Today's Agenda: Monday, December 20th

Today we are continuing to process orders for holiday gift cards and wrap up designs for Baggett, Hudson and Rosprim.  This morning we confirmed another speaking engagement.  This one is for the City of Allen on Saturday, March 12th, 10am to noon.  More info soon!

Hope you and your family are already enjoying the holiday season!

December News

This week and next we will be in Rockport finishing phase two of a once-in-a-lifetime project.  It is not the size that is so astounding.  The style and flow of the design, and the focus on native plants, make this project unique.  It is a plant-artist's dream, and one that will make this writer's job of describing and documenting easy.  The project promotes itself and in its own words...

We have signed on for a few speaking engagements in early 2011.  Saturday, February 5th, David will teach a class about gardening with and for wildlife.  Please join us at the Dallas Arboretum from 9am to 11am to learn ways to attract and sustain various species of butterflies, hummingbirds, birds and other beneficial wildlife.  Later that month, on the 23rd at noon, David will speak about sustainable landscape at a brown bag lunch hosted by City of Port Aransas; meet in the Pollock Center.  One week later, on March 2nd, I will present a program about sustainable living at another session hosted by City of Port Aransas.  Noon in the Pollock Center, too.  More dates will be announced soon.

Two designs left to turn in this year: Hudson and Rosprim.  Both will be finished soon.  Our focus this month turns to holiday gift cards, year-end tasks, and other administrative duties.  We would also like to squeeze in some time to celebrate with family and friends.  Therefore, we are not taking on new projects until after January 1st.  All holiday gift cards will be redeemable starting on that date.

Since transitioning to a mobile family and business so that we may live.work.travel together, we have grown closer as a family.  Our connections to and within Nature have deepened, widened and strengthened.  We are still in the process of reducing the load of possessions we carry with us and store.  Gradually paring down to essentials has been both liberating and surprisingly easy.  Our understanding of energy -- generation, harvesting, storing and access of -- has become critical to our livelihood and lifestyle.  These lessons and so many more topics about our journey are being documented at http://4x4elvalor.blogspot.com/.  Now that we have reliable and efficient power, I will be posting more frequently.

As always, we are grateful eternally for you.  Your support of us and our mission means everything.  Happy Holidays, Y'all.

Growing with Gratitude

Our business has grown exponentially, in numbers and depth, this fall.  We have met some pretty incredible new clients who are recommending us to other pretty incredible new prospects around the state.  Going mobile has been quite a smart move for us...

We are still taking on new projects and are selling gift cards at a 20% discount.  Looking forward to helping you restore your slice of Texas!

NativeSanta Wants to Help You Gift Green

NATIVEDAVE HOLIDAY SPECIAL: Purchase sustainable consultation or design services for your loved ones this holiday season at a discount! 20% off any of our consultation or design services. Let NativeSanta help you give green gifts this holiday season...Email us at nativedaveinc@gmail.com for more info. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Coming to Dallas/Ft. Worth/Denton...NOW

We are en route to DFW/Denton after a thrilling morning at the Texas Butterfly Festival in Mission.  It was sponsored by the Mission Chamber of Commerce and held on the grounds at Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park.  The park is currently closed due to excessive flooding this summer.  All but a small portion of the grounds was inundated; the Rio Grande swelled to a massive two miles wide.  Park staff are working feverishly to resolve safety issues and repair trails in time for their busy season which begins in a couple of weeks.  When the park and the other Valley-area state parks part of the World Birding Center network reopen, make plans to visit.  Bentsen-RGV is also home to the newly dedicated National Butterfly Center.  Great things are on the horizon!  And if you have never visited Mission before, you just might be shocked by the warmth and sincere hospitality of the local residents.  We will be back...and soon.

Meetings in the DFW area start Tuesday, Nov. 2nd.  Election Day!

Today's Agenda: Wednesday, October 13th

Yesterday's program to the Port Aransas Garden Club attracted around 60 attendees.  David and our message were well received, and we hope to be invited back.  If you are a member of that organization and would like to set up a meeting for a notes only consultation, we will extend our October special to you, as well!  Please contact us for details and dates we are available to meet.

