Photo - Solid Roof Shade Structure

This shade structure was designed with short walls so that guests

would have a sense of enclosure in this outdoor room.

Notice the wrap around water feature with bridge.

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

Photo - Cleveland Sage (Salvia clevelandii)

Cleveland Sage is a good plant for both drought tolerant

and bird friendly gardens. Notice the finch in this photo.

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

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

This is a terrific tree for small spaces.  This redbud

has pink flowers in the spring and fall color in autumn.

In San Diego, these trees typically reach 15 feet tall and wide.

Photo by Doug Kalal

The New 2 Minute Gardener

Hello blog readers. 
After 18 months I have decided to overhaul the look of the "2 Minute Gardener".  In the coming days I will be dropping some of the old categories and adding new ones.  I would love your feedback on ways to improve this blog. So send me your comments. 
Thanks,
Doug

Photo - Country Manor Pillar

Country Manor Keystone can be used for more than

just retaining walls as seen in this photo where it

was used to build an entrance pillar.

Photo by Doug Kalal

Photo - Flagstone Over Concrete Patio

Here is a flagstone patio where the flagstone

was mortared on top of concrete.

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

Photo - Black Eyed Susan Vine (Thunbergia alata)

This vine can be agressive and run all over the place.

Black Eyed Susan Vines look best trained on a fence.

The more sun the vine gets, the more blooms you get.

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

Photo - Pondless Water Feature with Flagstone

Want a water feature without standing water?

This water feature hides the reservoir under the flagstone patio

so the water flows toward the patio and then disappears.

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

Photo - Pincushion Protea (Leucospermum sp. 'Cordifolium Orange')

Proteas are wonderful drought tolerant plants that

also make great cut flowers.  They can be fussy about soil,

so make sure to add some gypsum and GroPower Plus

to the soil before planting.

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

Photo - Chinese Foxglove (Rehmannia elata)

This unusual perennial is a great cut flower

as well as a good hummingbird plant.

Chinese Foxglove will go dormant in the winter

and start blooming around April.

This plant likes direct morning sun and some

shade in the middle on the day.

The flower stalks usually reaches 4 feet tall,

although I have one stalk that is climbing

through a tree and has reached 8 feet tall.

Just like regular Foxglove, all parts of this plant

are poisonous.

Photo by Doug Kalal