Attitude

Everywhere I have been this week, it seems everyone has been belly aching about the economy, they are slow, etc. etc. When they ask me how Naturescape is doing, my usual reply is outstanding! I pick up the supplies for the jobs we are on and behind the windshield my brain works overtime. I write down thoughts of various things I have, and implement the ideas we need to make happen to prosper. I learned a long time ago that that if your ship has not come in, you had best jump in the water and swim to it, no matter how cold, deep or shark infested the waters are. Standing on the shore will get you nothing but wind and sun burned. About 5 years ago, when things were so booming in Socal, I saw this slow down occur in my mind. So, we decided, rather than go for the quick easy work on new houses with nothing on the ground, we entered the landscape redo market. It is so rewarding to take a dated landscape, or one with issues, and recreate it to the perfection that will satisfy our clients.

Said all that, there has never been a better time in California to add those items to your landscape you either did not think of, or could not afford. I'll give you a case in point.

We typically meet with a client the first time and conduct the meeting as an interview. At Naturescape, we are in the business of solving problems. If no problem is presented, it is impossible to solve it, and, we would have a not happy client.

I rolled up on this 5 year old higher end tract home with a 180° view of the deep blue
Pacific. As with most tractile environments, there is a fence separating lots, and a wall stopping the owner from going down the slope into the canyon. Directly ahead in view, and about 50' down, were a cluster of roof tops with ocean poking through where nothing blocked the view. To each side of the center, unimpaired views of the ocean. The problem at hand is/was that even on an 80° day, it is so clod from canyon and ocean breezes that it is unbearable. The challenge, is to somehow stop or divert that wind.

After an hour or so of questioning, the owners and I concluded that if we lowered the patio/deck space near the pool, then installed some seat benches and a wind wall of tempered glass, much of the problem would be diverted over the top. An outdoor gas fired fireplace was added to the mix. The shape is going to be convex, to roll along the line and block wind, and offer heat for the couple and their kids. Decking will be redone with Quartzite stone, hand cut in large pieces so it is not so rough on the feet. The spa and planters and going to be redone with the same flagstone. Some genius installed faux stone ( man made) around the spa, and the water pours out the face and mold was forming badly in the joints.

To assimilate the wind wall, we used plywood, haphazardly nailed together to act as how the glass would work. After sitting on a colder day, the problem's solution was created, or at least worked into a test drive before the couple invested allot of money on something that did not work for them.

As we excavate and form this site, the couple took an hour off work to help us, and them visualize how they ideally wanted the walls to look. This way, the potential problem of building something that functioned, but did not meet the aesthetic requirements of the owner would not be built. This is a win from the gate.

The method described is typically how we at Naturescape operate. The time to make field adjustments was included in the cost, and we avoid a project that the owners would not be happy with. I will be posting complete progress shots next time.

We build it your way at our company, we turn your dreams into reality, within most realistic budgets.

Let us come solve any landscape problems you may be having. Take the time to make that call, it will be the most rewarding call you ever make.

Until the next post, have an awesome time in your yard!!!!