Today David will finish Leppert and Bogush; both should be turned in tomorrow sometime.  He will present Leppert by phone/email next week; I will contact Bogush tomorrow to schedule a phone/email meeting.  Also today I will post plant pics to this blog and other nature and adventure-related pics to 4x4elvalor.blogspot.com (our adventure blog).  A few will be posted to my personal blog at christyilfrey.blogspot.com.

October meeting dates for Austin and DFW will be posted soon.

Today's Agenda: Tuesday, October 12th

Speaking this morning to Port Aransas Garden Club at 10am.  Finishing Leppert and starting on Bogush.

Today's Agenda: Monday, October 11th

Finishing Leppert and finalizing presentation for tomorrow's program at the monthly meeting of Port Aransas Garden Club.

Callicarpa americana, American Beautyberry

Beautyberry in Lockhart State Park, Oct 2010

Today's Agenda: Sunday, October 10th

Yesterday we finished setting up camp on the beach.  David also worked on Leppert's design and will finish it sometime today.  Phones will be off but you can reach us by email or via Facebook.  Finally today we will announce our October special!

Grateful for you, as always.

Today's Agenda: Friday, October 8th

Presenting by phone today Baggett's design and scheduling installation for later this month.  Also working on Leppert.

Today's Agenda: Thursday, October 7th

The beach...ahhh.  Blogging from beautiful Corpus Christi.  Can't play right now, though, because we have much work to do!  Working on Leppert's design today and tomorrow.  Phone and internet service are up and reliable, so keep those new projects coming!

Will announce tomorrow our October special for Facebook friends only.  Find our page -- NativeDave.com -- and click "like" and you too will be eligible for extra special prices on certain NativeDave.com services.

Austin folks: you might want to pay close attention.  Hint hint.  :)

Mobile Update

Well, so far this is fabulous.  Two terrific weeks staying in DFW at Cedar Hill State Park.  Wow!  We met with many new design clients and are quite busy for the next couple of weeks.  Although we have a full plate at the moment, please do not let that deter you from contacting us about design or consultation services.  Later this month we will return to DFW and will be ready to get started on your project...go ahead and contact us so we can get a head-start!

After leaving DFW we by-passed Austin this trip and instead headed southeast to Lockhart, the barbecue capital of Texas.  There we also checked on our project, Schroeder Park, located on the grounds at Golden Age Home.  Three days in Lockhart State Park treated us to many colorful species of butterflies and native plants.  Rejuvenated, and pleased with the maturation of the 1-acre Schroeder Park, we are again traveling to Corpus Christi.  We have a project in Rockport to finalize details on before the installation gets underway.  Next week, on the 12th, we will be speaking to the Port Aransas Garden Club about "Designing with Native Plants."  If you will be in the area, we invite you to join us and the anticipated 70-80 attendees.

In case you are wondering about our mobile adventure...we are documenting our travels on http://4x4elvalor.blogspot.com/.  Hope you enjoy...

Today's Agenda: Saturday, October 2nd

Yesterday we completed a second notes only consultation for Gridley and met with a new design client, Hartley.  Today we will present Baggett's design by phone and meet with Birmingham to determine the best service to suit her needs.  Also, we will be speaking with Bennett by phone.  This wraps this trip.  Dates for our next trip to DFW will be posted soon.

Central Texas-bound tomorrow!

Today's Agenda: September 29th, 2010

Today we are finishing a design for Baggett and meeting with Clark.

Facebook, I think I love you.

But I wanna know for sure...so I posted a status update offering a special rate on our notes only consultation service.  A whopping 50% off our regular rate, actually.  As a result, we have booked many more new appointments!  Thank you!  If you would like to take advantage of special facebook friends-only discounts, please sign up at http://www.facebook.com/ and search for the NativeDave.com page.  Click "like" and you're in the club!  :)

Our October special will be announced Friday.  Come on, Facebook, hold me tight.  I love you, you wild thing.

A couple of appointments left in September

This week, our schedule is nearly filled!  Only a few appointments remain for this trip to DFW.  We still are taking on new design projects, but if all you really need is an hour to pick Native Dave's brain, then this is your lucky week.  To celebrate the end of September (and summer, I guess) we are rolling back our price on "notes only" consultation from $150 to $75.  And if you decide during that meeting you would prefer to proceed with our design service, we will apply the $75 toward the upgraded fee.  Just another way to say "we are grateful for you".  :)

Please call or email us today to schedule your half-price notes only consultation.  Our next set of dates in DFW will be in a few weeks; exact dates TBA.

