Orange County - Los Angeles - Landscape and Swimming Pool Design Blog

Spring is the Perfect Time to Spruce Up Your Garden

solenala — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 20:53:05 +0000

Say goodbye to the rainy days and to the cold winter nights. Hello spring, how we’ve missed you! If you’re like most people, your home and garden are looking pretty dull right now.

Now is the perfect time to put the color back in your garden and do the pruning and fertilizing that your yard needs at this crucial time of year. Performing this maintenance now will insure a beautiful garden in the summer.

Best Regards,

Distinctive Landscapes for the Finest Homes

438 Main Street, Suite #210 | Huntington Beach, CA 92648

PH: 714-960-8955 | FAX: 714-960-8951

info@solenalandscape.com

www.SolenaLandscape.com

Summer Weather Makes Us Think of Swimming Pools

solenala — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 17:51:33 +0000

With this wonderful weather we are having it makes us think of all the great pools that we have constructed and all the summertime fun that comes with it.

If you are interested in having a Fourth of July pool party, keep in mind that pools typically take 3 months to complete. Now would be a good time to get started on the design. Give us a call to get the design process started.

Best Regards,

Distinctive Landscapes for the Finest Homes

438 Main Street, Suite #210 | Huntington Beach, CA 92648

PH: 714-960-8955 | FAX: 714-960-8951

info@solenalandscape.com

www.SolenaLandscape.com

Life of Flowers

solenala — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 19:39:04 +0000

Happened upon a video showing various flowers in bloom in fast action. Thought it was beautiful and wanted to share it with you. Hope you enjoy!

Best Regards,

Distinctive Landscapes for the Finest Homes

438 Main Street, Suite #210 | Huntington Beach, CA 92648

PH: 714-960-8955 | FAX: 714-960-8951

info@solenalandscape.com

www.SolenaLandscape.com

How to Create Your Ultimate Backyard Paradise: 8 Insider Secrets

solenala — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 21:29:47 +0000

The principal designer of Solena Landscape, Mitch Kalamian, is not only a talented designer of outdoor spaces; he is also an author having penned a guide to smooth the progress of creating the ultimate outdoor paradise.

The guide, entitled “How to Create Your Ultimate Outdoor Paradise: 8 Insider Secrets Every Homeowner Considering Investing in a Major Landscape Project Must Know!”, walks consumers step-by-step through the sometimes-intimidating process of planning a landscaping project. This is a “must-read” for homeowners BEFORE they start the process.

Some of the topics addressed in the guide include:

Budget: what should it be and what affects it?
How to get a top designer to design your project for “free”.
Contracts: what makes a “win-win” contract? 6 important tips you need to know.
The one thing you never want to say to a landscape designer.
The 4 important steps to creating your outdoor paradise…what options you need to consider.
Landscape “architect” vs. “designer”…are design/build firms a better choice?
Choosing the right landscape designer/contractor…what do you need to consider? Does your contractor need to be licensed?

Homeowners are encouraged to complete a series of worksheets at the back of the guide that address: the planning process, budget, how to choose a new service provider and contracts. Completion of these worksheets will arm homeowners with the information they need to interview designers/contractors with confidence and make the right choices for their project.

The beginning of the year is a great time to start the design process of your landscape project for you to be able to enjoy it by summertime.

If interested in obtaining a copy, please fill out the form in the Bookstore section of our website or click here to go directly to the site. You may also contact us at 714.960.8955 to request a copy.

Best Regards,

Distinctive Landscapes for the Finest Homes

438 Main Street, Suite #210 | Huntington Beach, CA 92648

PH: 714-960-8955 | FAX: 714-960-8951

info@solenalandscape.com

www.SolenaLandscape.com

Collecting Rainwater.

solenala — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 23:21:33 +0000

With the rain season coming up, thought it prudent to take some time to inform you of the benefits of collecting rainwater for reuse.

While it is easy to turn on the faucet and have clean water to use, by collecting water from nature you will find that your water bill is lowered and your plants healthier. You can easily harvest rainwater by installing a rain chain, a rain barrel or cistern to collect the rainwater. Rain chains are attached to the down spout of the rain gutter and guide the water that gets collected in the rain gutter to a container that has the end of it placed in it. Rain barrels can be as utilitarian as a large garbage can placed in place to catch rain water or as decorative as a faux rock looking barrel. If using a large garbage can, you can attach some sort of spout to the bottom of it to access the water. Cisterns are the most complex of the bunch and may need a handyman/contractor to set one up.

Examples of rain chain, rain barrel and cistern

Harvesting rainwater allows you to not be dependent upon the water provided to you. Rainwater, when collected directly from the sky into a barrel, does not have added chemicals or pollutants, which plants and crops respond better to. Watering your indoor and outdoor plants with soft rainwater promotes growth and health. Also, soil erosion and flooding is reduced as the water is collected in barrels rather than dispersed into the ground that cannot handle the concentration of water.

