12 years ago we did our whole front yard in California natives, through our water dept. They had classes on all aspects of installing watering systems, plant species. When done they pay you for having a drought tolerant yard. I worked at our local Nature Center, and had access to native plant sale that we offered once a year for our community. My husband put in a creek that led from our downspout, so when it rained the water fed into our landscape. He was working in the mountains at the time, and brought home rocks, boulders, it was beautiful. We had a Rogers red native grape growing on our fence all around yard. Birds loved the grapes, as well as neighborhood children.
What a great beginning to your native garden! Love the pavers and the bird water feature also! The plants will take off and in no time you will be trimming! All the best in your future endeavors!
I love how this turned out! I just bought my first house and I want to re-do my backyard, this was so inspiring. Love to learn about the importance of native plants, thanks for sharing your journey!
the garden looks lovely!! as both a botany student and horticulturalist in california it makes me so happy to see you bridging the gap between houseplant and native plant communities! I watch a few other houseplant and gardening youtubers and its disheartening seeing such lack of regard for the local environment in what species are being planted. you clearly thought this out in a very detailed way and it gives me hope for the world that someone with such a large platform is sharing this kinda stuff 🩵
ahh i agree about the disconnect within much of the houseplant community with native plants and actually learning about your local environment or the ecosystem/region that the plants they collect are from. benji is so refreshing in this regard! more people need to spread awareness about native plants
please please please more videos like this about natives and ecology!! its one of my main passions and so amazing to see u spreading the good word, more people need to learn about the importance of planting natives with your landscaping
If your landlord wants to keep that live oak he’d better get a certified arborist in there to get weight off that big reaching limb. Can’t wait to see your native CA plant garden mature!❤
that whole garden is amazing, it will be an oasis in 2 - 3 years. I have been planting native gardens here in the UK most of my adult life.... where you have those pavers you could keep an eye out for little bits of moss that have been dislodged by birds and place it in the cracks to see if it will take, it often does especially if you water it... great video and so inspiring
Hi Benji, Bula Greetings from Fiji! Thanks for sharing details on your native ecosystem(s) with landscaping processes ... much appreciated! I'm working to develop Urban Forestry in Fiji as a vehicle for native ecosystems recovery.
Beautiful transformation in the garden! Excited to see it mature. Don’t forget to use mosquito dunks in the water feature or your mosquito problem will get worse.
@@robbrent It’s a small donut shaped thing you can add to ponds and water features that according to their website: Kills mosquitoes before they're old enough to bite The only product with bti, bacteria toxic only to mosquito larvae Lasts for 30 days and treats 100 square feet of surface water Non-toxic to all other wildlife , pets, fish, and humans Labeled for organic gardening by the usepa Use Mosquito Dunks in any standing water including rain barrels, bird baths, tree holes, elevator shafts, planter reservoirs, rain gutters, etc
I planted native plants on my balcony and it worked a bit too well for insects. It was amazing to see wild bees and butterflies but it didn't end so well for the plants. I went on vacation for one week and when I came back, almost everything had been eaten by caterpillars. Sadly no bird was there to ate some of the caterpillars. I really recommend planting native plants but it's also important to check what species go well together to find a balance. It's winder around here so I'm feeding the birds, hoping that some will come back during Summer, to enjoy some water and caterpillars.
So glad to see you talking about native plants! I work for a native landscape company in the pnw and definitely feel like native plants are underrepresented and so nice to see you shouting out local businesses in your area. also I know leaf debris can look super messy but it is so vital for insects and will also help amend your hydrophobic soil, obviously you’ll want to keep the pathways and hard surfaces clear but leave the leaves in the beds! ps. I absolutely love the pavers you chose!
I'm also in the PNW and I'm working on a degree in landscaping and I agree, I feel like native plants are so underrated here! I see so many native landscapes for people in California but it's just not big here and I wish it was. Especially the palouse prairie region (a little east of the true PNW but I'm counting it.) It's so beautiful and only 1% of it remains :(
Hydrophobic soil is the weirdest stuff. We also have it where I live (only relatively recently) in Cape Town, and we're told it is from the fynbos vegetation in our area. Good luck with your garden. I love the cobbles and the way they've been laid, the water feature, rocks, Carex grass, heuchera. I could go on. Let us know how it grows (successes and failures).
benji I am not going to lie I’ve always thought I’d be a penthouse type of gal but you’ve officially changed my mind. And now I’m determined to get a house with a nice garden to relax and contribute to more to mother earth. Thank you!
Love the garden and video. Very relaxing to watch. Could you explain more how they did the fountain? I guess there is a reservoir underneath but is it plugged into electric somewhere?
