Claremont LIVING 2015

Claremont
Living
This town is growing. Lets wander some local gardens.
Courier
Claremont
claremont-courier.com
CLAREMONT LIVING/2015
Bentley garden
by Angela Bailey
Nature nook offers serenity, touch of nostalgia.
..........................................6
Riojas garden
by Sarah Torribio
Local retreat boasts Latin charm.
.........................................
Kosta garden
10
by Kathryn Dunn
Its all about the journey.
........................................
Oakmont Biomes
14
COURIER photos/Steven Felschundneff
by Sarah Torribio
School offers native nature walk.
........................................
Rosenthal garden
19
by Angela Bailey
Zen and the art of water-wise gardening.
........................................
Karl Benjamin home
22
by Sarah Torribio
Artists home returns to glory.
........................................
R
Z
26
Backyard vineyard
on Mittino and three of

his cousins combined
efforts to create wine
at his Claremont home. The
partners have won a Gold
Medal at the Los Angeles
County Fair. Mr. Mittino took
out the back lawn piece by
piece over the last few years,
replacing turf with an Italian
wine garden. His yard now
boasts a vineyard, a wine press, bistro tables with Cinzano
umbrellas and, of course, a bocce court. Some of the grapevines
currently growing are from the De Berard Vineyard and were
rescued just before the vineyard was bulldozed to make way for
an apartment complex. To see more photos from the Rancho
Santa Ana Botanic Garden tour, and for more images of Mr.
Mittinos garden, visit our gallery at claremont-courier.com.
RYAN
ZI M M ER M A N
Wheeler
Steffen
Sothebys
INTERNATIONAL REALTY
P erfectly uniting exceptional properties with the buyers who will cherish them.
Ryan is a Claremont native; residing in the city for over 28 years, and is extremely rooted and
knowledgeable about his community and local neighborhoods. Let Ryan use his knowledge of the
area to help guide you to the perfect home. Ryan was awarded Claremont Businessperson of the
Year 2012-2013 by the Claremont Chamber of Commerce and he compiles the COURIERs
monthly Real Estate Snapshot. Check it out to keep current on Claremonts housing market.
TheClaremontLife.com
909.447.7707
Ryan@RRZimmerman.com
Broker Associate, ABR, GRI, SRES, e-Pro. DRE# 01801354.
www.Facebook.com/ClaremontRealEstate
www.RRZimmerman.com
The
Bentley
Garden
FARLEFT: Sharon
Bentley has the lushest garden on the
Claremont Eclectic
tour. Featuring
Japanese maples,
roses, azaleas and
other flowering
plants, the garden
has a transformative
quality.
LEFT: The Bentley
garden has several
mature Japanese
maples that add a bit
of year-round color
with their burgundy
foliage.
BELOW: Roses offset the deep greens
of the rear yard.
heres nothing quite

like a tranquil outdoor
space to escape from
the chaos of everyday life.
With its canopy of trees and
water
feature,
Sharon
Bentleys garden is the epitome of serenity and was
recently chosen as one of six
gardens showcased in the
Claremont Eclectic garden
tour offered by Sustainable
Claremont and Rancho Santa
Ana Botanic Garden.

A white bearded iris is one of the plants currently in bloom at Sharon
Bentleys home.
The garden looked nothing like it

does now, says Ms. Bentley. When
we moved in, there was a pump with
a pond in the backyard. Our daughter
was 11 months old and walking, so
we filled it in right away because it
was dangerous.
Sharon and Bill Bentley purchased

their Claremont home in 1968 and,
following Mr. Bentleys passing in
2006, Ms. Bentley slowly began to
transform the backyard into an outdoor oasis. Its a relaxing place where
she can play with her two Miniature
Schnauzers or draw with her botanical artist friends.
I dont pick the fruit because I like
to draw the flower, she says of an
artichoke plant in the garden. Its
this gorgeous purple, but sometimes
Im on the east coast when it blooms
and I miss it.
Hardscape
The garden began to take shape in
2010 when an expansive stone patio
replaced a rotted and termite-infested
wooden deck just off the rear door to
the home. The color of the stone set
the tone for what the garden would
become.
BENTLEYGARDEN
continues on the next page
BENTLEY GARDEN
continued from the previous page
I love this stone because it reminds

