Succulent Gardens

 

Try taking a walk outside in your neighborhood. You'll probably notice that Southern California has a growing penchant for succulents, and for good reason. These colorful and sculpturally fascinating plants thrive in dry climate conditions making them suitable for Southern California weather. Not to mention they are easy to care for.

 

Succulents flourish in desert conditions due to their fleshly leaves and stems that retain moisture. They may be low maintenance, but like any tended plant they require attention. Tania Gybels of Environmental Concept provides a few helpful and essential guidelines on maintaining a lush succulent garden. Succulents do not need frequent watering or good soil. However they do require adequate drainage to maintain the soil's dryness in between watering. This will successfully recreate the arid climate that succulents blossom upon. They enjoy basking in the sun and can tolerate the shade. It is imperative to stay cautious of water usage when leaving succulents in the shade.

 

 

 

Pots can be great homes for any succulent, and they will benefit from the visually striking appearance of these plants. The abstract colors and shapes of succulents can create a defined border for landscapes. Yucca, Agave, and Aloe are great additions that will complement a succulent landscape. These plants have a desert flair and are a hip addition to any California home or landscape.

 

Founded in 1992, Environmental Concept provides landscape design and installation services to the finest residential and commercial properties in Southern California. Environmental Concept has completed projects for the Spelling Mansion, Dustin Hoffman, Roland Emmerich, 3.1 Philip Lim Boutique, the Ambrose Hotel, Sunset Millennium Shopping Center, Hotel Casa del Mar and the Aquarium of the Pacific. Environmental Concept has been featured on HGTV and Oprah. For more information about Environmental Concept visit www.envconcept.com

Water Features:

 

Historically, fountains have served as a functional aqueduct, which distributed drinking and bathing water. The Romans took advantage of these practical water features and aesthetically transformed them. Their fountains were decorated with bronze and stone facades of heroes and animals. When we visualize water features today, we still picture an image of the Trevi Fountain. However today, water features have advanced and diversified aesthetically. They are a great modern touch to any landscape, transforming them in a natural and innovative way.

Tania Gybels of Environmental Concept implements water features into her projects with thoughtful ingenuity and practicality. In this Los Angeles residence (above), she cleverly divided the outdoor dining area and the woodland walk with a water feature. She chose a natural stacked stoned finish. As the water trickles down the stacked stones, it creates a tranquil noise barrier from the surrounding urban environment.

When working with more traditional architecture, Tania approached the landscape stylistically. Placing the traditional European replicated fountain at the central axis of the entrance. This divided the space into symmetrical halves making the fountain a striking focal point.

Water features can physically and aesthetically benefit any landscape. Their varied physical forms can make or divide a space. Whether in the form of a wall, border or focal point, their functionality is mutable. Water has an inherently natural aesthetic that heightens the existing tranquility and revitalizing nature of a landscape.

 

Location will be a key design factor when incorporating a water feature. Make sure to place your water feature in direct sunlight. Water in the shade often looks murky and undesirable. Water glistening in the sunlight will achieve a picturesque presence. Consider the water feature's placement in relation to surrounding noise. It will make the space sound peaceful and disguise all excess noise. Once the location is set, the installation will need to be taken place. For safety and technical reasons, hire a professional to provide adequate plumbing, electricity and lighting. Keeping these tips in mind help achieve an opulent and intimate utopia.

 

Founded in 1992, Environmental Concept provides landscape design and installation services to the finest residential and commercial properties in Southern California. Environmental Concept has completed projects for the Spelling Mansion, Dustin Hoffman, Roland Emmerich, 3.1 Philip Lim Boutique, the Ambrose Hotel, Sunset Millennium Shopping Center, Hotel Casa del Mar and the Aquarium of the Pacific. Environmental Concept has been featured on HGTV and Oprah. For more information about Environmental Concept visit www.envconcept.com

Rose Gardens: Pretty in Pink!

The woody perennial Rose has over 100 different species that range in color from white to reds, pinks, and yellows. Although roses have been grown in China for over a thousand years, the founder of the modern rose garden as we know it today was Empress Josephine de Beauharnais, wife of Napoleon Bonaparte. Josephine’s lifelong patronage helped to popularize the rose as a common garden plant. Between the years of 1799 and 1814, she employed a horticulturist with a passion for roses named Andre Dupont and as a result developed a great personal interest in and knowledge of gardens and roses. Josephine formed the first written history of rose cultivation and hosted one of the first ever rose exhibitions in 1810. By her death in 1814, her garden included over 250 varietals. Thirty years after her death, the rose variety Souvenir de la Malmaison, originally cultivated at the Chateau de Malmaison, was named in her honor by a Russian Grand Duke and was one of the first planted in the Imperial Garden in St. Petersburg.



