Indoor Plants
California’s water situation has officially become a CRISIS. Governor Jerry Brown has declared a State of Emergency for California and we are scheduled to have the driest year (2014) on record. Reservoirs are at very low levels and the snowpack is 20 percent of the normal average for January.
That’s the bad news. And there isn’t much good news.
For Good Earth Plants and GreenScaped Buildings, increasing water costs and less rainfall means a quantum shift in our thinking. Gone are the days of the lush green lawn. We are designing, installing and maintaining drought-tolerant plantscapes that rely on minimal irrigation.… Read More
Recharging and Growing in Florida to Start 2014 Fresh
January means it’s time to recharge. Holiday decorations need to be put away, tax forms start arriving and invariably a resolution or two gets made and then broken.
With all the stuff going on that a new year brings, I will count on recharging during a trip down to Florida for the TPIE event in Ft. Lauderdale.
Sun, fun and endless displays of orchids and ginger plants greet me at TPIE, which stands for the Tropical Plant Industry Exhibition. It is a wonderful gathering of tropical (and other) plant professionals from 33 countries and 44 states, all geared up to show off the latest things growing and the things that help make them grow.… Read More
Good Earth Plants Wishes You A Green And Happy New Year
Time to break out the bubbly and party hats. 2013 is in the rear view mirror and 2014 is in front of us. What a year it has been! From Boston to Seattle, the Good Earth Plants and GreenScaped Buildings teams have had their hands full with amazing projects and renewed enthusiasm.
We wrapped up 2013 with a big, green bow and a nod of satisfaction. For the Good Earth Plants team, it was our time to shine with plantscaping the Old Police Headquarters and adding new life to our existing office building clients. Debbie Hopkins and her talented crew brought new clients into the mix with cutting edge designs for lobbies and offices, including Illumina who added a new building to its office park, Encore in Mission Valley, and Co-Merge in downtown.… Read More
Good Earth Plants Turns Black and White Into Green at San Diego Landmark
Many, many years ago I was pulled over for exceeding the speed limit while riding my motorcycle down a San Diego freeway. Despite the fact that I passed the field sobriety test and insisted that it had been hours since I had consumed a drink, the officer decided to take me “downtown” to police headquarters.
My story has a happy ending as I passed the Breathalyzer test and the officer tore up my ticket due to my exceedingly polite demeanor and being completely innocent of a DUI. I never would have imagined that 30-plus years later, I would be chosen to supply the plants, planters and maintenance services for a project we shall call “the project which cannot be named but is located at the Old Police Headquarters.”… Read More
Make it a Green Christmas: Give Plants, The Gift That Grows
Just as the turkey leftovers are gobbled up and Aunt Sue is tucked onto her flight back to Scottsdale, the holidays are officially upon us. People stood in line at Target, Wal-Mart and Best Buy for hours to purchase electronics, socks and warm coats for holiday gifts on Black Friday. Those happy shoppers waddled to their cars with their treasures sure to be ripped open and fawned over Christmas Day. Oh Joy!
But what about three months from now? Or three years?
I am a huge believer in giving plants and flowers as gifts. It’s not just because I am in the business.… Read More
Tips for Protecting Your Plants in a Cold Snap
It’s no secret that the past few days have been unseasonably cold. With relative humidity below 20 percent, San Diego has experienced freezing temperatures at night that endanger our gardens.
Nothing new for those folks back East! My colleagues in Boston deliver sub-tropical plants to offices using heated trucks and heated passageways from the back of the truck to the loading dock.
Temperatures below freezing can harm plants that are used to indoor temperatures. If they can do it in Boston, we can save our garden flowers and plants during this cold snap.
Here’s how to protect your garden from freezing over in the next few days:
Move potted tender plants indoors or into a warmer area.… Read More
Poinsettia Pointers: Tips, Myths, and Facts
It seems like every holiday season, I find myself once again defending the honor of the famous Euphorbia pulcherrima, commonly known as the poinsettia. Urban legends and myths abound regarding this hearty holiday bloom, falsely accusing it as being toxic or poisonous to humans and animals.
Lies! All lies and deception!
To be less dramatic and completely factual, a 1996 study published in the American Journal of Emergency Medicine found that out of 22,793 reported cases of poinsettia exposure in children, not only were there no fatalities, but 92.4% of the subjects experienced no toxic effects at all.
These unique plants are of interesting heritage.… Read More
An Attitude of Gratitude: Happy Thanksgiving from Good Earth Plants
While the world is wrapped up in turkey, football games and pumpkin pie, the Good Earth Plants team is knee-deep in holiday décor. The warehouse is bright and shiny with trees, wreaths and garlands being readied for installation at our clients’ offices and homes. Holiday cards are being signed and addressed for mailing.
Before we immerse ourselves in glitter and snowflakes, I wanted to jot down some thoughts about the people that make me so grateful this season.
When I was just starting Good Earth Plants, some special people took time to help me. Mark Sandstrom, who recently passed away, gave me a big break into the flower business.… Read More
Bioinspiration: Letting Nature Inspire Your Work
This week wasn’t about the usual business of green roofs and living walls. I jumped outside the box, exited my silo and spent time at events that remind me of what else is out there.
I attended a Downtown San Diego Partnership workshop featuring Fred Kent of Project for Public Spaces. I first heard Fred speak at the Greening the City symposium in March 2006 at Liberty Station. It was there that I was exposed to the idea of green roofs. My passion was ignited. I went on to take a course in New York and studied Fred’s concepts about energizing, engaging and programming public places to build communities.… Read More