me of John Bloughs pottery, says
Ms. Bentley of its reddish hue. I
drew a picture and the fellow that did
it was truly an artist, placing the
stones and creating this wonderful
pathway that meanders and takes you
to the side yard.
Placed throughout the patio area are
pots of all shapes and sizes, brimming
with succulents and flowers, such as
jade, lilac and geraniums that not only
tolerate the sweltering sun but soften
the space as well.
After I got the stone in here, it
makes everything really hot, Ms.
Bentley explains. I have a lot of succulents because they dont want to be
watered very often.
Fountain
The pice de rsistance of Ms.
Bentleys garden retreat is an eyecatching water feature. Shrouded by
Japanese maples and a 60-year-old
magnolia, a four-foot-high boulder
has been transformed into a bubbling
fountain with water cascading into a
bed of rocks below.
Following an extensive search
throughout three counties, Ms.
Bentley found the perfect stone nearby in Upland.
Id bring my water bottle with me
and pour water on the rocks to see

what they looked like when they were
wet, Ms. Bentley explains. This
stone was sitting in the midst of all
these boulders and it had the most
magnificent colors. It was perfect.
At three tons, the rock was delivered and placed using a skip loader. It
has become the focal point of the garden, with a laughing Buddha statute
placed beside it for whimsy.
Id always wanted a fountain,
and I wanted to see it from the windows inside the house and from anywhere in the garden, she says of the
fountains placement. Theres a big
trough underneath, so it uses all recycled water.
Landscape
Ms. Bentleys backyard offers both
sun and shade and a potpourri of
plants to accommodate both conditions. Gardenias, azaleas, hydrangeas
and camellias thrive in the predominately shaded areas while succulents,
such as jade and Christmas cactus fill
pots placed throughout the sundrenched patio.
Most of the hydrangeas have come
from Trader Joes, Ms. Bentley says.
My cactus looks like its going to
bloom again. Its confused with the
weather weve been having.
BENTLEYGARDEN
COURIER photo/Steven Felschundneff

A few succulents and stone sculptures enliven Sharon Bentleys rear porch.
BENTLEY GARDEN
Perennials of all sorts fill planting

beds that line a sunken brick patio
seating area, complete with fire pit.
Yellow, blue and white irises are in
bloom as well as Japanese peonies.
They look like cymbidium orchids,
says Ms. Bentley of the Japanese
peonies. I have regular peonies too, but
they never bloom. I think its too hot.
Rose bushes are also prevalent in
the garden. Rosa Betty Boop, with
its semi-double, ivory-white flowers
with red edges, is among her
favorite.
I love Betty Boops, Ms. Bentley
says. Those are the ones that change.
Trees of many varieties offer shade

to the garden. A mature magnolia,
mock orange and more than a halfdozen Japanese maple trees create a
lovely canopy. In the winter, this one
has a beautiful red bark, she says of
one maple shading the fountain. I
just love it!
While Texas privets line the perimeter of the garden, creating a natural
screen for privacy, the rear property
features two 60-year-old loquat trees
that have been meticulously maintained. Their striking shape is attributed to careful pruning in an effort to
limit fruit production.
I have those trimmed in January
with most of the fruit trimmed off
because the rats and squirrels seem to
like them, Ms. Bentley explains.
A Fuyu persimmon tree adds interest to the garden as well as delicious

orange fruit the homeowner is quite
fond of.
The persimmon is rich in betacarotene, high in Vitamin A and a
good source of Vitamin C and fiber.
Last year was a lean year for fruit
so the next one should be really
good, Ms. Bentley says. They are
so good!
Dcor
Peppered throughout the yard, youll
find metal accents that show character
in their patina and offer a bit of family
history and nostalgia.
That scale and that oven door over
there came from Bentleys Market,
says Ms. Bentley, reflecting on the
stores closure in 1987.
We had a furnace there where we
would burn up boxes. They are family
heirlooms and I love rust. I think its

really interesting, she added.
Additional statuary, such as angels
and birds, as well as bird feeders creates little vignettes in the garden.
Water
Keeping a garden lush in the midst
of a drought is challenging, says Ms.
Bentley.
She currently uses a mix of sprinkler and drip irrigation systems but
has plans to become more water-wise
with her landscaping.
Ive talked to my gardener about
adding more drip systems, she says.
And the nutgrass in the front yard
will probably be going soon.
In the meantime, watering has been
kept to a minimum.
Angela Bailey
news@claremont-courier.com
10
Hacienda-style garden yields peace, produce
Mi casa es su casa
ubert de Givenchy
once said, Luxury
is in each detail.
Its advice Claremont residents Ray and Terri Riojas
take to heart.
On Sunday, April 19, the couple

