Comments on: how the neighbors are coping http://www.soenyun.com/Blog/2009/06/26/how-the-neighbors-are-coping/ Sun, 14 Mar 2010 18:41:07 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Bird http://www.soenyun.com/Blog/2009/06/26/how-the-neighbors-are-coping/comment-page-1/#comment-2937 Bird Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:44:57 +0000 http://www.soenyun.com/Blog/?p=6414#comment-2937 This is fascinating, not just because I have often wondered about your local climate and what is possible in it, but also the whole issue of water conservation and how serious it is. I live in the UK which is known jokily worldwide as cloudy and damp, and yet we suffer our droughts too. I got into the habit of using grey water for the garden years ago wether we are having restrictions at the time or not, and it always amazes me that even in a country like ours where we could have plentiful water with careful management and everyone doing their bit, this only ever happens when hosepipe bans come in by which time it's obviously too late. People just don't seem to get that water is precious, or believe that it could run out. This is fascinating, not just because I have often wondered about your local climate and what is possible in it, but also the whole issue of water conservation and how serious it is. I live in the UK which is known jokily worldwide as cloudy and damp, and yet we suffer our droughts too. I got into the habit of using grey water for the garden years ago wether we are having restrictions at the time or not, and it always amazes me that even in a country like ours where we could have plentiful water with careful management and everyone doing their bit, this only ever happens when hosepipe bans come in by which time it’s obviously too late. People just don’t seem to get that water is precious, or believe that it could run out.

]]> By: lostlandscape http://www.soenyun.com/Blog/2009/06/26/how-the-neighbors-are-coping/comment-page-1/#comment-2931 lostlandscape Sun, 28 Jun 2009 23:02:10 +0000 http://www.soenyun.com/Blog/?p=6414#comment-2931 Country Mouse, I can see how wood mulch would be a more popular and appropriate option for where you are--A yard of stones in Santa Cruz might feel like a landscaped gravel pit. Rebecca Solnit has written often and interestingly about walking, including her book Wanderlust. Country Mouse, I can see how wood mulch would be a more popular and appropriate option for where you are—A yard of stones in Santa Cruz might feel like a landscaped gravel pit. Rebecca Solnit has written often and interestingly about walking, including her book Wanderlust.

]]> By: Country Mouse http://www.soenyun.com/Blog/2009/06/26/how-the-neighbors-are-coping/comment-page-1/#comment-2923 Country Mouse Sun, 28 Jun 2009 13:26:54 +0000 http://www.soenyun.com/Blog/?p=6414#comment-2923 One thing I miss about living in a suburban neighborhood - walking my dog around and looking at all the different things people do with their yards. I sometimes take a trip into town to do some suburban hiking, just to have that pleasure. In Scotts Valley and Santa Cruz neighborhoods I see a similar transitional state - we're not so dry and hot as you are in San Diego. As befits a forested region, I see use of wood mulch to space the plantings more than gravel type mulch, with exceptions. Dry stream bed type features are also attractive and used a fair bit. One thing I miss about living in a suburban neighborhood - walking my dog around and looking at all the different things people do with their yards. I sometimes take a trip into town to do some suburban hiking, just to have that pleasure. In Scotts Valley and Santa Cruz neighborhoods I see a similar transitional state - we’re not so dry and hot as you are in San Diego. As befits a forested region, I see use of wood mulch to space the plantings more than gravel type mulch, with exceptions. Dry stream bed type features are also attractive and used a fair bit.

]]> By: lostlandscape http://www.soenyun.com/Blog/2009/06/26/how-the-neighbors-are-coping/comment-page-1/#comment-2919 lostlandscape Sat, 27 Jun 2009 23:07:42 +0000 http://www.soenyun.com/Blog/?p=6414#comment-2919 Karen, looking at the houses you'd swear it's multiple neighborhoods. We seem to be going a stylistic shift as people remodel their homes, all this while people are shifting to gardens that use less water. Susan, the prohibition against all new landscaping is ridiculous and short-sighted if you ask me! Some of the water agencies around here are giving credits for replacing sprinkler heads while others are giving credits only for installing plastic grass. A neighborhood full of white picket fences and fake turf to me sounds like a version of hell... Steve, I noticed that you just posted on a similar topic. The confusion you mention is tough to get around. What is the public to think when one agency tells them to replace their sprinklers while another tells them to plant plastic lawns? The conspiracy theorist in my head wonders if the lawnmower manufacturers and lawn-care lobby are contributing to the campaigns of the politicians who are blocking progress on this issue. Michael, thanks for stopping by. Your drought has made the news up here, and I think some of Australia's solutions can teach us a few things. We've definitely been seeing more mediterranean-climate Australian plants being used in our home landscapes. Karen, looking at the houses you’d swear it’s multiple neighborhoods. We seem to be going a stylistic shift as people remodel their homes, all this while people are shifting to gardens that use less water.

