VOTED #1-READERS’ CHOICE 2012 VENTURA COUNTY STAR

We received a pleasantly surprising phone call from the Star newspaper informing us that their readers voted us #1 for the year!

We want to thank all of our clients and those who voted for Larsen Landscape.

Okay, the temperatures have reached the triple digits here in my area even though it is just May. So that brings to mind solutions to

Backyard Pool - Northridge

escape the heat. Of course the first on the list would be the backyard pool. A quick dip in the crystal clear blue waters brings immediate relief from the scorching California sun (which is hotter of course).

Simi Vally - Covered Patio - Pergola

Shade covers also help. Anything that diffuses the sun or keeps it off you. There are many options such as pergola, shade awnings, covered patios which can be designed like an outdoor room complete with ceiling fans and lighting. A pergola  is opened. it allows airflow and filtered sunlight. Your outdoor space can be fitted with misters. A patio misting system will  releases a continuous stream of  mist which evaporates on contact.  So you feel cooler. A mister can actually lower the ambient temperature up to 30° F.

Tiled BBQ in Burbank

Summer is right around the corner and the best of the best are summer family BBQs. Unless you have a family feud, then of course forget the family and just invite your friends. As Americans we love gathers that center around food. Food, friends and fun are what we look forward to and what some of us work to achieve.

We have designed many outdoor kitchens and dining patios. Here are some photos to inspire you and help you plan for your summer of fun! Shade is always an added bonus for the cook so you may want to look into a patio

Covered Patio with Outdoor Kitchen

cover or arbor. It will help keep the chef happy and cooking more often.

I can already taste the fresh corn on the cob roasted in the husk with butter and garlic.

The property has a fair amount of flat land available for landscaping, but all of that area had already been taken up with the pool and the entertainment area, outdoor kitchen and some lawn space for the kids to play. When the request came in for a veggie garden

Hillside Veggie Garden

area, really the only area left was the upper hillside which was large, but too steep to be accessible.

The solution was a customized veggie garden that you see here.  The plants haven’t been put in yet, but I thought the layout and space allocation was interesting enough to warrant photos. The stairs provide access up the hill and the treated timber walls are terraced to allow for walking just below each of the planting areas. The sides of the timbers are waterproofed and have a wire mesh under the soil to keep critters like gophers from tunneling in an munching on the harvest. You may notice may notice one or two weeds if you look carefully, but that is all that came up, even after sitting for approximately six weeks through the rainy season. This is because all the soil in the planters is new potting soil that was screened before it was delivered.

There is also an awesome view from the area of the surrounding hills and valley, much more visible then it is from the house. This

Terraced Garden

alone makes it worth the trip up the hill even if the veggies aren’t ready to be picked yet.

DOES IT WELCOME YOUR GUESTS.

Here are some of my favorite entryways.

Brick Entryway

An entryway to your home can have visual appeal and show guests the way to your front door. You can place your own personal stamp on the entrance to your home. Your entrance is for you too, you should also feel welcome after a long day at work.

Cracked and crumbling concrete send their own message to those who tread

Simi Valley Entryway with Planters

on the path. There are many fixes for the path to your front door. A cohesive look that ties into the face of your home will be the most welcoming.

Front Plantings - Simi Valley

A couple of days ago I drove by two projects that were completed about 15 years ago. Both houses still look really good, and if anything, better than the day they were completed. The plants have all matured and filled in to make a visually complete garden. Quality is important! Sometimes I see things being done on properties (procedures being followed on construction work or plants choices being made, questionable irrigation system components, etc) that almost certainly would cause real problems in the future. I have even noticed this on some of the gardening or do it yourself shows on television.

Our policy is to make an honest attempt to create a landscape that will stand the test of time and even get better. Its sometimes a hard thing to communicate in advance, but a huge amount of work like that is something

Thousand Oaks - Garden with Rock Boarder

most people would rather not want to re-do in the future if they only knew this now.

Our work stands the test of time and we want to acknowledge all our clients who have introduced us to others.

Driveway - Entryway

The driveway of this house was actually laid out in such a way that it also acted as the entry walk to the front door. Since the home builder had used ordinary concrete as the materiel for the driveway, something had to be done to dress it up.

Since the concrete itself was actually in good structural shape, the solution was to cut out portions of the driveway in curved lines allowing for a more interesting pattern of flagstone to be added in certain areas. The rest of the existing plan concrete was stained with several different earth tone color to

Stone Entryway

blend it in with the stone. A high quality oil based clear sealer was then added to enhance and protect the color (both to the stone and stained concrete areas).

An important note on using the oil based sealers for concrete surfaces like driveways, patios and walkways is that it is vital to add a non-skid additive to the sealer before it is applied. Otherwise it cam become very slick when it gets wet.

It made a big improvement on the appearance of the house and I think all the neighbors in the area stopped at least once to look it over.

An oasis is defined as a refuge, a place preserved from surrounding unpleasantness. Having the backyard of your dreams involves personal taste married with function and artistic design. Your yard could be be defined by plantings to make it green, lush and quite

Backyard Patio with Fire pit

or by the pool and view that goes for miles. No matter the point is that it is your yard and place of retreat from the hassles of work and LA traffic.

Your oasis can be a place to gather around a fire pit and enjoy smores or Merlot.  Your oasis can mean a lounge by the pool to soak up the sun, read your next novel or create your next adventure. Opportunities are endless but

Patio with a view

it all comes back to you, your personal tastes, interests and activities. What would your perfect backyard oasis include?

Stone BBQ and Outdoor Fridge

Here are a few ideas of outdoor kitchens and BBQs that may spark your interest. Please note that your outdoor cooking space can be created with a variety of  materials including brick. tile and stone. Its

Brick BBQ - Outdoor Kitchen

your area so it can also be customized with any combination of features and materials. Planning is done with our clients to determine specific needs and taste and of course function.

Enjoy the sun, friends and your BBQ in your own oasis.

Have it done right the first time

Tiled BBQ and Prep Space

Wisteria in full bloom - Moorpark, CA

I was reviewing numerous photographs recently while using my new photo print program to make hard copies. The new program allows me to print up full sheet size photos without boarders which really makes the photos pop. I came across these pictures that I thought you might like.

This one features a Wisteria vine in full bloom. It doesn’t bloom for long but when it does, there are few vines to compare. There is also something about Wisteria that seems to inspires an old world culture to the landscape.

Simi Valley Pool with Water Feature

This pool shot is a project that we were involved in form the beginning and have since done smaller touch up jobs with garden upgrades and some new hardscape features. It is hard to beat the view on this one.

BBQ - Simi Valley

The outdoor kitchen provides seating for at least ten people if there is a party going on.  The bar side has many fixtures, including a beer tap for cold beer on demand.

We really do enjoy designing and building those relaxing, getaway environments for clients to enjoy.