owners of the local gift shop Rio de
Ojaswelcomed a slew of visitors
to their Marygrove Road home,
showcasing grounds that blend
drought-tolerance with South of the
Border flair.
The casa was just one of six stops
on the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic
Gardens annual garden tour, which
this year was dubbed Claremont
Eclectic. Proceeds from the event
benefit the RSABG and Sustainable
Claremonts Garden Club.
The doors to the Riojases home
were wide open, exhaling the scent of
salsa. Mr. Riojas had set chiles and
garlic simmering on the stove, just for
the occasion. Im kind of OCD about
things like that, he admits.
The front yard offers curb appeal
and then some, with a striking
assemblage of plants ranging from
irises to beavertail cactus to a small
pomegranate tree, currently in full
scarlet flower. Statuary adds whimsy, especially a large metal mule
whose saddlebags are teeming with
butterfly bush.
There are roses, too, which are not
only drought-tolerant but de rigeur
for a Mexican garden. Roses are the
official flower of our Lady of
Guadalupe, Mr. Riojas explained.
If the front of the house serves as a

welcome mat, the backyard proffers an
invitation to stay a while.
Guests can linger at a rustic wooden dinner table beneath the covered
back porch, which was set with
bright Mexican pottery for the occasion. Or they can nurse a cerveza at
one of two bistro tables, one shaded
by an umbrella. If it gets late enough,
the Riojases will flick on their patio
lights, adding a bit of magic to an al
fresco evening.
Violet bougainvillea pours over the
garage. A fountain, worthy of a San
Miguel de Allende courtyard, burbles. And a sort of altar, composed of
tiered wooden steps, serves as a display for potted plants and painted
ceramic Day of the Dead skulls. With
all that beauty, its hard to know
where to look.
A good place to start is the trees,
however.
Four years ago, the Riojases planted a Chilean mesquite, of the thornless variety, amid decomposed granite. The tree, which was procured as
a 24-inch crate by head Fairplex horticulturalist Don Delano, is fastgrowing. It now stands tall at the
center of the yard. It is joined by two
smaller mesquites, with the grouping
giving the feel of a single, centuryold tree with multiple trunks.
The ensuing umbrella of fern-like
leaves provides enough of a centerpiece. As the Riojases continually
demonstrate, though, the delight is
Water-wise plants and a Chilean mesquite grace the Riojases front yard.
RIOJASGARDEN
RIOJAS GARDEN
in the details. They have circled the

trees with red, orange and yellowbloomed Kalanchoe, a flowering
succulent.
A while back, Ray and Terri traveled to Tepoztln and saw orchids
growing in the trees in the middle of
winter. Inspired, Mr. Riojas has
anchored bromeliads and cymbidium
orchids among the mesquite branches.
Other fauna includes hibiscus, a
grouping of birds-of-paradise that

has strived to a height of 15 feet and
a stand of angels trumpet. The latter
plant, notable for its fragrant dangling blossoms, is native to tropical
regions of South America and in
south-eastern Brazil.
SHARON FAGUNDES
909-447-7701/Direct 949-233-0799/Text
BRE 00802481
11
ABOVE: Like many festive gardens,

the Riojas grounds are decorated
with lots of lights.
LEFT: Ray and Terri Riojas like to
entertain in the backyard of their
Claremont home and have created a
number of gathering spaces including a covered outdoor dining room.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch
Theres a touch of rancho to the

Riojas homestead. At the back of the
yard, separated from the rest of the
space by wrought-iron fencing, is a
RIOJASGARDEN
REAL ESTATE HAS ALWAYS BEEN

A PART OF SHARON'S LIFE.
er grandfather ran
his Pomona Valley
real estate office at
home in the 1960's, where
client calls and a company
sign in the front yard were a
constant part of her life.
Today Sharon's name is
well known throughout the
foothill communities but especially in Claremont
where she has successfully listed, sold and
helped build hundreds of homes.
Her listings range from Condos to Castles, but
all are treated with the same dedication and the
highest level of real estate knowledge, experience
and expertise, selling in record time due to accurate
pricing, aggressive marketing and her staging,
space clearing talents and applications.
Sharon recently returned to Claremont after a
successful real estate endeavor in the Newport
Beach area, where she fine tuned her skills and
sold over $50 million in residential real estate.
Excited to be back at home in Claremont and
now proudly associated with Wheeler Steffen
Sotheby's International Realty, Sharon's genuine
enthusiasm, local knowledge and love of home
and family continue to make her the one to call
and count on in any real estate related matter!
12
RIOJAS GARDEN
kitchen garden. You walk through

