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ALD in the News
Allen Land Design is the proud recipient of the 2007 California Landscape Contractors' Association (CLCA) State Trophy Excelsior Award for our design build work at the Piziali home in Franz Valley(above photo).
CLCA's mission is to encourage public interest in landscaping, recognize the craftsmen who produce outstanding landscapes with superior workmanship, and to bestow public recognition on companies, municipalities and residents for their participation in creating a more beautiful California.
North Bay Business Journal has named Allen Land Design on its list of top North Bay landscape contractors. |
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LOSE YOUR LAWN |
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For most people the reality of growing and maintaining a lawn is much more difficult than they had imagined. Not only does a lawn use an inordinate amount of water, there's also the frequent cutting and fertilization to consider. So why not lose your lawn altogether, replacing it with an attractive, creative and unique alternative?
One thing you might consider is getting rid of your grass and planting an edible garden instead. You can create a very attractive and delicious space where your lawn once was, featuring such delectable delights as fruit trees, various vegetables, a wide range of herbs, edible flowers and foliage. This type of garden has a multitude of benefits.
Besides looking attractive, it also helps you become more self-sufficient, and there's nothing quite as delicious or as healthy as a garden fresh piece of fruit or vegetable, especially when you grow it yourself.
Or why not transform your unused lawn into your very own sculpture garden? Start out with a few pieces of art, some strategically placed benches and complimentary plants and you've created a restful oasis where an expanse of green once stood.
Meandering paths with plenty of spots to sit and reflect make a sculpture garden a great choice for those of us who could use a place of quiet meditation to escape from the rest of the world. As an added bonus, this type of garden uses minimal water and requires very little upkeep.
Another alternative to a thirsty lawn is going native. Group drought-resistant native plants where your lawn once was, and compliment them with rock and other materials and you'll see your water bill shrink significantly. Native plants come in a very wide range of colors and they require very little water once they're established.
We have a special gift for all of our clients who are willing to take the plunge and Lose their Lawn this fall: a 15 gallon olive tree installed free of charge as our gift to you. |
| FENG SHUI IN THE GARDEN |
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 The Element of Wood
Good feng shui in your garden allows energy, or Chi, to flow in a positive way because all five elements are present and in balance. Wood can be represented either by living woody plants, simple garden furniture or structures, or natural pieces of wood (such as driftwood or redwood burls) which are strategically placed throughout the garden. However you choose to introduce the element of wood into your outdoor space, take care to place it in restful and serene locations. Wood not only represents rebirth and rejuvenation, but is also associated with two important areas in our lives that most people find important to their own well-being: family and wealth. |
| FEATURED PLANT |
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Purple Smoke Tree
(Cotinus coggygria)
Evergreen: No
Flowers: Grayish purple wispy flowers that look like smoke when in bloom
Blooms: Summer, with scarlet flowers in fall
Size: 8'-12' high and 6'-12' wide
Hardy: to minus 30�F
Exposure: Full sun
Maintenance level: Low |
| PURPLE SMOKE TREE |
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Dear ,
 "To make a great garden one much have a great idea or a great opportunity."
- Sir George Sitwell
And right now we have both! Allen Land Design is excited about the possibilities the current water shortages have provided. Combined with our excellent design capabilities and ideas, we are launching a Lose Your Lawn campaign! Find out more about creating a beautiful earth-friendly alternative to your thirsty and underused lawn below. We believe so strongly that losing your lawn is a great idea for many people that we're offering a free gift to those clients willing to give it a shot - a complimentary 15 gallon olive tree installed for you free of charge.
"Plant grapes for your children. Plant olives for your grandchildren."
So the saying goes; however, Allen Land Design is in our 9th year of olive harvesting and oil pressing and our children are having a BLAST! At our annual Harvest Party it is their job to receive the buckets full of olives and dump them into the bins at the back of the trucks. That, combined with music, bocce ball, a bonfire, lots of friends and family, and topped off with a hearty harvest feast, makes it one fun day! It's become a wonderful tradition and we didn't even have to wait for grandchildren to enjoy it!
Enjoy this beautiful colorful season and all the cool clear nights that go with it! And let us know if we can help you plant some olive trees in your front garden so you can start your own harvest traditions!
Sincerely,
Anne-Marie Allen and Jeff Allen
Allen Land Design
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IN THE FIELD
WITH TEAM FOREMAN EFRAIN PALOMINOS |
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 Efrain Palominos has been with Allen Land Design for nearly ten years and has been working as a team foreman for four years. He talked to us about his role at ALD.
How do you transform the designers' ideas into an actual working project? One of the most important things I have to do is to listen to the clients, the designers and my crew members because any one of them could have a brilliant idea or a better way of doing something. Then I have to figure out the order of doing everything and assemble the materials we need for the job.
How do you keep the project flowing ? I generally work with the same three guys all the time and we all know our jobs well. One of us is responsible for the clean up at the end of the day, so he stays on top of that as we work. Another guy is responsible for making sure the irrigation system is working perfectly, so he is paying close attention to that all the time. Another thing we do is to really think the project all the way through and order everything we need in advance. It's my job to think of all the details and to make sure the job is done right.
How important is good communication in your role as a kind of liaison between the designers and clients? Good communication is key to keeping our customers happy. It's important to me to involve the clients as much as possible and I will then take their ideas to the designers and discuss ways to best do the job.
What do you like about your job? I truly love my job! I love the work we do and this is such a great company to work for. I feel like my bosses and coworkers are all part of my family. I also like that I am learning things every day.
Have you seen changes in the things clients are asking for in the past ten years? People are more concerned about water use. I think that within the next ten years people will be using drip irrigation almost exclusively.
What is your main goal in your life? To always be honest and do a good job. |
| MEET THE TEAM |
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Team Foreman David Sawyer
What do you love about your job?
I love creating something beautiful and watching landscapes mature and grow.
What was your favorite project?
The whole Crane project was a huge challenge and I love making bocce courts. They are beautiful and functional.
What's your biggest on-the-job challenge?
It's the details. So often you see only certain things when you're very involved in a project, so you have to stand back and remove yourself from it to see the details.
What have you learned working at ALD?
Every day I learn something new.
What's your favorite pastime?
Hiking.
Any words of wisdom to share?
Have goals for yourself and try to achieve those goals every day. If you strive hard and never give up, your goals will be realized. |
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IN THE GARDEN
With Anne-Marie Allen |
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 How does one choose art for the garden?
Just like choosing art for your home it is a matter of taste and style, garden art can be as subtle or as grand as you desire. I would say it is less risky to play with your choices of most art in the garden, as it is secondary to the landscape whereas art placed inside your home is more of a focal point.
Do you prefer garden art to be subtle or to make a definite statement? I will speak for myself in saying that I love to be surprised by an interesting object tucked into the foliage. One of my favorite objects in a garden is a mirror. If placed in the right spot it can be very magical, almost like peeking into a different world, because it will reflect something that is not in that immediate plant palette. If you angle it just a bit it will catch the sky as well. However, we just finished a beautiful sculpture garden using golden colored gravel, a few specimen plants and some very interesting art pieces and I liked the simplicity very much.
 Is it best to come up with a theme first or can a variety of styles work in a single garden? Once more it's a matter of choice and will also depend on your style of garden. An old watering can planted with nasturtiums may look perfect next to the vegetable garden, but that same "piece of art" would look pretty hokey next to an infinity edge pool, black stones and modern furniture - which obviously calls for pink flamingos. | |
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