When I think of the mountain villages of Provence the first thing that comes to mind is the dry stack stone walls.
They are everywhere and have been standing for hundreds of years. The craftsmanship to build such tall walls is outstanding. While it is usually cost prohibitive to build dry stack stone walls in the garden, when suitable rock is readily available on site we have used it with great success.
I was glad I didn't meet another vehicle on this road.
The stone walls on the left have recently been reworked, the walls on the right have slumped a little but are still doing the job. The vertically laid sharp stones capping the wall are there to keep unwanted guests out of the property. I have seen broken glass or even broken bottles set in the top of walls for the same purpose in other countries.
I love the corner of this wall.
A great deal of work went into this corner and it has held up to the wear and tear it obviously has taken. This is typically recreated by the manufactured corners used for veneered concrete masonry. More expensive projects will use real ledger stone veneered over concrete block, a great substitute, but there is nothing like the character of a real stone wall.
I don't know if these plants were placed into this wall or if they took root over time.
Either way it's a great look and we have incorporated plants into walls. Sedums, Sempervivens, Alyssum, Thyme and Germander all work well. The trick is either to set up a drip system within the wall or start the plants in the rainy season and remember to water occasionally in the summer.
Lavender, Lavender, Lavender, it's everywhere in Provence.
This is the back of the Gite I stayed in early spring. This gravel walk is actually 6 ft. wide but as the lavender grows it spills into the walkway. When it blooms it brushes against you, which is wonderful if you like the smell of lavender. We created a Lavender walk in one of our gardens, it has a magical quality to it.
Olives, Olives and more Olives.
There are a surprising number of Olive orchards and Olive trees in the Gardens throughout Provence. They are a smaller more cold hardy Olive tree than you find in Spain. Portugal, Greece or Italy. Picholine olives come from from these trees which were planted during medieval times and are being rejuvenated. Olive trees are remarkably well adapted to Northern California. In the right place in a garden their silvery foliage and magnificent trunks add a wonderful ambience. Their fruit can be a real nuisance when planted in the wrong place, like turf areas or over patios. large specimen trees readily transplant and create an instant Mediterranean feel. There are many more varieties beside the Mission Olive to choose from and I especially like the mature Sevillano Olive trees we installed on our projects. Mature is a relative term as Olives can live for over 1000 years.
Cypress Trees are used in the landscape throughout Provence.
Unlike Italy however, they aren't used just in the cemeteries. So often in our gardens in California they are planted in very narrow areas as a screen. Most of the time they become much to large for the space and either get removed or a hack prune job. I like to use them either singly to emphasis the verticality of a structure or in groupings, especially at an entrance.
Grape Vineyards are planted throughout Provence.
Vineyards range from large operations to someone planting their private yard for their own wine production. If you have the space and the interest this is a fantastic way to landscape a property. We have incorporated a few small vineyards into our designs. This area reminds me of the upper ridges on the east side of the Napa Valley. In fact Provence has many similarities in feel to both Napa and Sonoma Valleys, excluding the incredible Roman, Medieval, Renaissance and Belle Epoch history and Architecture…lol. That is Mont Ventoux of Tour de France fame in the background.
These gorgeous red poppies aren't as plentiful in Provence as Italy or Spain but they are stunning.
This wall was recently added to create additional parking near the entrance to a small mountain town. The poppies were probably part of a hydro-seed mix to cover the soil and prevent erosion. I have seen them used just a few times in the Napa Valley. I would love to see them used more.
Hollyhocks seem to have disappeared from gardens and it's a shame.
I clearly remember the tall Hollyhocks my aunt planted in her Bay Area garden. As a kid, it was fun to wait for them to go to seed and pick the seeds for use the next year. They are rather dramatic against this ruin of a stone monument.
Plants are jammed into spaces where their seemingly is no room.
This defies common sense but with the right plant material it can really soften up too much hardscape. I have incorporated tiny planting pockets into walkways and patios and have planted small vines and espaliers in them. This works especially well in paver patios, just pop out a few of the pavers and plant directly into the mix below. It requires very tough plant material, a drip system or occasional hand watering. I have had great success with espaliering Fig trees, just don't let them get too large.
Stone Pines are found in the gardens and surrounding landscape of Southern France, Italy, Spain, Portugal and many other Mediterranean countries.
In Portugal they are planted in large plantations and used in the pulp industry. They are great landscape specimen trees only for a large garden. Some of the specimens planted in Capitol Park in Sacramento in the 19th century are gigantic and require special support. These pines trees have a rounded shape and blend wonderfully with Oaks, Bay trees, Madrones, etc.
This pattern of alternating wavy and straight sections is very common in the iron work in Provence.
It is so simple yet it has a very dynamic feel to it. Note the short, sharp spikes between the uprights. I wouldn't want to put my foot on those to try and jump the gate, yeeow!
This shade structure covers a patio outside a village post office.
The simplicity of the structure, it's slight arch, diminished scale and color are very attractive. I'm not sure it can support a Virginia Creeper vine, but it felt incredibly sturdy to the touch. I'm also not sure of the window covering, how do you escape in an emergency? Obviously different building codes.
This gate swings inward behind the arch.
The design motif was very different, more similar to architectural patterns you see in Southern Spain or Portugal. Maybe there is a Moroccan iron worker in town?


Domestic violence is often thought about in terms of black eyes and bruises. In reality, domestic violence is made up of not only physical abuse but also sexual, financial and psychological abuse that can not always be seen.
