It would be interesting to hear people's takes on what the recession(depression?) is doing in their part of the country. I would have assumed that established practicioners in a fairly wealthy market such as Cape Cod would be able to ride this out better than most, which is not saying that it still won't be painful and belt tightening. Here in a similar type of market, (varied economy, mostly moneyed clients, and no extreme job layoffs to date) of the San Francisco Bay Area, I get mixed readings talking to other landscape designers/contractors/nursery owners on how the market is looking. There does seem to be a general drop off in volume of new work, as well as much tighter and generally smaller budgets for work that continues to come in. Even designers who only work with secure/wealthy clients are telling me that they are hesitant to spend money now. I have seen a once lucrative market for spec home/garden projects dry up completely, no one is building anything now or purchasing properties to rehab at the moment, as the real estate market is in such chaos here. My friends who are in real estate sales all say that the only movement is in foreclosures and short sales, although I do see regular sales happening in my town of Berkeley that are neither, but sales prices are probably down at least 30% over the peak. I suspect that even bigger issues might come into play here in the San Francisco Bay Area than the recession and lack of financing. We are facing forced rationing if this rainy season doesn't measure up to at least normal amounts, and we are also overdue for a major earthquake here on the Hayward Fault. Either of these events will offer both pain and potential gains if they occur. I like to think that I am as prepared as possible for the earthquake with a major structural remodel to update my house 3 years ago, but water rationing will necessarily push me away from the subtropical plants that I have favored in combination with the mediterranean/drought tolerant/succulents/California natives. How are things looking in your respective areas?

Well, what a nice surprise to run across this old post! I was just perusing GardenWeb and Houzz as we get revved up for another remodel, when a google search for “sapele kitchens” turned up this, my “almost-done” victory lap post. Please forgive me my moment of sentimentality, but reading through my post and the subsequent comments has me a bit verklempt; we are, as of this writing, only a few days away (probably) from committing to buy a new house, which means leaving this one, and our wonderful kitchen. Much has changed in the 5+ years since this post went up: The backsplash behind the range was installed; the rather wispy red Japanese maple that you can see in our backyard in a couple of the pics above is now pretty robust and magnificent; we had to say goodbye to our beloved boxer a few months back (our “first born”); we have a son, an amazing 16 month old,who has, of course, become the center of our universe; we are working on a sibling for him. With a growing family, and frequent visits from out of town grandparents, we are feeling a bit cramped in the home we thought we would be in long term. We found a new place in a lovely neighborhood, despite Seattle’s current crazy real estate market (after getting absurdly outbid on some places—like over asking by almost 25% of a big asking price in one case). It’s from 1907, was updated in the 70s and 80s, but needs a good overhaul. (I’ve tried to attach a couple of pics of the current kitchen but this interface limits comment size so much (~21k characters) that it seems that photos aren’t going to be an option. I’ll try to post some pics in comments to follow). It has served the current owners well over the last 45 years, but it is time for an update. It’s certainly a first world problem, but it makes me sad to leave our current kitchen after having put so much thought and energy into it, and after it turned out so beautifully. It has been such a joy to spend time in it. But the real reason I started writing this comment: I thought I would right two wrongs that I have just noted while reading through my original, ancient post: I never once acknowledged by name our architect, who played a primary role in bringing our current kitchen to fruition. His name is Andrew Borges, of Rohleder Borges Architecture (http://www.rb-a.net/), and he was fantastic to work with. So much so, that we are teaming up with him again for the next remodel. I never posted any photos of the backsplash behind the range, as I said (above) that I would do. I still really love the tile that we chose—an etched limestone (I think) with a repeating dahlia pattern. As I was looking at Andrew’s firm’s website just now, I realized that he has a pic of our kitchen with the backsplash in view so I have included that here too. Here is a link to the image, in case I can’t figure out how to post it here: http://www.rb-a.net/res-montkit1.html I suspect you’ll hear from me again soon, as I query the collective GW wisdom on this new project. And in 6 months or so, our current home (kitchen included) will likely be hitting the market, just in case any of you might be interested....

Wish someone would produce Camper down hybrid resistant to Dutch Elm disease. I suggest visiting forests, to shop for one of a kind species variety. When researching identification of few large individual urban trees, each revealing unique traits they had in common. I discovered that during 1800's, horticulturists took daily excursions into wild forest searching out new unique specimens. Then categorized, documented and sent sample for official designation of their find. And sold off collected cuttings to distant communities where early residents planted several across town. As a local tree historian rediscovering these unique varieties propagated so long ago. I secure organisms continued existence, by rooting or grafting vegetative and hardwood cuttings from parent tree. Even back then, cuttings primarily selected for beauty. Unless collected from large old mature trees, which already proved to have good branch attachment and structure. Today last of these unique trees originally propagated from wild varieties, and planted by early community members. Have proved over last century that their uniquely evolved qualities make them great candidates for urban plantings. I thought this was how Morton arboretum re-discovered Fremanii variety, a natural hybrid between Silver and Red maple which commonly mix in wild. Since parent tree was selected from the collections at The Morton Arboretum, and assumed that specimen was wild variety discovered and replanted long ago. Oliver Freeman first grew freemani at U. S. National Arboretum in 1933. And AUTUMN BLAZE, is an older cultivar that was discovered by nurseryman Glenn Jeffers in the late 1960s. And since then, over last century Arboretum tree proved to have good attachments and dominant leader. But learned that was not the case. And normally scientists do not search grounds to rediscover one of a kind old survivors that can become new urban tree selections. When speaking with someone from staff at arboretum involved in Freeman cultivation project. I kindly reminded them how past horticulturists had also been selecting Varieties of Silver Maple for good attachments long ago. Just like Morton promotes with their Marmo Maple cultivar today, stating selection has a strong central leader and excellent branching habit

I bought all my manzanitas as 1 gallon pots from Pete at East Bay Wilds. My Dr. Hurd is just about 5 ft after 5 years. It can get to be 15ft if it is happy. I hope it gets to be at least 8 ft. Everything was installed at once in the Fall of 2013. Regarding the desert willow, I have Timeless Beauty in my yard. It is on the smaller side - up to 15 ft. It doesn't reseed and seems to grow on the slower side. I guess it just depends on what your needs are in terms of a tree/shrub. I am making a note of your CA native grass resource. I have a few non-native grasses that I need to replace - thanks! If you ever want someone to come give you some advice on your yard, I can certainly drop by. I am not a design/professional architect, I am just passionate about native plants and will give any feedback for free. I can certainly tell you if you have a Toyon in your yard :)