I absolutely love the vibes of your vlog, your house has warm lamps and so many plants, it's super cozy, the acoustic soft guitar music in the backgrounds, the way the light and plants shade. It's just so peaceful and serene. Also incase I can't find the acoustic guitar song that began at the beginning of the Garden Tour, can someone please tell me what song it was that played at 16:00 ? Edit: Found the song using Shazam. Meadow - Sebastian Winskog Beautiful music
Hi Benji! We're trying to do the same in our baren yard (that used to be a lawn) but we're renting. Could you tell us how much it'd have cost you if you didn't have support through the programs and your landlord?
Depending on the soil, most natives never need amendment. Important part is picking natives that like the soil you have, because you can’t actually change what your soil is. Pick plants that do well in your sand or clay, and then add a good layer of mulch. Big thing too is what soil you have determines how much you can/should water
Benji, as a landscape architect (with 30+ years experience), they did a shockingly good job. Particularly with their plant massing, and that rock placement. Big props on the rock and water feature. Most do no not know that you actually have to "plant" a rock to get that natural repose. Beautiful job. Keep up with ivy removal, it is not gone completely. That is a mimosa tree and it will always be messy AF, but hey, it adds shade and substance to the garden. Just accept the mess, and blow off the water feature and patio area. I do not get the pomegranate tree having that brick behind it (that box), could you remove that last L of brick? That is a little distracting for no reason. Could you clean up some of the excess branches and "suckers" from the existing bases of the trees? @19:41 example. It is hard to see what is going on, sorry. Those pavers are just cobbles, wide spacing. Not very novel, but good choice and installation. Why not put chairs in that area? Or, I see you have at least one bench. A great layout design, only a few minor hiccups. Bear in mind that this is the very worst this will ever look. This is NOT interior design, so looks the worst now, but will just get better. This is done in the spirit of English Cottage, you will see. Props again to them to listen to what you wanted. I assume they amended the soil when they added irrigation. 😍🤩 New subscriber, Thanks.
Hello, this is very random but I am interested in pursuing landscape architect as a possible career, I am in my second year of college as of now, what path did you take to get where you are?
@@GustavoHernandez-pj2cl I saw your question and have been trying to thoughtfully answer if or not you should pursue a career in Landscape Architecture. The short answer is: Hell NO! Props to you for asking and I believe that if you called a landscape architecture firm close to you and just stated that you will buy lunch for a LA, go and get them and pay for a simple place close to them, they would take you up. It would be worth it to you. Ask them how much time they can spare. I have so many reasons for saying this is a huge regret I made in my life. As important as this field is, it is not recognized here in the US. First you have to understand what types of work you will be doing. It is a vast field so you could go into so many different type areas. I LOVE most of the areas I have done. You have to begin to understand what landscape architecture IS to begin with. Most degrees are 5 year programs, and it is a hell of a lot of work. 5 years of colleges is not cheap, and mostly impossible to work while going to school, it is VERY time consuming. I would guess that over 95% holding degrees in LA, have defaulted. Most will never earn enough to pay the loans back. Nobody will have any idea of what you do and just assume you are a "landscaper". Should you be independently wealthy, and want to work within a fun field, and work crazy hours with little pay, it might be worth it. You will never get rich, and struggle to be even middle class. As you begin to understand what the field is, you can interview more LA's and ask better questions. Generally LA's are great down to earth people and will be very willing to advise you. I have noticed that other countries employ the field much more than the US, I have seen wonderful things done in Thailand! It is not "a thing" here in the US. Simply call an LA and ask just like you asked me, maybe offer to buy them lunch? Meanwhile, I will answer any question you might have. Mostly retired, I have some time. When we we are young we always think we will be the exception, but that rarely happens. Good luck to you. Very smart move to ASK before you jump in as most of us have. The schools WILL lie to you, get the truth from a REGISTERED Landscape Architect.
I love all of your content but THIS IS WHAT I LOVE THE MOST!!! I am a horticulturist/ Landscape Designer and I have been studying native plants for a while. Amazing job educating us about native plants! We have over 8K native plants in California and they are beautiful and they provide so many benefits like you said. We are opening a Native Plant Garden at the SD Natural HIstory Museum in Balboa Park. You will have to come visit and I can show you around, I will be taking care of the new garden!
is the nattive plant garden open now? I've been meaning to visit the Natrual History Museum because I haven't gone in years. I'd love to see the native plant garden once its open!!
i love that you're promoting gardening with native plants!! in my area, there's a huge issue with english ivy and bamboo taking over and destroying our local forests, so i hope that more people become aware of the importance of cultivating native gardens:)
The pavers and the large landscape rocks, with one being a fountain/bird bath, are my favorite parts of this garden. I'm excited to see how it looks over time.
oh, I never know that you majored in environmental studies, and supporting local business is amazing!! I would love to wait and see how your garden is gonna be like in future! Hope to have a complete video on it in future!!
