APLD CA Makes Waves with Watershed Approach Deva Luna’s Secrets to Success with the “Natural Front Yard” Musings from Chapter Leaders on the Future of the Landscape Industry MARCH 2017 1 Contents From the Chapter President . 3 Watershed Approach Permeates Trade Show and Inspires Business Model . 4 Landscape Design for the Rest of Us: An Interview with Deva Luna . 6 Meet the Leadership . 11 Our District Boards of Directors . .13 Thanks to Our Sponsors . 14 Plant Spotlight: Laurus ‘Saratoga’ . 16 Save the Date: 2nd Annual APLD Greater Los Angeles District Garden Tour . 17 Tools and Tips: Contour Finder . .18 Designer Profile: Jeannie Fitch . .19 Plant Right: Alternatives to Invasive Pennisetum setaseum . 22 A Goodbye, Hello and Thank You from Maureen Decombe . 25 New Water Conservation Senate Bill Introduced . .26 Chapter Board Holds First 2017 Meeting . 27 Platinum Sponsor Rain Bird Presents New Products . 29 Members in the News . .30 Watershed-Approach Designer Plant Picks: 65 Superstars . 31 Welcome New Members . 35 Landscape Events and Classes Around California . 36 Meet the Newsletter Staff . 37 Contributors to the March Issue . 38 Cover: Garden design and photograph by Anne Weinberger APLD California Chapter Newsletter Call for entries APLD Postcard OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2016 Each year APLDCA creates a postcard to get SANTA FE Earthly Gifts From the word out to the public about the benefits Land, Sky, and Time of using an APLD designer . We are looking for an image for the 2017 postcard, to feature the The 2016 APLD conference enchanted and embraced watershed-approach to gardening . If you would APLD California Chapter members and friends like one of your gardens to be considered, please Impressions from this year’s email your photo to [email protected] by conference cohort March 31, 2017 . Can you name these APLD leaders? Answers start on page 3. Did you miss the October edition of the APLDCA newsletter? Link to October Newsletter Cover Photos: Debbie Gliksman 1 Postcard for 2015 2 From the Chapter President Linda Middleton, APLD On January 31 and February 1, I had the honor of presiding over the California Chapter board meeting for the first time . As I looked around the room, I saw five past Chapter presidents, all devoted to continuing their volunteer efforts for APLD . At the district level, there was Janet Enright, now serving as Bay Area District president, and Mary Fisher, APLD, continuing her service this year as Bay Area programs co-chair . On the Chapter board, Maureen Decombe is now sustainability chair, Laura Morton, APLD, continues as sponsorship chair, Amelia Lima, APLD, is our advocacy chair, and Mary Fisher, APLD, holds the post of immediate past president . I have very big shoes to fill, and it looks like I won’t be retiring any time soon . As a volunteer with APLD for many years, I’ve been privileged to see these women work diligently to advance the practice of landscape design in California . They’ve been steadfast in their focus on moving our organization forward, and APLD members have all benefitted greatly . We have formed many new partnerships with ecologically minded organizations, made enormous strides in eliminating the use of invasive plants, defined and advocated for our right to practice, and delivered a wealth of educational opportunities up and down the state . As an APLD member, your time and investment in continued education earns you the title of professional landscape designer . APLD workshops and tours, sponsors’ product highlights, local programming, newsletters, industry announcements, and conferences make it easy for you to enrich your expertise and stay informed . Visit our calendar often . It is chock full of APLD and non-APLD programming and events . Who knows? You may find a new passion . We’ll be marching through 2017 with new (and old) challenges, so join me as I lace up my shoes and walk in the company of the inspiring leaders who have carried APLD so far down the road of professional accomplishment and recognition . Linda Middleton, APLD President, APLD California Chapter 3 Watershed Approach Permeates Trade Shows and Inspires Business Model Janet Enright welcomes visitors to the APLD booth at NorCal. Janet Enright welcomes visitors to the APLD booth at the NorCal trade show. Photo © Anne Weinberger APLD made a splash in Northern California this look at dazzling plant displays from some of their February, with booths at both the EcoLandscape favorite growers and nurseries . Devil Mountain Conference & Trade Show, February 11 in Wholesale Nurseries displayed the show-stopping Stockton, and the NorCal Landscape & Nursery Aloe variegata ‘Gator’, and Mountain States Show, February 16 in San Mateo . Wholesale Nursery caused some heart palpitations Demonstrating how the watershed approach with its latest Hesperaloe parviflora introduction— to landscaping can be made available to a wide the