Hi all,

I am looking for some "brainstorming" ideas for my backyard
landscaping. I live near Pasadena. I think that is Zone 18 (?)

I have a "pool size" yard, surrounded by block wall, with a few trees
(only 1 lemon tree can't be moved) and it's down at the end.

I started out wanting to do a flagstone patio in the center to extend
the usability, then plant "shady" stuff all around the patio to keep it
cooler. (e.g. http://www.redwoodhollow-lajolla.com/flagston.htm)

But I am open to considering other materials for the patio (still
undecided), so this is one subject I'd like your thoughts on (Well, two
- patio type and plant ideas and experience)

Then I thought - why not just get rid of all the grass, I just do more
plants etc.... But I don't want to flagstone the .whole thing (too
much $$ I think)

Please share experiences/thoughts/links on this.

Thanks

On 23 Nov 2005 08:43:20 -0800, "Steve" wrote:

Hi all,

I am looking for some "brainstorming" ideas for my backyard
landscaping. I live near Pasadena. I think that is Zone 18 (?)

I have a "pool size" yard, surrounded by block wall, with a few trees
(only 1 lemon tree can't be moved) and it's down at the end.

I started out wanting to do a flagstone patio in the center to extend
the usability, then plant "shady" stuff all around the patio to keep it
cooler. (e.g. http://www.redwoodhollow-lajolla.com/flagston.htm)

But I am open to considering other materials for the patio (still
undecided), so this is one subject I'd like your thoughts on (Well, two
- patio type and plant ideas and experience)

Then I thought - why not just get rid of all the grass, I just do more
plants etc.... But I don't want to flagstone the .whole thing (too
much $$ I think)

Please share experiences/thoughts/links on this.

Thanks


You re a few hours away from Las Vegas. Our water authority will
actually pay you to remove grass, IF you follow their rules of
inspection before you do it. We use a variety of crushed stone, river
stone for a "dry river" sandstone and granite.

The site:

http://www.snwa.com/html/land_index.html

http://www.snwa.com/html/land_xeri.html


Oren
"My doctor says I have a malformed public-duty gland
and a natural deficiency in moral fiber, and that I am therefore
excused from saving Universes."

Steve wrote:

Hi all,

I am looking for some "brainstorming" ideas for my backyard
landscaping. I live near Pasadena. I think that is Zone 18 (?)

I have a "pool size" yard, surrounded by block wall, with a few trees
(only 1 lemon tree can't be moved) and it's down at the end.

I started out wanting to do a flagstone patio in the center to extend
the usability, then plant "shady" stuff all around the patio to keep it
cooler. (e.g. http://www.redwoodhollow-lajolla.com/flagston.htm)

But I am open to considering other materials for the patio (still
undecided), so this is one subject I'd like your thoughts on (Well, two
- patio type and plant ideas and experience)

Then I thought - why not just get rid of all the grass, I just do more
plants etc.... But I don't want to flagstone the .whole thing (too
much $$ I think)

Please share experiences/thoughts/links on this.

Extend the paving with decomposed granite (DG) over ground cloth.
Use composition bender boards to frame the DG. Plant perennials
and low shrubs in beds at the edges. You can even create walkways
with the DG, forming island beds. Go to my garden Web site (per
the signature below) and navigate to my Backyard page.


--
David E. Ross
Climate: California Mediterranean
Sunset Zone: 21 -- interior Santa Monica Mountains with some ocean
influence (USDA 10a, very close to Sunset Zone 19)
Gardening pages at URL:http://www.rossde.com/garden/

Thanks, they had some interesting info on that site, esp. for tree
species. Our climate here is similar to Vegas, I think, perhaps a bit
more rain in winter(?).....

Based on some of the info from snwa.com, I will be considering crape
myrtles (tall types) and queen palms for my landscaping

wrote in message
...

You re a few hours away from Las Vegas. Our water authority will
actually pay you to remove grass, IF you follow their rules of
inspection before you do it. We use a variety of crushed stone, river
stone for a "dry river" sandstone and granite.

The site:

http://www.snwa.com/html/land_index.html

http://www.snwa.com/html/land_xeri.html


These links weren't working when I tried them, but the main site was down,
too, so maybe there's some system-wide problem.

A friend used to work at the water conservation demonstration garden in Las
Vegas. He now has his own landscaping business
(http://www.schillinghorticulture.com/), but we still visit the
demonstration garden there on trips out to Las Vegas. We have family there,
so we come to the city quite often. Since we're not gambling/casino types,
the gardens are one of our favorite places to stop by.

--
Warm Regards,

Claire Petersky
Personal page: http://www.geocities.com/cpetersky/
See the books I've set free at:
http://bookcrossing.com/referral/Cpetersky

On Fri, 25 Nov 2005 18:02:46 GMT, "Claire Petersky"
wrote:
These links weren't working when I tried them, but the main site was down,
too, so maybe there's some system-wide problem.

A friend used to work at the water conservation demonstration garden in Las
Vegas. He now has his own landscaping business
(http://www.schillinghorticulture.com/), but we still visit the
demonstration garden there on trips out to Las Vegas. We have family there,
so we come to the city quite often. Since we're not gambling/casino types,
the gardens are one of our favorite places to stop by.

Next trip consider the Ethel M chocolate factory (Henderson) ...they
have a massive cactus garden.

Oren

"My doctor says I have a malformed public-duty gland
and a natural deficiency in moral fiber, and that I am therefore
excused from saving Universes."

On 25 Nov 2005 08:24:42 -0800, "Steve" wrote:

Thanks, they had some interesting info on that site, esp. for tree
species. Our climate here is similar to Vegas, I think, perhaps a bit
more rain in winter(?).....

Based on some of the info from snwa.com, I will be considering crape
myrtles (tall types) and queen palms for my landscaping

You will like both...I removed alot of landscape of plants (30 or so)
that caused leaves in the pool. Five trees came out, three to go. I
put in four mature queen palms (36" triple tree and a single 48" box)
and some giant bird of paradise in one corner of the lot, accented by
low voltage lights. It's another world from when I bought the place.
I've added seven more palms (blue fan, pony tail, Mexican fan, etc. I
love the more exotic palms. I'm looking for a few kentia palms now....

Good luck

Oren
"My doctor says I have a malformed public-duty gland
and a natural deficiency in moral fiber, and that I am therefore
excused from saving Universes."

This is a test; pls ignore (sorry, but some of my posts have gone
missing)