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Welcome 2013

Hello all, its been a few months since my last post. I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season. We sure did. Lots of fun with our little one and were fortunate enough to spend some good times with our family and friends.

We are super excited about this coming year. We have a lot of projects in the works currently with more on the horizon and there are some BIG changes coming as well...so stay tuned.

Wishing all of you a prosperous new year!!

Ocean Friendly Gardens Series Starting Up

The San Diego Chapter of Surfrider is having another Ocean Friendly Gardens series quickly approaching.

Basics class  - October 8th
Hands On Workshop (HOW) - November 4th
Garden Assistance Party (GAP) - January 13th

For more information visit  http://sandiego.surfrider.org/programs/ocean-friendly-gardens

All work and no play....

Took a quick trip up to South Lake Tahoe and for a golf event recently and was treated to great weather and that feeling and smell you get only when you are surrounded by nature.

Looking forward to Fall!!

Ocean Friendly Gardens (OFG) Del Mar Fair Exhibit

Make sure you check out the award winning Surfrider - San Diego Chapter, Ocean Friendly Gardens (OFG) installation at this years Del Mar Fair.

I am proud to have help install this great display of OFG principles with the other Surfrider volunteers. Through  conservation, permeability, and retention (CPR) in our residential and commercial gardens we can conserve water and reduce runoff in San Diego County. 

So stop by the display garden to see first hand these OFG principles and learn how you can apply them into your own garden.

For more information on the program check out:

http://sandiego.surfrider.org/programs/ocean-friendly-gardens

Photos by Morgan Vondrak

New Addition to the Family

I know its been several months since I have posted anything. Works been busy but mostly due to the fact that earlier this year my wife and I were blessed with a baby girl, Taylor. She is such a joy. Here's a few pictures!! 

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.

Ocean Friendly Gardens (OFG) - Garden Assistance Program - Oct. 24th 2010

Ocean Friendly Gardens aims to conserve water and reduce runoff in San Diego County through conservation, permeability and retention in our gardens. http://ofg-sandiego.blogspot.com/

Come join Surfrider, San Diego Chapter this Sunday Oct. 24th from 10am-4pm to take part in the Garden Assitance Program (GAP). This is a hands on workshop which applies "OFG" principles to a local garden.

Location: 203 Third Street, Encinitas, CA 92024

Vigilucci's World Beach Bocce Ball Championship

Come out and help support HDG on July 17, 2010 at the annual Vigilucci's World Beach Bocce Ball Championship held at Dog Beach in Del Mar. All proceeds benefit the Boys and Girls Clubs of Carlsbad. Event starts at 8am. Check out http://www.beachbocce.com/ for more information.

OFG (Ocean Friendly Gardens)

The next OFG series is in Encinitas and is open for registration. The dates are set for Tuesday August 24th, Sunday September 26th and Sunday October 24th. The starting Basics Course will go from 6-9 at the Encinitas Community Center. If you are interested in signing up, follow this link: http://www.surfridersd.org/ofg.php For all of you that signed up for the last series, you are more than welcome to attend at no cost-just make sure you RSVP to Dylan ahead of time. Spread the word and invite your neighbors and friends.



We are looking for an Encinitas resident who is interested in offering up the use of their front yard for the Hands on Workshop on September 26th. We will not be doing any work on their yard, this is just a workshop to learn about the OFG principles.



Check out the 1st OFG installed in La Jolla near bird rock. http://ofg-sandiego.blogspot.com/2010/06/garden-assistance-program-huge-success.html

Replace your Lawn

More and more I am being asked to remove unused, water thirsty lawns. Here is an example of a design I did where we did just that. The space is small and was originally part of a "model home" (a model of what? I'm not sure but that is another story). It has your typical lawn surrounded by your basic landscape list of shrubs.


And here is what we did. We replaced the lawn with this killer custom fire pit/casual gathering area. Replaced the existing shrubs with ones that use low water (once established), interesting foliage and flowers that attract local wildlife (butterflies, bees and hummingbirds). We also revamped the dated irrigation system and installed custom lighting throughout the yard that makes this project really shine.

Blogs to fallow

Ocean Friendly Gardens- San Diego -
http://www.ofg-sandiego.blogspot.com/
Know your h20 - http://www.knowyourh2o.blogspot.com/

Happy New Year - 2010

Just wanted to say a special thanks to everyone who has helped support HDG throughout this past year and wish you all health and happiness in 2010. So far 2010 has had unreal weather, fantastic surfing conditions, and new opportunities. Looking forward to a great year!

HDG Mascots - Luci & Socks

Finished BBQ Makeover

This thing turned out great! Love the mosaic and the over all feel of this bbq island. By collaborating with the client and contractor on this project we designed and developed a truly unique outdoor feature on this project. You should see this thing light up at night! With carefully placed lighting built into the concrete counter this bbq island becomes a show stopper once the sun sets.