romantic coral-pink ‘Desert Flamenco’™ . variety of homeowners, Bay Area APLD member Attendees had the chance to explore offerings Deva Luna offered EcoLandscape attendees a from across the spectrum of the landscape presentation on her successful business model industry, from suppliers of lighting and irrigation for front lawn replacement . Called the “Natural equipment to statuary and pottery . Lyngso Front Yard,” it’s a streamlined solution for clients Garden Materials laid out a virtual kaleidoscope looking for gardens that are both sustainable and of hardscape selections, and SPJ Lighting made a practical . (See our interview with Deva on page 6) . handsome show of its mod yet timeless collection An enthusiastic contingent of APLD members of streamlined geometric path lights . trekked to the NorCal show, getting a first-hand Renowned Oregon landscape architect Owen 4 Photo © Mountain States Wholesale NurseryWholesale © Mountain States Photo Aloe variegata ‘Gator’ Photo © Anne Weinberger Hesperaloe parviflora ‘Desert Flamenco®’ When you get to page 28 in the newsletter, Dell gave an impassioned lecture on watershed- you will be rewarded with a list of 65 plants friendly landscaping . Pointing out the wide variety that APLD designers recommend. So please of helpful practices, from permeable paving and read on. Link to Designer Plant Picks percolation chambers to rain gardens, swales and green roofs, Dell emphasized the importance of keeping water on site and delivering it to plants, rather than sending it out to the street . For both the EcoLandscape and NorCal shows, Mary Fisher, APLD, created a Watershed Approach Designer Plant Picks handout featuring 65 plants recommended by 13 Bay Area District members . They went like hotcakes . As the watershed approach becomes the new standard for landscape design throughout California, APLD will continue to play a vital role in promoting its benefits . and its beauty . 5 Landscape Design for the Rest of Us How EarthCare Landscaping Turned Front Yard Garden Design into a Thriving and Profitable Green Business Deva Luna Interviewed by Tina Roushall Deva Luna Tina Roushall APLD Bay Area District Sustainability Chair Tina This is how I met Ryan Marlinghaus, who at the time was Roushall sat down with Deva Luna of EarthCare the owner of EarthCare Landscaping, Inc . Ryan was one Landscaping, Inc., to discuss “Natural Front Yards”— of the organizers of the summit and a speaker . His pre- a design and installation program developed by sentation thrilled me . I was inspired and knew that sus- EarthCare to serve clients who are looking for an tainability was something I wanted to pursue . My next economical and simple way to convert their lawns steps evolved naturally . into thriving natural gardens. Coincidentally, I learned through a colleague in the field of nonviolent communication (another of my in- TINA: Your company, EarthCare Landscaping, Inc., terests), that the plant buyer for EarthCare was leaving . has been a leader in sustainable landscaping for al- I went out and followed Dan, the plant buyer, around . most twenty years. What led you to this career, and They said “we should hire you,” and that was that . Be- to EarthCare? cause it was a small company, I got a chance to see and work on all parts of it . Over time, my role evolved from DEVA: I knew I wanted to be involved with both plants plant buyer to my current role . I’m still there, and Ryan and people . I had a degree in plants and art from UC has moved on to other things, but his influence is still a Davis, raised my family, volunteered, and was not in the strong factor in the company . Ryan put a lot of thought workforce . Then I got divorced and went back to school into building a sustainable landscape company from at Foothill College in Los Altos . I was intrigued to see the ground up . that lots of the horticulture stuff I remembered from UC Davis had not changed much, and this was a good sign TINA: What were some of EarthCare’s early innova- that I was ready to pursue something that already held tions, and how has the company’s approach evolved? my interest and drew from my background . This was in early 2000-2001 . DEVA: Early on, Ryan held a strong vision when no one else had it . He and Sherri Osaka, ALA, and Stephanie TINA: This is a path many take. They leave one career Curtis started the Sustainable Landscaping Roundtable, and find “the Foothill path,” making a transition. which evolved out of the 2001 summit . They met as col- leagues, and all kinds of good things came out of that . DEVA: CLCA (the California Landscape Contractors As- I recently had lunch with Stephanie Curtis for a three- sociation) put on a contest asking “What’s your favorite hour catch up . Having that network of other colleagues plant, and why?” I entered, won the contest, and got to when you are feeling lonely about what you’re doing is go to the CLCA Sustainable Landscape Summit for free .