Dale Waldo Landscape Architecture

2012-11-21T20:53:00.000-08:00

A Dozen Stylish Ways to Save Water
Water savings can be achieved in many ways along with efficient irrigation

1. Use artificial turf

2. Eliminate turf use

3. Landscape with light

4. Use low-water plantings

5. Landscape with art

6. Landscape with patterned paving

7. Landscape with rock

8. Landscape with decorative gravel

9. Landscape with containers

10. Use D.G. paving

11. Use visual elements

12. Use a sparse planting design

2012-11-18T10:00:00.000-08:00

Commercial Seven
Concrete and glass office building in Newport Beach

2012-09-07T12:30:00.000-07:00

Residence Fifteen
Traditional but uncomplicated expression of landscape design in Bayshores

Photo credit Jeri Keogel

Residence Fourteen

2012-04-05T21:23:00.001-07:00

Traditional white and brick with cottage-style planting in Newport Beach

Commercial Six

2012-02-05T14:35:00.000-08:00

Contrasting courtyard space in Brea

Commercial Five

2012-02-05T14:15:00.000-08:00

The site's past use is represented in the project equestrian theming in Ontario

Commercial Four

2012-02-05T14:13:00.000-08:00

The arrival water feature provides a tranquil seating area in Lake Forest

Commercial Three

2012-02-05T14:09:00.000-08:00

Landscape details show the power of form over adornment at an automobile dealership in Westminster

Commercial Two

2012-02-05T14:00:00.000-08:00

Mid-century modern architecture sets the tone for a very simple landscape

Commercial One

2012-02-05T13:55:00.000-08:00

Exciting contemporary church gathering plaza in Costa Mesa

Residence Thirteen

2012-01-29T23:04:00.000-08:00

Soft contemporary landscape in Laguna Beach

Residence Twelve

2012-01-29T18:45:00.000-08:00

Clean and elegant country Tuscan in Shady Canyon

Residence Eleven

2012-01-29T18:36:00.000-08:00

Old world traditional meets eclectic Laguna Beach

Residence Ten

2012-01-29T18:33:00.000-08:00

Exciting sleek contemporary entertaining spaces in Laguna Beach

Residence Nine

2012-01-29T18:24:00.000-08:00

Starkly contemporary artful beach retreat in Newport Beach

Residence Eight

2012-01-29T18:13:00.000-08:00

Serene and uncluttered yet expressive and meaningful in Newport Beach

Residence Seven

2012-01-29T18:09:00.000-08:00

Comfortable entertaining spaces in Laguna Beach

Residence Six

2012-01-29T18:07:00.000-08:00

Water-wise contemporary organic drama in Newport Beach

Residence Five

2012-01-29T18:06:00.000-08:00

Clean wood and glass in Big Canyon

Residence Four

2012-01-29T17:58:00.000-08:00

Expansive east-coast estate style property in Newport Beach

Residence Three

2012-01-29T17:55:00.000-08:00

Extreme minimalism in Newport Beach

Residence Two

2012-01-29T17:50:00.000-08:00

Traditional but contemporary elegance in Laguna Beach

Residence One

2012-01-29T17:46:00.000-08:00

Simple contemporary terrace garden with agrarian beauty and function in Laguna Beach

Winter Tomatoes in Southern California

2011-09-28T21:42:00.000-07:00

I have been growing tomatoes in pots in my southern exposure side yard for the last four seasons now. I have had much success growing them all summer but the growing season always seemed to end in October sometime because the plants just get too "buggy" or the wilts and diseases took hold. At that time I just conceded and moved on to cool season crops such as lettuce, peas and such and continued having my fun with them.

This fall I discovered some winter-growing tomato varieties. I built some tomato stands to get the plants up into better sunlight and selected the winter varieties - Siberia, Winter Delight, Oregon Winter and Glasnost. I also planted Early Girl, thinking that a variety that matures in about 50 days might be worth a shot. The Early Girls were planted in early August and the other winter varieties were planted in mid-August. The photo about shows the superb growth that they have all have achieved at this writing at the end of September. The days are getting shorter and the sun angle is lowering on the horizon but the temperatures are not too much different so far. I am wondering how flowering and fruit set will be affected as the days become even shorter, the sun angle deceases even more and the temperatures drop further. I am thinking, maybe too optimistically, about December when we normally get a night or two of pretty good frosts. I think about weather I should be starting to devise ways to cover them up to protect them, especially if they are still producing well. Also, I am wondering what a winter tomato tastes like - probably still better than anything that I could buy at the grocery store.

