Artichokes are easy to grow in this climate and will bear a bountiful harvest for a number of years.

PREPARING DELICIOUS ARTICHOKES

I am not known for my cooking skills, but the way I like to prepare and eat artichokes is:

First cut a bit off the top, then trim, with kitchen scissors, any of the smaller outer petals.

Boil between 35-45 minutes depending on the size of your artichoke bounty.

Dip in warm melted lemon butter! Enjoy!

]]> http://www.ranacreekdesign.com/2011/07/featured-plant-of-the-week-summer-artichoke/feed/ 0 http://www.ranacreekdesign.com/2011/07/fresh-lavender/ http://www.ranacreekdesign.com/2011/07/fresh-lavender/#comments Fri, 08 Jul 2011 00:11:36 +0000 Paul Kephart http://www.ranacreek.com/?p=1015 Come visit the Rana Creek Nursery!

Our featured plant of the week is our fresh LAVENDER!  Add some color to your summer!

For detailed information, please contact Maggie Becher, Nursery Manager

Email: maggie@ranacreekdesign.com

Come visit the Rana Creek Nursery in Carmel Valley, CA!

Rafael Vinoly Architects, who we worked with were honored with a Merit Award by this year’s AIA SF Awards for Architecture for the Dolby Regeneration Medicine Building. The recently opened building is receiving a lot of great press. Its living roof was recently featured on the cover of the San Francisco Chronicle.

Did you know that studies have found that hospital patients heal 60% faster if they have pictures of scenes from nature in their room! With that in mind, in the last two years Rana Creek Living Architecture has performed design work on four hospital projects that aim not only to improve the patients well being but the overall performance and energy efficiency of the building.

Recently we visited the Desert Botanic Garden in Phoenix, AZ. Being plant fanatics, we take any opportunity to botanize and visit local horticultural gems anywhere we travel.

Where are your favorite botanical gardens?

We had wanted to visit since the first time we started to work on the Museum of Northern Arizona’s Easton Collection Center Living Roof over three years ago. It took us a while, but we could not have picked a better time.

All the desert plants were in bloom and the late afternoon light was perfect.

It was a great opportunity to see many desert species planted in large swaths and clusters. How would you like to have this Muhlenbergia capillaris in your front yard?

We identified many species of drought tolerant plants we will be adding to our inventory.

A gentle, meandering design vernacular is something that we’ve always been drawn to, and the design of the botanic gardens was very well done. The design incorporated water relief for birds, butterflies and babies.

Simple and beautiful outdoor lighting.

There signage was informative and engaging. Did you know Rana Creek often designs interpretive signage for our projects? We have recently designed and written signage for the San Francisco Botanic Gardens, for the Pacific Grove Dune Restoration project, and Hayes Park an all California native park designed, built and maintained by Rana Creek in Seaside, CA.

Some other subtle details: There is nothing like well placed art in a garden.

We were again inspired to continue turning Rana Creek Nursery and its demonstration plantings into a destination garden of California Natives. Merging horticulture with landscape design, art and botany! Come visit us!

Spring is in full bloom at Rana Creek Nursery! These California natives will enjoy growing in your garden, and you will in turn enjoy their beautiful blooms! Call or visit us to take these beauties home.

Aster chilensis  - 4”

Regular Price $2.50/ Now $1.85

If you are looking for a great native border plant. This is it! You will enjoy looking at these long-lasting happy flowers all summer as you walk out your door.

Photo by Arvind Kumar

Festuca rubra ‘Pt. Molate’ – 4”

Regular Price $2.50/ Now $1.85

Are you looking for a lush native meadow? If you live near the coast, Festuca rubra ‘Pt. Molate’ is a perfect choice. With it’s blue tinged foliage and soft feel it’s perfect for laying down in and looking up at the clouds!

Mimulus guttatus – 4″

Regular price $2.50 / Now $1.85

This sought after Mimulus was collected in the Sierra’s last year. Grown from seed this winter, it is ready to look like this in your garden!

We also have special pricing this month on Achillea millefolium ‘Rosea’ and Mimulus cardinalis and Mimulus puniceus -4″

Regular price $2.50 / Now $1.85

Call Maggie today to place your order! Many more plants to choose from!

Availability on line at www.ranacreeknursery.com

Now open five days a week! Tuesday-Saturday from 8AM- 4PM. Mondays by appointment.

