green thumb awards
2020 summer
Congratulations to the Tootle Family, one of our Summer 2020 Award Winners! Visit our Facebook page for photos of this beautiful space.
Charlie and Kristin have owned their home since 2010 but leased it out for number of years. When the couple moved back, they started planning their landscape starting completely from scratch. What impressed the judges is that although the design called for a waterwise landscape, the impression is not at all arid as in some drought tolerant gardens. A great variety of plants plus trees and tall shrubs were used, among them lovely swaying Silver Sheen on the inside of the intimate courtyard, all providing a sense of calm and serenity. In addition, the judges appreciated the modern see-through fence as well as the spectacular pots by the front door with interesting plant specimens in them.
Charlie and Kristin have owned their home since 2010 but leased it out for number of years. When the couple moved back, they started planning their landscape starting completely from scratch. What impressed the judges is that although the design called for a waterwise landscape, the impression is not at all arid as in some drought tolerant gardens. A great variety of plants plus trees and tall shrubs were used, among them lovely swaying Silver Sheen on the inside of the intimate courtyard, all providing a sense of calm and serenity. In addition, the judges appreciated the modern see-through fence as well as the spectacular pots by the front door with interesting plant specimens in them.
Congratulations to the Cleveland Family, one of our Summer 2020 Award Winners! Visit our Facebook page for photos of this beautiful space.
Bill and Karen purchased their home back in 2000 and in 2008 they did a complete remodel changing the layout of their house to make it more open and modern. They kept the East Coast style of the original home which lends itself to the lush front landscape which includes gorgeous white standard iceberg roses. The judges were thrilled to be invited for a tour of the home and back yard which is over 12,000 sq ft. When the couple purchased their property, the exterior was a wilderness including large overgrown pine trees which had to be removed. This let the light in and today the garden is a place for peaceful respite for both family and friends. A large lawn is ringed by a wide variety of plantings including trees, roses, succulents, and a large selection of potted plants and garden art on the patio. A gazebo is located at the far end of the yard, a perfect space from which to enjoy the many birds and other habitat visiting this jewel of a garden.
Bill and Karen purchased their home back in 2000 and in 2008 they did a complete remodel changing the layout of their house to make it more open and modern. They kept the East Coast style of the original home which lends itself to the lush front landscape which includes gorgeous white standard iceberg roses. The judges were thrilled to be invited for a tour of the home and back yard which is over 12,000 sq ft. When the couple purchased their property, the exterior was a wilderness including large overgrown pine trees which had to be removed. This let the light in and today the garden is a place for peaceful respite for both family and friends. A large lawn is ringed by a wide variety of plantings including trees, roses, succulents, and a large selection of potted plants and garden art on the patio. A gazebo is located at the far end of the yard, a perfect space from which to enjoy the many birds and other habitat visiting this jewel of a garden.
2019 spring
Mark and Debbie Sannes moved to 4807 Reese Road in 1993. The home was originally built in 1950 and was the typical Seaside Rancho tiny home on a big lot so they added on and in the process, transformed the traditional house to a Spanish Hacienda style home which feels as though it’s been there forever. The home sits on a corner lot and they have 3 Chinese Elms which they decorate for Christmas each year and which is home to avian visitors all day long. In 2014, they completely changed their landscaping to waterwise plantings. Not only was that a smart move economically and maintenance wise, but the plants also match the style of the home beautifully.
If you’ve never seen this home and garden, you will want to stop by and be inspired.
Howard and Rosanne Klein at 22715 Evalyn have lived in their home since 1983. When Howard retired in 2014, he began his passion project of removing a boring lawn and transforming it into a lively habitat. The first order of business was to remove a lot of the sand and replace it with good soil. The landscape evolved naturally over time and Howard loves to grow plants from seeds and cuttings. The back yard is his ‘private nursery’ and visitors who tour the garden often drop plants by which they’ve had luck with and believe will match the rest of the landscape and do well.
Rosanne helps out by weeding and together they love to sit on the porch while surveying busy birds and bees and visiting with neighbors who stop by to chat and ask questions about how they might be able to do something similar.
