Outdoor Kitchen Design @ KRC Rock

VIGILUCCI'S BEACH BOCCE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2011

The sun is shining and Summer is officially here. Which means that its time once again for Vigilucci's Beach Bocce Ball World Championship! This is a great event that takes place this Saturday July 16, 2011 starting at 8:00 am out at "Dog Beach" in Del Mar, CA.

HDG has contributed for a court sponsorship and all of the proceeds go directly to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Carlsbad. Its the 31st year of this event and it keeps on getting better every year. I think they raised about $70K last year!

So come out and join in the fun. If its too late this year to sign up for a team I suggest you get on it and sign up for next year. Check out www.beachbocce.com . And if your lucky you may even run into some yellow birds!

Encinitas Facelift Project Completed

Here are some fallow up pictures of that project I highlighted located in Encinitas, CA. New colored concrete driveway installed, plantings updated and my personal favorite is the installation of the living wall which takes the place of those tired looking vines. The living wall will begin to fill in as time goes on and begin to cover the existing fence.

The living wall was created with a product called woolypockets (www.woolypocket.com). This product is made from recycled plastic bottles, comes in different sizes and colors and are made in the good old U.S.A.

Frontyard Face Lift - Encinitas CA

I was approached to work with a cool couple located in Encinitas who was in need of a frontyard face lift and planting spruce up in the back. This project challenged us to combine older existing site features/plants with new site features and plants. My goal for these types of projects are to try and create a seamless overall look, while working with the clients budget, lifestyle and aesthetics.

Here are some before and in-progress construction photos, the project is wrapping up so check back for the finished result.

High Hand Nursery, Loomis CA

While up in Northern CA during the holidays, my father in-law took me to one of his favorite local garden/art providers called High Hand Nursery located in Loomis, CA. This place blew me away. The site was originally an old fruit shed/packing yard that has ties back to 1901. The owners of this facility had the foresight to retrofit the old building to meet their current needs while retaining much of the buildings historical detail. Now the facility is home to a Conservatory, Nursery and Art Gallery. The Conservatory offers dining/events and local foods found in the Placer County. It wasn't open at the time I was there but they had a killer looking outdoor kitchen area with pizza ovens. The Nursery not only had a wide variety of plants for sale, they also have a flower market, various landscape displays, specialty plants, inspiring garden art/pottery and a green house. Local artists have a chance to display and sell their art (paintings, sculptures, ceramics, jewelry, etc.) to the public in the Art Gallery section of the property where a Blacksmith Shop is also located, which was impressive to see in person.

If you get a chance, go and check out this place. You wont be disappointed. Visit them online at www.highhand.com

Here a few pictures from my visit:

Welcome 2011

Hope everyone had a good holiday season. I sure did. Got a chance to head up to Northern California for some family & friends time, spent a few day up in the snow and had some time to reflect on the past year. Again, I want to thank you all for the continued support throughout 2010, you know who you are! I had the opportunity to work on some great projects last year, and spent some of my time working with the local Surfrider Foundation implementing OFG's (Ocean Friendly Gardens) in La Jolla, CA and Encinitas, CA. I wish everyone a fantastic 2011 and look forward to what it may bring.

Here is pict of Lake Tahoe taking from the top of the Heavenly Ski Resort.