Jeannette French

Hello all.. Any plant buffs out there have experience with Panicum virgatum ‘heavy metal’ or ‘Northwind’ in the SF bay area?  Based on the zone specs it should be fine but my broker hasn’t sold too many of them and couldn’t comment on how they perform in the area… any help would be appreciated.

Please use this area for general comments only. If you have specific questions, please use the group’s discussion forum.

Thanks!

I am big into spaces for children. I have worked with children for many years and love to find ways to help them explore, develop, and get a little closer to nature. They are our natural scientists. However, I am also studying storm water mitigation and its connections to green streets. Am working to find ways to combine the two interests.

Steps…[Read more]

I am a design company that builds. I am extremely passionate about what I do.
My design style is definately contemporary, but will design more natural projects if required. We lean toward the more high end projects that require pool, structures and landscaping. Look forward to networking and learning more.
Brett Hatfield

My favorite projects are residential, with bigger budget. Contemporary style in the design and including the design of the pool and light.

Great idea for a group! I’m not in much of a position to offer advice but am eager to hear a discussion of this. I can say that since I’m also a planner in addition to an la (and have several times been the only planner on the office design team), I’ve always made a point to check my planning resources (web and old fashioned networking) for RFPs…[Read more]

What projects do you want to work on? What steps are you taking to find that type of work and work on it???

Who has a great strategy for finding work and getting it once you have found it???

to David — your response was great. thanks. we are about to over-seed an area with native wildflower mix. have to say, had a really good chuckle, more like chortle reading your comments. then had this amazing image of you talking to some folks out in your mojave neck of the woods about carbon sequestration (mostly because I have been in that…[Read more]

I was wondering what sites residential designers use to find certain products or materials. Let’s say you want to find certain types of outdoor porcelain tiles, sculptures, water features, etc. Are there sites out there that are relevant for us to use? And if so, would anyone like to share these?

David, I love your common sense approach!!!

Oops — just saw the link in your second post — thanks, David.

Still would be great to read the actual pub to know what was included in the study.

Wow…. and I thought my comment was long winded!

This is great, though, David. I appreciate it. It is helpful to have to have a peer reviewed pub in this conversation (it means i better try to find the one I was referencing!). And it does run contrary to the prevailing wisdom in the “green” community regarding turf. Do you have a web link or…[Read more]

This is interesting:

‘Corrected’ UC-Irvine study shows turfgrass to be positive sequester of carbon

Scientists from the Department of Earth System Science at the University of California – Irvine recently published a paper in the journal Geophysical Research Letters on January 22, 2010 titled, “Carbon Sequestration and Greenhouse Gas Emi…[Read more]

In response to John’s question “how would you propose to reduce emissions and increase sequestration through design” in addition to my comments below about how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions – landscapes can also play an active role in sequestering carbon through thoughtful plant selection and soil stewardship. Research has shown that…[Read more]

I believe the solution is to first accept the dual responsibility built landscapes hold in both causing environmental degradation AND protecting and restoring the ecosystem services we depend upon.

I agree with David, we can not and should not eliminate turf completely from our landscapes. There are many scenarios where mowed lawn is the best…[Read more]

I have not read the article, Heather, David and Reid, but I think the basic point is good one — maintenance should be consideration in designing a “sustainable residential landscape.” Even here in the SW, we will design what we think is a more sustainable landscape, and put in a water harvesting swale with cobbles. As it turns out the maintenance…[Read more]

David your are correct!

@Reid – Hahahahahahahahahahaha!

I love to laugh out loud! It’s good for the body. Relieves stress, improves circulation.

Stupid Article!