an archway and find raised beds,
built by Todd Lininger of
Farmscape.
There, herbs like sage and oregano
abound, as do vegetables like trellisclimbing snap peas. I cook with all
my herbs, Ms. Riojas says.
There is also a Lilliputian chicken
coop that is home to two hens,
Lechuza (Barn Owl) and Peca,
whose name comes from her freckled feathers.
You would think an oasis like the
one the Riojases have created would
be a thirsty place but, between widescale paving and an emphasis on
water-wise plants, that isnt the case.
People in the shop tell me horror
stories of paying $300 a month for
water. My bill is $76, Mr. Riojas
shared. I just pop the garden with
water once a week.
To get ideas for your own
Mexican dcor, stop by Rio de Ojas
at 250 N. Harvard Ave. in
Claremont. For information, visit
RioDeOjas.com
Sarah Torribio
storribio@claremont-courier.com

Ray and Terri Riojas yard features several large bougainvillea in the classic fuchsia color.
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14
Stepping outside ourselves to forge new paths in life
When John Kosta remodeled his

home, he reused the old redwood clapboard siding to create the side gates.
he path of life is winding

and, at times, can seem
random with its unexpected turns. For Claremont resident
John Kosta, these spontaneous
experiences bring much more
than just episodes of excitement.
At his south Claremont home, Mr.
Kosta has assembled a series of botanic
vignettes that surround the focal point
of his backyarda dry streambed.
I went to the Santa Ana Creek to
study the topography, Mr. Kosta said.
The rock formations may appear random, but there are geological and hydrological forces that create patterns.
After purchasing the home as a repo
in 2010, Mr. Kosta put his focus on the
outdoor space first. The flat, weed-ridden backyard was flanked by sagging
fences and served as a parking lot of
sorts with the previous owners draining
motor oil into the soil.
It was in really bad shape, Mr.
Kosta explained. The first thing I did
after excavation was to change the elevation to create rolling hills.
The resulting dry creek bed, which
curves from the northwest corner of the
yard to the southeast entrance, was developed through a combination of rocks
found during excavation plus an additional 10 tons of boulders brought in by Mr.
Kosta. But the greatest boon to digging a

John Kostas home was in terrible shape when he bought it five years ago and the yard was even worse. As a landscape
designer, the yard came first and within a year he had transformed it into a vibrant garden.
A meditation labyrinth brings a sense of tranquility to the Kosta garden.
dry creek bed was unearthing clean soil.

Mr. Kosta took no time in putting the
clean soil to good use. With the exception of three oak trees and a silver leaf
maple tree, the yard was a blank canvas. The vast majority of the exterior
was completed at one time and within a
year of his purchasing the home.
The house was still a dump, Mr. Kosta
quipped, but the grounds were nice.

Remodel on his three bedroom, two
bath home included the removal of
redwood siding off the front of the
1600-square-foot house. The redwood
was repurposed to create iron-framed
gates on the north and south entrances
to the backyard.
Upon entering the south gate, guests
are greeting by a handful of citrus trees,

which include lemons and grapefruit.
The stone and concrete path continues
along the south wall, curving over the
dry streambed over one of two bridges
built from reclaimed railroad ties Mr.
Kosta purchased near Mira Loma.
Once at the rear of the yard, explorers are offered two colorful hammocks
flanked by pin oaks, which frame a
labyrinth constructed from decomposed granite. Garden voyagers may
take the meditation walk by entering
from the east (the rising sun), meandering through the maze and exiting
from the west (the setting sun).
When you walk with someone else,
the paths at times close, Mr. Kosta
reflected. But then the paths diverge
and come back together again. Just like
life, theres no wrong or right way.
On most days, the labyrinth induces
tranquility. However, friends have
been known to gather for meals when
KOSTAGARDEN
Moving you in the

right direction!
As a Seniors Real Estate Specialist let me take
the worry and stress off your shoulders and
put the pieces together for you.
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Seniors Real Estate Specialist
susan@susanemerson.biz
SusanEmerson.biz
BRE#01410532
909.447.7710
The Kosta garden is a true oasis with a meditation labyrinth, many shaded
places to sit and a grove of pink flowering chitalpa trees.
KOSTA GARDEN
Mr. Kosta throws a big party.
I set the tables on it and it becomes
a dining terracekind of a celebration
of life, he said.
Continuing north on the curved path,
walkers will find an iron tea house
complete with seating and a pair of
Sansevieria (mother-in-laws tongue)
standing tall in large, rectangular terra
cotta pots.
I wanted to created a visual space to
take the eye on a journey from the outside, Mr. Kosta said. Gardens are
often designed for viewing from inside
the house.
Like most of the garden, the tea house
serves a dual purpose. It provides a

