Author: five-one-oh

I am a landscape architect and planner, interested in local design, sustainability, California native plants, and places in the East Bay.

Big Sur Roadhouse

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Big Sur Roadhouse Succulents One way we live where we are is to travel local. We spent the weekend with the kids in Big Sur, about 150 miles from most of the five-one-oh area code.

Sunday, we tried a new restaurant: Big Sur Roadhouse. The food was delicious and the design will bring us back. It is the perfect cozy place on a foggy Big Sur evening.

The Roadhouse serves beer and wine only and we discovered a lovely French fermented cider, Clos Normand. The restaurant served it in wine glasses from a champagne bucket: very festive. Big Sur Roadhous-Firepit

Rain Gardens – Why they are important during a drought

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Debbie Ballentine's avatarNative Hearts Garden Blog

Pervious paving at native demo garden, Taylor & Walnut, San Jose Pervious paving at native demo garden, Taylor & Walnut, San Jose

We’re in the middle of a drought crisis… why the heck should I care about rain gardens? It’s a simple answer… since nearly half of the water we use comes from groundwater, the less rain we have the more important it is to protect and preserve that groundwater.

I’ve provided plant lists and data sheets about rain gardens and related subjects that you can download. They are located in the right column, at the very bottom, in the flash_widget. The following documents are available for download:

  1. Plant List, SCVURPPP
  2. Plant List, Master Gardeners
  3. Rain Gardens, BASMAA
  4. Rain Barrels, BASMAA
  5. Pervious Paving, BASMAA
  6. Stormwater Control for Small Projects, BASMAA
  7. Ten Top Tips for Creeks, SCVWD

Rain gardens – and their kin – are good for the environment, great for wildlife and important to you and me!

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Beach Strawberry

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Fragaria chiloiensisThis California native plant, Fragaria chiloiensis, grows quickly in our yard in Oakland. Sometimes it grows too well, spreading into areas intended for less rambunctious native plants. Still, it’s a great groundcover in sun or part shade. It’s more drought tolerant with some shade during part of the day.

The reason why I’m thinking about this plant today, is the following description by Kelly Hardwicke, a senior botanist and pollinator expert at H.T. Harvey & Associates, an ecological consulting firm with whom I’m currently working:

“Fragaria…is one of the most valuable herbaceous caterpillar host genera in North America, providing host opportunities for over 70 native lepidopteran species.”

That means butterflies. Come on over to our yard; we’ve got Fragaria for all.

Nesting Box

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120719 Longfellow 2 birdhouse windows

I could take a whole series of photos showing beautiful security bars in Oakland. This design for windows in the Longfellow neighborhood is my favorite example. The center of the design is a nesting box for birds. It’s such a tender response to crime.

“I think I’ll prevent burglars from breaking into my home AND I’ll make a home for baby birds.”

I’d like to know the designer…and hug them.