Week 1 Recap of Mobile Adventure

Getting our adventure started proved to be very difficult.  Between garage sales and selling items on craigslist, packing and moving the rest to storage, building and modifying our camper and trailer to support our business as well as our family, and preparing our home for the next residents, we suffered multiple setbacks and delays to our departure date. It's now been about a week since we finally began our journey.  Managing NativeDave.com online and as a mobile design unit is much easier than we ever could have dreamed.  Folks seemed to be intrigued by our journey. In addition to learning from us about sustainable landscape design they are discovering details about our journey toward a simplified, more meaningful personal life.  The impacts of this change in lifestyle affect every aspect of our lives, and how the journey plays out will be as much a surprise for us as it will be for you.  That is the "adventure" part, I suppose.

Our first meeting as a mobile business and family was last Thursday, September 16th, in Plano.  Fabulous design project (fees generally range $400-600 based on the size and scope of the project.)  Friday, David checked on our project near Highland Park and worked alongside the maintenance crew (Organic Options based in Ft. Worth 817.903.1786).  On Monday David met with two new clients for notes and sketch consultations ($150-225 based on the size and scope of the project.)  Tuesday I spoke to Coppell High School students about designing a restoration project for park property located in the Blackland Prairie ecoregion.  That class is comprised mostly of seniors, some juniors and a couple of sophomores enrolled in AP and IB Environmental Science courses.  As soon as I completed that presentation, my contact Kristen Brown and I drove to another campus to speak to a Biotech Ethics class.  The room was filled with freshmen boys and a handful of girls.  Their project is to "discover" a new plant species that will address an ecological, economic or cultural issue within a particular ecoregion without negatively altering said ecoregion.  All students in both groups were attentive and very respectful, and they asked particularly insightful questions.  They were engaged, and I seemed to feed off their enthusiasm.  Thank you, Coppell HS, for making my experience a thrilling and rewarding one.  I invite you to keep in touch with me regarding both projects; the nativedave crew are very interested in watching them develop.  Best wishes!

Today we are working on a design for a client with 10 acres in Rockport, TX.  Our morning began with some low-key "plant stalking" and spider-watching.  I'll post pics of both later today (pics posted Thurs 9/23/2010), but if you want to see pics of our outdoor office/kitchen/living area, I will write about and post pics later today at http://4x4elvalor.blogspot.com/ as well as some related personal content at http://christyilfrey.blogspot.com/.

Wild Petunia (Ruellia spp.)

Helen the Garden Spider

New Presentation: September 15th, 1pm and 2:30pm, at Coppell HS

Christy first will speak to high school juniors and seniors about native plant species and restoring tracts of Blackland Prairie.  Then, a second presentation will be for freshmen and will address native plants and the problems related to exotic-invasive species.

Closed to high school community.

FREE Water-Wise Landscape Seminars with Bonnie Reese

FREE Water-Wise Landscape Seminars
Mountain View College Performance Hall
4849 W. Illinois Avenue, Dallas 75211
Saturday, September 11, 2010, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sponsored by: Dallas Water Utilities, City of Dallas Stormwater Management and Mountain View College.


Plan to attend one or both of our free seminars. Landscape designer and author Bonnie Reese will be the speaker at both sessions. The first 100 attendees at each session will receive a copy of Ms. Reese’s book, “Common-Sense Landscaping.” Attendees can also enter a drawing for a free 60-gallon rain barrel at the end of each session. Rain barrels generously donated by Catch the Rain, LLC.

Water-Wise Landscape Design 101
9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Whether you have a new landscape or plan to update an existing area, it is critical to begin with a good design. This program teaches the principles of landscape design with an emphasis on how to create a beautiful landscape that will save resources - natural and financial!

Fantastic Plants for North Texas
1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Using colorful photographs, Bonnie demonstrates the natural beauty of native and adapted plants that thrive in the North Texas region. Learn when, where and how to plant each of the recommended plants, their size and height at maturity, seasonal color, texture and more. This program provides information on trees, shrubs, vines, perennials, groundcovers and turf grasses.

