CALIFORNIA FRIENDLY LANDSCAPES & A WORLD WITHOUT TURF
310 North Joy Street I Corona, CA 92879 T: 951.737.1124 I F: 951.737.6551 www.bmla.net
June 24, 2015
California Water Crisis
The water shortage in California has a direct impact on all of its inhabitant’s lives. Southern California in its natural state, cannot support the water demands its citizens place on it. As a result we are becoming increasingly aware of our usage of water and its impact on our environment. While there are numerous avenues being taken to combat the drought, realizing that some plants require more water and care than others and choosing what is appropriate given our climate can have a massive impact when one takes into account the amount of irrigated landscape found in Southern California. A transformation is necessary to adopt landscapes that minimize water use while retaining their use, attractiveness, and cultural value. Substituting lower water using, California friendly plant material rather than the traditional high demand turf is necessary in order to transform our region into a more responsible, ecologically driven one. One that can respond to and reform in response to the water crisis so that we can prevent future ones before they take place. There are multiple benefits that can be created with a California friendly landscape. These may include water conservation and costs, an attractive infusion of texture and contrast, colorful foliage and flowers, lower maintenance and costs, and ecological value above and beyond what turf can provide. To create an impetus for change, businesses and citizens are encouraged to participate and create models for change in their own yards. This document is meant to provide inspiration for what can be acheived given a little more thought to what is appropriate in our naturally dry, Mediterranean climate. This document presents a variety of California friendly landscape themes suitable as turf alternatives. The images shown reflect types of vegetation and garden styles that can be employed in a variety of landscape applications. The different styles represented are: Desert Gardens, Mediterranean Gardens, Succulent Gardens, Coastal Gardens and California Native Gardens. All of these thematic landscape solutions can be adopted to be drought tolerant
Image by BMLA
310 North Joy Street I Corona, CA 92879 T: 951.737.1124 I F: 951.737.6551 www.bmla.net
June 24, 2015
Table of Contents
Turf Removal Before & After
3
Desert Gardens
5
Mediterranean Gardens
7
Succulent Gardens
9
Coastal Gardens
11
California Native Gardens
13
Source: http://www.gardensbygabriel.com/portfolio/?gallery=1
310 North Joy Street I Corona, CA 92879 T: 951.737.1124 I F: 951.737.6551 www.bmla.net
June 24, 2015
Turf Removal Before & After
Before
After Image by BMLA
CALIFORNIA FRIENDLY LANDSCAPES 310 North Joy Street I Corona, CA 92879 T: 951.737.1124 I F: 951.737.6551 www.bmla.net
June 24, 2015
Turf Removal Before & After
Before
After Image by Carlos Palomo
CALIFORNIA FRIENDLY LANDSCAPES 310 North Joy Street I Corona, CA 92879 T: 951.737.1124 I F: 951.737.6551 www.bmla.net
June 24, 2015
Design Concepts: Desert Gardens Depicting Southern California’s more arid areas as barren deserts is a simplistic statement that doesn’t take into account the beauty, color, form, and variety these regions possess. With the appropriate plant selection, a desert themed garden can have incredible variety in its attractive flowers, forms, and foliage. Succulents can add a wide range of striking color that will add interest to the landscape. Grasses can add a breezy touch as they flow in the wind and flowering trees can add a dramatic statement to the landscape. Source: Perry, Bob. Landscape Plants for California Gardens: An Illustrated Reference of Plants for California Landscapes. Claremont, CA: Land Design Pub., 2010. Print.
Source: http://boxhilldesign.com/projects/residential-2/lunt-residence/
Source: http://deboracarl.com/gallery/san-diego
Source: https://www.santaritalandscaping.com/
CALIFORNIA FRIENDLY LANDSCAPES 310 North Joy Street I Corona, CA 92879 T: 951.737.1124 I F: 951.737.6551 www.bmla.net
June 24, 2015
Design Concepts: Desert Gardens
Source: https://www.santaritalandscaping.com/custom-residential/
Source:http://deboracarl.com/gallery/
Source: http://d-crain.com/private/
Source: http://chip-n-daleslandscaping.com/portfolio-item/xeriscape-2/
CALIFORNIA FRIENDLY LANDSCAPES 310 North Joy Street I Corona, CA 92879 T: 951.737.1124 I F: 951.737.6551 www.bmla.net
June 24, 2015
Design Concepts: Mediterranean Gardens Enjoying a mild, Mediterranean climate alongside other regions in Europe, Australia, South America, and South Africa means that plants from those areas are naturally suited to Southern California’s loving climate. Since many species of plants from different locations can blend in with the Mediterranean theme, the resulting gardens can feature a wide array of interesting landscapes. Featuring lush, beautiful plants with year-long foliage, the Mediterranean garden is a very popular theme throughout our region. Many have adopted this type of landscape that features colorful flowers, accents of succulents, coastal natives and aromatic, evergreen shrubs. With plants that range from deep purples, mellow blue tones to bright reds, they are sure to add color in every landscape. Source: Perry, Bob. Landscape Plants for California Gardens: An Illustrated Reference of Plants for California Landscapes. Claremont, CA: Land Design Pub., 2010. Print.
