Santa Monica AltBuild Expo 2011

Last Friday and Saturday, Santa Monica hosted its annual AltBuild Expo.  Here are a few of our favorite exhibitors:

1. Netafim.  If you know us, you know we LOVE their products and have been using Techline since the mid '90s.  They are the leader in efficient sub-surface and on-surface inline drip irrigation.  Their newest product is called Techline EZ.  It is an extremely user friendly drip line requiring minimal parts and experience; perfect for homeowners.  AND (rumor has it) they will be coming out with a recycled dripperline product very soon! 
http://www.netafimusa.com/landscape/products/dripperline

 2.  The Green Station.  These people are revolutionizing the Los Angeles' landscape maintenance industry through more efficient tools.  They were displaying all electric mower, sweeper and blower which are all great for air quality and noise pollution.  (Of course, we all know that the ultimate solution to the plethora of problems that arise with lawn maintenance would be to use turf only when necessary.) 
http://thegreenstationla.com

3.  The ReUse People. At their storage facility in Pacoima, this non profit sells salvaged parts of homes they've dismantled in the LA area.  We can't wait to visit!
http://thereusepeople.org/

4. LA Box Collective.  This group of local furniture makers sources sustainable, salvaged and local wood for their creations.  C'mon, who isn't a sucker for beautiful wood furniture?
http://laboxcollective.wordpress.com/

Keep it Interesting

Here are some photos of one of our Pacific Palisades gardens taken last year...it's fun to see how dramatic a garden can be in such a short amount of time.

March

What was blooming?  Penstemon 'Margarita BOP', Heuchera 'Canyon Belle', Escholzia californica, Carex pansa  (all CA Natives) & Erigeron karvniskianus (native to Mexico).

May

What was blooming?  Achillea 'Terracotta' & 'Moonshine', Stachys byzanitna, Lavandula detnata & Penstemon (still) 

August

What was blooming?  Achillea 'Terra Cotta', Bulbinella 'Hallmark', Stachys byzantina & Lavandula dentata.

February, before

What was blooming?  Not much.

MWD Spring Green Expo

Today, in Downtown LA, the Metropolitan Water District had its Spring Green Expo.  The event dealt with the joys and challenges of gardening in Southern California given our current water restrictions and climate.  Exhibits showed the latest in water conservation technology and speakers included Pamela Bearstler of G3LA (http://www.greengardensgroup.com/), Bart O'Brien of Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden and Christy Wilhelmi of Gardenerd.com.  We absolutely love these people and what they stand for.  It would be wonderful if this event had been on a weekend so professionals and homeowners alike would have been able to attend!