I'm so glad to hear that the younger people are starting to take an interest in the environment and plants and flowers I've been doing 18/20 years out here memorial Park in New Kensington PA and I've been to have 30 gardens out here just for flowers and some some some trees and what a lot of trees but some fruit trees and a little bit of vegetables but not much my phone keeps going off sorry about that yeah just heard people to come out and enjoy and relax and and for all the animals environment and it's just so beautiful out here so that's good to know that younger people are getting into it thank you very much
PLEASE MAKE ANOTHER VIDEO. My girlfriend and i LOVE your channel and it all inspires us so much. We discovered you maybe a two weeks ago and we have watched every video lol You should see how much our little house has transformed since discovering you lol Cant wait to see you hit 1 million subs, which im sure will be in now time.
from a lifelong gardener...#1 tip, start keeping unwanted plant species out (weeds) immediately, and consistently. Once a baddie goes to seed your problems and efforts multply exponentially and sometimes you can never get on top of it again without ripping everything out. So, start weeding now! Keep on top of keeping out the ivy and other exotics. Never skip weeding day!
This has been my favorite video of yours I was glued to my screen LOL I love to see you embrace native plant gardening. It’s such a fun and rewarding experience. Now you’ll start seeing those plants on hikes and stuff and have such a deeper appreciation. Thanks for sharing this beautiful garden with us! :--)
If you want moss for the stone path, you can gather it wherever you find it on the street between the pavement and replant it. That is where Nigel Saunders gets his moss for his Bonsai trees.
Awesome job, I planted my yard with native California plants in the Sacramento area. You should connect with your local California Native Plant Society, CNPS, chapter. They might have resources that could help you with the native plants and many of them have public tours of peoples yards that have planted natives plants so that people can get inspired.
Benji, I admire you for sharing the benefits of native plants and connecting to nature in our residential spaces. I was in a similar place as you, I had an interest in environmental science but pursued a landscape architecture degree since I didn't see a clear career path for myself in the environmental space. I am now a few years into my career as a landscape designer, creating beautiful CA native focused gardens in Los Angeles. I love the thoughtful collaboration with your designers and contractors and excited to see the garden grow in. If you have an opportunity to add in more plants, the Pitcher Sage is one of my favorites, it has a fragrant scent and delicate soft purple flowers. I would love to connect sometime and share our interests. Best of luck with the garden!
This was wonderful! I loved hearing about the climate benefits and what the different plants were. I can’t wait to see how the garden changes and grows in the future!
Hey Benji! This is such a random question but can you solve a Rubik’s cube? I’m also big into plants and I’m also a cuber and I recently discovered some really cool cube plant pots and I thought they were pretty cool.
Hi Benji! Bravo for keeping the younger generation in the "awareness" mode to keeping our planet healthy and beautiful! Your mindfulness and education in keeping the balance is commendable! Your landscaping is A+ for a backyard habitat for all the creatures to enjoy! (Emphatically, the beneficial ones)! Accolades to the garden contractors! I am so envious of your garden! Hugs!
I love how thoughtful this whole project was, I wish all the nourishment and growth to your beautiful garden! And I hope you are not being too hard on yourself for losing the footage- these things happen to everyone and this video was still incredibly informative and cohesive to watch. Keep it up Benji, you are super appreciated!
Your little garden is lovely , I am sure it will mature to a great space, I know you won’t pick plants toxic to your dog, and I would love to see a large bird bath as well ❤ or a small dog bath for hot days ❤❤❤❤❤❤
Thank you so much for this video. I have a great interest in the effects of climate on landscape. I live in New York City where it rains a lot more than it did 40 years ago when I first moved here. It never stops raining here, almost as much as Portland OR. I had spent the previous summer in the Bay Area where the dry summers changed the landscape. I would like to commend you and Chris for taking the steps to help your landscape. Your videos are beautiful and I always enjoy them.
I love to see the vast variety of native plants. I enjoy watching your videos because I'm currently planning to study in a major that involves climate when I graduate and your videos help me a lot . (
I love the native redesign! “Manicured” lawns are so bad for the environment 🥺😢🥺 I hope you guys have a warm and wonderfully blessed Yule (Winter Solstice)!!! 😁🤗🥰
Good thing i was scrolling thru my subscriptions, i didn't get a notification. Looks amazing. I have been squeezing in a little work on the side of the house. Bought a couple of , roses, boungavillas, etc. Just praying February's weather is mild. Your hair looks good today.