Its hard to understand why the victims stay with their abuser, but statistically, a women will go back to her abuser seven times before leaving for good. There are many factors that play a part in those decisions. There may be threats of harm or death to themselves or their children, they may find it very difficult financially or emotionally. One thing to remember is that the relationship did not start out abusive, but loving and intimate and that is what they are hoping for again.
Domestic violence is violence within the intimate partner relationship. Healthy relationship consist of mutual respect. When domestic violence has occurred, that healthy relationship no longer shares equal rights and responsibilities. One is trying to manipulate, discipline and/or control the other.
Although, there are men who are abused by women and also victims of the same gender that abuse one another, the U.S, Department of Justice on family violence has put out a comprehensive national study that states that the majority of domestic violence victims are women. Females make up 84% of spouse abuse victims and 86% of victims at the hands of a boyfriend or girlfriend. About 75% of men are responsible for these attacks.
Poverty also plays a role in higher instances of domestic violence. Those who struggle financially, physically and mentally and have less resources available to them will see an increase in domestic violence. That's why economic independence and employment are important considerations in a victim's safety and well being.
Education plays a vital role in helping to end domestic violence. Teaching our community, schools, churches, our friends and family about the dynamics of domestic and sexual abuse and holding those accountable who commit such violence, is a start.
If you would like for someone to come and speak to your group about domestic/sexual violence, please give us a call. Our presentations will be "age appropriate" for your group.


Have you ever woken up in the morning, preparing to go out, and later got frustrated because you can't find that favorite dress or shirt of yours? That kind of problem may never happen if your closet is well organized.
Still, an orderly closet organization ideas would depend very much on how much space you have, and how many dressing items you want to put inside. Before you start rearranging your closet, take a look at these tricks below.
Good lighting makes up an area. It creates depth and dimension while making it easy to find stuff inside. Your walk-in closet may have the size of a small bedroom, but with more hidden spaces. Thus, a single main fixture at the center of the ceiling may not do the job well.
Main Fixtures : Since you will have much stuff inside the closet, you may want to put several fixtures on the ceiling. Ideally, the fixtures are placed every 4-by-4 foot space. The best type to choose is the recessed fixtures so that it doesn't interfere with any shelving installation.
Shelves-Illuminating Lights : There should be shelves and racks on your closet. To help you find things easier, place several illuminating lights above each installation. Consider using wireless LED lightings to avoid the use of too many electrical wirings inside the shelves that can be dangerous.
In-Floor Lighting : Some closet may have lower racks for shoes and bags. To light these spots, you can use in-floor lightings. These types may also be wireless so you can easily tape it on the floor on the low shelving area.
Open shelving gives a clearer view of what is inside the closet. One thing to remember, you need to put the right measurement for these shelves. It's not only about how much space the shelf can hold but also your comfort in reaching out for stuff.
It is advisable to make the shelves not any deeper than 14 inches to avoid losing things far on the back of it. The standard height of 10 inches may be enough to keep most fashion items. Since it consumes less space, the use of open shelves is definitely better than having too many drawers in the closet.
If you don't want to struggle to find items, it is better to keep the shelves above the cabinet heights than to place it down below. The spaces lower than your knee can be used to place clear containers for the things that you don't really use.
Once in a while, you may need to sit to put on some shoes, or picking up dresses. Placing the seating area on one corner of the closet or in the middle of the area would give a luxurious feeling. Furthermore, the seat itself may double-functions as storage.
The seating area can be placed in the same spot with a body-length mirror. Otherwise, it can also be arranged near the vanity. There, you can check your appearance before going out. If you live with a partner, more seating area might be needed especially when both of you have the same routine of getting dressed. In that area, you would want brighter lighting, so using bright white bulbs around the mirror should do the trick.
What's a dressing room without a mirror? If you have enough space, you can definitely spare a corner for a large mirror. Otherwise, placing mirrors on the cabinet doors or side can be a great idea.
For a more modern-looking closet, there is no "too many mirrors". Besides serving its purpose, mirrors in a closet organization also illuminate the whole area. It gives an illusion of a larger space for a cramped closet. Whether you are choosing a framed or borderless mirror, both of it can work the same function for your closet.
An organized closet can utilize a dressing island especially when it has space. A dressing island may function as storage for accessories like belts, ties, socks, watches, and jewelry. Some people who keep luxurious items on their closet also use the island to keep their valuable item. Remember to install a safety lock if you want to use it the same way.
To keep everything simpler, the top of the dressing island can also be made as a display with pullout trays for accessories. You can find the items easier, and the accessories are free from dust.
Though this type of furniture is rarely sold in stores, you can always find the right design on the internet and ask a handyman to make it for you. Design a particular storage system for each accessory you have so that everything is organized in its place.
Ever heard of "put alike things together" in organizing items? Coordinating the colors in your closet organization would make it way easier to find matching things. For example, coats are put in a group and arranged according to their colors.
To do this, first, you have to bring out all the items you have. Then, categorize them according to its type—shirts, t-shirts, dresses, coats, jackets, sweaters, pants, skirts, and jeans. Once you have them grouped, start hanging each group on its color. It is better if you can manage to buy the same hangers for the apparels so that your closet looks more organized.
A walk-in closet is all about having a functional area for you to dress up. The key to a successful closet organization ideas is to have a place for each fashion items you have. Maximize the space by using every corner but avoid having hidden spots.
The use of clear containers can also be an ingenious idea for seasonal items that are rarely used. Remember, the easier you can find something in your closet, the less frustrating it would be. So, are you ready to sort your dresses and start organizing?