begarden

Favorite Books — Garden and Landscape:

• Plant-Driven Design: Creating Gardens That Honor Plants, Place, and Spirit, by Scott Ogden and Lauren Springer Ogden (2008)
• Sunset Western Garden Book, edited by Brenzel (2007 Edition)
• Sunset Western Landscaping, edited by Brenzel (companion to above; 2006 Edition)
• Sustainable Landscape for Dummies, by Owen E. Dell (2009)

Favorite Books — California Native Plants:

• California Native Plants for the Garden, by Carol Bornstein, David Fross, and Bart O’Brien (2005)
• Care and Maintenance of Southern California Native Plants, by Bart O’Brien, Betsey Landis, and Ellen Mackey (2006)
• The Southern California Native Flower Garden: A Guide to Size, Bloom, Foliage, Color, and Texture, by Susan Van Atta, ASLA (2009), illustrated by Peter Gaede

Favorite Books — Growing Edibles:

• The Organic Gardener’s Handbook of Natural Insect and Disease Control, edited by Ellis and Bradley (1996)
• California Master Gardener Handbook, edited by Pittenger, UC Ag. And Natural Resources Pub. 3382 (2002, reprint 2009)
• Roses Love Garlic: Companion Planting and Other Secrets of Flowers, by Louise Riotte (1975, 1998)
• Carrots Love Tomatoes: Secrets of Companion Planting for Successful Gardening, by Louise Riotte (1975, 1998)

Favorite Books — Landscape Specialties:

• Allergy-Free Gardening: The Revolutionary Guide to Healthy Landscaping, by Thomas Leo Ogren (2000)

• Drip Irrigation for Every Landscape and All Climates, by Robert Kourik (Second edition 2009)

• Fire, Chaparral, and Survival in Southern California, by Richard W. Halsey (Second edition 2008)
• Firescaping, by Douglas Kent (2005)

• Johnson’s Guide to Gardening – Plants for the Arid West: Pruning, Planting & Care, by Eric A. Johnson (1997)

Also, a couple of goodies when words are needed for inspiration:

• The Quotable Gardener, edited by Elliott (1999)
• Emily Dickinson’s Garden: A Celebration of a Poet and Gardener, McDowell (2005)

Favorite Gardens:

• Conejo Valley Botanic Garden
• Descanso Gardens
• The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens
• Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden
• Maloof Discovery Garden Unique California-friendly garden was recipient of Metropolitan Water District Water Wise Grant in 2003
• Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden California Natives and Cultivars
• San Diego Botanic Garden (formerly Quail Botanical Gardens)
• Santa Barbara Botanic Garden “Dedicated to research, education and conservation and display of California native plants”
• Seaside Gardens Unique, small botanic garden, each section the creation of a local designer, with adjoining retail nursery
• South Coast Botanic Garden
• Theodore Payne Foundation

Places to Buy Plants and/or Seeds –

• California native plant sources:
  • Nopalito Native Plant Nursery LLC Independent nursery and grower, Ventura, CA
  • Theodore Payne Foundation Non-profit organization, Sun Valley, CA
  • Las Pilitas* On-line source, candid observations, plant photos
  • Some local nurseries are rising to the demand. Check them out, too!
    
• Australian plant sources:
  • Australian Native Plants Nursery* Independent nursery and grower, Casitas Springs, CA
    
• Specialty:
  • GardenNatives Nursery On-line source. Independent nursery and grower. Specialties: Australian and California Native plants
  • Jurassic Garden Specializes in rare cycads and palms
    
• Selection of drought tolerant plants:
  • Nopalito Native Plant Nursery LLC
  • Seaside Gardens Independent nursery, Carpenteria, CA, lovely botanic garden setting
    
• Edibles:
  • Botanical Interests On-line seed supplier; available retail, locally. Good selection of certified organic seeds
  • Nopalito Native Plant Nursery LLC
• Growers/Wholesalers – Consider asking your retailer to order from these wholesale nurseries:
  • Matilija Nursery
  • Monrovia Nursery Company*
  • Moosa Creek Nursery
  • Mountain States Wholesale Nursery
  • Native Grow Nursery
  • Native Sons, Inc.*
  • Proven Winners, LLC*
  • San Marcos Growers*
  • Tree of Life Nursery
• Worth a trip to North San Diego County:
  • San Diego Botanic Garden (formerly Quail Botanical Gardens)
  • Pearson’s Gardens and Herb Farm
  • Barrels and Branches

* These sites have extensive photographic collections, which I am allowed to use, with credit and courtesy, in presenting my garden designs. Thanks, pals, you’re the best!
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Presentation to Environmental Commission, City of Calabasas, January 5, 2010:

Enduring Beauty in the Garden: Sustainable Practices Download PDF

Presentation to City of Santa Monica design review panel:

Design Contest Submission: 3200 Airport Avenue Demonstration Garden* Download PDF

*Plant List Download PDF

Check back for updates!

Writings:

• ON LAWN REPLACEMENT
• CAMELLIAS
• SIMPLE CLEANING SOLUTIONS FOR YOUR HOME  Download PDF

Watch here for more topics!

NETWORKS FOR RE-USE OF BUILDING MATERIALS:

• Free Green Exchange
• ReUseNetwork
• The Reuse People of America

DRIP IRRIGATION AND OTHER WATER-WISE LANDSCAPE PRODUCTS:

• Smith Pipe and Supply
• DripWorks
• BuyPlumbing.net

SUPPLIER OF MATERIALS FOR THE SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPE:

• Foothill Soils

PLANT INFORMATION, ESPECIALLY, CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANTS:

• cnplx.info California Native Plant Link Exchange
• CNPS California Native Plant Society
• Jepson Manual
• California-Friendly Plant Guide Las Virgenes Municipal Water District
• weedingwildsuburbia.com Barbara Eisenstein, local, consulting horticulturalist

INVASIVE PLANT INFORMATION:

• cal-ipc.org/landscaping California Invasive Plant Council
• PlantRight-South Coast California Horticultural Invasives Prevention (Cal-HIP)
• PlantRight-Desert California Horticultural Invasives Prevention (Cal-HIP)
• WeedWatch Los Angeles & San Gabriel Rivers Watershed Council

CONSERVATION GROUPS AND AGENCIES:

• bewaterwise.com The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and the Family of Southern California Water Agencies
• California Chaparral Institute
• Las Virgenes Municipal Water District
• Los Angeles County Cooperative Extension
• Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains
• sustainablesm.org City of Santa Monica, Office of Sustainability and the Environment:
  • Landscape
  • Sustainable Landscape Professionals
  • Sustainable Landscape Professionals (contact info sheet) begarden is proud to be listed!

• water.ca.gov Department of Water Resources:
  • Water Use Efficiency includes the new Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (aka AB1881)
  • Landscape water use strategies
  • Publications/Browse/Water Use “WUCOLS*” Guide — Large PDF file – top of list last look!
    
    

* WUCOLS = “Water Use Classification of Landscape Species”

Check back for updates!