In case you're not aware of this, for soil that won't accept water you can buy a specific soil wetter which is simply hosed on. It contains a safe bio degradable detergent which washes away whatever it is that stops water from penetrating (I forget the cause). One application works wonders but if you apply it once a week for a month or so your soil will be transformed.
Hydrophobic soil can gradually, and easily, be made to moisture-retentive once again, and be brought back to life. 😊 I’m sure you guys know all this, lol. It just takes some different approaches, like maybe in certain areas, have raised beds. Or even raised planting areas using bricks on the edges. You can also make piles of purchased topsoil and compost, sort of mounded berms, and plant directly in there. Add your own compost too. Cover with gravel to keep it from blowing away. And then there’s always just partially-buried containers and pots... roots will fill the pot and start to find their way into the ground. They’ll work it and aerate it gradually. I had the same issue at basically every property I’ve lived at in San Diego County. Lol. We basically have straight up calcified granite and clay in coastal California. Which is great as drainage… but needs to be enlivened. You guys could try sourcing a few different local types of compost, I used to do that. I’ve gone to mushroom growers & gotten free mushroom compost, which is really good. Plus I knew some people who raised turkeys, on a semi-industrial scale, and they actually made turkey compost on the side, from their guano & feathers. That was great too. It sounds weird yo some ppl, but you can’t go wrong with adding some manure, either cow or horse, or also rabbit, llama, or guinea pig droppings. I’ve used them all to great effect. If you ever cook meat or fish and have bones & stuff left over, dig a hole and bury them near plants, or near areas you want to enrich. Make sure it’s deep enough so animals don’t dig at it. I’ve never had that issue though. You can even use store-bought topsoil or potting soil. Either get the best kind you want, or the cheapest… won’t matter to the earthworms. They’re the main indicator of the soil no longer being fallow, flat, hydrophobic, or otherwise “inert”.
"idk if you guys know my lore.." lmao I love me some Benji lore! Had no idea you were an environmental studies major
I think I speak for the rest of us that you are truly an inspiring figure Benji!! Love your videos
12 years ago we did our whole front yard in California natives, through our water dept. They had classes on all aspects of installing watering systems, plant species. When done they pay you for having a drought tolerant yard. I worked at our local Nature Center, and had access to native plant sale that we offered once a year for our community. My husband put in a creek that led from our downspout, so when it rained the water fed into our landscape. He was working in the mountains at the time, and brought home rocks, boulders, it was beautiful. We had a Rogers red native grape growing on our fence all around yard. Birds loved the grapes, as well as neighborhood children.
And where are these classes that pay you?
Honestly that is just awe-inspiring
@@erikm8372I believe they’re talking about the rebate program that several counties have for replacing lawn with drought tolerant/native plants
What a great beginning to your native garden! Love the pavers and the bird water feature also! The plants will take off and in no time you will be trimming! All the best in your future endeavors!
THANK YOU for talking about how important it is to plant native outdoors!!!
I love how this turned out! I just bought my first house and I want to re-do my backyard, this was so inspiring. Love to learn about the importance of native plants, thanks for sharing your journey!
the garden looks lovely!! as both a botany student and horticulturalist in california it makes me so happy to see you bridging the gap between houseplant and native plant communities! I watch a few other houseplant and gardening youtubers and its disheartening seeing such lack of regard for the local environment in what species are being planted. you clearly thought this out in a very detailed way and it gives me hope for the world that someone with such a large platform is sharing this kinda stuff 🩵
ahh i agree about the disconnect within much of the houseplant community with native plants and actually learning about your local environment or the ecosystem/region that the plants they collect are from. benji is so refreshing in this regard! more people need to spread awareness about native plants
that oak tree looks magicallll
please please please more videos like this about natives and ecology!! its one of my main passions and so amazing to see u spreading the good word, more people need to learn about the importance of planting natives with your landscaping
You are such an inspiration! What a fantastic project! I especially loved the clip of your little birdie using the rock fountain
If your landlord wants to keep that live oak he’d better get a certified arborist in there to get weight off that big reaching limb. Can’t wait to see your native CA plant garden mature!❤
Fantastic! Native plants being reintroduced and a so important. Not just in Southern California, but all over the earth! 💯 👏 👏 👏
I appreciate your project ìt very relevant now hope all young people is interested in environment protection good luck and God bless
that whole garden is amazing, it will be an oasis in 2 - 3 years. I have been planting native gardens here in the UK most of my adult life.... where you have those pavers you could keep an eye out for little bits of moss that have been dislodged by birds and place it in the cracks to see if it will take, it often does especially if you water it...
great video and so inspiring
Already beautiful, the garden will look so amazing❤
Happy Holidays
This was an awesome video Benji! So important, die to climate change. I really appreciate your information and example - thanks so much - much 💕 love
Hi Benji,
Bula Greetings from Fiji!
