Exotic Designs Landscape Services

One of my discoveries at the FNGLA trade show this week. This new specimen of a variegated bromeliad discovered in Brazil. I will definitely be using this wonderful item hopefully very soon...Like anything else that is rare though, it is very expensive.

This majestic oak that is estimated to be around 500 years old, was at Washington Oaks State park.

We visited Washington Oaks state park where they have a section of the original A1A. It makes for a really cool bike path and takes you around to the botanical gardens they have on site.

A recent clean up project in Port Orange FL, had this firebush hedge will dozens of bumblebees feasting on the flower nectar. We saw this bumblebee pictured here that was the largest I ever have seen; must have been almost two inches long!

This is our torpedo grass sprig removal once the torpedo grass has been removed from the entire area. Occasional torpedo grass will reemerge from seeds in the air or from birds, but catching the new growth will keep it from spreading throughout the landscape or pro vista grass.

IMG 0736 Torpedo grass removal from our Pro Vista grass. After removing the entire yard of torpedo grass which had completely infested in this yard, we do this simpl...

Monarchs in love at a Port Orange project. Have a great day!

This butterfly was feasting on these Ixora flowers while we were on a project in Port Orange. The wing span must have been five inches long! Pretty amazing.

This is our recently completed project in Edgewater, FL. It was a pleasure adding landscaping to their beautiful pool area. Eva & Harold wanted a drought tolerant landscape that would also be a hummingbird attractor. We were fortunate to see a hummingbird the very first day hanging around the bottle brush...just too fast and small to capture...wonderful to see from the first day after installation! It was such a pleasure working with them both. We enjoyed the collaboration with them to create the perfect environment they wanted.

BTW, they are both a legacy here in New Smyrna Beach with their high end auto service center for over 40 years.

Another commercial project done. We installed a retaining wall between the bank and Aldi.

Alcantara Oderata bromelaid on the bottom left corner, produced this amazing flower

Solving another drainage issue

Drainage issue solved We recently worked on another drainage issue. The property had water on the patio every time it rained. After installing couple of intakes on a French drain,...

I don't think they even noticed me! Summer ❤️ love!
Echo moths in the backyard.

2nd monarch to arrive today. He chose my eave as his spot to Chrysalis. He turned out to be a big boy when he was finished!

Another monarch arrived today. We had 2 emerge today!

Born today!

Easter sunrise service in NSB

So many Monarch caterpillars!

Two monarchs in the backyard are getting ready to Chrysalis. We have over 40 monarch "cats" so we will be getting a lot more milkw**d!

The raised beds are ready for the landscaping.

The project is now ready for sod after the extensive removal of the torpedo grass. The process took equipment and hand removal piece by piece. Undoubtedly, you can't get every little piece, however, now that the rhizomes are not extensive, the new landscaping and grass areas can be treated as new torpedo sprigs develop.

The French drains were tied into this newly created dry bed. With a high water table, the community swale area behind the fence fills immediately after the least bit of rain. This allows the water to fill our clients yard in very little time and stay for several days, depending on the amount of rain that has fallen. To compound the issue, the new homes built on either side were also draining into our client's property. The newer homes were being built much higher due of the water table. Unfortunately, nothing was done to mitigate their water which added their water to but did client's property. Shown below is a two stage French drainage system. The first stage is the drains divert water to the dry bed. In the second stage, the dry bed is drained into the swale area as the level recedes.

These are the French drains that will tie into the dry bed. This is to move/keep the yard from retaining water when the back yard retention area is filled to capacity. Care was taken follow the natural water path.

Our nearly completed project had many unexpected complications that required critical thinking for solutions that were environmentally friendly and cost effective. We chronologically documented by video/photos and are uploading to Youtube. The "before" shot pictured below before does not begin to tell the story of tackling the very invasive species (and herbicide resistant) torpedo grass along with the high water table that kept the client's yard always wet. Add in the dilemma
of water runoff from the newly developed homes on either side. Both were built much higher due to the water table and water retention, which needless to say, drained onto our client's property.

Also adding a Youtube video of the beginning stage of the process.

Exotic Designs has been recognized by New Smyrna Beach Garden of the Month Club for December's project.