​Last chance to plant your bare-root roses and stone fruit trees! There’s still time for winter annuals such as pansies, snapdragons, primrose, stock and violas.
Now’s the time for dahlia, gladiolus, tuberous begonia, and tuberose bulbs. Pure of heart will set out seeds for beets, carrots, chives, lettuces, and other seedlings in the cabbage family.
Winter is a good time to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of your garden.

​​Since first launching her landscape design career in 1982 in Los Angeles, Alida Aldrich has stayed true to three pillars of her craft: respect for a site’s existing landscape; careful consideration of surrounding architecture; and above all, a loyalty to client vision. Throughout Santa Barbara and Montecito — where she relocated her headquarters in 1996 — The Aldrich Company’s time-tested approach is well-suited to the region’s picturesque parcels, architectural review, and homeowners’ sophisticated and discerning taste. And it shows. Aldrich has won design awards from the Montecito Association, Santa Barbara Beautiful, and — four years running — international “Best of Houzz” accolades. Her services include complete conceptual design, full working drawings, installation oversight, and maintenance supervision. For more, visit her site: http://www.aldrich-landscapes.com
We caught up with Aldrich to hear about bit more about Central Park influences, the boon of being her own boss, and a certain Supreme Court justice.
​
See the blog post at: www.giffinandcrane.com/blog/the-gc-questionnaire-alida-aldrich/

G&C: What drew you to landscape design early on?   
Aldrich: Decades ago, having developed a passion for working in my own garden, I enrolled in the Landscape Architectural Program at UCLA (with tree and plant courses at Pierce College, in the San Fernando Valley). That formal education gave me the confidence to open my own landscape design studio.
What has been your favorite work-related field trip or vacation?
New York City’s Central Park. Within the larger 843-acre park, there are numerous smaller parks, each with its own distinct design character. It’s remarkable how Fredrick Law Olmstead’s original designs continued to thrive, offering pleasure to city dwellers for more than 160 years.
What is your favorite public landscape design in Santa Barbara?
Alice Keck Memorial Park is a perfectly scaled jewel. Everyone can stroll through to see various examples of the Mediterranean plant palette best-suited to our region.  
Where do you find design inspiration outside of work?
By seeing other landscape designers’ and architects’ work on my walks around different neighborhoods in Santa Barbara. Also from magazines, and online articles and photos.
What do you most like about your job?
I treasure setting my own calendar and being my own boss.
What do you most dislike about your job?
Failure of others to do their work properly and timely. There are many trades involved in installing a garden design. One trade dropping the ball can throw the whole project off kilter.
If you had to go back to pick another profession, what would it be?
I’d choose anything having to do with music. Music — another art form — compliments my creative nature.
What is your current state of mind?
Contentment.
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
I don’t believe there is such a thing — it would be a fool’s errand to try.
What is your greatest fear?
Loneliness.
What is your greatest extravagance?
Travel. I have been fortunate to have lived and visited a number of locales around the world. It’s a marvelous way for personal and professional expansion.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
Routine. It’s lethal.
What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Temperance. We’re only here for one go around — no sense in holding back!
Which talent would you most like to have?
Playing an instrument.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Educating myself and starting and running a successful landscape design business for many years.
What is your most treasured possession?
Friends. You simply cannot get thru life without them.
What do you most value in your friends?
Compassion.
Which living person do you most admire?
RBG
Who is your favorite fictional character?
Miss Piggy.
Who are your heroes in real life?
First responders.
On what occasion do you lie?
Only as a last resort to lessen someone’s pain.
What is your most marked characteristic?
Curiosity.
What word or phase do you most overuse?
Wonderful.
What is your motto?
“Inspiration is for amateurs — the rest of us show up and get to work.’
— American painter and photographer Chuck Close.

The key to your garden's success, as well as saving on water, is to water deeply and infrequently. You can accomplish this easily with an automated system of sprinklers and drip emitters. These tips are for those who already have systems in place. To learn how to install your own watering system, scroll to the bottom for resources.

1. Avoid runoff and evaporation. Runoff occurs with over-watering - usually by using too much water at once. Evaporation occurs during the day and windy periods. Run off is also more likely to occur if your soil is composed of clay, or other poor drainage issues.

2. Soak directly to the root zone for perennials, shrubs, and trees with soaker hoses, drip, or hand-watering. If using your garden hose, its a great idea to buy a mechanical timer. Simply thread the timer to your hose faucet, then attach your garden hose to the other end. Set the time and leave the hose on very low. If using a watering can, water each plant, then come back 15 minutes later and soak again. Water and check your potted plants every day - they dry out quick in warm weather.