This is all a great experiment. If it works - great. If it doesn't, great too. I will just move on to better proven cool-season crops. But I am intrigued with the thought of extending my tomato-growing season. Those little red globes have brought so much pleasure to me and my family this past summer that I would love to continue it until they compete for my attention with those other red glass globes on my Christmas tree.

Please visit us at www.dwla.net

It's That Time of Year

2010-11-07T10:37:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year again. We have been notified that the new Warren Miller movie is playing in early December so that means that it is only a matter of days before we are in the snow ourselves.

Our family likes Mammoth Mountain. We fly to Colorado and Utah but the drive up the 395 has a certain comfort because it is such a familiar road traveled over the years. In Mammoth we like to stay at the 1849 Condos right across from the Canyon Lodge. I can smell the spiced apple cider in their lobby already.

The road to Mammoth is a pleasure all in itself. Our journey starts when we load up our Rocket Box, take the 91 east to the 15 north up the Cajon Summit. We talk about what Mt. High conditions must be like off to the left side of the car. We take the 395 cutoff up past Adelanto, and always say that we should stop at the Cocky Bull Bar/Restaurant which has closed and re-opened several times. I always think that they must make a great burger and Bloody Mary for some reason. Then up to Four Corners and we talk about the futuristic solar collectors off to the left. Then it's onto the high-desert two-lane no-pass hilly section that the kids liked to go fast on when they were young to get that funny feeling in their stomachs. There are not many roads left where you can get that. Then we enter the rough, wild west mining areas that always make us wonder what that life must be like. The Silver Dollar Bar there must have been something in it's heyday. The 395 then joins the Hwy.14 - the other alternative route through Los Angeles. We debate if one route must be faster than the other. We then see Brady's Mobil, the only gas station that used to be around for miles when we first started traveling to Mammoth. Next is Pearsonville where I got a huge speeding ticket once.

Then, for miles we start seeing signs for "Really Good Beef Jerky". Not great or excellent but "really good". We really need to stop in Olancha once and find out for ourselves. We pass the Ranch House Restaurant where I have stopped with my fly-fishing buddies on other trips. We pass Cartago and see all the abandoned hotels and buildings and wonder why they are no longer there. Seems that there should be ghosts there. Up further we see the huge dry Owens Lake and think about what is must have looked like filled with water and if it will ever be filled again. Then it's Lone Pine and Mt. Whitney. We say that we should climb it some day....not. And then the best thing about Lone Pine - Frosty Stop Chalet. We always stop for ice cream there. I once got a cherry-dipped jumbo cone that made my lips red for the rest of the trip up. Then Manzanar, Independence, Big Pine and the Ancient Britlecone Pines - which we did visit once.
When passing through the small towns after dark I always remember the fish-shaped neon lights of the sporting goods stores and all the fly-fishing trips that I have been on in the Sierra.

When we get that far up on the trip, we start looking off to the left to see how much snow is on the mountains and have hopes that in Mammoth we will find epic conditions. When we get to Bishop there is Schotts's Bakery, Jack's Restaurant and the sign for Mule Days. We think that Mule Days must be like a County Fair only with prized mules as the attraction. Once we get to Bishop we always stop for gas at the Shell station on the north end of town. We know that it's not much longer now. If it has snowed we ask at Shell about the road conditions ahead and begin to think about getting up the Sherwin Grade. We leave the Shell and pass Tom's Place, McGee Mountain (where Dave McCoy built his first lift), then Lake Crowley, Convict Lake, the airport and finally get to the Hwy. 201 turn off to Mammoth. On the 201 we notice that the snow banks are getting much higher.

If we arrive early enough, we stop at the Canyon Lodge and transfer our skis and gear from the Rocket Box to a locker so that we don't have to carry it there the next day. We check in at our beloved 1849, and when we finally get some of that spiced apple cider, we are certain that it will be another wonderful trip to Mammoth. There is nothing like being there, making a fire and all being happy to be together in Mammoth once again. Our family has many wonderful memories of our times in Mammoth. Warm memories that one day our children will create again with their children.

Please visit us at www.dwla.net