 |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
| SPRING/SUMMER 2008 NEWSLETTER |
|
|
Editor: Margarita Nandy
Assistant Editor: Claudia Moron
Supervising Writer: Tree Williams
Story Board Writers: Nick Williams, Suzanne Manaugh, Tree Williams, Annie Court, Miguel Lara, Scott Jacoby
Contributing Writes: Kenny Vlasak, Adrienne Aiken
|
SPRING IN THE GARDEN 
TODAY'S TIPS
LEFT OUT IN THE DARK !
GREAT VEGETABLE-FLOWER "MARRIAGES" FOR THE SPRING GARDEN
SUMMER IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER
WOLLEMI PINE
NEW PROJECTS FOR 2008
NICK'S PICKS
SPRING ALMANAC
WHAT NWA HAS BEEN UP TO
JUST FOR LAUGH
DANDELION
PLANTAIN
CHOOSING A HOSE
VEGETABLE GARDENS
HERBS
ARCHIVE
|
Welcome
to the Nick Williams Designs E-Newsletter, which we hope you will find
not only informative but enjoyable as well! In this issue you will find
articles on herbs, choosing a hose, spring and summer plantings, and herb
teas. In future issues there will be more gardening tips and techniques,
as well as uselful design ideas and product information--all right here
on our website.
If you would like to be on our e-mailing list to receive updates and information
about new postings, or if you have questions or comments,
send to: maggie@nickwilliamsdesigns.com
|
|
Because of the lack of rainfall this year, it is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT to deep - water our mature trees.
This should be done in addition to the regular irrigation. This should be done by setting a hose near the base of the tree and allowing it to run for several hours at a slow rate. Questions? call us at (818) 996-4010. |
|
 |
|
|
Spring will be here before we know it - but our gardens have certainly taken a bit of a beating from the freezing cold and the torrential downpours of Winter.
IT'S NOT TOO EARLY TO THINK ABOUT SPRING CLEANUP!
Give us a call at Nick Williams and Associates., Inc. to help your garden get off to a good start so that you'll be able to enjoy it. throughout the summer. Here are a few of the services that we can provide for you - Adjust and clean your sprinkler system to ensure the best coverage without wasting water. - Check your low voltage lighting system by replacing bad or broken lights and bulbs. (*BE SURE TO ASK ABOUT OUR LATEST GARDEN LIGHTING DESIGNS!) - Replace Winter color for Summer color. - Fertilize the entire garden with all-purpose fertilizer to get all of the plantings off to a good start for their new growth spurt. - Apply pre-emergent weed control to deal with annual weeds (ie:crabgrass) in lawns. - Prune back, thin out, and clean up planting beds to ensure healthy growing conditions all summer long. - Aerate the packed soil under lawns to cut down on water runoff and help moisturize penetrate to the roots where the water is most needed. - Treat snails, slugs, aphids and mites. - Freshen walkways/paths with bark or gravel as well as adding soil amendments for planting areas. - Clean ponds and water features.
Give us a call for garden Ideas for yourself or your gardener, or...since Nick always loves to visit the gardens we've installed, we'd welcome the opportunity to help you get your garden off to a great start for Spring - so give us a call at (818)996-4010 and let's set up an appointment !
(Write up by: Scott Jacoby)
|
|
|
 |
|
|
- SPRINKLER TIME CLOCKS.
If your time clock has a battery back-up, make sure that you change the battery at the same time you change your smoke detector batteries, both at the start and end of Daylight Savings Time. In the event of a power failure, your system will keep its :Nick Williams" settings and won't reset to the factory setting.
- MY FOUNTAIN ISN'T WORKING !
If your fountains stops working here are a few things you can check. First, see if there is water in the fountain basin. We often put a bubler head in the basin that fills the basin with water when the irrigation system runs. Sometimes, especially in the winter, irrigation systems get turned off, so the fountain basin will not fill. if there is water in the basin check the GFI button, locate the outlet that the fountain is connected to and push the re-set "GFI" button on the plug. If there was a problem with the outlet, pushing the GFI button will re-set it. Finally if your fountain is in a pond, the pump may be clogged with debris. Scoop out the debris and see if that helps. If you don't want to take a "swan dive" into your basin or pond, please give us a call we will check it out.
- FIRE PIT
Here is a full proof method for lighting your firepit that won't have your arm hairs turning black. Take 1/4 of a sheet of paper towel and stuff it between the rocks or place it on top of the lava rock. Light the paper towel, then turn the gas on. The fire pit will light up and your arms will not !
- THERE IS WHITE STUFF ON MY ROCKS !!