Space is limited, please register online at SaveDallasWater.com or by calling (214) 670-3155. Let us know which seminar(s) you would like to attend, and how many will be attending in your group.

PRESENTATION: Tuesday, October 12, 2010 in Port Aransas

To Whom: Port Aransas Garden Club and guests
When: Tuesday, October 12, 2010, at 10am -- 30 minutes
Where: Port Aransas Community Center
What: FREE program titled "Designing with Native Plants" with "Native Dave" Ilfrey

Welcome; Exciting News!

We always dreamed of living, working and raising a family together...and our dreams have become reality. In 2001, we started our green business that combines David's passion for plants and knack for nature with Christy's weaving of words and talent for teaching.  Through our "first baby", NativeDave.com, we help clients restore their slice of Texas by way of sustainable landscape design and consultation services. We inspire audiences with our writing projects and presentations. Our baby continues to develop, much like our human and four-legged children...In order to continue together nurturing all of our children, and carve more time for our individual creative pursuits, we have chosen to simplify. Beginning September 2010, our family and business will occupy a 4-wheel drive truck, slide-in truck camper and 5x8' utility trailer. We will commute between DFW, Austin, San Antonio and Corpus Christi; other markets will be added soon.  Along the way, we will explore botanical gardens, butterfly houses, green businesses, kid- and dog-friendly activities, and much, much more. We hope you will enjoy traveling with us as we focus on life's simple pleasures.

Information about our services may be found throughout this blog as well as our website, http://www.nativedave.com/.  Read about the personal impact of our journey on christy's writerlust: http://christyilfrey.blogspot.com/.  Collectively, we are documenting our experiences at http://4x4elvalor.blogspot.com/. 

There will be some changes in terms of the delivery method of services, which will outline in a few days.  We are in the final days of our transition and will resume taking on new designs as of September 7th.

Looking forward to seeing you and helping you restore your slice of Texas!

NativeDave.com||rebellious by Nature: Sand Bur Whine

NativeDave.comrebellious by Nature: Sand Bur Whine

Sand Bur Whine

Coastal Sand Bur (Cenchrus spinifex)

Here is a plant so stunning it will bring you to your knees! Coastal Sand Bur (Cenchrus spinifex) might not have regal beauty or a lovely scent but IT WILL GET YOUR ATTENTION. The little spikelets are enough to make a grown man whine. Stepping on them when they are laying on hot concrete really will make one take notice. I was contemplating an article for today that could focus on a plants' qualities other than bloom, shape or landscape use etc. when I came across these guys. The interesting facet of this plant came when I discovered this unusual use for it ---- Sand Bur Wine.  Check out this winemaker's blog and recipe.  Newer posts are at the top, so scroll down a ways to December 12, 2009.

Today's Agenda, Part 2: Wednesday, June 9th

Today we are making minor changes to Olivia and Behringer, then printing and mailing hardcopies.

Today's Agenda: Wednesday, June 9th

Back at the beach!  Today we are transitioning from the past week's WaterWise Tour, new client meetings, and volunteer workday at Golden Age Home.  Oh, and driving.  Lots and lots of driving.  You may reach us by phone or email today.

Thanks for helping us continue the pursuit of our mission!

Today's Agenda: Tuesday, June 8th

Worked at Golden Age Home in Lockhart and planned for another workday here.  Now, after filling our bellies on Smitty's, we are headed home.  For the rest of this business day we will be accessible by email.

Today's Agenda: Monday, June 7th

Thanks to all who attended the Dallas WaterWise Tour!  We hope you were inspired by the projects to conserve and preserve our precious water.  Today we are travelling to central Texas.  Tomorrow, we will be working at Golden Age Home in Lockhart.  Look for pics soon.

FINAL reminder about Dallas WaterWise Tour

It's tomorrow 9a to 3p.  We will be visiting all of our projects briefly throughout the day.  From 11a to 2p we will be at Prairie Creek Baptist Church.  Please stop by for a tour, a hug or a handshake...or all three!  :)  http://www.savedallaswater.com/wwlt.htm  <---Go here for a free map.

Tomorrow's Agenda: Thursday, June 3rd

In the morning...site visit with Brush...notes and sketch consultation with Eiseman...And then in the afternoon, new design meeting with Aulson.

Don't forget about the tour this Saturday...

