reprinted from the Daily Om

Everything You Do MattersThe Ripple Effect
In a world of six billion people, it’s easy to believe that the only way to initiate profound transformation is to take extreme action. Each of us, however, carries within us the capacity to change the world in small ways for better or worse. Everything we do and think affects the people in our lives, and their reactions in turn affect others. As the effect of a seemingly insignificant word passes from person to person, its impact grows and can become a source of great joy, inspiration, anxiety, or pain. Your thoughts and actions are like stones dropped into still waters, causing ripples to spread and expand as they move outward. The impact you have on the world is greater than you could ever imagine, and the choices you make can have far-reaching consequences. You can use the ripple effect to make a positive difference and spread waves of kindness that will wash over the world. Should the opportunity arise, the recipient of a good deed will likely feel compelled to do a good deed for someone else. Someone feeling the effects of negative energy will be more likely to pass on that negative energy. One act of charity, one thoughtful deed, or even one positive thought can pass from individual to individual, snowballing until it becomes a group movement or the ray of hope that saves someone’s life. Every transformation, just like every ripple, has a point of origin. You must believe in your ability to be that point of origin if you want to use the ripples you create to spread goodness. Consider the effect of your thoughts and actions, and try to act graciously as much as possible. A smile directed at a stranger, a compliment given to a friend, an attitude of laughter, or a thoughtful gesture can send ripples that spread among your loved ones and associates, out into your community, and finally throughout the world. You have the power to touch the lives of everyone you come into contact with and everyone those people come into contact with. The momentum of your influence will grow as your ripples moves onward and outward. One of those ripples could become a tidal wave of positivity.
What do you think?

How to create drought tolerant, organic and sustainable landscape

What I’m noticing with my maintenance clients, now more than ever, is a request to use no chemicals in their yards what-so-ever. They have pets or children and they’re concerned about them picking up and ingesting any poisons. Interestingly enough, no one usually mentions concern for the environment, however, the Earth will most certainly benefit from this trend. What I’m noticing with my landscape clients, is a request for a design that is low maintenance and includes drought tolerant plants. Quite a few times this year, we took out the grass completely and replaced it with plants. In this article, I would like to combine these two trends and add one of my own- Let’s make the landscape sustainable. Sustainable in my mind means you’ve planted a landscape that is compatible with your environment and is able to stay healthy without chemicals.
First Let’s Talk Drought Tolerant.
In Southern California, we are most fortunate to have a terrific, milder climate year round. Living here allows us to select plants that once mature, do well with minimal water. If you choose to use weed cloth, mulch and install a drip irrigation system, even better! (Give the plants one full year of regular watering before cutting back.) The plant selection list is huge including natives such as Salvias and succulents, to Australian Flaxes, ornamental grasses and staples such as Juniper, Pittosporum and Hawthorne.
On to Organic Gardening
If you think of landscape as the human body, it’s easier to explain the concept of organic gardening. If you want a health body, you know that a nutritionally sound diet is essential. It’s the same with nature. Healthy soil grows healthy plants. When you feed the life in the soil, the microorganisms help fertilize, generate carbon-dioxide, dissolve mineral nutrient from rock, decomposing thatch and other organic matter into valuable nutrients and humus as well as control lawn pests and disease. Humus increases the soil’s ability to absorb and retain water, among other things. Organic soil enhancements will also reduce pests and disease, just like a human that enjoys a healthy diet. These essential processes are not possible using synthetic, water soluble fertilizers or amendments.
With chemical gardening, the soil organisms die out because organic matter is not replaced. Plant cell walls have weaker development, making it softer and more appealing for pests and disease. Nearly all chemical fertilizers are loaded with salt that contributes to nutrient deficient soil. Water soluble Phosphorous run off from commercial fertilizers creates algae blooms which results in fish kills, plus it pollutes our lakes, streams and oceans. There are a reported 50,000 home pesticide poisonings each year.
Pests, Disease and Weeds
Of the millions of kinds of insects in the world, less than 2% are harmful. Chemicals harm beneficial insects more than unwanted pests. Just think for a second about how you’re changing the balance of your eco-system by using chemicals. Home remedies are less expensive, not toxic and just as effective as chemicals. If you have to use a pesticide, use a product like a horticultural soap or oil. You can Google any remedy for anything now-a-days. First, see if your problem is a symptom of a poor growing condition and then take steps to rectify the situation. FYI: Typically, our soil is high in alkaline. A soil test will determine your soil’s ph and nutrient levels. You will then know if you need to adjust these levels to grow a healthy landscape. Pests and disease will not attack a healthy plant if there’s an unhealthy one readily available. An imbalance in the soil’s Ph and nutrient levels as well as bare spots in the lawn will help weeds to grow,
Finally, Planting a Sustainable Garden
If you’re growing an organic garden, it’s easy to attract beneficial insects such as ground beetles, ladybugs, green lacewings, praying mantis, spiders and wasps that help keep unwanted pests away. Beneficial Nematodes feed on a wide variety of insect pests including grubs, fungi and bacteria in the soil.
Plant flowering plants (for the nectar and pollen), including herbs, such as Marigold, Daisies, Peonies, Buddleia, Alyssum, and Lavender. Different kinds of plants with varying textures, heights and colors work well together by creating a “smorgasbord” for the good guys to feed on.
Check into companion planting. These are just a few examples: Lavender repels white fly, fleas and moths. Plant Feverfew to get rid of aphids. Chives help prevent scab off apple trees and keeps aphids and block spot off roses. Yarrow is said to increase the production of essential oils in other herbs. Sage produces chemicals in their leaves that repel flying insects. www.learntogrow.com is a great website for valuable information.

