2013 Christmas Video-eCard

 

 

 

Wishing you and your Family Merry Christmas

and safe and Happy New Year!!!

 

 

 

 

from

everyone at Breckon Land Design!!

2013 Fall Newsletter

In The News - Fall 2013

 

A chill is in the air, football is in full swing and the smell of pumpkin pie is just around the corner!! That’s right, fall is here!!!! We have been very busy here at Breckon Land Design, so here is a quick highlight of some exciting new news:

·         Real-time 3D animations and stunning still renderings – we are very excited to announce that we have a new program that will bring residential and commercial projects to life. I just finished my first project with this new program – The Plexus Plaza redesign in Nampa.  I like the fact that reflections work, landscape lighting can show the different effects, and plant materials are more realistic and much, much more …. Check out this intro video!

 

In our fall Issue we are going to talk about one of my favorite small ornamental trees – the Coral Bark Japanese Maple.  In our project spot light we will review the Island Woods Residence, which details an extensive back yard installation. In our Contractor Spotlight we will highlight a local landscape Construction Company – Eagle Landscape!  I hope you sit back and enjoy the Fall issue of “Sense of Place”.

 

Focus on Plants - Coral Bark Japanese Maple

Focus on plants

                                Coral Bark Japanese Maple

 

                Coral bark Japanese Maple or – Acer palmatum ‘Sangokaku’ is one of my favorite small ornamental trees. As with all Japanese Maples, it will need a protected location from wind and the afternoon summer sun.  This small tree has green leaves with blood red twigs – a truly stunning combination. Mature branches will slowly lose the bright red color, but all new twigs will be a bright fire red for at least 3 years.  The fall color varies, but most years the green leaves turn golden orange yellow with some years a combination of yellow with red tips which will really make a statement!! Japanese maples can have a somewhat inconsistent fall color year to year in our Valley. Some years you will get a spectacular display of colors, while other years, we change from Hot to cold, too quickly and the leaves end up just turning brown and stay on the tree all winter until the new spring leaves pus them off! But when the leaves due turn those spectacular colors it is truly worth it! The approximate mature size is 15x12, so if you have a protected space, and looking for something a little different, why not try the Coral Bark Japanese Maple!!

 

 

Project Spotlight - Island Woods Residence

Island Woods Residence

                This Island Woods residence had a typical “builder special” landscape that did not match my client’s tastes.  My clients were looking for a more outdoor living space, the sound of water, an indoor outdoor living room for watching TV and reading books while enjoying nature, and an area for a grill with dining room. Our Client (which was referred to us by one of our past clients) wanted to see a couple of options for their yard

Landscape Master Plan (2012)

Concept #1 – Key Points

·         Enclosed 4 seasons room

·         Sunken patio with timber shade structure with party lights/lanterns

·         Outdoor grill and paver patio dining area

·         Flagstone paths

·         Raised garden beds

·         Grass along the side yards

·         Waterfall tucked in the back corner

Concept #1 -  Video

Concept #2 – Key Points

·         Covered patio/3 seasons room with outdoor kitchen and living room

·         Sunken patio with free standing structure

·         Artificial turf putting green

·         No grass back yard

·         Woodsy, understory plantings

·         Garden beds

·         Flagstone paths

 

  Concept #2 - Video

The client loved the initial concepts and they used elements mostly from Concept #1, but they liked how the main entrance to the yard was from the middle of the 4 season room in concept #2. They also liked how the waterfall from concept #2 flowed into the sunken patio. They also wanted to make the sunken patio handicap accessible for one of their friends, so we designed in a ramp to the sunken patio. After we revised the concept we went on to construction documents. For the 4 season’s room, I had to bring in an Architect and a Structural Engineer, so I turned to Merlin Stark with Stark Planning and Design for the Architectural Drawings and Tamarack Grove for the Structural Design and Review. We prepared the following drawings:

·         Materials Plan – to illustrate, note and detail all hardscape items like, pavers, paths, walls…..

·         Planting Plan – to illustrate all plant material proposed for the project

·         Plant care package – full color photos of all the plants and info on how to care for them.

·         Conceptual Landscape Lighting Plan – to illustrate the overall landscape lighting effects

·         Architectural Plans - Merlin Stark prepared a full set of Construction drawings for the 4 season’s room and Tamarack Grove prepared the Structural design and Calculations for the 4 season’s room.