This Saturday, June 5th, 9a to 3p
FREE tour
Dallas WaterWise Tour...for a free map please visit:  http://www.savedallaswater.com/wwlt.htm

We will be visiting all four of our projects on this year's tour: Colfax in Dallas, Tree Shadow in Dallas, Chaney in Plano and Prairie Creek Baptist Church in Plano.  The bulk of the day we will be at the Church -- 11a to 2p.  Hope to see you!

Today's Agenda: Wednesday, June 2nd

This morning we mailed Winter, Gruman and Crowe.  Have to make a few minor changes to Behringer...will do that later...travelling now.

Today's Agenda: Tuesday, June 1st

Revising, printing and mailing hardcopies to WINTER, BEHRINGER, GRUMAN and CROWE.  Meeting with new clients on Thursday and possibly Friday.

Wednesday, May 26th: Today's Agenda and 30% Discount

Good morning!  Today we are working on Gruman and Crowe.  At 5pm, we will present Winter by phone.  Our online design option is becoming very popular because it costs less and you get your design package more quickly.  If you are a follower of our blog, or you "like" our Facebook page, we have an incentive for you.  ?During the month of June we will offer you a 30% discount on online design or online consultation.  Just let us know you would like the discount when you contact us, and we will confirm your fan status.  ;-)

Incentive Program for NativeDave Followers

Sounds rather evangelical, eh?

Sign up to follow our blog and we will include you in our flock of very important people who receive special discounts.  :)

Tuesday's Wrap-Up

Finished and turned in full-property design for Winter; will present tomorrow evening by phone.  Tomorrow we will work on Crowe and Gruman.  Talked with new clients today and will post status updates after their projects are underway.

Status Updates

In order to keep our clients informed, up-to-date on the progress of their projects, we are experimenting with some notification "devices."  Inspired by Facebook's 'status update' format, we have been posting to our own business Facebook page what we're doing each day.  We are also changing the outgoing message on our business voicemail to reflect that day's agenda.  Twitter -- you're next.  Now we'll be adding these updates to our blog, too, which is set to automatically update our Facebook page.  Four ways to check on the status of your design!

Golden Age Home Volunteer Workday

Somebody needs a haircut...!!!!

Think I'm talking about NativeDave himself?  Not to worry: Samson's locks are intact and not going anywhere anytime soon.  But the happy happy plants at Golden Age Home in Lockhart (the BBQ capital of Texas!) will be getting a trim here and there.  We have volunteered to spend a half-day working in the garden in Schroeder Park, located on the grounds at Golden Age Home.  If you are in the area and would like to lend a hand, or just want to see the garden, mark your calendar for Tuesday, June 8th, in the morning.  We plan to finish up by noon.

We designed and installed this one-acre garden in 2005.  During the first two years, we consulted with the grounds maintenance crew and donated our time for a couple of volunteer workdays.  Then we became first-time parents, and volunteer projects became a distant memory...but now our wise little wildflower is older.  She knows a lot about butterflies and has an innate interest in flowers that attract them.  She enjoys gardening, and together she and I will focus on "light duty" tasks at Golden Age Home, such as weeding.  We will leave the heavy lifting to Native Dave and the grounds crew.

Many, many pics to follow...

Guidelines and Performance Benchmarks for Sustainable Landscapes

Soon your landscape may receive ratings similar to LEED.  Where LEED focuses on environmental impact of building sites, primarily, Sustainable Sites Initiative addresses ecological and economic factors related to a site's land use.  The system proposed by the initiative "will enable built landscapes to support natural ecological functions by protecting existing ecosystems and regenerating ecological capacity where it has been lost."  Follow the link to their report which "focuses on measuring and rewarding a project that protects, restores and regenerates ecosystem services – benefits provided by natural ecosystems such as cleaning air and water, climate regulation and human health benefits."


Naturally, we support the assertion that landscapes (and the people who design, install or maintain them) should focus on native plants for the purposes of conserving, preserving, restoring and celebrating an ecosystem's natural processes and beauty.  Developing a ratings system such as the initiative proposes enhances the credibility of sustainable landscape designers and architects everywhere.  Given one of the partners in this initiative is the Wildflower Center in Austin, sustainable landscape experts in Texas (like us) will be perceived more as professionals than the prevailing "yard men."