Howard and Rosanne invite you to stop by so they can share their garden with you.
If you’ve never seen this home and garden, you will want to stop by and be inspired.
Howard and Rosanne Klein at 22715 Evalyn have lived in their home since 1983. When Howard retired in 2014, he began his passion project of removing a boring lawn and transforming it into a lively habitat. The first order of business was to remove a lot of the sand and replace it with good soil. The landscape evolved naturally over time and Howard loves to grow plants from seeds and cuttings. The back yard is his ‘private nursery’ and visitors who tour the garden often drop plants by which they’ve had luck with and believe will match the rest of the landscape and do well.
Rosanne helps out by weeding and together they love to sit on the porch while surveying busy birds and bees and visiting with neighbors who stop by to chat and ask questions about how they might be able to do something similar.
Howard and Rosanne invite you to stop by so they can share their garden with you.
2019 fall
We are excited to present to you two winners who are unique in how they approached their landscaping. Both gardens were planned with low water use in mind and are fine examples of how a landscape can be lush and interesting without water waste. (By far the largest amount of water in Southern California is used is for landscaping and lawns consume approximately 70% of total water use.)
Our first winners are Jim Specht and Mary Giordano of 5334 Linda Drive Jim and his late wife, Mary, put a tremendous amount of work into their gorgeous landscape. This home is located on a hillside and the front was carefully laid out with waterwise shrubs and flowers which have matured and provides color throughout the year. Jim gives Mary all the credit as this was her baby and we are pleased to honor Mary’s masterpiece. What you cannot see from the street is the huge back yard which among many clever design elements features Kurapia, a Japanese ground cover which needs very little water and no mowing at all. Kurapia takes light traffic and sports pretty white flowers at various times of the year. If you are considering changing out your thirsty and labor-intensive lawn but feel you would miss the green if you went all native or used stone/sand, this is for you. Click here to access information on Kurapia.
Our second winner is Jackie Niederstrass of 4916 Zakon Road Jackie’s garden developed over time and started with removal of all concrete in the back area and bringing in good soil to replace the existing native sand. Over the past 23 years she continually amended the soil and planted fruit trees and vegetables as well as colorful shrubs intermixed with succulents. Jackie grows too many vegetables to mention – suffice it to say that food from her garden has been plentiful enough for her to rely on exclusively for her greens.
The front yard was originally all grass however, Jackie let it die off and instead planted an exciting mix of succulents, grasses and waterwise shrubs which provide color and interest throughout the year. You will be impressed with how tall the Leucadendrons and Proteas are. They look very impressive in the landscape and even make for long lasting cut flowers.
Our first winners are Jim Specht and Mary Giordano of 5334 Linda Drive Jim and his late wife, Mary, put a tremendous amount of work into their gorgeous landscape. This home is located on a hillside and the front was carefully laid out with waterwise shrubs and flowers which have matured and provides color throughout the year. Jim gives Mary all the credit as this was her baby and we are pleased to honor Mary’s masterpiece. What you cannot see from the street is the huge back yard which among many clever design elements features Kurapia, a Japanese ground cover which needs very little water and no mowing at all. Kurapia takes light traffic and sports pretty white flowers at various times of the year. If you are considering changing out your thirsty and labor-intensive lawn but feel you would miss the green if you went all native or used stone/sand, this is for you. Click here to access information on Kurapia.
Our second winner is Jackie Niederstrass of 4916 Zakon Road Jackie’s garden developed over time and started with removal of all concrete in the back area and bringing in good soil to replace the existing native sand. Over the past 23 years she continually amended the soil and planted fruit trees and vegetables as well as colorful shrubs intermixed with succulents. Jackie grows too many vegetables to mention – suffice it to say that food from her garden has been plentiful enough for her to rely on exclusively for her greens.
The front yard was originally all grass however, Jackie let it die off and instead planted an exciting mix of succulents, grasses and waterwise shrubs which provide color and interest throughout the year. You will be impressed with how tall the Leucadendrons and Proteas are. They look very impressive in the landscape and even make for long lasting cut flowers.
