Photo courtesy of Ramie Allard. Photography by Mimi Giboin.

Designing today’s gardens
for tomorrow’s California.

FROM THE CHAPTER PRESIDENT
Francesca Corra, APLD

As I sit writing this, two momentous things are happening. First, it is raining like crazy in Southern California; I can only hope that the slopes hold on my current projects, most especially in the burn areas. Aside from those concerns, it feels absolutely glorious!

The second is that our country is presently laying to rest our 41st President, George H.W. Bush. No, I am not getting political here. Everyone who is watching, though, whether live or on the news, or reading online, cannot help but hear of the impressive life of service that this man gave to his country. As I was listening to the eulogies, I quickly grabbed a pen and copied this quote: “He strongly believed that it was important to give back to the community and the country in which one lived. He recognized that serving others enriched the giver’s soul.”

Since the theme of this issue is ‘Giving Back’, I thought it appropriate to share that quote here. In this issue, we honor those who serve, and we encourage those who are looking to serve to consider what you can contribute to APLD and your local community.

When I first started my business, I was well aware of my inexperience and lack of knowledge. To be honest, I kind of felt bad for anyone that might hire me. I needed to do everything possible to learn as much as possible as quickly as possible. I decided the best way to gain experience was to donate my services. Who could really complain then, right? I volunteered for my local Beautification Association. I learned so much, from the process of preparing detailed plans for city approval, dealing with local political figures, and getting involved in a myriad of other ways with my community and local businesses.

I also joined APLD at the suggestion of my landscape design teacher and almost immediately got involved with the district board by assisting the Membership Chair. The knowledge I have gained from my fellow designers and our generous sponsors is immeasurable.

APLD is a community, and by getting involved you gain a greater connection. We are also a multi-layered community. Our districts form a chapter, which is then part of a national whole.  Which is why we invited Naomi Goodman to share about Advocacy on the national level. Advocating for the profession of Landscape Design is one of the most important things we do and it does not stop at the California border. Across the country, we share bonds with other designers and those bonds strengthen us.

By volunteering, I have been enriched both personally and professionally. I have always felt that I get back so much more than what I give. My return has been immense, which is why I do not feel bad asking someone to help out. I know that I am really doing them a favor.

Do yourself a favor. Start by coming to one event if you have not already.   

Here’s to a Better Than Ever Year 2019!
Francesca

CONTENTS

Simply scroll down to read the articles.
You may also click on the section titles below. 

Photo courtesy of Ramie Allard. Photography by Mimi Giboin.

DESIGNER PLANT PICKS:

Winter Wonders: Designer Favorite Cold Season Plants 

Winter is traditionally a “quiet time” in the landscape for most parts of the world, but here in California many of our most stunning native and non-native plants are at their very best this time of year.

Below, a few landscape designers share their favorite plants that dazzle in the winter.

TOOLS AND TIPS:

Designing Your Business

TAKING THE LEAD ON FIRE PREVENTION

Photo courtesy of Ramie Allard. Photography by Mimi Giboin.

ADVOCACY:

Passing the Baton

As I prepare to pass the APLD Advocacy baton to next year’s chairs, I would like to invite each one of you to take a trip down memory lane and remember some special times and people.

For the last two years, I have served as the Advocacy Chair for both the California Chapter and the San Diego District. It has been a wonderful experience and I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to work with so many talented people.

We all have our own motivations that propel us toward getting involved. The right to practice landscape design beside my fellow designers in the State of California is a passion of mine. I feel very strongly about the need to have educated professional designers working with homeowners to show them the benefits that come from creating gardens following the principles of the Watershed approach. Gardens that are appropriate for our climate and give us a sense of place.

What Comes Next

APLD National Update

LEADERSHIP:

MEET THE 2019 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

APLD California Chapter 2019 Board of Directors: These are the volunteers working at the state level, behind the scenes, to ensure that you have the best value for your APLD membership and that your right to practice landscape design in the state of California is protected. We work hard, but are a fun group and are always looking for new volunteers. Do you have skills and are willing to help by taking on just one thing? Please consider serving at the Chapter (state) or District (local) level.

APLD Bay Area District 2019 Board of Directors: These are the volunteers working at the local level in the greater San Francisco Bay area. If you’ve been thinking about getting more involved with APLD, please contact our presidents at BAdistrict@apldca.org.

