This project was do in collaboration with my friends at Sweetwater Collaborative. Sweetwater Collaborative is a non-profit organization that work to educate the public about water wise and regenerative landscape practices. Funded by the City of Santa Barbara as well as several other business and agency Sweetwater Collaborative and I worked to installed this project with the help of volunteers. In a hands-on work shop we explained principles of water wise gardening and demonstrated best practices when installing sustainable landscapes. When the owner of this property decided to build an ADU ( Auxiliary Dwelling Unit) in their back yard they expanded the roof line of their property. In order to be in compliance with new California building the project required that a portion of the rain water coming onto this property must be stored on the property. That is where we came into help. Directing down spouts into basins, or swales in the soil is one of the most efficient and cost-effective way to capture and store rain water on a piece of land. Calculations were done to determine the volume of water coming of the roof line in a given rain event from the ADU. The calculations go: square footage of roofline times .62 times 1, for 1” of rain. That total gives you the amount of water in gallons. Then divide the number in gallons by 7.48 find the cubic feet in that number of gallons. Then a basin with that holding capacity was designed into the landscape. Then the plantings were chosen. In this project we went with an 100% California Native Plant palette. We did this to help educate people about all the benefits of growing natives and to show case some of the beautiful plants native to Southern California. Sothern California is how to some of the greatest biodiversity of plants in the world. Native Plants are best adapted to thrive conditions from which they are natively found plus they help provide forage to the native fauna such as birds and insects. Now the tenants in the ADU can look out and enjoy this colorful garden without the home owners needing to pay a huge water bill.

NEOLITH Fusion Collection BASALT BLACK (SILK) LIGHTWEIGHT Only 7kq/m2 in the 3mm slab and 30kg/m2 in the 12mm slab. WATERPROOF Waterproof and resistant to liquids, with an absorption level of almost zero. RESISTANT TO SCRATCHES Its hard surface makes it resistant to scratches and abrasion. HYGENIC It does not give off any harmful substances and is totally suitable for contact with food. EASY TO CLEAN Resistant to any kind of chemical cleaning agent such as bleach or ammonia. RESISTANT TO BENDING It has a high shear rate, making it resistant to heavy loads and pressure. 100% NATURAL It does not give off any substances that are harmful to the environment. 100% RECYCLABLE Neolith is eco-friendly fully recyclable building surface.

Christine is inspired by color and the abstract world we live in. Her mediums are canvas and mural paitings with acrylic paint. She has always had an interest in art; yet she has not taken any art classes. While living at the beach, she began to use the ocean for the beginning of each canvas. In the early stages of her career she experimented extensively on marine life which she was so moved by. From beautiful glittery sand to windy palm trees to fish in the sea, she later moved towards abstract paintings that incorporated anything from animals and designs to psychedelic intricate patterns. Her paintings show her love for color and pull viewers into them.

Example of a minimalist home design design in Los Angeles

Photo of an asian landscaping in Vancouver.

Home to a young family of four, this new house blends in the tightly woven fabric of this traditional residential neighborhood. Yet CYAN Horticulture was mandated to pack in this limited space an ambitious program of children-minded activities, in a ‘warm contemporary’ way. The front yard hence accommodates a boxwood parterre/soccer field and a secret dirtbike track, a rain barrel as well as mixed monochromatic plantings in greens and whites.

Gorgeous granite!

GFDI
Example of a trendy dining room design in DC Metro

Photo of a rustic landscaping in Sacramento.

There are thousands of tree species all over the world and all these trees share the same anatomical features. All trees have trunks, branches, intricate rooting systems and leaves that make up their core systems. If you are curious about the anatomy and importance of each part, reading this guide by Five Star Tree Services is a great way to educate yourself. Tree Branches & Twigs The branches grow from the trunk of the tree and they help support the flowers, fruits and leaves the tree produces. The twigs and branches are also used as transport between the trunk and leaves. The top part of the tree along with the leaves is called the tree crown. This area filters dust and other debris from the atmosphere. In addition to cleaning the air, the crown also offers shade for animals and humans alike. Tree Leaves The leaves of a tree manage the photosynthesis process which ensures the tree has food and maintains its health. The leaves are also tasked with drawing in carbon monoxide and releasing oxygen for the rest of us to use. Many leaves have different edges which work to collect water, repel pests, and reduce wind resistance. The Tree Trunk The trunk of every tree has five layers. These layers consist of the inner bark, the outer bark, heartwood, sapwood, and cambium cell. The outer bark protects from harsh temperatures and pests, in addition to helping the tree retain moisture. The inner bark, specifically the phloem is the digestive system that passes the food through to other parts of the tree. This part of the tree has a very short life, and it turns into cork before merging with the outer layer of bark when it dies. The cambium cell layer produces new tree bark and wood as the tree grows and this is generated from the hormones that come from the leaves and pass to the inner layer. Sapwood is tasked with moving water to the leaves of the tree and as the wood ages, it transforms into heartwood, which is in the tree center. The heartwood is the main support of the tree structure and though it no longer grows, it won’t decay or become frail as long as it is protected by the outer layers. The Tree Root System One of the most important parts of the tree is its root system. These are found in the first three feet of soil around the tree and can extend as much as four times further away than the total circumference of the tree crown. The roots collect minerals and water from the ground, store food for the tree, and help secure it to its spot in the ground. How Five Star Tree Services Can Help Here at Five Star Tree Services, we care about the life and health of your trees. Our arborist offers 24-hour emergency services in addition to our regular tree and plant care services. If you are in need of trimming, tree assessment, deep root feeding, or tree removal in Toronto or the GTA, give us a call at (416) 990-3355 to set up an appointment.

This is an example of a traditional landscaping in San Francisco.

''Sahara'' Hand tufted in 100% New Zealand pure wool with cotton backing. Single ply yarn and multiple height cut pile tufted, with sculptural hand carving to enhance design, texture and color definition. Spectrum of yarn colors available for custom colorization. Standard size: 5'7" x 7'11"/170 x 240cm, custom sizes available. Illustrations are only color representations, verify color against wool yarn samples. Color and size may vary due to the nature of hand-made goods. Slight variation is considered common and acceptable. Available only in 6.5 lbs./sq.yard. Specifications are subject to change without notice. Manufactured By Dellarobbia.