Even beginning gardeners can successfully cultivate roses. In California, February is the best time to plant, and gardeners should wait until longer stalks are more readily available to prune. Drastic pruning should be done after the blooming season is finished. According to expert horticulturist and garden designer Tania Gybels of Environmental Concept, the best way to feed your roses is with horse manure, alfalfa meal, and fish powder. Tania also cautions against excessive water and dampness in your rose garden as the buildup of water on leaves can encourage the growth of mildew fungi that impairs the plant’s ability to photosynthesize. The mildew is identifiable by its white or gray powdery splotches on leaves and stems. Regular thinning and pruning improves air circulation to prevent excessive water buildup, and a simple fungicide can help clear up any contamination. To safeguard against pests like aphids Tania recommends using a fertilizer rich in phosphorus and potassium such as bone meal, instead of a traditional nitrogen-rich fertilizer.

 

One of Tania’s favorite pink roses is the Cape Cod variety. The Cape Cod rose grows as a shrub and is perfect to integrate into your garden landscape. The beautiful, bright pink flowers are the reason why so many people, like Tania, love to grow roses.

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Founded in 1992, Environmental Concept provides landscape design and installation services to the finest residential and commercial properties in Southern California. Environmental Concept has completed projects for the Spelling Mansion, Dustin Hoffman, Roland Emmerich, 3.1 Philip Lim Boutique, the Ambrose Hotel, Sunset Millennium Shopping Center, Hotel Casa del Mar and the Aquarium of the Pacific. Environmental Concept has been featured on HGTV and Oprah. For more information about Environmental Concept visit www.envconcept.com

Herb Gardening!

When designing herb gardens I start by making a sun/shade study of the site to determine the best location for my plot. There is usually a need for some type of dividing element or screen, so pineapple and strawberry guava provide a nice natural element for the purpose, as well as giving back to us in the form of the their delicious fruit.

Once my beds are laid out to my satisfaction, I start with the basic herbs that any chef would need; Italian parsley, sweet basil, rosemary, oregano and thyme. Mint is also a basic but should be kept in a pot as it can become invasive.

Some of the more unusual choices I like to incorporate are: tasoi, black kale, winter savory and sorrel. Tatsoi is used as a micro green and is a member of the cabbage family. Black kale has a smooth rich texture and is a nice alternative to green kale. Black kale makes a tasty salad using lemon and olive oil.

Founded in 1992, Environmental Concept provides landscape design and installation services to the finest residential and commercial properties in Southern California. We are known for our specialty gardening and work closely with our clients to create personalized outdoor environments that are beautiful, functional and sustainable.

 All images copyright 2012 Sarah Barnard.

Santa Monica Mediterranean: Luxury Gardens in Small Space

 

 Tucked away in sea-side Santa Monica, California is a lovely custom Mediterranean home on a moderately sized residential lot. When the homeowner’s chose Alison Ross to design the landscape it was only natural for her to bring her longtime friend and colleague, Tania Gybels of Environmental Concept on to the project. The team of professionals ultimately created a garden with endless opportunities to enjoy the pleasant weather and endless benefits of Southern California’s outdoor lifestyle. By thoughtfully dividing up the available spaces the garden’s design encourages the residents to find enjoyment in uniquely functional spaces like the patio, outdoor kitchen and fireplace.

 

 

By using only the finest quality materials, this is a small scale garden where luxury abounds. All of the pathways, seat walls, fountain borders and outdoor fireplace are made of hand-cut Pennsylvania bluestone. With an extra special attention to detail and quality craftsmanship, Environmental Concept’s masons brought Ross’s vision to life.

 

When asked about the things that make the garden unique, Gybels explains how the design concept and quality gardening practices go hand-in-hand. “Because the garden is centered on specific forms created by the controlled shapes of the hedges and topiaries it is imperative that the horticultural maintenance be incredibly detailed to maintain the intended forms”. One of the primary elements that contribute to this concept is the boxwood hedge, Buxus (Green Beauty) which is a repeating element throughout.

 Other plant choices of note are the flowering vine over the garage, Rosa (Cecil Brunner) and the Bay trees (Laurus Nobilis) that impart a Tuscan feeling around the fountain.

 

 By planning the garden as functional interconnected zones and employing the finest craftspeople using only the best materials was a surefire recipe for an exemplary landscape installation.

 

 

Founded in 1992, Environmental Concept provides landscape design and installation services to the finest residential and commercial properties in Southern California. Environmental Concept has completed projects for the Spelling Mansion, Dustin Hoffman, Roland Emmerich, 3.1 Philip Lim Boutique, the Ambrose Hotel, Sunset Millennium Shopping Center, Hotel Casa del Mar and the Aquarium of the Pacific. Environmental Concept has been featured on HGTV and Oprah. For more information about Environmental Concept visit www.envconcept.com

Custom Tri-Level Estate: Redondo Beach ,CA

 A recently completed landscape design + build project in Redondo Beach, CA.

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For information about drought tolerant gardening and rebates related to weather based irrigation retrofit, contact us at info@envconcept.com. Or call us at (818) 787-7329 to find out how you can do more in your garden to preserve resources.
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