Landscape Designs Inspired by Nature

At Carmel Point Landscapes, we are inspired by nature and excited to have opportunities to contribute positively to local ecosystems. We believe that true beauty in a landscape comes from working with nature. We not only design with native, site-specific plants, but we also install and provide ongoing care for them through our maintenance program.

On the way to a job site in Big Sur, I happened upon this flowering beauty growing on the side of the road. The color immediately caught my eye as I was driving by, and I had to stop and take a picture.

Hound's Tongue (Adelinia grandis) spotted in the wild in Big Sur, California.

The flower was almost blue in color, or perhaps a deep purple. This herbaceous plant was growing in the dappled light at the edge of a mixed hardwood/coniferous forest. The area was thick with fog drip and leaf litter from the surrounding oaks, redwoods, pines, and cypress. 

There was nothing else like it in terms of color—what could it be?

After a quick Google search, I learned this was Hound's Tongue (Adelinia grandis), also known as Cynoglossum grande.

This plant was originally named Cynoglossum grande by Carl Linnaeus in 1753. The rough texture and shape of the leaf were thought to resemble a dog’s tongue. In 2015, Dr. James Cohen changed the name after determining, through molecular phylogenetic analysis, that the plant belonged to a different evolutionary lineage. The name was changed to Adelinia grande, named after Dr. Cohen’s youngest daughter.

Carmel Point Landscapes not only provides ongoing maintenance services, we also design your landscape with consideration for how different local native plants will perform in your gardens for years to come. We always consider the local native plant communities and habitats. 

By observing native plants in the wild we can make informed decisions based on our observations and apply those concepts to our landscape designs.