Recently, the California Native Grasslands Association asked Paul to write an article for their 20 year anniversary issue of Grasslands:

I was first introduced to native grasses and grassland ecology in 1991 when I met David Amme, John Anderson, and others to start up what was then called the California Native Grass Association. I was the first Grasslands editor, and I remember editing, producing, and paying for the first six issues. This contribution earned me a Life Member status. Wow! That small investment in time and energy resulted in profound professional and personal reward!

Over the past 20 years, I have started up and managed two seed companies and two nurseries. I have studied grass systematics, ecology, horticulture, restoration, and grassland management. Native grass applications fascinate me and I evolved my practice to include ecological design, permaculture, landscape design, and architecture. Much of what I learned I could attribute to the enjoyable discourse and discoveries made with colleagues and friends in the Grassland Association. In particular Mark Stromberg, John Menke, Dave Amme, and I spent considerable time researching, growing, and restoring native grassland ecosystems. From this, a most enjoyable life-changing adventure has ensued; my pursuit and practice of living architecture.

Now, my wife Marta and I own and operate Rana Creek, which provides ecological design services, a nursery that specializes in native grasses and grass-like plants, and a landscape restoration business. We apply the principles and practices of restoration ecology to the built environment, namely green roofs, living walls, constructed wetlands, and sustainable landscapes. We have learned native grassland and meadow ecology is an appropriate analog for living systems when applied to modern urban architecture. Some examples include green roofs at the GAP headquarters, the California Academy of Sciences, and the West Elm Store. We restore diversity, functions, and processes to glass, concrete, and steel. Rana Creek has authored many grassland restoration and management plans and implemented projects in wild land and urban interface areas, and now we enjoy working in cities and working on largescale urban applications.

Over the past 20 years, what I learned about grassland diversity, ecological functions, and processes has helped Rana Creek designers simulate and replicate habitat on rooftops and landscapes. We look at site- and structure-specific capacities to define how we reconnect corridors; provide essential life cycle needs of rare butterflies, birds, and plants; and beautify our communities. We integrate these living systems with architecture that results in greater resource efficiencies, less energy consumption, human health and wellbeing, and habitat renewal. This is a field of dreams and it’s working! Research has shown greater insect and bird utilization on our rooftop projects than anywhere in surrounding ground planes.

The Grassland Association of professionals, academics, tradespeople, and ranchers has had a big impact on my life path and career. It’s a great organization and I will continue to enjoy the company of its colleagues and friends.

Join us in Sacramento to help strengthen the policy environment for your invasive weed work. The day features opportunities to educate state legislators and to learn about current policy initiatives. Attendees from previous years are credited with securing renewed funding for the state’s Weed Management Area program.

Day at the Capitol will feature policy updates, advocacy training, and visits to all 120 legislative offices in the Capitol! It’s free, please register.

9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Cal EPA, Sierra Hearing Room,
1001 I Street, downtown Sacramento

2011 will see extensive budget cuts in Sacramento. It is essential that we remind state decision-makers that controlling high-priority invasive plants is a cost-effective investment. Please follow the instructions below to help protect funding for WMAs and other CDFA weed programs!

1)    Use the sample text attached to prepare a letter on your organization’s letterhead. Personalize with local information.

[Fill in your particular information where noted in <<brackets>>]

<<date>>

Secretary Karen Ross

California Department of Food and Agriculture

1220 N Street

Sacramento, CA  95814

RE: Support for Weed Management Area funding

Dear Secretary Ross,

On behalf of <<our organization>>, I want to express our strong support for maintaining funding in the CDFA budget for the Weed Management Area (WMA) program. In our area <<describe your organization’s involvement with invasive plants and WMAs>>.

The WMA program and other CDFA weed programs are vital to protecting California’s environment and agriculture from invasive plants. Water supply, crops, wildlife, fire safety, recreation, listed species – all are threatened by invasive plants. Current annual funding addresses only a portion of the high priority projects around the state. Without this funding, impacts from invasive plants will increase and future management costs will be even higher.

WMAs are effective because they bring together diverse land management stakeholders at the local level, including public agency representatives, NGOs, and private landowners. The structure generates local buy-in and coordination for invasive plant control projects. Grants provided by the state’s program for on-the-ground projects typically leverage a 2:1 match in additional funding and in-kind contributions.

Please protect funding for this important program.

Sincerely,

<<your name, title>>

2)    Fax to the following decision-makers:

• (916) 657-4240 [Sec. of Food & Agriculture Karen Ross]
• (916) 323-4529 [State Sen.Joe Simitian, Chair of Budget Subcomm.]
• (916) 319-2121 [Assembly Member Richard Gordon, Chair of Budget Subcomm.]
• And to us at Cal-IPC: (510) 217-3500. We will take letters to Day at the Capitol.
• Consider faxing to your local reps, too. Info at www.leginfo.ca.gov/yourleg.html.