All in all, this is a simply way to be green without having to expend much effort. If you are interested in having a rain collecting system installed or for more information, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Best Regards,

Distinctive Landscapes for the Finest Homes

438 Main Street, Suite #210 | Huntington Beach, CA 92648

PH: 714-960-8955 | FAX: 714-960-8951

info@solenalandscape.com

www.SolenaLandscape.com

Time to give thanks…

solenala — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 21:32:36 +0000

With schedules filling up with holiday events, gifts to plan and purchase and relatives coming in for a visit, the holidays can become a whirlwind of activity and before you know it its the new year with spring right around the corner. As the holidays get into full swing, in the hustle and bustle we forget to be grateful for the little things and be appreciative of the people in our lives. With this in mind, I wanted to take some time to thank the foundation of Solena Landscape. These are the guys who, day in and day out, are in the field, digging, trenching, building, planting and whatever else needs to be done to make sure the project is a masterpiece. They are, in my humble opinion, some of the hardest working guys I have known and am proud to be part of the Solena family with them.

We have added a ‘About the Crew’ section in the newest version of a book we put out titled Distinctive Landscapes of Southern California to thank and acknowledge the hard work and great attitude the crew brings to each and every work day.

Below are pages from the ‘About the Crew’ section.

To see the full page version, please click Distinctive Landscapes- The Crew

Wishing everyone the merriest of holidays!

Distinctive Landscapes for the Finest Homes

438 Main Street, Suite #210 | Huntington Beach, CA 92648

PH: 714-960-8955 | FAX: 714-960-8951

info@solenalandscape.com

www.SolenaLandscape.com

SOLENA LANDSCAPE IS ORANGE COUNTY’S NUMBER 1 (GREEN) LANDSCAPE COMPANY…

solenala — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 19:47:04 +0000

Here are 5 easy tips to landscape smart in your yard:

1.) Use native plant material

With the ever-increasing mindset of living a ‘green’ lifestyle, succulents have become a ‘trendy’ material to use in the yard. Succulents are an easy to care for native plant, requiring not much water to grow. They are surprisingly diverse in color, shape, form, texture and blooms making them a great material to use in both large and small areas.

2.) Capture rainwater to reuse from your rain gutters and downspouts

Place a container or rain barrel underneath the downspout and/or rain gutter and collect rainwater to use to irrigate your yard.

3.) Cut back on watering times

With the weather cooling down, you only need to be watering your lawn 5-7 minutes two times a week and your shrubs once a week.

4.) Mow your lawn every other week throughout the winter

5.) Compost

Applying compost to your yard provides nutrients to the plants and improves drainage and moisture absorption of the soil. It can be applied to your garden, flowerbeds, around trees, and even on your lawn. Start your own compost pile by combining leftover organic material such as: lawn trimming, coffee grounds, banana peels, etc (To find out what materials are and are not good for composting go to the ). Compost is ready when it smells earthy, looks dark, and is relatively crumbly. Be sure to keep your composting pile where animals can’t access it easily.

If you would like more information, please contact us in the office.

Best Regards,

Distinctive Landscapes for the Finest Homes

438 Main Street, Suite #210 | Huntington Beach, CA 92648

PH: 714-960-8955 | FAX: 714-960-8951

info@solenalandscape.com

www.SolenaLandscape.com

Breaking Ground on the ‘Olive Garden Amphitheater’ !

solenala — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 23:02:34 +0000

This past week Solena broke ground on the landscaping for the Armenian Church of the Desert in Rancho Mirage. Given my heritage, I am very proud to be a part of this project and am one step closer to seeing the ‘Olive Garden Amphitheater’ that I designed come to fruition. This space would serve as a garden setting for weddings and the annual Kebab Picnic and feature a grape arbor, fruiting Olive trees and a gazebo.

[[Show as slideshow]]

Best Regards,

Distinctive Landscapes for the Finest Homes

438 Main Street, Suite #210 | Huntington Beach, CA 92648

PH: 714-960-8955 | FAX: 714-960-8951

info@solenalandscape.com

www.SolenaLandscape.com

Start of another great project!

solenala — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 19:22:33 +0000

The homeowners felt that the outdoor space needed to be modified to better suit their family’s needs. The existing back yard was not conducive to them being able to lounge, with no area for the children to play. Watch as Mitch explains the design layout and the thought process behind the design.

Best Regards,

Distinctive Landscapes for the Finest Homes

438 Main Street, Suite #210 | Huntington Beach, CA 92648

PH: 714-960-8955 | FAX: 714-960-8951

info@solenalandscape.com

www.SolenaLandscape.com

Exiciting beginning of a new Mediterranean Paradise!

solenala — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 20:20:23 +0000

Watch as Mitch explains what goes on during the exciting first day of construction at new project. With a space for a large dining set by a custom fountain, to an elevated living/lounge area with a custom fireplace overlooking the pool and spa.. The design is going to be a Mediterranean style entertainers delight! Currently at the tail end of demolition and in the process of measuring out the plan onsite, to verify best use of space. A lot of times what looks great on paper doesn’t necessarily pan out the same way in real life. Always important to plot out what has been designed in the field to make sure the design is maximizing the space available.

Best Regards,

Distinctive Landscapes for the Finest Homes

438 Main Street, Suite #210 | Huntington Beach, CA 92648

PH: 714-960-8955 | FAX: 714-960-8951

info@solenalandscape.com