APLD Greater Los Angeles District 2019 Board of Directors: These are the volunteers working at the local level in the greater Los Angeles area. If you’ve been thinking about getting more involved with APLD, this is a great place to start. Please contact our president at GLAdistrict@apldca.org with any questions about volunteering.

APLD Sacramento District 2019 Board of Directors: These are the volunteers working at the local level in the Central Valley. If you’ve been thinking about getting more involved with APLD, this is a great place to start. Please contact our president at SACdistrict@apldca.org with any questions you may have about volunteering. We can especially use help with these positions: secretary, communications and PR, membership, and sponsorship.

APLD San Diego District 2019 Board of Directors: These are the volunteers working at the local level in the greater San Diego area. If you’ve been thinking about getting more involved with APLD, please contact our president at SDdistrict@apldca.org with any questions about volunteering.

Saying Goodbye to Longtime Board Members

by Francesca Corra, APLD

I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank a few of our long-serving members who are leaving the California Chapter Board. All of them have been a strong presence in their districts and will continue to be so. It is on the chapter board where their influence reaches all of us, and it is to that I wish to speak. The brevity of my words in no way reflects or encompasses all that they have contributed…otherwise, honestly, I could monopolize this whole newsletter.  

Photo courtesy of Ramie Allard. Photography by Mimi Giboin.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE: MEMBERS WHO EDUCATE

by Mary Fisher, FAPLD

It is important to step back once in a while and take notice of all the fantastic things our colleagues are doing in our local communities. Specifically, I would like to honor all APLD members who have taken time away from their design practice to educate others.

In the Bay Area alone, I can think of five current and past members who have taught classes at Merritt College Landscape Horticulture Department, an institution that has had a huge impact on the practice of landscape design in the Bay Area. I know from personal experience (because I am one of those five) that most of us are not doing it for financial gain, but rather for the joy of sharing knowledge and passion of horticulture with others in the hopes of making a positive impact on our community and environment.

So please take a moment to read below and see how a few of your APLD colleagues are educating and making a difference all over California.

DESIGNER PROFILE: Bernadette Balics

Interviewed by Tina Henricksen, APLD Sacramento District President

Photo courtesy of Ramie Allard. Photography by Mimi Giboin.

News and Events from the APLD Bay Area District

APLD Bay Area Designer Forum
A Few of My Favorite Things: Plants with a Purpose

An informal roundtable discussion where landscape designers share favorite plants for specific challenging situations.

Wednesday, January 23, 2019 from 3-5pm
at the Gamble Garden in Palo Alto
More Info Here

APLD Bay Area Speaker Series
Gardenlust: A Botanical Tour of the World’s Best New Gardens

Chris Woods will share highlights from the contemporary gardens featured in his recent book Gardenlust.

Tuesday, February 12, 2019 from 4-6pm
at the Lafayette Veterans Memorial Center
More Info Here

APLD Bay Area Designer Forum
A New Life for Old Concrete

A roundtable discussion about ways that landscape designers can take old concrete surfaces and transform them with stain, veneers, resurfacing, coatings and saw cutting.

Wednesday, February 27, 2019 from 3-5pm
at the Gamble Garden in Palo Alto, CA
More Info Here

APLD BAY AREA DISTRICT NEWS:

Remembering back to late 2015/2016—we were four separate districts (East Bay, North Bay, Peninsula, and San Francisco) working to coalesce into one district. It took the better part of two years to restructure, and the last two years to get our stellar programming back up and running. We’re now one Bay Area District, with monthly events in both Lafayette and Palo Alto. We’ve got our rhythm back—with a fabulous array of programs that create opportunities for members to increase their professional skills and network with colleagues.

In the next year, we’re going to focus on the infrastructure that it takes to make this work.  We’ll be targeting four areas…

News & Events from the Sacramento District

SAVE THE DATE:

CLIMATE REALITY: REGENERATION OF THE LANDSCAPE

A presentation by landscape architect Shawn Maestretti, ASLA on net-positive landscapes.

What are the attributes of an ideal modern garden? 
Is it possible to create a garden that actively works to reverse climate change while being beautiful and flourishing? 

We think so. 

Join Shawn Maestretti on March 2nd for his presentation “Climate Reality: Regeneration of the Landscape” to learn about the current endangered state of our landscapes, and solution-oriented techniques for real-world garden designs that draw upon natural processes. Shawn will focus on how nurturing living soil, capturing rainwater, sequestering carbon in created landforms, and planting climate-appropriate plants for biodiversity are prudent design practices that every garden-lover will want to know about. This presentation is for everyone from landscape professionals to amateur garden enthusiasts.