Here's "Today's Tips" to give your pool guy. Get a spray bottle and fill it with Smart and Final toilet bowl cleaner. wet the area that has the "white stuff" with water then Spray the liquid on the calcification and take a wire brush and brush it. It may take a few applications but the "white stuff" will come off and your rock will be as good as new.
(write up by: Annie Court)
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Are you tired of seeing broken lights and outdated light fixtures night after night ? Are you unable to enjoy your garden because of the lack of lighting ? Not to worry because NWA's expertise can help you out !!
NWA can maintain and tune up your light fixtures. Even better, NWA can now offer you a choice of designs in walkway and sconce lights. With our stylish new fixtures you can see the light and beyond. For more info go to our collection and click on Lighting so see our most recent designs or call our office so you can start enjoying your new outdoor space with STYLE !!!
(write up by: Miguel Lara)
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Why separate ? Try combining flowers, vegetables and herbs for colorful, edible garden.
*Surround peppers and tomatoes with marigolds, red or yellow zinneas, bedding dahlias, and feverfew. Edge with nastustiums.
*Grow purple eggplant with pink cosmos behind and blue ageratum in front.
*Plant a border with pansis in front, drifts of lettuce and parsley in the center and Persian buttercup behind.
*Use artichokes in accents in a bed of lillies.
(write up by: Tree Williams)
|
|
|
 |
|
|
If the current surface of your pool is smooth plaster, you may want to consider a new plaster technology that most of our clients who have plastered their pools and spas in the past ten years have come to know.
Pebble-Tec brand pool finish is the original pebble finish that delivers enduring natural elegance and durability, conbining beauty with exceptional value.
To change out your pool/spa from it'd smooth plaster finish, the first step is to drain the pool. The next step is to strip down and remove the existing plaster to the gunite layer. Pebble Tec is then applied to the gunite, and the pool is filled with water. The average time from start to finish is less that a week in most cases. Available in a number of colors that compliment our palette nicely, Pebble Tec also carries a twenty-five year guarantee. Check them out at WWW.pebbletec.Com, and give us a call to have Nick come out to meet with you to discuss your options.
(write up by: Suzanne Manaugh)
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Scientiffically known an as Wollemia Nobilis, this is one of the oldest and rarest trees discovered on 1994, in a rainforest gorge in Sydney in the Wollemi National Forest. This pine belongs to the 200 million year old Araucariaceae family. The oldest fossil known is 90 million years old and the wild population is less than 100 mature trees. They can grow up to 130 feet tall and two feet wide. Because it is considered an endangered plant, The Department of Wildlife is not disclosing the exact location, altough you can purchase the trees from National Geographic or through www.Wollemipine.com
(write up by: Maggie Nandy)
|
|
|
 |
|
|
We have a lot of exciting projects coming up this year, so be be sure to keep checking our website through the coming months for more details:
- Wishtoyo Foundation's Nicholas Canyon Chumash Demonstration Village in Malibu, CA. check out Wishtoyo's wbsite at www.wishtoyo.org
- Meditation labyrinth at the Los Angeles Arboretum and Botanical Gardens.
- A new Sunset book exclusively featuring Nick Williams and Associates projects.
(write up by: Nick Williams)
|
|
|
 |
|
|
(Favorites from books to travel)
- Amtrak trips: Take the COAST STARLIGHT to Seattle, WA. or the SOUTHWEST CHIEF to Santa Fe.
- Great hikes through the Santa Monica Mountains at the King Gillette Ranch on Malibu Canyon in Southern California.
- Movies: World's Fastest Indian (2005); Juno (2008) (starring one of our favorite clients!)
- Books: The Wisdom of the Rooms (written by one of our favorite clients - visit his website at: www.wisdomoftherooms.com)
- Kid Activities: Earth Camp (a year-long seasonal nature study, meeting on Saturday, four times per year) - Call Tree for details at (818)996-4010; visit the website www.afaeryhunt.com and book yourself a fun trip through the forest !
- Soul Collage classes - a intuitive soulful experience in self-discovery - call Tree for more info at (818)996-4010.
- Venny Klassics - unique, one of a kind birdhouses for your garden - call Adrienne at (818)996-4010 to find out more.
|
|
|
 |
|
|
- Drought Report:
The rains have come ! but, while beneficial, we have had not enough rain to dramatically change the drought status of the region.
- Here are some tips to help you save water;
* Turn off water when you brush your teeth:
save 3 gallons per day.
* Shorten shower by 1 to 2 minutes:
save 5 gallons per day.
* Fix leaky faucets:
save 20 gallons per day.
* Wash full loads of laundry:
save 15-50 gallons per load.