shaded retreat for viewing the foliage
as well as offering a covered area to set
up food tables or even an occasional
DJ when Mr. Kosta hosts larger parties.
From the front door entrance of the
home, the first thing guests see are the
streambed and tea house.
My goal with the yard was to create a
visual impact, a painting. Ive worked to
choregraph the eye in the garden, he said.
Moving south along the passageway,
which is illuminated by small hammeredcopper outdoor lighting, an iron arbor
hosts two climbing white rose bushes as
they creep their way through a pair of iron
grids. The centerpiece to the arbor is a
vertical succulent garden, which faces a
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small three-tiered fountain placed in a circle path. The fountain is encircled by four
large urns, which house two-tiered dwarf
olive topiaries.
Towering above the arbor are three
Chitalpa tashkentensis trees, a hybrid
between the Catalpa bignonioides (the
cigar tree) and Chilopsis linearis (the
desert willow). The hybrid was unnamed
since its development in 1964 until staff at
the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens
gave it the common name of chitalpa.
The pink-flowering chitalpa peaks in
the summer months with a bloom time
of June to September. Chitalpa flowers
appear in large clusters, each containing 15- to 40-inch-long florets that
attract butterflies, bees and hummingbirds. They are considered drought-tolerant and are readily available locally.
15
One would think Mr. Kosta could

never leave such an oasis, particularly
after seeing his long-developed vision
take root. But the Geneva Avenue home
will be on the market soon.
As a landscape designer, Im always
rambling; always designing, he said.
With his eye set on a new home, Mr.
Kosta will be tasked with converting a
full acre of chaparral landscape into an
imaginative and enticing outdoor space.
It will have a very different feel. Its
more wild, Mr. Kosta explained.
There will be paths and interesting
places to go. Just like life, the journey is
the experienceif were willing to take
a different path.
Kathryn Dunn
editor@claremont-courier.com
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19
Oakmont immerses students in biomes study
akmont Elementary has long

been known as the Claremont
Unified School Districts outdoor school, blending learning with exposure to the great outdoors. With the addition of the Oakmont Biomes Project, the
campus has become a true living laboratory.
In 2009, the school implemented an environmentally-based curriculum, Learning in the Worlds
Biomes, which over time immerses students in each
of six major biomes or ecological communities.
A few years ago, a Pitzer student named William Holt
helped kick things up a notch after he took a class where
he was encouraged to reach out to local schoolchildren,
engaging them in sustainability and water conservation.
Mr. Holt consulted with Sustainable Claremont, a
nonprofit formed to provide educational resources,
engage in advocacy and take action to move the community toward a greener future. Sustainable Claremont
connected him to Oakmont, where he pitched an innovative concept: landscaping a portion of the campus
with drought-tolerant California native plants.
Then CUSD garden coordinator Dessa DAquila
ran with the idea, reaching out to BAM Waterwise
Landscapes, a company co-founded by Claremont
High School alumni Andrew Bentson and Blake
McCallion. We got together and said, Wouldnt it be
neat if we could do it? The next thing you know, we
were doing it, Mr. Bentson said.
Mr. Bentson and Mr. McCallion created a design
featuring three California biomes: chaparral, oak
woodland and desert.
COURIER photo/Steven Felschundneff

The desert biome occupies a hillside at Oakmont
Outdoor School that once was part of the lawn
but now features cactus, agave, sage and a
desert willow tree.
We wanted to see a garden like this built, and we

felt it hadnt really been done around here, Mr.
Bentson said of his companys involvement. There
had been some experimentation with edible gardens,
but we hadnt seen native gardens in schools. We
wanted to raise awareness.
Chaparral represents the local ecosystem and
extends all the way to the foothills. The oak woodlands plant community flourishes a bit further north,
as in Sonoma County. And Oakmonts desert biome is
a composite of the states 10 or so desert biomes.
In 2012, the BAM crew joined with volunteers
from the Oakmont community, taking out 5,000
square feet of grass as well as a bit of concrete in a
quad between two classroom buildings.
With BAM donating some $10,000 worth of labor,
the workers installed a drip irrigation system, graded
the area and dug holes for plants, which were donated
by the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden. Now, students need only step out of their classrooms to explore
a path lined with flora native to the state.
The specimens representing the chaparral biome
include, among others, California sagebrush, Spanish
dagger, the Englemann oak tree and a succulent called
chalk dudleya as well as flowering plants like black
sage, monkey flower, California fuschia, lemonade
berry and firecracker penstemon.
The oak woodland biome features coastal live oak,
lemonade berry, California buckeye and deciduous
shrubs like the white flowering currant and
Ceanothus Gloriosus, better known as hearts desire.
The desert biome showcases the desert willow tree,
which uses its green trunk for photosynthesis rather
OAKMONT BIOMES/continues on the next page
THE SENIOR LIVING SPECTRUM