ABOUT OUR SPEAKER: Shawn Maestretti is a designer, plantsman, certified arborist, educator, and licensed landscape contractor. Shawn has been creating exceptionally designed and artfully developed gardens in the greater Los Angeles area since 2006. Highly collaborative with a strong attention to detail and a knack for problem-solving, he helps his clients realize outdoor living spaces that they will connect with for years to come. Shawn combines extensive horticultural experience, strong composition skills, and environmentally-sensible practices with a wide palette of visually and texturally interesting California-friendly plants, breathing new life and a sense of place into every garden.

Shawn is the principal of Shawn Maestretti Garden Architecture (SMGA).  He also a member of the Climate Reality Project leadership corp and a soil advocate with Kiss the Ground.

Saturday, March 2, 2019
time and location to be announced soon

News and Events from the
APLD Greater Los Angeles Area District

Upcoming Events:

APLD GLA Lecture Series
Jan Johnsen: The Spirit of Stone, Lecture and Book Signing

The ‘spirit of stone’ reveals the secrets of Japanese stone types and placement in a garden. ‘Creative Stonework’ inspires with intriguing design ideas for stone paving, walls, steps, and streams. The element of stone in a garden has two important qualities: function and beauty. It also conveys a sense of permanence and place. Since ancient times, stone has been revered for bringing a special "feel" to a garden. In The Spirit of Stone, award-winning designer Jan Johnsen presents a richly photographed, authoritative guide to creative and practical uses for stone in the landscape: steps, paths, garden walls, dry streams, benches, rock gardens, driveways and more.

Tuesday, January 22, 2019 4-6pm
La Casita Del Arroyo
More Info Here

APLD GLA SPEAKER SERIES:
Nigel Dunnett: Naturalistic Planting Design

Naturalistic planting design offers an exciting alternative to traditional garden making. Rich in plants, sustainable and good for the environment, naturalistic gardens are also beautiful, uplifting places that resonate with the energy of the natural world - but they can be challenging to get right.

We are lucky to catch international design superstar, Nigel Dunnet, on the launch of his seminal new book, Naturalistic Planting Design, The Essential Guide. Nigel will share his peerless ecological and horticultural wisdom and fascinating working methods to ensure success with every project. Discover how to create planting designs that capture the spirit of nature, foster immersive, emotionally engaging experiences and reduces the need for maintenance.

Tuesday, March 19, 2019 1-4pm
LA Arboretum
More Info Here

APLD GLA Special Event
4th Annual APLD Greater Los Angeles Garden Tour:
S.E.E! Succulents, Edibles, Ethical Gardens

Succulents, Edibles and Ethical garden practices.  This year’s tour features gardens in West Los Angeles and Santa Monica that have received both recognition and rebates for their sustainable designs. The tour will culminate at a large estate garden that received ASLA’s 2018 Quality of Life Design Merit Award.  Short presentations by the design build team for this award winning garden will be made about how to harvest rainwater, build biodiversity and support wildlife using native plants.

Sunday, April 14, 2019 9AM-4:30PM
In Santa Monica and Brentwood Area
More Info Here

News and Events from the APLD San Diego District

Upcoming Events:

APLD San Diego Social Media Member Forum

APLD Members! Interested in starting your own Facebook or Instagram page for your business? Want to know how to post effectively? What's the difference between a # and a @? Interested in learning how to send targeted ads on Facebook? Our own Anne-Emilie and Brad will guide us through the process of using social media to our advantage....and much more!

Thursday, January 17, 2019 from 3-5:30pm
at Village Nurseries Landscape Center in San Diego, CA
More Info Here

Landscape Literacy Symposium – Get the Dirt for 2019!

Join APLD SD for the latest dirt on landscaping! Topics will cover attractive residential landscaping with native plants, water capture in the garden, and much more! Speakers include Marilee Kuhlman, Shawn Maestretti, Thomas Ogren, Clayton Tschudy, and Marcia Van Loy.

Saturday February 2, 2019 8am-5pm
at Silver Gate Yacht Club in San Diego, CA
More Info Here

APLD San Diego District news:

The San Diego District has remained busy over the Fall and Winter months with various activities to help members increase their professional skills and network with other designers. As well, our on-going efforts to attract new members or re-engage those who have let their membership lapse has been rewarded with a notable increase in District members. Great news as we begin a new year!