3. Encourage deep roots in your lawn. Calculate the output of your lawn sprinklers and adjust your watering regimen accordingly. Usually, lawns need 1 inch of water once a week during the summer. See the resources section to learn more.

4. Water in the early morning. Its a good idea to invest in an automatic rain sensor/timer for your system. ​Many are programmed to change watering schedules with the seasons and with rainfall and temperature readers. 

5. Plant for your climate! Create a stunning garden with native plants and those adapted to your region. You'll discover many wonderful and unique plants at the nearest botanical garden; often botanical gardens will offer free admittance if you just want to shop their nursery. 

The Aldrich Company's project was featured in a how-to article about designing flower beds. Click on the image to read the article (published in German - click "translate this page")

Rock or alpine gardens mimic the rocky, steep habitat of high mountains, where high solar radiation during the summer and long, brutal winters produce an interesting effect on plants called ‘krumholtz:’ a stunted form of plant due to the harshness of freezing winds and rain. Plants often show a 'cushion' effect: low growing mounds that are low enough to stay out of the biting winds.

​In this environment, plants welcome the shelter of larger rocks. the plants grow low to the ground and often have woolly leaves to deflect sunlight during the short growing season.

​To mimic this look in a garden environment, utilize local stone as your base point.  Think of rocks as your mulch for the garden. Build up soil and larger rocks to create slope. If your garden is already on the rocky side, embrace your rocky terrain as an advantage.

Tuck in plants from this list:

• Achillea millefolium (Yarrow)
• Cerastium tomentosum (Snow-in-summer)
• Thymus serpyllum (Woolly Thyme)
• Eriogonum umbellatum (Sulfur Flower)
• Iberis sempervirens (Evergreen Candytuft)
• Sedum spathulifolium (Pacific Stonecrop)
• Geranium dalmaticum (Cranesbill)
• Antennaria dioica (Pussy Toes)
• Anacyclus pyrethrum depressus (Mount Atlas Daisy)
• Juniperus procumbens (Japanese Garden Juniper)

 ​Install some of the plants next to large and medium sized rocks, and plant others in finer rocky substrate such as decomposed granite. Utilize crevices in between stone pavers and fill with recommended plants.

If you live in a fire-prone area, it is much easier and less expensive to prevent fire damage than to fix it. Below is some choice plants for a fire wise (and drought-tolerant) garden.

Pinemat Manzanita or Arctostaphylos uva-ursi is a great ground cover with winter interest (red-tinged leaves) and delicate pink blossoms in the spring.
Plant in sun to light shade. Pinemat Manzanita is a good slope stabilizer, and its leaves make an excellent tea. Sunset Zones A1-A3, 1-9, 14-24

Senecio mandraliscae, S. serpens, S. talinoides, or S. vitalis are great choices as succulent ground covers. These plants are also known as Chalk Fingers or Chalk Sticks. Zones vary, but range from 12 to 24, plus H1 and H2.

Aloe species are usually succulent rosettes with showy, tubular flowers. Sharp drainage is key to keeping Aloes (and all succulents) happy. Over watering or heavy clay may cause the roots to rot. Some are cold hardy, others will only thrive in frost-free zones. If you live in Santa Barbara area, check out San Marcos Growers selection of Aloes (note - SM Growers are wholesale only).

French Lavender
It would seem that the oils contained in this fragrant shrub would go up in a second, but if watered regularly, this perennial is slow to catch fire.
Plus, Lavandula dentata is beautiful, drought tolerant and smells delightful. French Lavender is easy to grow in full sun and makes an excellent dried flower. Sunset Zones 8, 9, 12-24.

Crassula ovata, or Jade plant, is another succulent-leaved perennial that takes shade or sun. It requires very little water and practically no care. It can grow about 4' tall and wide outdoors where temperatures stay above 30 degrees.

Agave species
These structurally striking gems are native to the most wildfire prone parts of the country, the West and Southwest. There are so many Agave species to choose from, each one remarkably beautiful.  Zones vary.

Mimulus sp. (shown is recently renamed Diplacus aurantiacus) are charming, versatile, and heat adapted perennials native to the West. 
Blooms are usually orange, but also come in yellow, red, or bi-colored. They are easy to grow in Southern California and bloom for most of the year and attract hummingbirds and Checkerspot butterflies. Zones Vary.

Ice plants comprise several genus. Delosperma species are vibrantly hued ground covers that tolerate dry, hot, and low fertile soil conditions. Aptenia is a super easy ground cover that attracts pollinators. Carpobrotus edulis has naturalized in many areas of California. Lampranthus is another popular ice plant whose name literally means 'shining-flowers' due to its vibrant hues.