Photo - Camellia japonica 'Henry E. Huntington'

Photo by Doug Kalal

Photo - Camellia japonica 'Shala's Baby'

Photo by Doug Kalal

Photo - Camellia japonica 'Kumagai Nagayo'

Photo by Doug Kalal

Photo - Landscape Timber Stairs

Here are those stairs in construction.

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

Garden Elements - Landscape Timber Stairs

 As mentioned in previous posts, San Diego is the land of many slopes.  I have talked about the plants for the slope, now let’s talk about how to get up and down that slope.  Stairs can be made out of many types of materials.   Concrete, pavers and flagstone are a few that I have worked with.  For a more natural, rustic look try landscape timber stairs. 

          Landscape timbers are 6” x 6” pieces of lumber that are treated to resist water and termite damage.  The most common type of landscape timber stairs consists of a 4’ wide front piece and 2 side pieces that are usually 12 to 24 inches in length.  The 3 pieces are bolted together to form a step in the shape of a “U”.  The steps are then bolted on top of one another with rebar and filled in with decomposed granite (mix in some stabilizer to resist water damage).  These types of stairs are great for large properties with lots of little hills.  Landscape timber stairs cost a little less than concrete.  Since decomposed granite can be a loose material (even with stabilizer), it is not recommended if you have large dogs whose claws can tear into the material.

          If you are a reasonably skilled carpenter then here is great link that shows you the steps for building landscape timber stairs.  Otherwise hire a good contractor like the ones mentioned in the blog for a professional installation. 

http://diybooks.com/index.php?pane=project&projectid=chwlk182

Here are some photos of landscape timbers stairs from one of my jobs.

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

Photo - Hybrid Tea Rose 'Marilyn Monroe'

Photo by Doug Kalal, taken at the Coronado Flower Show.

This trio of my roses won the trophy for best 3 roses.

San Diego Rose Show

The San Diego Rose Society presents its 84th annual rose show from 1 to 5 p.m.  Saturday, April 30, at the Ronald Reagan Community Center, 195 East Douglas Avenue, El Cajon.  Admission is $5 per person with children under 12 admitted free.  Parking is free.  A hosted rose show tour will be led at 3 p.m.  For more information email the show chair Linda Clark at linsline@cox.net or go to http://www.sdrosesociety.org/.

Lecture Schedule for April & May

Do you want to see some of the plants from this blog up close and in person?  Well then come on down and meet me and the plants at my lecture series.  "30 Great Drought Tolerant Plants" is a free lecture where you can see, touch and smell some wonderful alternatives to grass.  This series will be coming to the following locations in April & May;

Tuesday, April 5th @ 6:30pm
Encinitas Community Library
540 Cornish Dr, Encinitas

Wednesday, April 13th @ 11:00am
Rancho Santa Fe Community Library
17040 Avenida de Acacias, RSF

Tuesday, April 19th @ 6:30pm
Rancho San Diego Community Library
11555 Via Rancho San Diego, El Cajon

Saturday, May 7th @ 3:00pm
Del Mar Community Library
1309 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar

Wednesday, May 18th @ 6:00pm
University Heights Public Library
4193 Park Blvd, San Diego

Photo - Tropical Garden

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

Photo - Ocotillo (Fouquiera splendens)

These photos were taken at the Wind Caves in Anza-Borrego State Park.

The Wind Caves are in the lower left corner of this photo.

The Wind Caves are the names of these formations

that the wind blasts out of the sandstone. 

We actually camped next

to them (on the non-windy side).

This one was growing out of the "roof" of one of the caves.

All photos by Doug Kalal.