Thanks for sharing details on your native ecosystem(s) with landscaping processes ... much appreciated! I'm working to develop Urban Forestry in Fiji as a vehicle for native ecosystems recovery.
Beautiful transformation in the garden! Excited to see it mature. Don’t forget to use mosquito dunks in the water feature or your mosquito problem will get worse.
What is a dunk?
@@robbrent It’s a small donut shaped thing you can add to ponds and water features that according to their website:
Kills mosquitoes before they're old enough to bite
The only product with bti, bacteria toxic only to mosquito larvae
Lasts for 30 days and treats 100 square feet of surface water
Non-toxic to all other wildlife , pets, fish, and humans
Labeled for organic gardening by the usepa
Use Mosquito Dunks in any standing water including rain barrels, bird baths, tree holes, elevator shafts, planter reservoirs, rain gutters, etc
I planted native plants on my balcony and it worked a bit too well for insects. It was amazing to see wild bees and butterflies but it didn't end so well for the plants. I went on vacation for one week and when I came back, almost everything had been eaten by caterpillars. Sadly no bird was there to ate some of the caterpillars. I really recommend planting native plants but it's also important to check what species go well together to find a balance. It's winder around here so I'm feeding the birds, hoping that some will come back during Summer, to enjoy some water and caterpillars.
Very inspiring your videos. Thank you for that
So glad to see you talking about native plants! I work for a native landscape company in the pnw and definitely feel like native plants are underrepresented and so nice to see you shouting out local businesses in your area. also I know leaf debris can look super messy but it is so vital for insects and will also help amend your hydrophobic soil, obviously you’ll want to keep the pathways and hard surfaces clear but leave the leaves in the beds!
ps. I absolutely love the pavers you chose!
I'm also in the PNW and I'm working on a degree in landscaping and I agree, I feel like native plants are so underrated here! I see so many native landscapes for people in California but it's just not big here and I wish it was. Especially the palouse prairie region (a little east of the true PNW but I'm counting it.) It's so beautiful and only 1% of it remains :(
Awesome project Benji 👏👏 Can’t wait to see how the garden fills in and transforms over time 😀🇨🇦
Hydrophobic soil is the weirdest stuff. We also have it where I live (only relatively recently) in Cape Town, and we're told it is from the fynbos vegetation in our area. Good luck with your garden. I love the cobbles and the way they've been laid, the water feature, rocks, Carex grass, heuchera. I could go on. Let us know how it grows (successes and failures).
I loved your garden. I would cover the rock waterfall tube with some plants, small stones and moss to disguise it. ❤️
benji I am not going to lie I’ve always thought I’d be a penthouse type of gal but you’ve officially changed my mind. And now I’m determined to get a house with a nice garden to relax and contribute to more to mother earth. Thank you!
Wow I like every video of yours.
I love this video Benji! Awesome message 💚🌿
Look like you have a lot of time in that train Benji, new video come out so fast!
🌈👬 eXcited & looking forward to happy growth & development in near future
So calming. Thank you.❤🎉😊
i hope we get yard progress footage in all future home updates
Just realized that I DO KNOW some Benji lore, feels funny 😂
your videos are the only media my undiagnosed adhd can watch completely through 😌
It’s a promising start. I hope you and more water for fish like you had in your old house balcony.
Love the garden and video. Very relaxing to watch. Could you explain more how they did the fountain? I guess there is a reservoir underneath but is it plugged into electric somewhere?
If he doesn't answer, YES. A reservoir under, and electric to run it. Very simple, just can't let the pump run dry. Too shaded for solar pump.
I absolutely love the vibes of your vlog, your house has warm lamps and so many plants, it's super cozy, the acoustic soft guitar music in the backgrounds, the way the light and plants shade. It's just so peaceful and serene. Also incase I can't find the acoustic guitar song that began at the beginning of the Garden Tour, can someone please tell me what song it was that played at 16:00 ?
Edit: Found the song using Shazam. Meadow - Sebastian Winskog Beautiful music
Ive been waiting for this video ever since you mentioned native plants lmao YAYY!!!!
