant Society are putting on a garden tour on March 29th and 30th here in San Diego.  With 15 gardens on display, there is something for everyone including a sustainable vegetable garden with native plants surrounding it and a homeowner who grows his own wine grapes. The tour will feature many inspiring ideas for drought tolerant as well as organic gardens.  For more information go to;
 http://gardennative.org/tour.html

Photo - Cleveland Sage (Salvia clevelandii) & bird

This California native is great for attracting a variety of

small birds to your garden.  Cleveland Sage is also

drought tolerant and fragrant.

Photo by Doug Kalal, taken at a client's garden in La Jolla

Tropical Patio

Photo by Doug Kalal, taken at a client's garden in El Cajon

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Thank you to all my loyal readers around the world for this great milestone!

Wood Shade Structure with shingle roof

This cedar structure was built with a cmu seating wall

at its base to complete the outdoor room feel.

The room was then surrounded by a pondless water feature

to futher enhance the tranquility of the space.

 

Photo by Doug Kalal, taken at a client's house in Tierrasanta

Photo - Forest Pansy Redbud (Cercis Canadensis 'Forest Pansy)

This is one of my favorite small trees (15' tall x 20').

The Forest Pansy Redbud is covered with pink flowers in the Spring.

This deciduous tree also has nice fall foliage color.

 

Photo by Doug Kalal

Photo - Talavera Tile

This is the tile selected for the back of the wall fountain.

 

Foutain built by Dandy Landscape, designed by Doug Kalal.

Photo by Doug Kalal, taken at a client's garden in La Costa

Photo - Spanish Wall Fountain

This custom built wall fountain was designed to have a seating wall

to allow for additional seating in the courtyard.

Built by Dandy Landscape.

Photo taken by Doug Kalal, at a client's house in La Costa.

CMU Seating Wall with Stucco Cover

This wall was designed to be an outdoor seating area for the Rancho San Diego Library.  Made from CMU block and stucco coated to match the library, I especially love the soft curve of the wall.

 

Photo by Doug Kalal

It's Bareroot Fruit Tree Season at Walter Andersen Nursery

   

January is bare root fruit tree season here in San Diego County and one of the best nurseries for fruit tree selection is Walter Andersens in both Poway and Pt. Loma.

    A few years ago I had designed an orchard that was about 55’ long by 6’ wide and decided that 6 small fruit trees could fit in that area.  Walter Andersen sells over 200 varieties of fruit trees and their staff did a great job of picking the best 6 for my client.  It is that type of outstanding service that has been a hallmark of Walter Andersen for 3 generations. 
     Here are the fruit trees picked for my client’s garden in Tierrasanta; Dwarf Little Cado Avocado, Dwarf Algerian Tangerine, Desert Delight Nectarine, Eva’s Pride Peach, Dwarf  Midnight Valencia Orange, and a Dwarf Meyer Lemon.  Here is their info;

 

Walter Andersen Nurseries

www.walterandersen.com
 

Pt. Loma

3642 Enterprise St
San Diego, CA 92110
(619) 224-8271
 

Poway

12755 Danielson Court
Poway, CA 92064
(858) 513-4900

 

Here's the family truck.

Photos by Doug Kalal, taken at the Walter Andersen Nursery in Poway

Photo - Arbor with built in low voltage lights

 

Here it is at night.

 

 

 

Photos by Doug Kalal, taken at a client's garden in Kensington
Built by Tom Dandy Landscape

Photo - Cumaroo Wood Deck

Cumaroo is a beautiful hardwood that is more expensive than redwood, but also smoother and less prone to splinters.

Photo by Doug Kalal, taken at a client's garden in Kensington

Built by Tom Dandy Landscape