Photo courtesy of Ramie Allard. Photography by Mimi Giboin.

APLD California Chapter
Sponsors

Through sponsorship of APLD California Chapter, these industry leaders declare their support for best practices, educational programs and events, and the highest standards in landscape design. From veteran materials suppliers to producers of cutting-edge landscape products, these companies have committed to connecting with professional landscape designers and our clients. 

SPONSOR TOOLS AND TIPS:

Landscape Lighting Workshop Overview:
What makes a good landscape lighting job?

by Bruce Dennis, Lightcraft Outdoor Environments—an APLD CA Bronze Sponsor

I am often asked, what creates a good lighting project? Many professional books have been written on this topic, as well as week-long workshops on landscape lighting. For the purpose of this article, I will highlight some of the most important aspects of good lighting.

As you know, most professional landscape projects incorporate some type of outdoor lighting into their plans. Property owners continue to realize the importance and value of landscape lighting as it relates to the overall beauty, safety and entertainment value of their outdoor environment. In addition, the popularity of LED lighting creates an even bigger demand, as lighting products have become extremely energy efficient while offering exceptional illumination, low power consumption with brilliant and vibrant colors.

OUR PLATINUM SPONSOR:

OUR GOLD SPONSORS:

Simply click on a logo below to visit the website of one of our sponsors.

OUR SILVER SPONSORS:

OUR BRONZE SPONSORS:

Please contact Julie Molinare at sponsorship@apldca.org

Photo courtesy of Ramie Allard. Photography by Mimi Giboin.

A special event hosted by the California Landscape Contractors Association…

APLD Members are invited to CLCA’s 40th Anniversary Landscape Industry Show
February 6-7, Ontario Convention Center

The 2019 Landscape Industry Show celebrates four decades of bringing you the latest and greatest industry expertise, innovation, and education! Plan to attend February 6-7 in Ontario — registration is now open! The Ontario Convention Center is conveniently located, with easy access to hotels and major freeways.

For a free exhibit hall pass or more information on 50 seminars, workshops, and certification tests—several offering APLD CEUs—visit clca.org/lis.

Is there a new technology you are curious about? Thinking of expanding your current services? Come discover new ideas and expert solutions to help you hit the ground running in 2019. Learn about the best products, services, and strategies to help improve and grow your business. Check out the new exhibits, suppliers, and demonstrations and get your questions answered face-to-face. Develop and expand your network of business contacts as you meet exhibitors and other attendees at LIS.

Take advantage of the affordable seminars offered at LIS. Advance your career development and earn CEUs by attending a variety of classes in this year’s educational lineup. You will take away information and tools to benefit your business right away.

Keep yourself at the forefront of industry trends and standards with all there is to see and do at LIS 2019.

See you at the show!

Click HERE for a list of exciting workshops offering APLD CEUs—including Enchanting Clients with Pollinator Gardens with Brandy Williams.

“Each year I attend at least one Landscape Industry Show. I'll buddy up with another designer pal or two and make a day of it. There are always seminars on a wide variety of topics and walking the show is an opportunity to get inspiration from new vendors and their products as well as give a face to face hello to people I have been working with for years….and see what new plunder  they have been working on. I often leave with samples, new catalogues and thinking I would have enjoyed more time.

The LIS show in Ontario is around the corner! And if you do see one of our California chapter sponsors there, don’t forget to let them know you are a member of APLD and you appreciate their support.”

-Laura Morton, FAPLD

More Opportunities and Events…

APLD or APLD Sponsor events in BOLD.

Welcome New Members

Please give a warm welcome to these new members of the APLD California Chapter.

Contributors to Winter 2019 Edition:

Ramie Allard

Bernadette Balics

Jennifer Kate Brand

Kristan Browne

Cheryl Buckwalter

Kristin Caldwell

Deborah Christman

Francesca Corra, APLD

Bruce Dennis

Mimi Giboin

Naomi Goodman

Tina Henricksen

Amelia Lima, FAPLD

Laura Morton, FAPLD

Kathleen Olson

Ryan Prange

Robin Salsburg

Nan Sterman

Kate Stickley

Patricia St. John, FAPLD

Content Coordinator: Mary Fisher, FAPLD
Design and Content Editor: Maggie J Elias

Call for Submissions

We invite your participation in the California Landscape Design magazine Spring 2019 edition. Please send your story ideas to us before March 1, 2019 to be included in the spring edition. Send email to: newsletter@apldca.org.