1. Weeding: Hand pull weeds now while the ground is still damp. This makes removal easier without the use of chemicals in the garden.
2. Raking: Clean out your garden beds that are layered with leaves to allow the soil temperatures to warm and encourage new growth.
3. Prune: Now that your plants have made it through the winter, time to prune off the dead and misshapen growth in shrubs and perennials.
4. Lawn: Overseed bare lawn spots and fertilize with an organic fertilizer that supports soil health.
5. Planting: Now for the fun part – add new trees, shrubs, and perennials to fill in bare garden spaces with beautiful color and texture.

After your garden is spruced up, enjoy spending some relaxing time outdoors, admiring your beautiful garden with a refreshment and a friend!

Nature’s granite rock sculptures dominate the landscape, making all traces of human activity look like ants.  On my recent visit to the park, the waterfalls were flowing at full capacity, thanks to the late rains that have filled the rivers.  At this incredible Nature’s playground, you can sit quietly by the Merced River with a picnic and a book while gazing at El Capitan, then get a mini shower from the mist of Bridalveil Falls, Yosemite Falls or many of the other waterfalls scattered around the park. 

There are endless hiking trails everywhere, close to the valley floor and in the backcountry.  Since the backcountry roads were closed in April, we chose a rigorous seven-mile hike, starting at the base of Vernal Falls, then ascending the John Muir Trail to nearly the top of Nevada Falls, finally descending the Vernal Falls trail.  Of course, we had to stop at the viewing area atop of Vernal Falls to see the sheer granite wall that makes Vernal Falls explode with enormous volumes of water as it flies off the edge of the cliff.  That experience tested my agoraphobia–luckily, I had my loving family members to give me moral support on the steep descent.  After completing the hike, my legs felt the weary burn of an exhausting workout, and my spirit was high as I felt the satisfaction of accomplishment. 

John Muir said it best about Yosemite:  “It is by far the grandest of all the special temples of Nature I was ever permitted to enter.”

Today, more than one billion people around the world will show their appreciation of the Earth by doing some form of service. Join them by picking up trash in your neighborhood, planting a tree or organizing a community clean-up to show your support for a healthy planet. Or, simply appreciate nature by going on a hike and taking pictures of something that moves you, and you wish to preserve. For suggestions on ways to participate in Earth Day, visit the Earth Day Network www.earthday.org/2012. Here you will be shown events in your area and discover how to organize your own event, join an Earth Day campaign and more. Each and every person can help maintain the natural beauty of earth we are so fortunate to enjoy.

This is a common question people ask when planning a new paving project, such as a patio, pool deck, driveway or walkway. With all the beautiful choices available at such a vast range of pricing, the selection can feel overwhelming. The answer can be easier than it seems.
Throughout the landscape design process, we uncover site -and client-specific factors, such as architectural style, color preferences, drainage patterns, type of use, and budget. When factoring in all the variables, the right paving option then becomes apparent. For example, a client with a cozy backyard wanted the outside to blend with the inside. The beautiful inside flooring of travertine tile would look beautiful on the outside. However, because they also wanted an elaborate outdoor kitchen/bar island and pergola, we went with a less expensive paving material that has a similar look and feel to natural tile. We installed a beautiful, stamped concrete patio with three, integrated colors and a pattern that looked like natural travertine. My clients love the look and feel of their new patio, use it frequently, and get many compliments from all of their friends and family.

The right paving material sets the stage for your beautiful outdoor environment. Hire the right professional to help guide you through the design and selection process.

Spring comes early in the Coachella Valley desert with natural beauty all around. Hummingbirds, also known as flying jewels, are busy sipping nectar from flowering plants, such as aloe, yucca,  lantana, cape honeysuckle, grevillea, and arbutus with more blossoms to come as spring deepens into summer. The happy rumbles of bumblebees and honeybees can be heard while standing near the backyard grapefruit trees. Fragrant citrus blossoms permeate the air and instantly remind me, “I smell Palm Springs,” as my kids would say. Stone walls are draped with cascading vines bougainvillea vines, which are exploding with eye-catching, vibrant, raspberry red flowers. The rugged silhouettes of the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains stand against a clear and deep blue sky. Perfectly manicured green fairways come alive with flying golf balls to complete my postcard-perfect getaway to Palm Springs.