Geoffrey Katz

Geoffrey Katz replied to the topic Plant Local: Does a Plant's Provenance Really Matter? in the forum PLANTS & HORTICULTURE 14 years, 3 months ago

Yes, it often does matter, for example if the project is a restoration project. Couple of reasons:

First, plants have ranges within which they grow “naturally” or as native to the area. Some plant species have very wide ranges, others very narrow. Many good guidebooks to native plants provide thumbnail maps showing the range for a plant.…[Read more]
Geoffrey Katz posted an update in the group SketchUp 14 years, 4 months ago

Another great talk by Daniel. Since I’ve worked with Sketchup previously to bring in contour and other information from AutoCAD the small tips such as
* wblock the different layers in AutoCAD,
* make sure trees and things are blocks,
* create a standard measurement line (for use to orient the group horizontally once in Sketchup),
* make sure the…[Read more]
Geoffrey Katz posted an update in the group SketchUp 14 years, 4 months ago

Great webinar tonight July 8, thanks.
Geoffrey Katz replied to the topic Landscape Architecture Projects to Visit in Phoenix, AZ and El Paso in the forum PLACES & SPACES 14 years, 4 months ago

Taliesin West designed by Frank Lloyd Wright is in Scottsdale, a “suburb” of Phoenixhttp://www.franklloydwright.org/taliesin-west/index.html Arcosanti 65 mi north of Phoenix http://www.arcosanti.org/ And Phoenix itself is worth a visit, because it is so spread out with so many “vacant” areas, if only to understand “sprawl” on first hand, and…[Read more]
Geoffrey Katz posted an update in the group California Native Plants 14 years, 6 months ago

Glenn, and all
True that clients like to see green plants in the summer. Which is why some designers advocate a mix of native (80%) and non-native (20%) plants. The non-natives – which may require some summer water – stay green while the natives go summer brown.
Geoffrey Katz posted an update in the group California Native Plants 14 years, 6 months ago

Glenn Do you really need to irrigate these plants that you mention in summer? They are native to N California, and so in a “natural” context do not get any summer water. Why would you need to irrigate them in a cultured situation?
Geoffrey Katz posted an update in the group The Sustainable Sites Initiative 14 years, 9 months ago

I agree with Heather about building a track record of using the SSI. It is through application in the real world that tools like the SSI show their strengths and value.
Geoffrey Katz posted an update in the group California Native Plants 14 years, 10 months ago

Hello all
For those of you in the San Fran Bay Area registration for the tour of East Bay native plant gardens just opened. Went last year, will go again this year. http://www.BringingBacktheNatives.net
Geoffrey Katz posted an update in the group LEED in Landscape Architecture 14 years, 10 months ago

Baskar – Could you go into more detail with your comments…
Geoffrey Katz replied to the topic Sustainable Landscapes Rating System for Sustainable Sites Initiative in the forum SUSTAINABILITY & DESIGN 15 years ago

I concur with Brent. We will all have more comments I am sure as we get to know this system better and better.
Geoffrey Katz replied to the topic Essential Reads in the forum GENERAL DISCUSSION 15 years, 11 months ago

Poetics of Gardens. Moore, Mitchell, and Turnbull. MIT Press 1988
Geoffrey Katz replied to the topic in need of examples/precedents of "green" bridges in the forum SUSTAINABILITY & DESIGN 15 years, 11 months ago

The pedestrian bridge from the Zeum to the Yerba Buena Gardens in downtown San Francisco is planted. There is a row of shrubs on both sides of the walkway.