Relocated!

I have relocated to the Portland, Oregon!
I'm excited to be "where the action is" in regard to
sustainable landscape systems.
I'm looking working for a local firm that specializes in eco-roofs
and other "green" technologies,
meanwhile growing my professional network.

The courtyard here at mxd830 is a great space. A combined vision with the architects upstairs at Foundation For Form, who designed the building, my contributions include the schematic layout of the hardscape (as well as the planting, irrigation and lighting plans). The plans included the countertop and bench seating seen in these photos. My original concept was to find one large piece of lumber to use as the countertop, and we ended up with wood salvaged from a barn in nearby Santee. I also maintained the landscape and am excited that everything is growing in nicely. Also shown here is the mixed sedum bed behind the bench and the permeable paving that was used in the parking area. This serves to minimize stormwater runoff and also adds aesthetic interest to the space, which has been used to host events every couple of months since the
building opened last year.

Carlsbad Residence Recently Completed

This project posed a challenge in the sheer size of the back yard. Combined efforts of landscape contractor, pool desinger, custom faux-stone experts, and me.

Future-Rustic Bench and Table

A collaboration with an architect/builder friend, this new deck, bench and table
represents a great balance of form, function and utility. Made with the simplest of materials and a study in minimalism, this system will enable the homeowner to begin using their backyard.

GRP List Announced

Green Roofs For Healthy Cities has released the list of people who recently passed the GRP exam
to become one of the first 120 people in North America with this accreditation. I'm excited to be mentioned along with a huge variety of industry professionals. More to come when the next issue of Green Roof Infrustructure Monitor is sent out.
http://www.greenroofs.org/

"GRP" Green Roof Professional Accreditation

On Thursday I received the news that I have successfully completed the accreditation exam that I took on June 5th in Atlanta at the Green Roofs For Healthy Cities annual conference. This was the first time that the "GRP" (Green Roof Professional) exam had been offered, and I am excited about where this new designation might take my in my professional development!

Bird Rock Residence

Here's some photos of a recently-completed residential remodel I worked on in the Bird Rock area of La Jolla. The house needed a lot of work, and the landscape was essentially a bare patch of dirt. The architect decided to create a bit of a craftsman feel, and so I complemented this in the landscape with the addition of a new guardrail system (at rear deck), new fencing/gates, flagstone paving, natural boulderscape, and a stucco retaining wall (front yard) with capped columns. Careful thought was put into the plant material selections. I used quite a bit of Wild Strawberry as a groundcover, large masses of Dwarf Fountain Grass (Pennisteum 'Hamelin'), lots of Grevillea, a Southern Magnolia, and screens made of Silver Sheen (Pittosporum tenuifolium) and Podocarpus.

Jiva Health (Before & After)

When my friends at Jiva Health, a San Diego-based acupuncture and Chinese medicine clinic, asked me to help with their landscape project, I jumped at the opportunity.
They had recently renovated a beautiful home off of Park Blvd in Hillcrest, and the exterior
definitely needed a facelift.
It didn't take much to convince them of my concept...go with a few types of decorative grasses while incorporating some lavender, a flagstone walk, a cobble bed, and a recirculating
fountain as a focal point.
Visit their website at:
http://jivahealth.com/
Here's some "before & after" shots of the project (above).

mxd830 Grand Opening/Open House

This past Saturday night, May 2nd, 2009 celebrated the grand opening of mxd830.
This beautiful and dynamic new building is home to a diverse spectrum of creative minds
and serves as home-base for Cultivate Landscape Arts.
Here's a few pics of the fun:

Green Roofs for Healthy Cities

I am planning to attend the annual green roof technology conference, sponsored by Green Roofs for Healthy Cities. This will mark the first time that GRHC is offering a credentialing exam that will test for competence in regard to green roof construction and maintenance. Having taken the classes so far offered by GRHC, I am confident that I will come back from Atlanta as one of the first 100 people in the country designated as a Green Roof Technician, or "GRT", and look forward to promoting this sustainable strategy here in San Diego.

Here's a link to more information:
http://www.greenroofs.org/

All Moved-In To New Office Space

I am excited to announce that cultivate landscape has settled in to a new office space.
Located in the eclectic Golden Hill neighborhood of San Diego, we are proud to be a part of MXD830, a mixed-use project by Foundation For Form. The project is a contemporary, cubist structure that features smooth white stucco, hand-crafted steel accents, and a sophisticated exterior (designed by cultivate lansdcape). Among the tenants in the building are fine artists, architects, an interior designer, a car designer, and a video game landscape designer.
Here's a few pictures of the office...more of the entire building to follow soon.