A
s a Seniors Real Estate Specialist I

have come to learn there are many
individuals and families who are
unaware of the multitude of different
options available under the Senior Living
Spectrum. As you can see from this diagram there are many facets and options to
senior living. The types of senior living
communities have dramatically changed
from years past catering more to the individual needs of an active lifestyle, independent living or level of care needed.
Of the 10,000 Americans turning 65
every day, there are a lot of mature active
adults who have raised their children, who
want to right-size their life by lowering their
monthly mortgage payment, reduce utility
bills and home maintenance costs and
choose to sell the large family home for
something that is more manageable.
These individuals will either right-size to a
smaller home, choose to live in a condo or
move into an active retirement community.
Then there is the category of other older
adults choosing to age in place because
they simply do not want to move or their
adult children have moved back home due
to loss of job, divorce or other economic
reasons. There is also a village movement
where seniors help each other age in
place. The City of Claremont has a village
movement called REAL Connections. In
addition, there are those individuals who
are simply on a limited fixed income and/or
who are divorced, widowed and will most
likely be living in a senior apartment.
Where the spectrum is the broadest is in
the area of those needing assistance with
daily living. These individuals are choosing
to stay in their own homes as long as possible with the assistance of personal inhome care. These individuals are usually
being cared for by adult children, spouses,
family, friends or other relatives. The gray
Pamela Bergman-Swartz BRE #01899295

Transition Living Consultant, SRES
pamelabergman@ymail.com
909-636-2744
area in all of this is when the daily living
needs that require assistance or increased
supervision of the individual outweigh what
the caregiver can provide. Before long the
family may be faced with placing their
loved one in an assisted living and/or nursing home. I was faced with this situation
when my fathers family physician told me
my dad needed 24-hour supervision and
could no longer stay in his home. What I
didnt know was the levels of care each
facility provided and that my dad who was
diagnosed with vascular dementia would
go through the 5 stages of dementia. Was I
prepared for this? Absolutely not! When my
dads level of care increased, I would soon
be faced with placing him in another care
home because his level of care had
changed and the home he was in could no
longer provide the level of care he needed.

Again, I was forced into a situation to
search for a nursing home. However, at
that time my dads health quickly deteriorated and I ended up placing him in
Hospice care.
In each of the scenarios above, there is
a transition that takes place, a physical and
emotional transition. As a Seniors Real
Estate Specialist and Transition Living
Consultant I assist you with navigating
through the emotional and sometimes
overwhelming process of making these
lifestyle changes.
If you need assistance in exploring some
of these communities or discussing a plan
to transition your life into an area within the
Senior Living Spectrum, please contact me
for a free consultation.
Mark your calendars for my next seminar to be held on Tuesday, May 12,
5:30 p.m. on the topic of Come
Understand the Levels of Senior
Housing Options. Location: My office,
Blackstone Realty 8311 Haven Ave.,
Suite 180, Rancho Cucamonga, CA.
Please RSVP if you plan on attending.
OAKMONTBIOMES
than relying on leaves, plus desert milkweed, desert agave, the thorny ocotillo,
the pungent creosote bush and brittlebrush, which is currently decorated
with yellow blooms.
This coming fall, the team plans to
install a new area just around the corner
from the current landscaped areaa
forest biome. The school site is already
home to redwoods and pines, so the forest biome will emphasize the plants that
thrive on the floor of an evergreen forest, such as California-native ferns and
grasses.
Its not to be taken literally, but it is
a collection of plants intended to be
representative of those ecosystems,
Mr. Bentson said.
The Oakmont Biome Project is providing the district with savings as well
as learning opportunities. Within 10
years of its establishment, BAM estimates the school will save several thousands of dollars and several million gallons of water. Its also low-maintenance, requiring only occasional weeding on the part of Oakmont staff or students. Some of the kids have even
adopted certain plants to look after,
Mr. Bentson shared.
Since the 2014 ribbon-cutting, the
plants have had time to take hold, so
much so that the Oakmont Biome
Project was one of the six stops featured on the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic
Gardens annual garden tour.
Visitors benefitted from ample sig-
20
A desert willow tree in Oakmonts desert biome is in full bloom with hundreds of small yellow blossoms that attract bees.
nage, which helps turn the plantings

into an outdoor museum. Each plant
variety is identified via an engraved
metal sign resting on a cut tree branch.
Presiding over the entire assemblage is
a wooden sign that announces the
Oakmont Biome Project and features a
depiction of the schools owl mascot.