I wish I have this kind of garden with lots of shades to grow my Insulin plants as they prefer shaded areas 😍
Great video!
Hi Benji! We're trying to do the same in our baren yard (that used to be a lawn) but we're renting. Could you tell us how much it'd have cost you if you didn't have support through the programs and your landlord?
I love you more every video. You are awesome.
SUPER DOPE PARTNERSHIP!
Where can I find a wireless mic like yours?
Go Banana Slugs! 🙂
did you do anything to improve the soil before you planted? also in socal and had a similar problem :(
Depending on the soil, most natives never need amendment. Important part is picking natives that like the soil you have, because you can’t actually change what your soil is. Pick plants that do well in your sand or clay, and then add a good layer of mulch. Big thing too is what soil you have determines how much you can/should water
You said parrots like it was so normal I guess normal for you. I wish I had parrots visiting me. 😭
1:45 Theo 😭
❤
🌿🌳🍃💕
why do we have to know~?
why you on his video
amo tus videos ,pero hablas tannn rapido, que no puedo seguir el hilo de tu conversacion.!
Benji, as a landscape architect (with 30+ years experience), they did a shockingly good job. Particularly with their plant massing, and that rock placement. Big props on the rock and water feature. Most do no not know that you actually have to "plant" a rock to get that natural repose. Beautiful job. Keep up with ivy removal, it is not gone completely.
That is a mimosa tree and it will always be messy AF, but hey, it adds shade and substance to the garden. Just accept the mess, and blow off the water feature and patio area. I do not get the pomegranate tree having that brick behind it (that box), could you remove that last L of brick? That is a little distracting for no reason. Could you clean up some of the excess branches and "suckers" from the existing bases of the trees? @19:41 example.
It is hard to see what is going on, sorry.
Those pavers are just cobbles, wide spacing. Not very novel, but good choice and installation. Why not put chairs in that area? Or, I see you have at least one bench. A great layout design, only a few minor hiccups.
Bear in mind that this is the very worst this will ever look. This is NOT interior design, so looks the worst now, but will just get better.
This is done in the spirit of English Cottage, you will see. Props again to them to listen to what you wanted. I assume they amended the soil when they added irrigation. 😍🤩
New subscriber, Thanks.
You don’t typically amend the soil with California native plants
@@colincook2910 That makes sense.
Hello, this is very random but I am interested in pursuing landscape architect as a possible career, I am in my second year of college as of now, what path did you take to get where you are?
@@GustavoHernandez-pj2cl I saw your question and have been trying to thoughtfully answer if or not you should pursue a career in Landscape Architecture. The short answer is: Hell NO! Props to you for asking and I believe that if you called a landscape architecture firm close to you and just stated that you will buy lunch for a LA, go and get them and pay for a simple place close to them, they would take you up. It would be worth it to you. Ask them how much time they can spare.
I have so many reasons for saying this is a huge regret I made in my life. As important as this field is, it is not recognized here in the US. First you have to understand what types of work you will be doing. It is a vast field so you could go into so many different type areas. I LOVE most of the areas I have done.
You have to begin to understand what landscape architecture IS to begin with.
Most degrees are 5 year programs, and it is a hell of a lot of work. 5 years of colleges is not cheap, and mostly impossible to work while going to school, it is VERY time consuming. I would guess that over 95% holding degrees in LA, have defaulted. Most will never earn enough to pay the loans back. Nobody will have any idea of what you do and just assume you are a "landscaper".
Should you be independently wealthy, and want to work within a fun field, and work crazy hours with little pay, it might be worth it. You will never get rich, and struggle to be even middle class.
As you begin to understand what the field is, you can interview more LA's and ask better questions. Generally LA's are great down to earth people and will be very willing to advise you.
I have noticed that other countries employ the field much more than the US, I have seen wonderful things done in Thailand! It is not "a thing" here in the US.
Simply call an LA and ask just like you asked me, maybe offer to buy them lunch?
Meanwhile, I will answer any question you might have. Mostly retired, I have some time.
When we we are young we always think we will be the exception, but that rarely happens.
Good luck to you. Very smart move to ASK before you jump in as most of us have. The schools WILL lie to you, get the truth from a REGISTERED Landscape Architect.
@@colincook2910 That makes some sense. thanks.