Source: http://www.gardensbygabriel.com/portfolio/?gallery=1
Source: Marion Brenner - http://www.shadesofgreenla.com/project/hilltop-hideaway/
CALIFORNIA FRIENDLY LANDSCAPES 310 North Joy Street I Corona, CA 92879 T: 951.737.1124 I F: 951.737.6551 www.bmla.net
June 24, 2015
Design Concepts: Mediterranean Gardens
Source: http://www.roxydesigns.com/portfolio/24/#!prettyPhoto[gallery]/1/
Source: http://www.gardensbygabriel.com/portfolio/?gallery=1
Source: Lauren Hall Knight - http://www.shadesofgreenla.com/project/front-yard-retreat/
Source: http://www.gardensbygabriel.com/portfolio/?gallery=1
Source: http://www.gardensbygabriel.com/portfolio/?gallery=1
Source: http://www.gardensbygabriel.com/portfolio/ ?gallery=1
CALIFORNIA FRIENDLY LANDSCAPES 310 North Joy Street I Corona, CA 92879 T: 951.737.1124 I F: 951.737.6551 www.bmla.net
June 24, 2015
Design Concepts: Succulent Gardens “Succulent describes any plant that survives drought by storing water in its leaves, stems, or roots� (Debra Lee Baldwin, 9). Succulents not only compliment a desert garden, but they are also often found in Mediterranean gardens as well that grow alongside other drought tolerant plants. However, succulents can also be a garden unto themselves. With such a wide variety of colors, textures, and forms available almost anything can be achieved. Widely suited to many environments due to their unique nature succulents are also incredibly low maintenance. Since succulents have eye popping color and wonderful features, they can become the focal point in any garden. Source: Baldwin, Debra Lee. Designing with Succulents. Portland, Or.: Timber, 2007. Print.
Source: http://www.gardensbygabriel.com/portfolio/?gallery=3
Source: http://www.gardensbygabriel.com/portfolio/?gallery=1
CALIFORNIA FRIENDLY LANDSCAPES 310 North Joy Street I Corona, CA 92879 T: 951.737.1124 I F: 951.737.6551 www.bmla.net
June 24, 2015
Design Concepts: Succulent Gardens
Source: http://studio-landscape.com/home/photos/
Source: http://www.gardensbygabriel.com/portfolio/?gallery=3
Source: http://www.urbanbotanics.net/landscape/glen_ellen/index.html
Source: http://www.gardensbygabriel.com/portfolio/?gallery=1
Source: http://gracedesignassociates.com/gallery/Projects/Hidden_Valley
CALIFORNIA FRIENDLY LANDSCAPES 310 North Joy Street I Corona, CA 92879 T: 951.737.1124 I F: 951.737.6551 www.bmla.net
June 24, 2015
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Design Concepts: Coastal Gardens Colorful shrubs, feathery grasses and vibrant succulents are usually seen in a mixture of coastal gardens. Variety of colors that fill swales and hillsides, there’s always contrast and texture to add excitement to the landscape. Grasses create a great visual planted in masses to create the swaying movement that imitates the ocean, along with vibrant succulents to add a burst of excitement and unique characteristic to the garden. With flowering shrubs that attract butterflies and hummingbirds, these exhilarating scenes will be memorizing. Source: Perry, Bob. Landscape Plants for California Gardens: An Illustrated Reference of Plants for California Landscapes. Claremont, CA: Land Design Pub., 2010. Print.
Source: http://www.gardensbygabriel.com/portfolio/?gallery=1
Source: Michele Lee Wilson - http://www.arterrasf.com/painterly-approach/gm73cv0rv6t7bfpfb0uejwc47ef036
CALIFORNIA FRIENDLY LANDSCAPES 310 North Joy Street I Corona, CA 92879 T: 951.737.1124 I F: 951.737.6551 www.bmla.net
June 24, 2015
11
Design Concepts: Coastal Gardens
Source: http://www.shadesofgreenla.com/project/cedarhill-garden/
Source: http://www.shadesofgreenla.com/project/cedar-hill-garden/
Source: http://www.shadesofgreenla.com/project/jewel-box-garden/
Source: http://lankfordarchitecture.com/WaterfrontHomes.php
Source: http://www.gardensbygabriel.com/portfolio/?gallery=1
Source: http://www.gardensbygabriel.com/portfolio/?gallery=1
CALIFORNIA FRIENDLY LANDSCAPES 310 North Joy Street I Corona, CA 92879 T: 951.737.1124 I F: 951.737.6551 www.bmla.net
June 24, 2015
12
Design Concepts: California Native Gardens There are several plant communities that thrive together within California’s Mediterranean climate. These include Chaparral, Coastal Scrub, Grassland, Forest, Alpine, Desert Scrub and Desert Woodland. Within those plant communities, seasonal water is needed for plants to thrive throughout the dry summers in Southern California. This may vary to some degree. An example is riparian zones where water runoff and retention allows for plants with slightly higher water needs. Masses of evergreen leaves, dense vegetation and wavy grasses all grow together to create an inhabited place for wildlife to flourish. Source: Bornstein, Carol, David Fross, and Bart O’Brien. California Native Plants for the Garden. Los Olivos, CA: Cachuma, 2005. Print.
Source: http://www.vanrozeboom.com/blog/category/gardening/
CALIFORNIA FRIENDLY LANDSCAPES 310 North Joy Street I Corona, CA 92879 T: 951.737.1124 I F: 951.737.6551 www.bmla.net
June 24, 2015
13
Design Concepts: California Native Gardens
Source: creationslandscapedesigns.com
Source: http://www.roxydesigns.com/27#!prettyPhoto[gallery]/0/
Source: http://gracedesignassociates.com/
Source: creationslandscapedesigns.com
CALIFORNIA FRIENDLY LANDSCAPES 310 North Joy Street I Corona, CA 92879 T: 951.737.1124 I F: 951.737.6551 www.bmla.net
June 24, 2015
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