* Water yard before 8am:
save 15 gallons per day.
* Use a broom to clean walks and driveways:
save 150 gallons each time.
* Check irrigation system for leak/overspray:
save 500 gallons per month.
* Apply organic mulch around plants to reduce
evapiration:
save hundreds of gallons per year.
Call our office for a "Water Check" and also ask about our Spring Maintenance service.
(write up by: Annie Court)
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Here is what we've been up to lately:
* If you happen to be flying Alaska Airlines in the Month of March, check out their in-flight magazine. There will be an article about outdoor rooms showcasing none other than Nick Williams and Associates,
* The office staff went on a field trip to the Huntington Gardens in November 07'. We make these trips on ocassions to bond and to renew our creative inspiration. The Huntington Garden is a fantatic place for the whole family. The newly opened Children's Garden is not to be missed ! Our next scheduled field trip is to San Marcos Nursery, a wholesale nursery brimming with all the new plants coming to the market. We are also planning a stop at Seaside Garden in Carpinteria, CA., a nursery done in the European style.
* Nick designed a space for the Portland Garden Show in February 08'. Photos are coming soon !
* L.A. Garden Show is coming up at the L.A. Arboretum in Arcadia, CA., May 2,3 and 4 of 2008, we'll send out a notice inviting all to come and see our garden space.
* Our work shown in the NEW Sunset Western Garden Book on page #7 and bottom of page #56.
* Look for a picture of one of our gardens in the March 2008 edition of Sunset Magazine on 22!
|
|
|
 |
|
|
- POINTS TO PONDER -
- What happens when you get scared half to death twice ?
- Can vegetarians eat animal crackers ?
- If a parsley farmer is sued, can they garnish his wages ?
* Let us know of any points that YOU ponder by e-mailing them to Tree at: treegreenwoman@AOL.com. If we choose your "points" for the next newsletter, we'll surprise you with an addition for your garden !
(write up by: Tree Williams)
|
|
|
 |
by Tree O'Toole-Williams |
My original thought for this edition's column was to tell you about a few
neat herbs for your summer garden that are available for purchase at the
local nurseries. But I've changed my mind and decided to honor the herbs
that are probably ALREADY in your garden. In these times when we are all
feeling grateful and giving thanks for what we have, I think we should
give proper recognition to two greatly misunderstood and under-appreciated
herbs - dandelion and plantain.
It seems that kids through time have always enjoyed these two herbs -
picking yellow dandelion bouquets for moms, making wishes on the plumed
parachutes of the dandelion seed heads, "shooting" contests
to see who can send their plantain seed heads the furthest by looping
them through the long stems. I wonder what it is that happens as we age
that makes us forget those endearing first connections with the plants?
|
THE DANDELION
The rest of the world and even our American ancestors cherished the power
of the golden dandelion (from the French "dent de lion" - jagged-leafed
"lion's tooth"), but the generous American hearts have yet to
be reacquainted with this old friend.
Besides being a delightful burst of bright color in your lawn, dandelion
is well known and valued as a food and as a medicine. Every part of this
benevolent herb is edible (PROVIDING YOU DO NOT USE DANDELIONS FROM ANY
LAWNS OR FIELDS THAT HAVE BEEN SUBJECTED TO HERBICIDES OR OTHER CHEMICAL
CONTAMINANTS)
The leaves contain iron, potassium, calcium, and vitamins A, B, C, and
D. The young-to-early mature leaves can be eaten raw in salads and sandwiches,
while the older leaves become a bit more bitter and need to be cooked
and prepared like you would spinach (steamed and served with a little
butter - yum!)
The roots (containing Vitamin C) can be roasted to make a tasty decaffeinated
"coffee" (like a cross between coffee and Postum) - just dig
up the largest roots you can find, wash off all the dirt, dry them in
the sun or in the oven at a low heat, grind them in the coffee grinder
and roast them in the oven at 225 degrees F until brown. The roots are
known to filter wastes and toxins from the bloodstream, and also to stimulate
the flow of bile (making it an effective treatment for liver disorders
and toxin filtration). The roots can also be steamed or boiled like parsnips
and eaten or added to stews.
You can soak the flower buds for an hour or two in salted water, drain
them well, then saute them in butter or margarine, or bread and fry them.
And the piece-de-resistance is the fresh dew-covered flowers, carefully
gathered in the early morning, to make for the best-tasting dandelion
wine! (Email me at treegreenwoman@aol.com for my Papa's favorite family
recipe!!)
|
THE PLANTAIN
My other favorite uninvited, but always welcomed, herbal guest is PLANTAIN,
characterized by their long, erect spikes with tiny, brownish yellow/green
seed-y looking flowers and thickish, grooved, oval leaves.