We plan to submit several projects for accreditation when the pilot program has concluded.

Dallas Water-Wise Landscape Tour FREE

FREE Water-Wise Landscape Tour

Saturday, June 5, 2010

9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Come and see how beautiful using less water can be! Visit Water-Wise, EarthKind gardens on the 16^th annual Water-Wise Landscape Tour. For more information and a free tour map visitSaveDallasWater.com or call (214) 670-3155. Sponsored by City of Dallas Water Utilities, City of Dallas Stormwater Management, Texas AgriLife Extension and the Dallas County Master Gardeners.

NativeDave's Note: We designed one of this year's winners!  6808 Colfax in Dallas.  Two of our previous winners -- Chaney Ln in Plano and Tree Shadow Ct in Dallas -- will also be on the tour, as well as a commercial/demonstration project.  That project is on the grounds of Prairie Creek Baptist Church on 15th St in Plano.  We will spend most of the day there; details to be posted separately and soon.

Custom Design: $400+ (online: $300+)

By far, our most popular service.  Although all of our services are customized to suit your personality, lifestyle, budget and goals, our custom designs are also works of art.  Computer-generated but artist-powered, every plant, every hardscape element is carefully chosen to work harmoniously together.  Every design tells its own story...and yours.

Before we begin the design process, we will ask that you complete our new client questionnaire.  It is brief, but your responses will help you focus your goals and expectations for this project, and will help guide us during the creative phase.  Then, we will meet with you for a brief site visit to take photos and collect your survey/plat plan.  At the conclusion of this meeting we will also collect a deposit equal to one-half our design fee; the balance will be due upon completion of your design.  When we are nearing completion of your design, we will contact you to set an appointment to review your design by phone.  Your design will arrive digitally.  After our phone meeting, we will make any necessary revisions, then print and mail hardcopies.

Our fee is determined by size and scope of your project, but on average front yard designs are $400, back yards are $500, and entire properties are $800.  These estimates apply to suburban residential properties on 1/3 acre or less.  Design fees for homes on acreage or small commercial sites typically start at $800.  For a more precise, free quote, please send via email photos of your property along with a brief description of your goals and expectations for the project.

Your design package will include: 24x36" professional planting plan (digital file only), two 11x17" laminated copies, list of plants and materials (including common and botanical names, sizes and quantities), care and maintenance instructions, and list of vendors and preferred contractors.

ONSITE DESIGN REVIEW: You may request that we present your design and review it with you in-person, instead of by phone.  This meeting will last no longer than one hour and is an additional $75.

ONLINE OPTION: This is becoming our second-most popular service!  Send via email your survey/plat plan (the document must be the exact size as the original, usually 8.5x14"), pics of the project site and a completed new client questionnaire.  We will reduce our fee to $300 (front yards), $400 (back yards), and $600 (entire properties.)

COLORIZED OPTION:  We seldom have requests for a colorized version of custom designs, but we do offer this option for an additional fee.  Fee is based on hourly rate of $75 with a minimum of one hour.

Payment for design services is due at the conclusion of the initial appointment, unless other arrangements were agreed upon between NativeDave, Inc. and client(s).  All online services must be prepaid via either check by mail, or PayPal.

Notes and Sketch Consultation: $225+ (online: $125+)

This site visit includes a quick sketch and a list of plants and materials, including common and botanical names, sizes and quantities.  It is designed for front yard- or back yard-only projects that need a planting plan turned around quickly.  All services are completed onsite.  Fees are determined by size and scope of project, but on average our fee for front yards is $225, and $300 for back yards.  Average meeting times are 1.5 hours for front yards, 2 hours for back yards.

ONLINE OPTION: Send your design or sketch digitally, along with pics of the project site and a completed new client questionnaire, and we will reduce our fee to $125 (front yards), $150 (back yards).

Payment for site visits is due at the conclusion of the appointment, unless other arrangements were agreed upon between NativeDave, Inc. and client(s).  All online services must be prepaid via either check by mail, or PayPal.

Notes Only Consultation: $150 (online: $75)

This one-hour site visit is ideal for clients who want to solicit David's ideas, but do not really need a design or sketch.  Or, those who have a design and sketch already, and want David to assist them with modifications and/or plant selection.

