Photo - Synthetic Shade Structure with Concrete Patio

This lovely new shade structure comes with built in lights and electrical.

Photo by Doug Kalal, Great Gardens Landscape Design, taken at client's house in Escondido

Snake Removal and Dog Avoidance Training

It's rattlesnake season here in San Diego.  All snakes serve an important part of the ecosystem.  They are the first line of defense against rats.  However, it's scary when they get into your yard.  Instead of killing the snake call a removal specialist.  If the snake is your house, call 911.

Tom Minga also does training to teach your dog to avoid rattlesnakes.  He trained my dog and she is much more cautious on our hikes. Tom uses live rattlesnakes that are muzzled and have their venom glands removed.

Photo - Chinese Fringe Flower (Loropetalum sp.)

This lovely shrub can grow in full sun on the coast and part shade inland.

Photo by Doug Kalal, Great Gardens Landscape Design

Photo - Concrete Stem Wall

When you need to build a short retaining wall (under 12"), a concrete stem wall is an easy way to solve that problem.  In this yard there was a 6" drop from the patio to the back fence.  In order to keep the lawn area level I designed a stem wall to surround the grass.

Photo by Doug Kalal, Great Gardens Landscape Design, taken at a client's garden in Santee

Photo - Synthetic Shade Structure (50% coverage)

This synthetic shade structure has 50% shade coverage,  Notice the lights rigged to the beams.  The hollow beams make it easy to conceal wires.  Photo by Doug Kalal, Great Gardens Landscape Design. Taken at a client's residence in San Diego

Photo - Butterfly Bush with Butterfly

This is the butterfly bush, so named because butterflies LOVE this plant!

Bright flowers also attract Hummingbirds all spring and summer.

Photo by Doug Kalal, Great Gardens Landscape Design, taken at a client's garden in University City

Photo - Paver Medallion Under Construction

Here's a paver medallion kit under construction.

Photo by Doug Kalal, Great Gardens Landscape Design, taken at a client's residence in Lakeside

Photo - Artificial Turf

This dog run area is accented by a curving border made from the same pavers as the patio.

Photo by Doug Kalal, Great Gardens Landscape Design, taken at a client's residence in  Poway

Photo - Pincushion Flower 'Tango' (Leucospermum sp. 'Tango')

This drought tolerant plant is a spectacular cut flower, lasting for weeks in the vase.  The plant can reach 6' tall and wide.

Photos by Doug Kalal, Great Gardens Landscape Design, taken at a client's garden in San Diego

Photo - Coral Aloe (Aloe striata)

This succulent produces a great hummingbird flower.

Photo by Doug Kalal, Great Gardens Landscape Design

taken at a client's garden in Poway