CC: State Senator Joe Simitian, Chair, Budget Subcommittee #2, Assembly Member Richard Gordon, Chair, Budget Subcommittee #3, <<any others you may add>>

3)    Encourage other WMA partner organizations to fax in letters, too.

Sending letters before March 15 is best, but sending letters anytime is helpful. For more info, contact Heather Brady at 510/843-3902 or hjbrady@cal-ipc.org.

Register for Day at the Capitol now.

Featured speakers include Stephan Brenneisen, Wolfgang Ansel and Paul Kephart.

Activities will include workshops and project tours with an emphasis on both commercial and residential ecoroof development.

Fair attendance is FREE.

http://www.portlandonline.com/bes/index.cfm?c=53845

A symposium on native plant gardening & design featuring talks by California’s top horticulturists and designers:

Bart O’Brien, Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden
Bernard Trainor, Bernard Trainor + Associates
Carol Bornstein, Carol Bornstein Design
Dr. Glenn Keator, Merritt College
Judith Lowry, Larner Seeds
Nevin Smith, Suncrest Nurseries
Paul Kephart, Rana Creek Nursery

Plus: Plant Sale, Book Sale, and more

Foothill College Smithwick Theater, 12345 El Monte Road, Los Altos Hills

For more information:
symposium@cnps-scv.org
650-260-3450

http://symposium.cnps-scv.org/

What: Raphael Garcia, “Advances in Living Architecture”

Where: Carmel Valley Branch Library, 65 W. Carmel Valley Rd., Carmel Valley, CA

When: Saturday, February 5 · 10:15am – 11:45am

“Design & Planting”

The Rana Creek Wholesale Nursery is pleased to introduce Marie Goulet, ecological designer at Rana Creek, to the monthly Plant Native Lecture Series. Marie will discuss a variety of gardening topics, from water conservation measures, landscaping with native plants, creating habitat gardens and four season flowering landscapes, to green roof design. The talk will include a tour of Rana Creek’s 5-acre Native Plant Wholesale Nursery with an open discussion of the many native grasses, perennials, and shrubs endemic to our area.

Marie’s design focus is in the reintroduction of vegetated systems into highly urbanized areas, treatment of air and water, increased habitat for wildlife, and diverse healthy environments for people.

The Rana Creek Plant Native lecture series occurs the first Saturday of every month at 1:00 p.m.

This is a free event.

What: Plant Native Lecture Series, “Design & Planting”

When: Saturday, February 5, 1:00 p.m.

Where: Rana Creek Wholesale Nursery, 35351 E. Carmel Valley Rd at mile marker 19.2

Contact: Maggie Becher, 831-659-2830, nursery@ranacreekdesign.com

You can subscribe to this blog by adding your email on the right so that you get notifications when new posts are published. We will have various people from Rana Creek writing posts about our company and the many good things we do through environmental planning, living architecture, restoration landscape services and our nursery.

Thanks for your time, we hope you enjoy the new site.
The Rana Creek Staff

It has become increasingly clear that the design and building of living roofs is making a transition from early adoption to mainstream application. Driven by environmental policy, economic necessity, and social responsibility, there is increasing emphasis on a “living systems” approach to building and vegetation design; designs that integrate and complement mechanical and plumbing operations while providing ecological function.

California Pacific Medical Center is developing sustainable plans for future health care in San Francisco, and the centerpiece is a 550-bed hospital project that is in the process of designing six living roofs, two living walls, and an integrated water management system. At the heart of the building’s operations, these living systems are being designed to enhance carbon sequestration, energy efficiency, water conservation, waste reuse, habitat renewal, and create a place of “well being.” The hospital roofs are also healing gardens to the benefit of patients, health care providers, and guests.

Focusing on sustainable water management, the current design concept includes a water collection tank located in the hospital basement that collects rainwater and cooling tower wastewater, an industrial by-product, to irrigate the living roofs and site year-round.  The BIG IDEA is to provide seasonal irrigation to the living roofs and landscapes using no potable water by harvesting, treating, and co mingling the storm and cooling tower water. As designed, the rainwater catchment system will potentially capture and treat 328,000 gallons of stormwater per year, of which approximately 100,000 gallons will be used for irrigating the living roofs and the site. The hospital can improve San Francisco’s environment by reducing its stormwater runoff and potable water use, while promoting biodiversity. The hospital stands to achieve 7 LEED credits through a concept that includes five green roofs and a water catchment system, while potentially leading California and the arid west in its efforts to be completely free of potable water use for irrigation.