I love all of your content but THIS IS WHAT I LOVE THE MOST!!! I am a horticulturist/ Landscape Designer and I have been studying native plants for a while. Amazing job educating us about native plants! We have over 8K native plants in California and they are beautiful and they provide so many benefits like you said. We are opening a Native Plant Garden at the SD Natural HIstory Museum in Balboa Park. You will have to come visit and I can show you around, I will be taking care of the new garden!
is the nattive plant garden open now? I've been meaning to visit the Natrual History Museum because I haven't gone in years. I'd love to see the native plant garden once its open!!
i love that you're promoting gardening with native plants!! in my area, there's a huge issue with english ivy and bamboo taking over and destroying our local forests, so i hope that more people become aware of the importance of cultivating native gardens:)
I hate grass lawns, thanks for providing a great alternative that looks great!
You know your on the right side of youtube when you instantly feel calm
The pavers and the large landscape rocks, with one being a fountain/bird bath, are my favorite parts of this garden. I'm excited to see how it looks over time.
oh, I never know that you majored in environmental studies, and supporting local business is amazing!! I would love to wait and see how your garden is gonna be like in future! Hope to have a complete video on it in future!!
I’m an LA field botanists and am always so stoked to see more people planting native plants! It makes me so so happy ♥️☺️!!
I'm so glad to hear that the younger people are starting to take an interest in the environment and plants and flowers I've been doing 18/20 years out here memorial Park in New Kensington PA and I've been to have 30 gardens out here just for flowers and some some some trees and what a lot of trees but some fruit trees and a little bit of vegetables but not much my phone keeps going off sorry about that yeah just heard people to come out and enjoy and relax and and for all the animals environment and it's just so beautiful out here so that's good to know that younger people are getting into it thank you very much
Wow, this was one of my favorite videos that you've done! I can't wait to see the progress of your beautiful new garden.
PLEASE MAKE ANOTHER VIDEO. My girlfriend and i LOVE your channel and it all inspires us so much. We discovered you maybe a two weeks ago and we have watched every video lol
You should see how much our little house has transformed since discovering you lol
Cant wait to see you hit 1 million subs, which im sure will be in now time.
This video was really beautiful Benji!! It kinda felt like I was watching a nature documentary, like I could totally see this being on PBS!!!
from a lifelong gardener...#1 tip, start keeping unwanted plant species out (weeds) immediately, and consistently. Once a baddie goes to seed your problems and efforts multply exponentially and sometimes you can never get on top of it again without ripping everything out. So, start weeding now! Keep on top of keeping out the ivy and other exotics. Never skip weeding day!
This has been my favorite video of yours I was glued to my screen LOL I love to see you embrace native plant gardening. It’s such a fun and rewarding experience. Now you’ll start seeing those plants on hikes and stuff and have such a deeper appreciation. Thanks for sharing this beautiful garden with us! :--)
If you want moss for the stone path, you can gather it wherever you find it on the street between the pavement and replant it. That is where Nigel Saunders gets his moss for his Bonsai trees.
U should talk to the owner and buy that house in the future if the owner sell let 😊 is soo cute and cozy ❤❤❤❤
Awesome job, I planted my yard with native California plants in the Sacramento area. You should connect with your local California Native Plant Society, CNPS, chapter. They might have resources that could help you with the native plants and many of them have public tours of peoples yards that have planted natives plants so that people can get inspired.
Benji, I admire you for sharing the benefits of native plants and connecting to nature in our residential spaces. I was in a similar place as you, I had an interest in environmental science but pursued a landscape architecture degree since I didn't see a clear career path for myself in the environmental space. I am now a few years into my career as a landscape designer, creating beautiful CA native focused gardens in Los Angeles. I love the thoughtful collaboration with your designers and contractors and excited to see the garden grow in. If you have an opportunity to add in more plants, the Pitcher Sage is one of my favorites, it has a fragrant scent and delicate soft purple flowers. I would love to connect sometime and share our interests. Best of luck with the garden!
This video made me cry. It’s so peaceful.
had no idea we'd be getting a lesson in the local ecology but it was such a welcome surprise. I loved this, it was so unique and refreshing
This was wonderful! I loved hearing about the climate benefits and what the different plants were. I can’t wait to see how the garden changes and grows in the future!
Hey Benji!
This is such a random question but can you solve a Rubik’s cube? I’m also big into plants and I’m also a cuber and I recently discovered some really cool cube plant pots and I thought they were pretty cool.
Hi Benji! Bravo for keeping the younger generation in the "awareness" mode to keeping our planet healthy and beautiful! Your mindfulness and education in keeping the balance is commendable! Your landscaping is A+ for a backyard habitat for all the creatures to enjoy! (Emphatically, the beneficial ones)! Accolades to the garden contractors! I am so envious of your garden! Hugs!
I really love the paver pattern it’s so organic and lived in. Love your videos so much.