Brought to our country from Europe, the Native Americans gave it the common
name, "White Man's Foot", because it grew around all of the
earliest settlements and continued to follow the European advance of "civilization"
in North America.
The leaves can be eaten like those of the dandelion (young and tender
ones in salads; older leaves steamed or boiled). The leaves can also be
used to treat insect bites (including mosquitoes) and skin wounds - just
take a leaf, mash it between your back teeth a few seconds, then apply
the wet leaf directly on the affected area and in minutes you will find
relief! (I especially like to use plantain for those little black fly
bites).
The seeds and their husks are very small, making their harvesting quite
labor intensive; but for those willing to try... The seeds can be ground
into flour and used as regular flour; they can be soaked in water until
soft and cooked like rice (I recommend seasoning them with honey, butter
or other seasoning). The seeds are also very effective as a natural laxative
and go by the name "psyllium" (silly-um) at health food stores.
So maybe the next time you're standing out in your lawn and you notice
one or both of these herbs paying you a visit, instead of targeting them
with your weed-killing sprayer, you'll opt to invite them in for dinner
- BON APPETITE! |
|
 |
My dad always taught me that good tools
are the key to good work, so here are a few tips on how to shop for a
quality garden tool: the garden hose.
1: Price. Higher priced hoses are more flexible and long-lived than
less expensive hoses.
2: Couplings are also a sign of quality.
3: Flexibility is another sign of quality.
I suggest that you ask if you can undo one of the ties and test 18"
of the hose end. Bend the hose in a "U" shape and slowly bring
the two legs of the "U" together. A high quality hose bends
with little force and makes a tight curve without kinking. A cheap hose
takes more force to bend and kinks readily at the center of a tight curve.
|
| HOW DO YOU PICK THE HOSE YOU NEED? |
Ask yourself how you use garden hoses and how much you want to pay. If
you use a garden hose regularly under tough conditions, dragging a long
length across the driveway and around trees and buildings, pay more and
buy a high quality hose. If you rarely use a hose, don't have to pull
it far and don't mind a little wrestling, buy a less expensive hose.
There's one other thing to consider when buying a hose - its capacity.
If you water by hand and your reach is no more than 75 ft., a 1/2"
diameter hose will do. If you use a good-sized sprinkler or run water
more than 75 ft., buy a 5/8" diameter hose.
|
| HOW TO CARE FOR A HOSE |
Avoid kinking them, keep them out of the sun when they're not in use,
and carry and pull them out gently. When you're not using the hose, coil
it loosely and store it in the shade. (*OR call or email us to find out
about our terra cotta hose pots for hose storage).
If you're hard on a cheap hose, leaving it out in the sun continuously,
it may crack open after a few years. At the other extreme, if you treat
a top quality hose with care, it can last ten years and more. The high
first cost turns into a long-term bargain!
|
|
 |
With the arrival of Spring comes our anticipation of freshness and newness
in the garden - and what better way to do this than by planting a vegetable
or herb garden? Here are a few of our ideas for you to be able to enjoy
your time in the garden and appreciate your connectedness to all that
Nature is.
If you have a small amount of space, but want to share in the thrill of the
harvest, try some of these vegetable varieties:
BROCCOLI - Mercedes will allow harvest of small quantities over a long season
BEANS - Blue Lake (green) and Romano (yellow) for a color variety
PEAS - Super Sugar Mel is great tasting, and the pod is also edible
CARROTS/RADISH - mix 1 Easter Egg radish seed to 4 Nantes carrot seeds per hole, and
plant in one row to get continuous harvest - the radishes will be up and
gone (yum!) by the time the carrots start growing!
CORN - Early Glow grows 2 or 3 ears on a 4 1/2 foot stalk
CUCUMBER - Sald Bush is a vine that spreads to 2 feet - train in small wire cage
EGGPLANT - Osterei makes cute little white egg-sized fruits
GARDEN GOBBLERS
But don't forget that along with Spring come the "Garden Gobblers"!
But don't worry, we have a few acceptable and effective organic garden
pest controls:
1. USDA recommendations: mix one teaspoon of liquid dishwashing
detergent with one cup of vegetable oil. Shake vigorously to emulsify
and add to a quart of tap water. Use at 10-day intervals as an all-purpose
spray for white flies, spider mites, aphids, and various insects on carrots,
celery, cucumbers, eggplants, peppers and others. NOTE**be sure to test
this first on a single plant because it may cause tip burn on certain
plant varieties. This is a contact insecticide, meaning it does its job
"on contact", so spray the mix directly on the pests.