Living roofs supply fundamental ecosystem goods and services that provide important values and functions.  Living roof values are often expressed in terms of energy efficiencies and stormwater management, but we are taking a closer look at rooftop soils and plants in order to supply key services that are often overlooked.  Standardized rooftop media specifications have led to the use of “engineered growing mediums,” lacking fundamental bacteria, fungi, and living organisms. However, the hospital roof soils are being designed to target specific soil/plant chemical requirements and interactions. This biologically rich soil can play a key role in regulating buildings’ natural cycles, including the processing of carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur. The amount of carbon and nitrogen stored in rooftop soil can double that which is found in landscape vegetation offsetting volatile organic compounds (VOC) and greenhouse gas, namely carbon dioxide and methane.  Biodiversity in the soil can exceed that found in landscape plantings and the greater diversity of soil organisms enhances the soil’s fundamental function–processing air and water borne chemicals and contaminants.  Organic media constituents will include: coir fiber, composted forest product, compost, scoria, pumice, perlite, humic acid, seaweed, fishmeal, alfalfa meal, and composted poultry litter and earthworm castings.

While ecological restoration generally can deliver benefits to local pollinators and birds, it cannot completely reverse habitat fragmentation. The hospital planting plans focus on diverse “cooperative assemblages” of plants that mimic and/or simulate historic plant community structure and planting densities.

Most human beings have a deep appreciation of natural ecosystems and a spiritual connection to nature.  These rooftops are intended to respect and welcome the sun, the earth, and wildlife inhabitants will provide peace, wonder, fulfillment and beauty.  The five separate roofs are thematically designed to provide urban habitat, horticultural education to patients, places of respite and views of nature. The current design offers views and access to sunlight and air – for refuge, healing, and inspiration.

The living roofs aim to depict function and values including the seasonal aspects of Bay Area ecology and native plants, specific plant selections that enhance the sensory experience in the garden, places of refuge from the ICU unit and the City beyond.  The Children’s Garden, which combines horticulture and hands-on education while providing fresh cut flowers and fresh food for the patients. These intrinsic living system functions can generate greater efficiencies derived from the purification of air and water, detoxification and decomposition of wastes, regulation of climate and restoration, production, and biodiversity.

A concept for the main entrance to the hospital will utilize an indoor landscape and water feature to improve air quality and cooling. This provides fresh air to the interior space, acting as lungs to regulate air temperature, humidity, and light. Way beyond cool and cooling, tiny microbes in leaf and root tissue remove air toxins, supplying a universal ecosystem service, air purification.  Soil microbes biodegrade airborne molds and bacteria.

Naturalism and Health Care

The hospital designs work to encourage the conversion of barren rooftops providing ecosystem services and other market-valued activities. Thus, buildings whose activities support ecosystem services will pay directly for the cost of lost services incurred by past ignorance, poor planning, non-sustainable building practice, and many tangible ecological, social, and human needs will be realized.

Realizing environmental service values through living systems is no longer about eco-chic, and no longer about being “green”.  Early adoption has allowed for greater application of these systems and has focused greater discipline and scientific investigation. This approach is based on naturalism, which will allow us to acquire new knowledge that balances the investment in sustainable developments and increases measurable performance.

The hospital team is now working toward the living system services performed, life cycle costing, and an energy performance declaration. This approach will allow us to acquire new knowledge that balances the investment in sustainable developments with measurable performance. Currently the design is under careful evaluation regarding the capital impact this green infrastructure will have on the construction and maintenance costs for the hospital. The living systems are not entirely necessary to achieve a minimum LEED rating, and are not at the core of the hospital’s primary functions of health care.  As a consequence these ‘sustainable systems’ in design will be under close scrutiny during the value engineering process.

ABOUT THE DESIGN PROCESS…

The Cathedral Hill Hospital Project uses an integrated team of architects, engineers, landscape architects and contractors in one location that work holistically in teams to ensure the highest quality of design and delivery at every step of the process.  This process, derived from the automotive industry, is a pilot process known as Integrated Project Delivery.

CLIENT:

Sutter Health and California Pacific Medical Center

ABOUT THE TEAM:

General Contractor: Herrero Boldt

Architect: SmithGroup

Engineering: Degenkolb, Ted Jacob Engineering Group, Silverman & Light

Landscape Architect: Wallace Roberts and Todd

Green Roof Design Consultant: Rana Creek Living Architecture