LARE Exam Preparation Study Guide

I've started a new blog for candidates preparing for the Landscape Architecture Registration Exam (LARE).  I took the L.A.R.E test a few years ago and wished there was a better study guide and educational resource.  Now I am building a better study guide.

Follow the development of the LARE Study Guide blog.  If you are taking the exam, let me know if the material presented was helpful.

Good luck on the LARE.

Penstemons for the Desert

http://www.mswn.com/Penstemons are perennial plants that have tubular flowers that magnetically attract hummingbirds to the garden.  Most need full sun and excellent drainage.

Penstemons Suitable for Most Areas:
Penstemon ambiguus - Sand Penstemon
Penstemon amphorellae - Mexican Blue Penstemon
Penstemon baccharifolius - Rock Penstemon
Penstemon eatoni - Firecracker Penstemon
Penstemon palmeri - Scented Penstemon
Penstemon parryi - Parry's Penstemon
Penstemon pseudospectabilis - Canyon penstemon
Penstemon strictus - Rocky Mountain Penstemon
Penstemon superbus - Coral penstemon
Penstemon triflorus - Hill Country penstemon
Penstemon wrightii - Texas Rose Penstemon

Shrubby Penstemon Species:
Penstemon ambiguus - Sand Penstemon
Penstemon baccharifolius - Rock Penstemon

Don't Plant These Species in the Low Desert (including Phoenix):
Penstemon amphorellae - Needs cooler nights.  MSN reports that it grows well in Tucson.
Penstemon palmeri - native to 4,000-6,000 feet. Best in cooler areas.
Penstemon strictus - Rocky Mountain Penstemon.  Better with cooler night temperatures.  Survives cold winters with good drainage.

These species are available from Mountain States Wholesale Nursery. 

Sonoran Desert Spring Perennials

Spring brings fresh blooms to desert gardens.  There are many native plants that can provide beautiful and environmentally friendly color.  Below is a list of adapted perennial plants that are thrifty water users.

Encelia farinosa - Brittle brush
Hymenoxys acaulis - Angelita Daisy
Penstemon spp. - Beard tongue

Tucson Utility Marking Service

Call Bluestake – a FREE service to mark utility lines, at 1-800-782-5348.

Fontana Park - Fontana, California

Fontana Park

Fontana Park is the largest new park built in Fontana California in many years.  The park functions as a recreation and community center for a rapidly expanding suburban community in Southern California.  As part of a multi-disciplinary team, I was primarily responsibility for the planting design.

Aerial view of the main gateway into Fontana Park  The grand entry features a boxwood-edged formal rose garden and deciduous trees that provide much needed summer shade.

View of main promenade and rose garden.

The aquatic center flanked with climatically appropriate Mediterranean plants for an attractive, low-water using plants for a thematic backdrop.

Perennial and shrub planting accents key nodes in the park. 

Custom-designed play equipment creates a unique play environment for the community’s children.

Location:  Fontana, California
Firm: BMLA, Inc.
Associate In Charge: Marty Zollner
Role:  Responsible for planting design.  Worked as part of a multi-disciplinary team to produce construction drawings.


Fontana Park Team:
Landscape Architect & 
Project Team Leader:
BMLA Landscape Architecture 
Baxter Miller
Governing Agency:
City of Fontana
Civil Engineer:
Madole & Associates
Architect:
John Bates Associates
Irrigation Engineer:
Scaliter Irrigation Engineering, Inc.
Lighting Engineer:
Reedcorp Engineering
Wayfinder:
Hunt and Associates
Aquatic Designer:
Aquatic Design Group
Skate Park Designer:
Site Design Group
Kinetic Sculture:
Cornermark Fine Art
General Contractor:
Douglas E Barnhart Inc.
Construction Management:
Caltrop

Lake Elsinore Outlets

Adding Value By Designing Comfort

The property developer wanted to redesign the outdoor shopping environment for a outlet mall in a readily developing area of Southern California.  BMLA, Inc. was tasked with design development and construction drawings based on a conceptual preliminary design produced by Glatting and Jackson.  The scope of work included siting massive fabric shade structures and upgrading planting and adding several fountains and outdoor dining area.  The improved site features have improved shopper comfort and spruced up the retail environment.

A new fountain and outdoor dining area was added to create enjoyable spaces for shoppers to sit and enjoy.  Before the renovation, there was no place for shoppers to eat or rest.  Now, shoppers can spend more time at the mall which results in more dollars spent on average.

View down the central shopping corridor.  The shade structures help reduce temperatures and increase customer comfort in the arid environment.  Careful placement allows for emergency vehicle access and full visibility of store advertising signage.

Back-to-school shoppers enjoy the more comfortable surroundings.

One of many entry points featuring expanded seating, rejuvenated planting, and shade structure.  The shade structures had to be placed in order to allow fire trucks complete access to the mall.

Location:  Lake Elsinore Outlets, Lake Elsinore, California
Client: Castle & Cooke
Firm: BMLA, Inc.
Associate In Charge: Steve Sanhamil
Project Manager: John Denson
Role:  Responsible for design development, presentation drawings of finalized design, working drawings, fountain and site furniture selection, and field observation. 

Jess Ranch Parkway - Apple Valley, California

Beauty in the Desert - Backbone of the Community

Del Webb community entry drive in Apple Valley, California.  The client wanted a lush and inviting streetscape to tie the large residential community together and guide homebuyers towards the model homes and sales center.  Jess Ranch Parkway became the major vehicular circulation route with many key nodes that served as the backbone of the residential community. 
The high desert climate with it’s extremes of summer heat, winter chill, and aridity proved challenging.  The plants selected provide a colorful and lush appearance in the high desert while using moderate amounts of water.  A mix of evergreen and deciduous trees create year round structure and support the client’s marketing agenda.

Median planting mixes colorful flowering accent trees with durable evergreens for year-round beauty.

High water use and high maintenance planting was concentrated at nodes where there is maximum impact.  Other plantings used only moderate amounts of water and maintenance.

Parkway planting created interesting places for residents of the active adult community to walk and exercise.

Location:  Jess Ranch, Apple Valley, California
Client: Pulte Homes
Firm: BMLA, Inc.
Principal In Charge: Baxter Miller
Project Manager: Steve Sanhamil
Role:  Streetscape planting design and plant palette selection.  Completed working drawings and conducted site inspections.