Photo - Wall Water Feature

This custom built fountain accents a new retaining wall.

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

Photo - Tropical Patio

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

Photo - Brick Facade Wall

This block wall was covered with thin set brick facade.

Photos by Doug Kalal, taken at a client's residence in Point Loma

Photo - Yuletide Camellia (Camellia sasanqua 'Yuletide')

This is one the best flowering shrubs for perking up those winter blahs.  Full sun on the cost in San Diego, part shade inland.  Yuletide Camellias can reach 8' tall & wide.

Photo by Doug Kalal

Pruning Mexican Bush Sage

When your Mexican Bush Sage gets long and leggy (like the below photo) it's time to prune it.

Typically the best time to prune Mexican Bush Sage is in December and June.

Prune the Sage down to 12" (see photo).  This will allow the sunlight to reach the new growth.  After pruning, feed the plant with a slow release fertilizer.

 

After 3 months, the Sage should be in full bloom (see below).

 

Photo - Orange Pincushion Flower (Leucospermum sp. 'Cordifolium Orange'

This drought tolerant beauty is also a great cut flower.

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

Photo - Crushed Decomposed Pathway

This rustic pathway is half the cost of concrete and permeable. 

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

Barbeques Galore

Here's the web page for BBQ's Galore, a great place for your outdoor kitchen needs.

https://www.bbqgalore.com/

Photo - Built in Ice Bucket for BBQ Island

This built in ice bucket makes any BBQ Island a party place.  

This one is available from BBQ's Galore.

Photo by Doug Kalal

Photo - Modern Concrete Patio

Nice clean lines shape this patio.

Photo by Doug Kalal

Photo - Ladybird Beetle (Ladybug)

One of the best bugs out there for riding your garden of small pests.

Photo by Doug Kalal

Photo - Artificial Grass on Slope

One way to have a nice green slope in front of your home is use artificial turf.  This works best for a design with clean simple lines.  

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

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

My favorite small tree, the Redbud reach 15' tall x 15' wide here in San Diego.

Photo by Doug Kalal

Photo - California Fuschia (Epilobium canum)

This wonderful California native is loved by hummingbirds.

Photos by Doug Kalal

Photo - Pincushion Flower (Scabiosa sp.)

Scabiosa is a nice little flower that is great for bees and butterflies.

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

Photo - Water Fountain

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

Southwest Boulder & Stone

Here is the webpage for the best rock company in San Diego County.

Southwest Boulder & Stone

Photo - Southwest Boulder crashes into car

All kidding aside, Southwest Boulder & Stone is my favorite place to go for boulders, decomposed granite and other landscape supplies.  Here is there webpage for more into.

Photo by Doug Kalal

https://www.southwestboulder.com/

Photo - Mexican Bush Sage (Salvia leucantha)

This great hummingbird plant is also drought tolerant.

Photo by Doug Kalal

Photo - Ipe Wood Fence with Pillars

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

Photo - Rose 'Veteran's Rose'

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

Photo - Peruvian Lily (Alstroemeria sp.)

This is a great cut flower that dies back in the winter.

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

Photo - Pilaster with Address Bar

A nice, colorful address bar mounted on a pilaster is the perfect way to your friends know that they have found you!

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

Photo - Paver Driveway 'Casita Manor'

This driveway was made from Casita pavers.  The color is Manor Gray.

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

Photo - Marina Strawberry Tree (Arbutus unedo 'Marina')

This drought tolerant, small tree is great for attracting small birds.

Photos by Doug Kalal

Photo - Red Kangaroo Paw (Anigozanthus flavidus)

This drought tolerant plant is also a good cut flower. 

Photo by Doug Kalal

Photo - Artificial turf putting green next to a kids play structure

This client had a shady part of their property where grass had difficulty thriving.  I suggested an artificial turf putting green and a play structure area for the grand kids.  This was a huge hit.  Now the grownups play golf while the little ones play in their own area.  

Designed by Great Gardens Landscape Design. 

Photo by Doug Kalal, taken at a client's residence in Rancho Santa Fe,

Photo - Outdoor Fireplace with TV

This outdoor TV takes football viewing to another level. 

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

Photo - After Glow Echeveria

Photo by Doug Kalal

Photo - Flagstone set on concrete

This is Arizona Tan Flagstone set on concrete with beige mortar.  Built by Dandy Landscape.

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

Photo - Campfire Crassula (Crassula capitella 'Campfire')

This vibrant succulent works on the ground or in a pot.

Photo by Doug Kalal

Photo - Red Yucca (Hesperaloe sp. 'Brakelights')

This wonderful succulent's bright red flower is great for attracting hummingbirds.

Photo by Doug Kalal

Photo - Curving Pool with Spa and Firepit

This custom pool, spa and fire pit flow into one another.  The materials tie everything together.  The concrete is David Color 'Palomino'. Designed by Great Gardens Landscape Design. 

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

Photo - Decomposed Granite Path with Rock Border

This rustic pathway was made by combining a decomposed granite pathway with a rock border and a stacked stone seating wall.

Photos by Doug Kalal, taken at a client's residence in La Mesa

Photo - Blue Chalk Fingers (Senecio vitalis)

This nice ground cover is both drought tolerant and fire resistant.

Photo by Doug Kalal

Photo - Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica 'Muskogee')

This is a great drought tolerant tree for small spaces.

Photo by Doug Kalal

Photo - Colored Concrete Davis Color Medium Gray

This is concrete with an integrated color and a Top Cast #3 finish.

The color is Davis 'Medium Gray'.  

Always do expansion joints every 4' to 5' to reduce cracking.

Hardscape by Dandy Landscape.

Photos by Doug Kalal

Photo - Blue Glow Agave (Agave sp. 'Blue Glow')

Photo by Doug Kalal

Photo - Butterfly on Lantana

Lantana is a great plant for attracting butterflies.  This drought tolerant plant is also rabbit resistant due to the slight toxicity of the foliage (don't use in back yards with small kids or dogs).  Lantana comes in a wide variety of colors. 'Confetti' and 'New Gold' are my favorite and are pictured above.

Photo by Doug Kalal

Photo - IPE wood facade on BBQ island

Photo by Doug Kalal

Photo - Daylily 'Green Apple' (Hemerocallia sp.)

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

Photo - Raised Patio

This backyard had a tricky 4' elevation change to deal with.  By using Country Manor Keystone walls, I created a terraced patio with planters.  The patio was formed with Stone Top Pavers from RCP Block & Brick.  The landscape was built by Green Gardens Landscape Construction.  Photo by Doug Kalal, taken at a client's residence in La Jolla.

Photo - Modern Outdoor Room

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

Photo - Colored Concrete "Palomino"

This patio was made with an integrated colored concrete.  

This is Davis concrete color "Palomino" with a Top Cast #3 finish.

Photos by Doug Kalal, taken at a client's residence in Poway