Food for Thought

"No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it." Albert Einstein.

Manifestation in a Nutshell

I'm detouring from landscaping, in a way, to write what I've learned about manifestation since "The Secret" phenomenon exploded.
1. If you believe that you have the ability to manifest your reality, then you have to own that you created everything about your past too.
2. Once you accept your part in creating/attracting everything, you will have to take responsibility, even if you don't understand why, and therefore cannot be a victim of anything.
3. Forgive it all. Especially yourself. Find gratitude that you had the experiences and Let It Go. Any energy focusing on the past keeps it alive and is pointless and can hold you back. The only thing you have is now. Thank you Eckhart Tolle.
4.Once you realize you attract everything, your mindset must change too. Once you know you create your own experiences, believing in an idea without a shadow of a doubt is the only thing you need to focus on. The how and when is up to the universe (Spirit has veto power) and you have to trust that it is so.
5. Find peace in your heart and mind. Slow down and focus on only positive energy. Joy, love, happiness, gratitude etc. This raises your vibrational frequency which matches that of the Universe. When you feel anxious, fearful etc, understand why, then take steps to eliminate the cause. Resistence caused by negative thoughts/emotions will block attracting anything you are trying to create. Meditate, read, nurture yourself (tend your garden!), it's not wasted time.
6. Core limiting beliefs will hold you back just as much as growing in awareness will move you forward. The internal dialogue must match the external dialogue.
I have the pleasure to be able to help people create harmony and balance in their garden. I hope they use the nurturing, healing energy from their gardens to find harmony and balance within themselves. Nice Segway.
Namaste

Landscaping on a budget, in the Fall

Now might actually be a great time to landscape your garden. Nurseries should be having sales and even if the foliage and flower production is slow this time of year, there will be root growth, so that when Spring comes, the plants will take off. If you're thinking holiday budget and not landscape budget, you can always buy plants in smaller sized containers. This helps keep costs down.

Home Remedies

Using home remedies for lawn and plant disease is the safest, cheapest and easiest way to go. Googling the specific problem should give you the remedy. Or...ask me!

It's Fall in Southern California!

Ahh the Santa Ana winds. Nature's enema. Everything's blowing today! The air is incredibly fresh and the sky clear. The leaves turning color take my breath away. I found some miniature roses that have both yellow and pink buds on them, some are salmon. They're wild to look at as one plant. I am grateful I get to do what I love. In what way does Nature nurture you?

Freshening up your planters

The easiest way to freshen up your planters is to put down mulch/bark. It's great for water conservation, retaining moisture in the soil (this is the first time water retention is a good thing!) and weed control. If this is the first time you're putting it down, it's helpful to put weed cloth down first. If you don't, the odds are better that the bark will compost right into the soil and you'll get some weeds through anyway.

Marilyn Barrett quote

Marilyn Barrett, a psychotherapist and photographer, shares the pleasures of tending her garden.
She states:
“Planting a garden is an act of optimism. When you plant a seed, you put hope in the ground. Your trust is in the future when there is no present sign that life will come.” As we take care of our gardens, we are nourishing our souls in a greater appreciation of the abundance of life.

The cycles of Nature are not unlike human cycles. Birth and death. Friendships, loved ones, come and go. In the Winter, we tend to go dormant and then awaken in the Spring. Understanding that these cycles are a part of who we are, creates an easier path for allowing this natural process to be.

I have a client who has made really wonderful succulent arrangements in pots to give her small back yard some interesting focal points. These plants stay small, no maintenance, and require little water. How easy is that?

Making Herb Oils

There's a chance your home-made herb oils can get ecoli or botulism if not used within 2-3 weeks, even refridgerated. Pre-treat the herbs prior to making the oil. You can Google how to avoid the bacteria and takes steps to prevent it.

Irrigation Water Conservation

I wouldn't cut back on days until we're into Winter. (3 days a week for Ventura and is it still 2 days a week for L.A.?) But...If you're having trouble staying under your tier, with the shorter days and cooler nights, I would cut back on time per station.

Fall/Winter fertilizing

I wanted to remind everyone that if you have a type of grass that goes dormant in the Winter ie: Bermuda, St. Augustine or Kikuyu, resist the temptation to fertilize to green it up now and just let it do it's thing. Wait until early Spring and then fertilize.

Winter Wonderland

I've noticed that we tend to follow the cycles of nature and tend to want to go dormant in the winter too. If you notice you aren't going out as much as the days are getting shorter and colder, I wanted to encourage everyone to create an indoor sacred space for themselves. I have a kitchen window that has plants and acorns and Sycamore leaves and it gives me joy every time I do the dishes. A minor miracle at that! I've brought some of nature inside to distract me and give me it's healing energy.

Nurtured by Nature

When you are in balance, you know it. Life just flows. But... how often does that happen? Serendipity? Synchronicity? Manifestation? What ever you want to call it, being in balance is a constant process we need to focus on and be aware of what that means to each of us. I use nature, my work as a landscape designer and the energy of the stones and crystals I use when I make my jewelry. Exercise and meditation are both terrific too. I read this great book called "Why Walk When You Can Fly" by Isha. I would definitely recommend it. If you chose to read it, let me know what you thought about it.

Gifts from the Garden

This is a great time of the year to take a look at what you have in your garden that you can make into gifts for the holidays! I have made herb oils using Basil and Rosemary, potpourri using Lavender and Rose petals, and wreaths using Eucalyptus, Golden Rod, Salvia (Mexican Sage), and Purple Fountain Grass. You can use any plants you have growing in your yard right now. These gifts from the heart are really inexpensive to make and can be decorated to personalize any occasion. Good Luck! - Email me with questions.