2. GARLIC AND ONIONS: grind up raw onions or garlic in a puree.
Soak the puree in a jar filled to the brim with warm water overnight and
strain in the morning. Liquid can be sprayed on roses, fruit trees, and
flowers, and will kill aphids and apple borers. Scrape off any loose bark
on fruit trees and swab the liquid on. Many gardeners will mix onion water
and wood ashes, then paste the mixture onto the fruit tree trunks to keep
insects off.
3. TOMATO LEAVES: tomato leaves contain solanine, a plant chemical
that has an inhibiting effect on black spot fungus and other leaf-spot
diseases. Grind two cups of fresh leaves to a puree and put into a jar,
then add 5 pints of water and one ounce of cornstarch. Keep cold in refrigerator
until needed to spray on affected leaves.
4. HOT PEPPER: to discourage cats, dogs, man insect pests, and snails
from munching, dust powdered hot pepper or a spray of hot pepper sauce
on plants.
5. DIATOMACEOUS EARTH: this is common pool filter powder. Diatomaceous
earth is the skeletal remains of marine life called diatoms. It works
to destroy insects by a process of dehydration by removing the outer layer
of the insects' protective system. Dust it around the base of plants and
edibles. (*this can also be used for ant control - draw a line with the
powder so that the ants will have to walk through it to get to where you
don't want them to be).
Enjoy your pest-free garden!!
| HERB CHOICES FOR THIS YEAR'S GARDEN
Edible Flowers
Why not be one of those innovative home cooks to revive the lost art of
using flower blossoms to add elegance to your cooking! The flavors of
flowers range from spicy to sweet to herbal; most, you'll find, are simply
a milder form of their fragrances.
Petite Violas - use them to dress up salads, desserts, and fresh cut fruit.
Chive blossoms - these lovely lavender-pink blossoms are great eye-catchers
and delicious additions or garnishes for salads, eggs, potatoes, cream
cheese and any dish where a mild, subtle onion flavor spurs the appetite.
Johnny Jump-ups - have a faint wintergreen taste; use them with cheese plates
or sliced fruit, to decorate cakes, on salads, or to set off a baked salmon.
They can even be candied for special occasions.
RECIPE FOR CANDIED VIOLETS
40 violets
2 drops of almond extract
1 egg white, beaten frothy
1 tablespoon of water
1/2 cup of confectioner's sugar
Wash violets and drain. Do not attempt to remove the green calyx.
Add almond extract to water and softly beaten egg white. Brush mixture
on violets, carefully covering each flower well. Lay finished flowers
on wax paper. Sprinkle with confectioners sugar complete, covering both
sides. They can be dried in a sunny window in 2 or 3 days, or in the oven
at 200 degrees for 20 to 30 minutes. Store in glass jars. Garnish desserts
with the violets.
TEA FOR TWO?
For pure fresh ingredients, nothing beats growing herbal tea plants right
in your own garden. Their naturally sweet, caffeine-free, and aromatic
flavors are both inviting and restorative. Use their leaves and flowers
to steep by themselves and serve with honey and lemon. You can even blend
with regular tea for interesting, new flavors. Whether you serve it hot
in steaming mugs to comfort and sooth, or iced in tall glasses to refresh
and cool on a hot day, herbal teas are a welcome pleasure for all ages!
|
LEMON BALM - sweetly cordial lemon flavor and citrus aroma
CINNAMON BASIL - exotic flowering basil makes a rich, spicy tea
CHAMOMILE - restorative tea with an apple/pineapple scent
ANISE HYSSOP - lavender flowers and green leaves make this a naturally
sweet anise-scented tea
Mints, grown in large pots to keep them from going wild, have gone far beyond
the old peppermint/spearmint plants. Some new varieties on the market
worth a try in iced teas, punches and garnish:
APPLE
MINT - sunny, sweet scent, warmly flavored of minted apples
ORANGE BERGAMONT - scented like minty Earl Grey tea
GRAPEFRUIT MINT - herbal citrus/mint scent
LAVENDER MINT - woodsy, floral lavender scent combined with mint
PINEAPPLE MINT - fruity/mint scent
|
|
|
 |
We recommend the use of a 25 ft. soaker hose and/or deep-root
irrigators [see graphic below]. These deep-root irrigators can also
double as deep-root feeders as well - one of the trademarked names they
go by is ROSS ROOT FEEDER. We also recommend using a small timer
that can be attached to the hose bib and hose so that the water can be
turned off automatically. All three of these items can be purchased at
any local home improvement center in their garden department.
Remember: healthy trees are beautiful trees! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