Claremont resident Maia Donadee
and her friend Kathy Mason of La
Verne examined the Oakmont biomes
as part of the tour.
Im an artist so I like the visual
aspect of the garden, plus I like the
smell, Ms. Donadee said. It lets the

students experience learning in a threedimensional, multi-sensory way
feeling the fresh air blow and catching
OAKMONT BIOMES
21
Each species is identified with both

its common and Latin name.

The Oakmont Outdoor School Biome Project serves as an outdoor classroom for the children to learn about
Californias natural habitat, sustainability and low water use.
OAKMONTBIOMES
the scent of sageinstead of having
to be stuck in a classroom.
Ms. Mason was likewise impressed.
Since theyre doing the biomes, how
else can you make it real than to have
the plants there?
For more information on Sustainable
Claremont, visit sustainableclaremont.org. For more information on
BAM Waterwise landscapes, visit
bamlandscape.com.
Sarah Torribio
22
Non-traditional home showcases eclectic nature
he aim of a Zen garden is to imitate the intimate essence of

nature. With its dry landscape
and strong visual design, its no wonder
the garden fronting the home of
Michael and Karen Rosenthal was chosen as one of six gardens featured in the
Claremont Eclectic garden tour.
Traditionally, you would use a special rake and

create ripples to resemble water, Mr. Rosenthal
says, referring to the pea gravel that has replaced
his once lush lawn. We have a lot of leaves from
those trees that would get stuck in the grooves so I
dont do that.
Usually relatively small and surrounded by a
wall, a Zen garden is meant to be seen while
seated from a single viewpoint outside the garden, such as the porch of the residence of the
chief monk of a temple. In this case, Mr.
Rosenthal is the chief monk and his temple is a
1938 Gordon Kaufmann-designed home located
near the Village.
The house is actually a recycled house. Its
Route 66, says the proud homeowner, providing a
bit of history on the place. There was a flood on
Foothill Boulevard in March 1938 and it undermined the road. They had to jackhammer it up and
start over and here it is.
Purchased by the Rosenthals in 1973, the home
has been featured in numerous home tours over
the years and is in a perpetual state of change. In
May 2014, the

Rosenthals took it
one step further
when they made
some changes to
their homes landscape by participating in a turf-removal
program.
I took out 2,500
feet of turf and the
water company gave
me $1 per foot. Its
an extraordinarily
easy process, Mr.
Rosenthal explains.
You take half a
A grass palm is silhouetted dozen pictures and
against the rough concrete submit a form
exterior wall.
online. After youve
done the work, you send them some more pictures
and they send you a check. Thats it!
After soliciting bids from three landscapers, Mr.
Rosenthal chose Jonescape of Montclair to remove
turf and lay a double layer of weed block before
placing pea gravel in his yard. The secret is the
double layer, he says. It keeps the weeds out and
stops gravel from working its way into the dirt.
The plants placed throughout the garden were chosen to enhance the homeowners unique property.
What I really wanted was a clear view of the
The entryway and porch area in the front yard of
Michael and Karen Rosenthals Claremont home.
ROSENTHAL GARDEN
23
The backyard is almost all hardscape,

and so they chose to do much of the
planting in containers. The concrete
chunks that were used to construct
the home were sourced from the remnants of Foothill Boulevard after it
was badly damaged in the 1938 flood.

The Rosenthals yard included a range of cacti and agave as well as bougainvillea, Palo Verde and grass palms.
ROSENTHALGARDEN
house, says Mr. Rosenthal. I didnt

want something that was going to
distract from it.
A planting bed original to the
house features a 40-year-old
bougainvillea that has changed shape
over the years, often draping over the

threshold of the home it is now neatly trimmed. Agaves of many varieties, including Queen Victoria and
agave Americana, are a favorite of
the homeowner.
You notice these dont have dead
leaves around them, says Mr.
Rosenthal. You have to groom these
things. I use a reciprocating saw. Those

thorns are murder, but they look pretty
cool when you clean them up.
The northeast portion of the yard
showcases an eye-catching three-foot
firestick euphorbia. The succulent,

