There's gonna be a pearl sale!

Next weekend I plan to purchase a boatload of pearls for your beading pleasure. Big ones, little ones, bright ones, classic ones..... If you want something specific, now is the time to let me know!

I have several requests already in, feel free to let me know what you want me to hunt out. My hunt is by no means limited to pearls.

The PEARL SALE will start as soon as I can get things listed. For those of you who are already subscribed to the Vault newsletter, thanks!

If you are not subscribed to the newsletter and ever buy beads, it's a great idea that is totally worth your while to $ubscribe! So subscribe already : http://eepurl.com/b2xL

Okay Houdini, get outta this!

So the fence part is done, next up is the gate. This is not your average fence.
There is no under.

LiciaBeads Vault pre holiday sale starts this weekend

Stay tuned to the shop for the announcement! LiciaBeads Vault : hand selected gem show semi-precious beads and sterling silver Want something? Send me a note to reserve it!

OMG, Dont' Move!

There is a giant frog above you!
This little guy (and many of his friends) like to frequent our courtyard. They have never attached themselves to our screen to watch So You Think You Can Dance before though.

Fall color in a maturing garden install.

More in the life of a landscaper. It's been very wet these days as fall is coming on strong in the Northwest.

We are back at a clients garden we installed a few years ago to add a short doggie/baby fence. All of the gardens are carefully thought out to give great color year round and plenty of interest. This garden is one of my favorites. Someday hopefully, I want as much color in my own as yet unfinished garden.

Red door, yes please!

Another great thing about this one is the sweet smell it has. There are some great Daphne bushes in full blossom that smell wonderfully sweet, as well as a Katsura tree that smells like carmelizing sugar as the leaves turn and drop for the season. This garden has year round color that just brightens up the whole area!

I would sit out on the porch with the morning paper (laptop version) and a latte. As a bonus, they have a great local coffee shop just a few blocks away. What a lovely view to enjoy.
And for the full effect, above shows the after, and below is where we started...

Completion of a Landscape Design Installation by Ginkgo Landscape Design

Thanks to all who have been following the landscape design installation. I'll update the photos of the growth progress next year when we do our spring maintenance. For the time being, here are photos of where we started, and where we ended up.

Above: This photo shows the before of the garden when it was an unused circular driveway (the following photo reveals the after shot from the same location). The garage door was on the outside of the fence line. What could be much more usable space has been reclaimed for the homeowners as a deck, pathway, several trellises and irrigated garden space. In addition they have a circular patio and raised planter and a vegetable trellis behind the garage.

A little perspective before completion:

Afters: below




for more progress photos and other landscape installation photos click here
For the time being, this garden is to be continued as this was the first stage (25% completed) in a full garden renovation. More next year ;)

Irrigation testing

Tomorrow is likely the last day for the landscape we have been installing. (We are landscape designers and installers for a living.) Today was the irrigation test. It works. We flushed out the system which results in several "fountains" about the garden before the hoses are plugged and the water is routed to the drippers (or sprayers in the veg/herb planters).It's fun to watch the water after sooo much dusty dry dirt. Of course tomorrow there will be another pile for us in the staging area. This time the final mulch application and then it's all for the clients to enjoy. And, we get a rest.

The Etsy Jewelry Sampler Team Giveaway!

I'm here to bring good news and shiny thing links. The Etsy Jewelry Sampler Team has been having monthly giveaways and you should go enter their newest one.

Happy Cloud Moments (my Etsy pal Joyce) is offering a $45 gift certificate to her store to the winner. So, you like Swarovski Crystals, sterling silver, cute little stars and beachy fresh themes and sparkling bridal jewelry right? I love the stars!!!

Here is here shop, I know I could spend $45 dollars there.... for free.

And if you are impatient like me, just buy something cause soon the holidays will be here. I have one of those star necklaces and they are adorable for a great price too!

Grading, and a before and after shot

It's coming on the fun part. The part when all the structures come together and start looking like a well thought out plan. The ginormous (not really as big as we can get) dirt pile is slowly being placed in specific locations to get the grade just right for plants. Ultimately, the semicircle that you see in the far left center of the following photo will be a large circular patio for entertaining with a pathway up to the herb planters.
Another view with the pear tree on the left. Facing the new entertaining deck from the raised garden planters and circular patio.

This is where we began....

This is where we are as of today. Way better than the asphalt that it was not too long ago. The birds and squirrels adore the chestnut tree, and the pear tree.

Another before....
After below : We didn't remove the tree, no worries. That is an ancient stump that will remain in the garden, surrounded by awesome plants :)

There is still more dirt to move and grading to be done, but next week should become quite colorful. Keep watching!

Welcome home clients...

As the landscape installs go along plenty of things get unloaded into the "staging area". The most impressive of them is always the soil pile. If only I had RC toy trucks!