Susan, the prohibition against all new landscaping is ridiculous and short-sighted if you ask me! Some of the water agencies around here are giving credits for replacing sprinkler heads while others are giving credits only for installing plastic grass. A neighborhood full of white picket fences and fake turf to me sounds like a version of hell…

Steve, I noticed that you just posted on a similar topic. The confusion you mention is tough to get around. What is the public to think when one agency tells them to replace their sprinklers while another tells them to plant plastic lawns? The conspiracy theorist in my head wonders if the lawnmower manufacturers and lawn-care lobby are contributing to the campaigns of the politicians who are blocking progress on this issue.

Michael, thanks for stopping by. Your drought has made the news up here, and I think some of Australia’s solutions can teach us a few things. We’ve definitely been seeing more mediterranean-climate Australian plants being used in our home landscapes.

]]> By: Michael http://www.soenyun.com/Blog/2009/06/26/how-the-neighbors-are-coping/comment-page-1/#comment-2911 Michael Sat, 27 Jun 2009 09:54:21 +0000 http://www.soenyun.com/Blog/?p=6414#comment-2911 Hi James, Interesting to hear water restrictions are an issue in San Diego. I live in Melbourne, Australia and we've been in drought here for about the last 10 years. Water conservation is a big issue here as well. Drought tolerant plants have also really come back into vogue and rightly so. Cheers Michael PS really like some of the gardens, the rocks and stones look great with plants and foliage. Hi James, Interesting to hear water restrictions are an issue in San Diego. I live in Melbourne, Australia and we’ve been in drought here for about the last 10 years. Water conservation is a big issue here as well. Drought tolerant plants have also really come back into vogue and rightly so.
Cheers Michael
PS really like some of the gardens, the rocks and stones look great with plants and foliage.

]]> By: Steve http://www.soenyun.com/Blog/2009/06/26/how-the-neighbors-are-coping/comment-page-1/#comment-2910 Steve Sat, 27 Jun 2009 02:52:38 +0000 http://www.soenyun.com/Blog/?p=6414#comment-2910 This is a timely post, James. There are probably 4 categories of awareness for water issues which will face scrutiny: 1) the forward thinkers who plan water allocation with city planners and water boards/utilities; 2) Landscape designers and installers who have seen the shortages spoken of and who are adapting accordingly, in surprisingly pretty and practical ways; 3)politicians who hate changing anything at all because it confuses them and who therefore come up with Draconian plans to stop all landscaping; and 4) those in denial whose idea of landscaping is a riding mower. This is a timely post, James. There are probably 4 categories of awareness for water issues which will face scrutiny: 1) the forward thinkers who plan water allocation with city planners and water boards/utilities; 2) Landscape designers and installers who have seen the shortages spoken of and who are adapting accordingly, in surprisingly pretty and practical ways; 3)politicians who hate changing anything at all because it confuses them and who therefore come up with Draconian plans to stop all landscaping; and 4) those in denial whose idea of landscaping is a riding mower.

]]> By: susan morrison (garden-chick) http://www.soenyun.com/Blog/2009/06/26/how-the-neighbors-are-coping/comment-page-1/#comment-2906 susan morrison (garden-chick) Fri, 26 Jun 2009 18:56:02 +0000 http://www.soenyun.com/Blog/?p=6414#comment-2906 Interesting to see how folks are coping in your neighborhood. Because Bay Area water providers rely on different sources, some were restricting water last year, but have now ceased,while others are just now requiring rationing of varying levels of severity. I dislike driving thru neighborhoods where people just let their lawns go brown, but I know what you mean about tough economic times. One thing that really disappointed me last year - East Bay Municipal Water District sent out a letter urging all users to forgo planting anything new due to the supplemental water requirements of new plantings - no qualifiers, if, ands or buts. But doesn't it make more sense to replace a lawn with a low water garden? Even the supplemental water required in the first growing season is less than a lawn, and the pay off is indefinite. (Of course EBMUD probably doesn't read your blog, so not sure why I'm complaining here, LOL.) Interesting to see how folks are coping in your neighborhood. Because Bay Area water providers rely on different sources, some were restricting water last year, but have now ceased,while others are just now requiring rationing of varying levels of severity. I dislike driving thru neighborhoods where people just let their lawns go brown, but I know what you mean about tough economic times.

One thing that really disappointed me last year - East Bay Municipal Water District sent out a letter urging all users to forgo planting anything new due to the supplemental water requirements of new plantings - no qualifiers, if, ands or buts. But doesn’t it make more sense to replace a lawn with a low water garden? Even the supplemental water required in the first growing season is less than a lawn, and the pay off is indefinite. (Of course EBMUD probably doesn’t read your blog, so not sure why I’m complaining here, LOL.)

]]> By: Karen - An Artist's Garden http://www.soenyun.com/Blog/2009/06/26/how-the-neighbors-are-coping/comment-page-1/#comment-2904 Karen - An Artist's Garden Fri, 26 Jun 2009 16:07:36 +0000 http://www.soenyun.com/Blog/?p=6414#comment-2904 Well done for making your views known to the local shopping center. I enjoyed interesting tour around your neighborhood. K Well done for making your views known to the local shopping center.
I enjoyed interesting tour around your neighborhood.
 K

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