Now that all the drawings were done, it was time to get construction bids for the work. The home owners were refereed to us from one of our past clients and they had Sterling install their project – so they wanted to go with Sterling as well. For the 4 Seasons room, the Home owners watered to go with Merlin’s recommendation of Rory Hammersmark Construction.

The first step of construction was to demo the existing shade structure and concrete patio. After the demolition, the area had to be excavated for the foundation of the 4 season’s room and the sunken patio. As Rory’s crew worked on the foundation for the 4 Seasons’ Room, Sterling started the prep for the sunken patio.

As the base was being prepared we made a trip with the home owners to Basalite and Rocky Mountain Supply to look at paver and Wall samples. The Home owners decided to go with Belgard’s mega-Arbel patio slab paver (resembles natural Flagstone) for the patios, paths and ramp and Celtik wall for the landscape walls and steps.

As Rory had the exterior shell of the 4 season room completed, Sterling started on their part of this project. The walls and steps were the first landscape elements to get installed with the sunken patio and waterfall to follow shortly after. The upper patio and paths were then finished with the plantings and sod to soften the hardscape elements.  Sterling then added Belgard’s Anglia Edger to the main planter by the upper patio to keep the bark from getting on the patio.

As with all new installations, I recommend patience, as the beds will look rather open at first, but with time the plants will mature and the yard will grow up!  A special thanks to Sterling Landscape, Rory Hammersmark Construction, AfterDark Lighting, Stark Planning and Design, Tamarack Grove Engineering and more….for making this project looks so good!      

          

Contractor Spotlight – Eagle Landscape

Contractor Spotlight – Eagle Landscape

Advertisement

                Eagle Landscape is one of Eagle’s oldest and most trusted landscape Construction companies.  Started back in 1978 by Pete Cintorino (CEO), Eagle Landscape has been a staple here in the Valley.  From large subdivisions and commercial development’s, to private residences, Eagle Landscape can handle all your construction needs. From paver patios, walls, water features, outdoor kitchens and irrigation systems, Eagle Landscape can do it all. I have had Eagle Landscape install several of my projects over the years – we have been working together for over 12 years now and their quality and customer service is top notch.  Jason Aird (President) now oversees the day to day operations of the company, but Pete is still actively involved in the company he started.

                Located at 3931 N. Ballantyne Lane, Eagle Landscape has a large Tree field for locally grown plant material and is also home to their landscape construction office. If you looking for larger specimen trees or unique plant material for your next landscape project, why not check out the Tree field at Eagle Landscape – you will be surprised with what you can find! If you are in need of some landscape construction services for your residential or commercial project, please feel free to contact Jason at Eagle Landscape!

Fall 2013 Newsletter Partners

Fall 2013 Newsletter Partners

 

                I hope you enjoyed our 2013 Fall Newsletter. I would like to thank our partners for their help to make this newsletter possible.  Please visit their web sites to review their products and services.  Thanks!!

Our Main Partners are:

 

 

 

 

Our associate partners are:

 

 

NEWSLETTER – Summer 2013

In The News

Summer is winding down and fall is around the corner. We have been very busy here at Breckon Land Design, so here is a quick highlight of some exciting new news:

 

·         New Project Updates – I have had the pleasure to visit some of my past projects and take some new after pictures... I have posted some of those Pictures on Houzz – why not check them out!!

·         Real-time 3D animations – we are very excited to announce that we have a new program that will bring residential and commercial projects to life. Materials will have realistic surfaces, mirrors will work, Lighting effects as night with real reflections, water will move, branches and leaves will sway in the wind, cars will move, birds will fly and more……. We just upgrade our computers to run this  -so stay tuned for more information, or contact us to see how we can bring your residential or commercial project to life.   To see some examples of this software in action – click here!

In our summer Issue we are going to talk about one of my favorite late summer plants – Black Eyed Susan!  In our project spot light we will review the Bown Crossing Residence, which details an extensive landscape installation. In our Contractor Spotlight we will highlight a local landscape Lighting Company – AfterDark!   I hope you sit back and enjoy the Summer issue of “Sense of Place”.

 

Contractor Spotlight – AfterDark Lighting

Advertisement

 AfterDark Lighting has been a Valley staple since 1994. Specializing in residential and commercial Landscape Lighting, Afterdark has set itself apart from the rest with unparalleled customer service, quality, design and installation.  Scott with AfterDark has installed several of my projects over the years and he has always done a stellar job of combining aesthetics and budget into a lighting installation that will be the talk of the neighborhood.

