
Most of us learned in grade school about the origins of Thanksgiving. We donned Pilgrim hats, Indian headbands and turkey costumes to portray the historical beginnings of our popular holiday.
We learned that after the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock in 1621, they celebrated what became known as the first Thanksgiving with the friendly Indians who lived there. The celebration of the first successful harvest in the New World was a feast that lasted for three days, and included food traditional to the Pilgrims and also to the Indians. In 1789, George Washington announced that there would be a day of Thanksgiving to mark the end of the Revolutionary War.
It wasn’t until the 1800’s, however, that Thanksgiving became a true American tradition. In 1863, Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of Thanksgiving on the last Thursday of November. In l939, President Franklin Roosevelt changed the official date to the third Thursday in November.

Today, the holiday has become a fall festival for the celebration and gathering together of family and friends. Thanksgiving is a day of feasting, and is all about food. Being abundant in the earlier days of the celebration, the wild turkey became the icon of the holiday meal. Other meats, such as venison and pork were also probably on the menu. In addition to the traditional food offerings of turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberries and pies, homes are decorated in fall themes and colors.
Dressing up your Thanksgiving table with festive decorations is an important part of this holiday celebration. Traditional Thanksgiving decorations are inspired by the harvest, and are usually in colors of orange, red, yellows and browns.
Autumn leaves are festive and easy to find! Pumpkins and squashes hollowed out make great holders for flowers and candles. Try succulents in a pumpkin. Fruits such as apples, persimmons, oranges and cranberries can add wonderful, colorful accents. Corn comes in many colors and is another great decoration for the table. For a country flavor, try combining your flowers with fruits in Mason jars. Even throw some nuts and acorns around the center of the table! The ideas are endless, and it is much more fun and affordable to do your table decorations yourself!
Happy Thanksgiving!

Did you know that water use for landscape accounts for as much as 70 percent of total residential water use? The unfortunate part is that much of it is wasted. According to BeWaterWise.com, "close to half of the water used outdoors is wasted through overwatering, runoff and evaporation." Making smart choices with sprinklers, plants and maintenance can dramatically reduce your water bills and your landscape will thrive!
Choose plants for Southern California’s climate:
Select plants with moderate to low water needs
Match your plants’ sun and water needs within shrub and flowers that are similar in each area
Use your favorite high water need plants as accents in areas that are protected from heat and wind
Encourage healthy roots with soil preparation and deep, less frequent watering as plants become established.
Mowing & Mulching:
Raise the lawnmower blade to mow higher and help the lawn grow deeper roots
Keep a 2 to 3 inch layer of mulch in planting beds to limit evaporation and help control weeds
Direct rainwater from the roof into a rain barrel or shrub bed and away from the home’s foundation
Sprinkler Systems:
Create a custom watering schedule and regularly adjust your sprinkler timer
Install a smart sprinkler controller that will automatically adjust to changing conditions
Use rotating sprinkler nozzles for lawn and groundcovers
Convert from spray watering to drip, bubblers, and microsprays for shrubs and flower beds
Install a rain sensor to automatically shut off sprinklers
Change or cap sprinkler heads in areas converted from lawn to shrub and flower beds
Repair sprinkler leaks and adjust for blocked spray and runoff to avoid water waste
Our Professionals at Pacific Vista Landscape Services
Whether we are working on a new, complex installation, or a simple site improvement, our professional crews have years of experience using the industry established "best practices". Call us today at 661-222-7525 and let us help you with your landscape vision!

Diminishing water supplies is a world-wide problem. In the United States, with population increase and an increasing decline in water supply, the best current solution is a reduction in water use. A great solution to reducing water use in landscaping is using graywater irrigation! WHAT IS GRAYWATER? Graywater is all wash-water waste generated by a home or business. This is water from the washing machine, the sinks, bathtubs and showers and can be re-used! However, toilet waste and waste from garbage disposals and dishwashers is blackwater which contains high levels of nitrogen and pathogens and cannot be used in irrigation. GRAYWATER CAN BE USED FOR IRRIGATION: Yes, graywater can be used for irrigation, but the codes and regulations on this process varies from state to state. Californians, for instance, have used graywater irrigation systems illegally for many years. Due to these practices, the California Graywater Code was re-written with significant changes. This code designates three types of graywater systems: Clothes Washer System: This is probably the most commonly used as it is the easiest to implement, but there are restrictions on its use. It can use only a single washing machine in a family dwelling, and must be a domestic, not a commercial machine. This system may only use gravity or the pump from the washing machine itself to irrigate the desired areas in the yard or garden. The washing machine system may use up to 15 gallons per day per person in the household. It does not require a construction permit as long as it does not require cutting of the pipes that exist. Simple System: This system also serves a one or two family residence. The discharge of graywater is greater than the clothes washer system, and discharges up to 250 gallons per day. A construction permit is needed for a simple system. Complex System: This is a graywater system that uses over 250 gallons per day, and also requires a construction permit. The simple and complex systems are subject to inspection and possible percolation tests until they are approved.To install a whole-house system is a fairly simple matter in new construction, but is difficult in existing buildings.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BASIC REQUIREMENTS FOR USING GRAYWATER:
Two inch covering regulation: The irrigation system using graywater must be covered by 2” of some kind of material to avoid contact with the graywater. Drip system of graywater irrigation: The drip system works the best with graywater irrigation. Spray irrigation is not to be used with graywater. Also, graywater is not to have run-off or ponding, and cannot reach any body of water or storm drain. No irrigation of crops intended for human consumption: Graywater may not be used for growing food. In addition, human contact with the system should be minimized.
More info here: https://greywateraction.org/requirements-for-no-permit-systems-in-california/ Pacific Vista Landscape is focused on water conservation. Re-using your graywater to irrigate your landscape can not only result in water reduction, but is a great way to keep a beautiful garden. Our professional team are experts with the latest irrigation technology and can implement a graywater re-use system for your property. We will even evaluate your current system for free! Give us a call and see how we can save you water AND money now and in the years to come!