The Challenge: Keep it simple and sophistocated, don’t be boring, but not strange, either.

…and it should be relatively affordable.  Check, check, check, check…check.

The Project: A proposed new residential driveway,  revamped walkway to the front porch, some additional plantings to go with the existing landscape, and a new seating area under a front window.
The Clients: A long-time socially-and environmentally-conscious family with good taste.
The Environment: A semi-rural street in a very nice, unpretentious, older neighborhood with good-sized lots.  The front yard is a partially private California native landscape with an established garden and pond; a refuge.

We are honored to accept this challenge.  Stay tuned….

More than anything else, I must have flowers, always, always. Claude Monet

Ok, Claude, you got it.

We at Malone Johnson share your love of flowers.   In their little flowery heads, they must enjoy being adored.  Throughout history, flowers have  invoked passion for their beauty and charm.  We are as drawn to them as the birds, bees and butterflies are.

You know, flowers really are very sexy.   In all actuality, they are “the reproductive structure of some seed-bearing plants, characteristically having either specialized male or female organs or both male and female organs, such as stamens and a pistil, enclosed in an outer envelope of petals and sepals.” Thanks, www.thefreedictionary.com.

Flowers speak to us- and not only as symbols of unspoken emotions for repressed Victorians.   If a plant’s flowers don’t look their best, it’s telling you something.  There could be many reasons- for instance:

• - Possible plant overcrowding.   Unseen, underground conditions could be a famine of nutrients for your plants due to root competition,  especially for newer plantings near mature ones.   So, for non-native plants, always amend your soil with plenty of rich, organic compost.  And don’t forget to mulch.
• - Small, discolored or shriveled flowers could be the result of a fungus, a virus, or any number of bugs (microscopic or otherwise)- and there is almost certainly a remedy.   If you need help,  just snap a picture of it (hopefully your camera has good resolution) and email it to us.  We will most likely be able to help you,  free of charge!   It’s what we do for fun around here.  Or you can always take a little branch of the affected specimen to a nursery for advice.
• -Another possibility, if you do use fertilizer:  too much nitrogen can remain in the soil after other nutrients have dissipated.  If this is the case, the foliage might look great- but no flowers.   What is needed here is a good flushing of the soil, and to stick with a good, balanced, organic fertilizer (a lot harder to over-do) …and to wait till the next blooming season.  Here in our lovely part of the world, that could be in just a couple months.

In summary, if you tune in to the language your plants are speaking during blooming season, you’ll find that they have a lot to say. Give them some love, and they will love you right back.   Win/win!

Vegetable Gardening

Growing your own food can be one of life’s most satisfying experiences.  You are more in touch with what you are eating;  more thought and care goes into meal preparation.  You know exactly what soil your food was grown in, which amendments and fertilizers were used…and if you’ve ever eaten home-grown vegetables, you already know the difference in taste.

We’re happy to announce that we are now offering Home Farming as a complete service.   If this is something that you want to do but just need a little push, we will help you get started.  From helping choose the location, designing and building the beds, choosing which foods to grow, planting, maintaining- even harvesting…we’ll help you as much or as little as you want.   It’s not that hard…like balancing your bank account, or BLOGGING- getting started is the hardest part.

And if you have any questions, posting them on the Q & A page will help me make this blog more interesting and informative…so feel free!

Laurie Ann

Venetian Plaster

On the Q&A page, I was asked for some information on the Italian plaster I used on a recent project in Fullerton.   I will take this opportunity and post it here on the home page.  Not enough people know about this option.

Venetian plaster is the most durable and versatile wall finish in the world, perfect indoors and outdoors.    It’s ‘green’ and eco-friendly, composed of limestone and marble from rivers and quarries in Italy- exactly the same thing that’s been used for centuries.   It is completely versatile in that the final texture depends on how it’s applied; it can be polished smooth to a mirror shine, or hand-troweled rough.  It takes about 3 weeks once it’s applied to calcify and become as hard as the original stone that it came from.  Traditionally it’s left exposed to the elements so that it takes on the classic patina, which begins to happen immediately- or it can be sealed. It’s amazing to see how beautifully it ages- it mellows and takes on character, and it somehow looks appropriate in every setting.   It’s totally authentic and it looks it.   It is also very crack-resistant (hear that, Californians?).   The physical properties and ‘self-healing’ qualities of real Italian plaster are fascinating;  I recommend that you research it for more information.

If you use an Italian plaster finish, you should know that some products around use the name ‘Venetian plaster’ but read the fine print, because it may not be the real thing.  My only source for authentic Italian stone plaster is from a company called Vero Rialto, in Orange, California.

http://www.vero-rialto.com/index.htm

It’s a lucky break that we live and work so near to them, considering the fact that they are the only source of this truly authentic Italian limestone plaster in this hemisphere, I believe.   Their website includes directions from nearby airports and also special room rates for their customers at a nearby hotel.  They can tell you everything you’d possibly want to know, that I haven’t covered here.

Jean, thank you for asking this question.   Let me know if you need anything else.