AfterDark has won several awards for their Lighting design and installations and they are my “go to” contractor for everything about landscape lighting. They can design and install low voltage or 120-volt system to meet your residential or commercial lighting needs.

  If you need help installing, maintaining or enhancing your landscape lighting, why not give Scott with AfterDark Lighting a call today to see what they can do for you!!!

Focus on plants - Black Eyed Susan

Focus on plants - Black Eyed Susan

 

Black Eyed Susan or - Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii ‘Goldsturm’ is one of my favorite summer perennials for bright flower color. The leaves of Black Eyed Susan are a dark green, then in the heat of summer, when everything else seems to tucker out – Black Eyed Susan’s come to life with an explosion of bright golden yellow flowers. The flowers attract butterflies and won the 1999 Perennial of the Year!!. This is a low maintenance perennial that loves heat and the sun and will get approximately 2’ high by 2’ wide.

 

 

Project Spotlight - Bown Crossing

                This Bown Crossing residence had a typical “builder special” landscape that did not match my client’s tastes.  My clients were looking for a more attractive curb appeal, a more naturalistic waterfall, more shade, an outdoor kitchen with dining area and an area for their hot tub. Our Client (which was referred to us by Sterling Landscape) wanted to see multiple options for their yard, so they could see the true potential.

 

Landscape Master Plan (2012)

Concept #1 – Key Points

·         New paver entry walk

·         The existing back yard patio would remain as-is

·         curved outdoor Kitchen with a bar area

·         The waterfall would stay in the same location as the existing waterfall, but larger boulder would be added

·         Flagstone patio and path

·         Sunken hot tub

·         Floating boulder slab steps

·         Rock lights

·         Hammock area

·         Evergreen forest for a woodsy feeling

 Concept #1

Concept #2 – Key Points

·         New paver entry walk, landing and landscape

·         New flagstone path along side yard to act as the entry to the garden

·         “L” shaped outdoor kitchen

·         Larger waterfall and stream along the NE side

·         Sunken dining area

·         Outdoor living room (deck -flush with threshold) with wood, stone and metal shade structure

·         Custom privacy screen for the sunken hot tub

Concept #2
 

Concept #3 – Key Points

·         Rectangular concrete stepping stone entry walk

·         Stone and Ipe accent fences

·         Multilevel deck-patio (concrete and decking)

·         Cantilevered shade structure

·         Small outdoor kitchen (no bar area)

·         Rill water feature

·         Artificial turf lawn area

·         Bocce ball court

·         Sunken hot tub

Concept #3

The client loved the initial concepts and the, construction y combined elements mostly from Concept #1&#2 – Although they were really attracted to concept  #3 they liked the relaxed  feeling of the more naturalistic concepts.  After we revised the concept we went on to construction documents, and we prepared the following drawings:

·         Materials Plan – to illustrate, note and detail all hardscape items like, pavers, paths, walls…..

·         Planting Plan – to illustrate all plant material proposed for the project

·         Conceptual Landscape Lighting Plan – to illustrate the overall landscape lighting effects

Now that all the drawings were done, it was time to get 3 bids.  We decided to get bids from Thad with Sterling Landscape, Tom with LCG landscape and Gary with Green lawn care. The Home owner reviewed the bids and decided to go with Sterling Landscape as the general with the main subs being Boon LLC (outdoor Kitchen and Shade Structure) and Afterdark Lighting (landscape Lighting).

The first step of construction was to demo the back patio and the majority of the existing landscape. The footings for the Alumawood shade structure were poured while the back yard was prepped for the multilevel Belgard Paver patio.
 

The grades were also set for the flagstone patio, paths and the floating stone slab steps. After the patios were installed (Belgard pavers and Flagstone) the frame for the outdoor kitchen was installed.

The disappearing waterfall was one of the last elements to go into the back yard before the plantings were installed. The disappearing waterfall was design to be seen from the multiple sitting areas. While the waterfall was being installed the curved outdoor kitchen was getting tricked out with DCS Grill, refrigeraotor, beverage center, side burning, storage and more --  Truly a chef's play area!!

 

To soften all the hardscape areas, plants were then added to bring year round color and texture into the yard. The finishing touch was the adjustment of the landscape lighting that included LED strip lights under the paver steps, accent lights on the waterfall, selected trees, shade structure and the residence.

As with all new installations, I recommend patience, as the beds will look rather open at first, but with time the plants will mature and the yard will grow up!  A special thanks to Sterling Landscape, Boon, LLC, AfterDark Lighting, and all the team members….for making this project looks so good!