ONLINE OPTION: Send your design or sketch digitally, along with pics of the project site and a completed new client questionnaire, and we will reduce our fee to $75.

Payment for site visits is due at the conclusion of the appointment, unless other arrangements were agreed upon between NativeDave, Inc. and client(s).  All online services must be prepaid via either check by mail, or PayPal.

Site Visit: $75

Occasionally, projects are too small to warrant a design or even a sketch.  Or, clients merely want to pick Native Dave's brain for a half-hour or less.  Still others merely want to meet David before committing to a specific service or company.  For these and similar situations, we offer a $75 site visit.  During your visit with David you may ask questions and take notes.  Should you choose to proceed with either a notes-and-sketch consultation or design service, the $75 will be applied toward the upgraded fee.  


Payment for site visits is due at the conclusion of the appointment, unless other arrangements were agreed upon between NativeDave, Inc. and client(s).

Quotes and Estimates: Free

We will gladly issue a free quote for design or consultation services.  Please send via email (mailto:nativedaveinc@gmail.com) pics of your project site.  If you prefer that we visit your project site to issue a quote, please refer to the explanation of and fee for our site visit.

Free Irrigation Analysis

http://savedallaswater.com/irrigation.htm

Not sure if your irrigation system works effiiciently?  Would you like to reduce your water bill?  If you live in Dallas or are a City of Dallas Water customer, you are eligible for a free checkup.  Click on the link to learn more about who is eligible, and how to take advantage of this perk.

My edible garden, update

My garden after removing hundreds of tomato plants and about half-a-dozen cantaloupe vines.  Still more work to be done...pic taken apr 16 2010.

Follow us on Twitter!

Look for us @nativedaveinc.  Updates about plants, green stuff, presentations, and more.

Sustainable Design Workshop this Saturday, March 27th

Sustainable Design Workshop
Saturday, March 27, from 9 a.m. until noon
Upper Trinity Regional Water District office
900 N. Kealy Street, Lewisville, Texas

It is a free workshop, but registration is required. Contact City of Lewisville at 972-219-3504 or email rdavis@cityoflewisville.com by Friday, March 19 at 5 p.m.

Hope to see you all there!

My Edible Garden

I'm not a very experienced vegetable gardener. Some herbs (like rosemary) I am very familiar with, because it is one of the adaptable species we use in our landscape designs. A lot of herbs, however, are annuals and are somewhat foreign to me. I mean, I know the plants. I know I can grow the plants, I just have not. This year I'm determined to become a successful edible garden-gardener, though.

My wonderful husband (yes, THE Native Dave) built a raised bed for my veggies. I decided I wanted to grow the produce we consume most, like cucumbers, red bell peppers and various berries. But would they grow here on the Texas Coast? Humid, hot and high winds seem to be ingredients in a recipe for gardening disaster. Really, no matter where you live, climatic conditions must be considered before planting your garden. Consult with science-based research for your area by contacting your local extension agency: http://texasextension.tamu.edu/ Information is free to any Texas resident. Another valuable resource of information -- especially if you are new to an area -- is your local nursery or garden center. In the Dallas area, Shades of Green Nursery in Frisco (http://www.shadesofgreeninc.com/) employs knowledgeable and helpful staff, and their plants are of good quality. (They also carry many native Texas plants!) Petal Pusher's Garden Emporium (http://www.petalpushersgarden.net/) in Cedar Hill also offers friendly, experienced advice and gorgeous plants. (And plentiful native Texas plants, as well!)

In Central Texas, John Dromgoole's The Natural Gardener (http://www.naturalgardeneraustin.com/) and Garden-Ville in San Marcos (http://www.garden-ville.com/) are two of my favorite places to shop for veggies, herbs, native plants and all-things-organic. Green Gate Nursery in Seguin is another great place, period. (In recent years they have begun to carry more native Texas plants.)

In Corpus Christi, for veggies and herbs, and plain ol' good service, the place to shop is Turner's Gardenland (http://www.turnersgardenland.com/). Gill Nursery (http://www.gillnursery.com/) is also top-notch, and they stock a lot of coastal native plants, too.  In addition to information, the extension agencies and most of the nurseries I've mentioned host educational classes open to the public. I was sad to miss a recent program at Turner's about berrying bushes...