I love how thoughtful this whole project was, I wish all the nourishment and growth to your beautiful garden! And I hope you are not being too hard on yourself for losing the footage- these things happen to everyone and this video was still incredibly informative and cohesive to watch. Keep it up Benji, you are super appreciated!
That oak tree is perfect for a swing!
Your little garden is lovely , I am sure it will mature to a great space, I know you won’t pick plants toxic to your dog, and I would love to see a large bird bath as well ❤ or a small dog bath for hot days ❤❤❤❤❤❤
18:48 “🟨 its not jus a bolder. is a rock 🥲”
in just 1 years time, the garden will look so incredibly different, it won't even be recognizable.
California native plant enthusiasts rise up!
Can't wait to see what this looks like when all the plants have grown in!
Thank you so much for this video. I have a great interest in the effects of climate on landscape. I live in New York City where it rains a lot more than it did 40 years ago when I first moved here. It never stops raining here, almost as much as Portland OR. I had spent the previous summer in the Bay Area where the dry summers changed the landscape. I would like to commend you and Chris for taking the steps to help your landscape. Your videos are beautiful and I always enjoy them.
I hope your Dad has seen the new garden! He would love it!
I apologize in advance for the annoying question-benji can you pls share where your amazing brown pants in the speaking portions are from 🥺
super excited for the hairy grass to grown in. love the pavers and rocks too 🩶
I love to see the vast variety of native plants. I enjoy watching your videos because I'm currently planning to study in a major that involves climate when I graduate and your videos help me a lot . (
I am just finishing my third year in Environmental Conservation and I relate to feeling stressed about my job prospects
I love the native redesign! “Manicured” lawns are so bad for the environment 🥺😢🥺
I hope you guys have a warm and wonderfully blessed Yule (Winter Solstice)!!! 😁🤗🥰
Good thing i was scrolling thru my subscriptions, i didn't get a notification. Looks amazing. I have been squeezing in a little work on the side of the house. Bought a couple of , roses, boungavillas, etc. Just praying February's weather is mild. Your hair looks good today.
In case you're not aware of this, for soil that won't accept water you can buy a specific soil wetter which is simply hosed on. It contains a safe bio degradable detergent which washes away whatever it is that stops water from penetrating (I forget the cause). One application works wonders but if you apply it once a week for a month or so your soil will be transformed.
Hydrophobic soil can gradually, and easily, be made to moisture-retentive once again, and be brought back to life. 😊 I’m sure you guys know all this, lol. It just takes some different approaches, like maybe in certain areas, have raised beds. Or even raised planting areas using bricks on the edges. You can also make piles of purchased topsoil and compost, sort of mounded berms, and plant directly in there. Add your own compost too. Cover with gravel to keep it from blowing away. And then there’s always just partially-buried containers and pots... roots will fill the pot and start to find their way into the ground. They’ll work it and aerate it gradually. I had the same issue at basically every property I’ve lived at in San Diego County. Lol. We basically have straight up calcified granite and clay in coastal California. Which is great as drainage… but needs to be enlivened.
You guys could try sourcing a few different local types of compost, I used to do that. I’ve gone to mushroom growers & gotten free mushroom compost, which is really good. Plus I knew some people who raised turkeys, on a semi-industrial scale, and they actually made turkey compost on the side, from their guano & feathers. That was great too. It sounds weird yo some ppl, but you can’t go wrong with adding some manure, either cow or horse, or also rabbit, llama, or guinea pig droppings. I’ve used them all to great effect. If you ever cook meat or fish and have bones & stuff left over, dig a hole and bury them near plants, or near areas you want to enrich. Make sure it’s deep enough so animals don’t dig at it. I’ve never had that issue though.
You can even use store-bought topsoil or potting soil. Either get the best kind you want, or the cheapest… won’t matter to the earthworms. They’re the main indicator of the soil no longer being fallow, flat, hydrophobic, or otherwise “inert”.
Enjoyed this video,especially the milkweeds. Thanks Benji.
Wait where do fallen leaves go? Don’t you keep them for mulch and nutrients or you’ve got a compost bin 👀
such an awesome project!! You're awesome. Saludos desde Costa Rica :)
I thought you were renters because I’d heard you talk about your landlord. Am I wrong?
I HAVE DONE MY MASTERS in environment studies here in india and i feel like i don't know how can i bring the change towards nature in good way
omg BUG MUSIC! I was wondering why it sounded so familiar
im a horticulture major and this is cool to learn thank you benji! you should come to the college I attend and support our plant sales!
Hope you gonna finish your garden goal