Books are also great sources of information, though they are usually too broad in scope and may not always serve your specific area. Focusing on local resources is best. For general advice about gardening with vegetables and herbs, however, Howard Garrett's books are great.

Both personally and professionally, my mission is to conserve, preserve, restore and celebrate natural resources. The most effective way for any individual to make significant, positive and measurable changes in her community is by way of landscaping and gardening using sustainable techniques. Using native plants in your landscape reduces watering and maintenance tasks, allows your landscape to flourish without routine chemical applications, serves as food and shelter for native wildlife, and nurtures your area's sense of identity. Some vegetables, herbs, fruits and nut-bearing plants function similar to natives (we include them with "adaptables") and may be incorporated into your native landscape. (See http://www.dfwpermaculture.com/). Others, however, may be better suited to pots, planter or other containers (we treat them as annuals.) In my edible garden are plants that may be used responsibly in landscape beds, but I'm growing most things in pots, regardless. If I find they do well in my area (and under my care ;-) I will invite them to a more permanent spot in the landscape.

The Phoenix

Business is getting back to normal around here. After Sage was born in '08, we scaled back a bit. Then we relocated family and business to the Texas Coast. David lost his father that year, as well, and almost simultaneously the economy plunged...and kept plunging deeper. We scaled back again...

Looking back, the past two years have been a bittersweet blessing. The joy of becoming parents for the first time has been the most joyous experience of our life. Nothing compares to this feeling -- if you are a parent, you understand. Losing a parent, especially too soon, is tragic but hearts are mending. Although our business suffered at the hands of the global economy, we were grateful for the extra time we could spend with our little girl. We are fortunate that BOTH of us were able to be there for every moment of the first two years of her life. Bliss.

She is older and interested in butterflies and plants, fish and beach activities, and books on all of these topics and more. Our little girl is the perfect blend of David and me...on so many levels! :)The economy is picking up steam, we have a new website with new products and services. And now we are ramping up for a 'normal' spring.

Our first presentation of the year will be on Saturday, March 27th, in Lewisville. This 3-hour workshop is free but you must register to attend. Click on "The Movement" tab on our new website (http://nativedave.com) and select "Events." Contact information is listed there.

Other upcoming events include BIG BLOOM at the South Texas Botanical Gardens (http://stxbot.org) in Corpus Christi on April 10th and Green Living Family Festival at the Heard Museum (http://heardmuseum.org) in McKinney on April 24th. We will also be speaking to the Preservation Society for Spring Creek Forest (http://springcreekforest.org) in Garland on April 6th and Aransas/San Patricio County Master Gardeners in Rockport on April 20th. More events and presentations to come...

Gotta love technology...

Well, it seems our new website was only temporarily visible. That's OK, the name servers have been updated and I've been assured that by tomorrow the site will be propagated. In plain English: you will be able to see the site tomorrow.

Que sera, sera.

It's Here!

The new website, at least a good portion of it, is LIVE. We are working behind the scenes on additional information, and refining what is already uploaded. Please keep checking back; we hope to have the complete 'site up by Monday, March 1st.

Thanks for your patience! Looking forward to dispersing the seeds of our message...

Hello Spring 2010; I can almost see you now!

Already 2010 is looking better than 2009. I don't know if the 'economic downturn' is really over -- who REALLY knows, right? Or if folks are just tired of worrying about the economy. But it seems that since the first Monday of the year we have had steady design projects and interest in our educational workshops. We have been working very hard and verrrry long hours on our new website; I think you will like it. More photos, videos, samples, and products and services for our expanding markets.

We will continue to offer custom design and consultation services, both onsite and online. Soon we will also offer pre-planned designs with easy-to-follow instructions for adapting these plans to your project. One can not be all things to all people, but at least in the realm of sustainable landscape design, NativeDave.com can be more things to many, many more people.

Until recently we were only available for onsite meetings in Dallas-Ft. Worth-Denton. Soon we will be setting up meetings in Corpus Christi and Austin-San Marcos-San Antonio. Houston is on the horizon, too. Our goal is to draw from our landscaping experiences in various locations around Texas to help you restore your slice of Texas...wherever that is. Again, we can now be more things to more people.

March and April are booking up fast with presentations and events. Details will be announced soon! Enjoy these final days of winter...the hustle and bustle of blooming spring is near!