with its red and orange foliage, offers
a splash of color to the landscape.
When I put that in there, it was
less than a quarter of that size and
its exploded, Mr. Rosenthal says.
Its been a wonderful addition to the
garden.
With the addition of Arizona river
rock at their base, an Albany bottlebrush and a bird-of-paradise from the
original garden remain intact.
I groom the bird-of-paradise every
month, Mr. Rosenthal says. If you
dont take the associated leaf with it
when you take the flower, it gets
very reedy.
ROSENTHAL GARDEN
ROSENTHALGARDEN
Hobbit plants, aka Crassula Ovata, fill two

ceramic pots that have been placed near the entry
to the home and are flourishing in the California
sunshine. When I pot them, I use coconut fiber
plus pumice, about a 50/50 mix, says Mr.
Rosenthal, revealing his garden secrets. The cactus soil doesnt really work because it uses peat
and once it dries out, it will never rehydrate.
Bamboo, over 75 years old and reaching nearly
30 feet tall, is the only plant in the garden that still
requires frequent watering.
Our water bill dropped 55 percent a month and,
almost a year later, its still down like that, says
Mr. Rosenthal of his new garden. We save about
$100 a month.
In keeping with Zen garden principles, several
large granite boulders were chosen by the homeowners and strategically placed by Kramers
Masonry in Upland. A crane was used to place the
rocks weighing as much as five-tons each
into a hole measuring 4-by-4 feet in length and 18
inches deep, burying one-third of the rocks surface for a natural look and creating a focal point in
the southwest corner of the garden.
You never put in an even numberalways put
in one, three or five, explains Mr. Rosenthal.
These three rocks have some character and their
placement is meant to be representative of Buddha
and two of his disciples.
Tying it all together is a one-foot-high open
cedar fence that lines the perimeter of the garden.
When I first put this in, I didnt put up the
fence, Mr. Rosenthal says. Low and behold,
dogs had gone up to the tree. I dont care if they
pee or leave footprints in the gravel but when they
were through scratch, scratch, scratch gravel
all over the sidewalk. Im not going out there
every day to pick up the gravel, so the cedar fencing in a western-style went in. Its important that
its cedar because its truly resistant to termites.
At a total cost of $11,000 to renovate the front
garden, some may think its cost-prohibitive to
create a water-wise oasis. Mr. Rosenthal says it
will pay off; its just simple economics.
I got $2,500 back from the water company,
really making the total $8,500, he says. Id be
paying a gardener $150 to care for a lawn every
month and now I dont have to. That, in addition
to the water saved, is a savings of $250 a month
which means in less than four years, Ive paid off
the entire costs.
24
The principles of Zen gardening have spilled

into Rosenthals backyard as well. Blue glow and
Schidigera agaves of varying sizes add interest to
the rear courtyard and a fountain that would automatically top-off due to evaporation loss has been
drained.
When they were looking for homes for the garden tour, they asked if we could please have the
water running in the fountain, Mr. Rosenthal
explains. I told them its just been put on sabbatical. Were in a drought.
Angela Bailey
news@claremont-courier.com
26
Landscape of Karl Benjamins mid-century home gets much-needed reboot
t was an instance of kismet when

while giving a presentation on landscaping at the Claremont gallery The
Colony at Loft 204landscape architect
Dominic Masiello of DP Environments
met Beth Benjamin and her husband Ross.
Mr. Masiellos topic at the workshop, held in the
summer of 2013, was landscaping appropriate to
various forms of local architecture, including
Craftsman, Edwardian, Spanish Revival and MidCentury Modern.
Ms. Benjamin was interested in the latter. She and
Ross live with her mother, Beverly, in the Claremont
house Beverly shared with her husband Karl
Benjamin. Mr. Benjamin, a renowned abstract
expressionist painter known for his genius with color
and geometric patterns, died in the summer of 2012.
Karl and Beverly bought their existing Tenth Street
home property in 1952, back when it was merely an
orange grove. In 1955, they moved into a classic
California Modern ranch house designed and built on
the grounds by architect Fred McDowell.
Mr. McDowell would continue to contribute to
the modernist architecture scene on the West Coast,
and more specifically in Claremont, with his aesthetic including the skillful use of concrete, the
incorporation of large-scale windows to blur the
line between the indoors and outdoors and an
emphasis on landscaping. Examples include the
Padua Hills home built for ceramicist Harrison
McIntosh and the famed Concrete House, which in
1964 was the winning entry in the Association of
Concrete Industries Horizon Homes contest.
Explaining his philosophy to the LA Times in 1963,
Photos courtesy of DPEnvironments

Dominic Masiello of DPEnvironments specializes in matching landcape to architecture.
Mr. McDowell said, Total environment occurs when

earth and dwelling merge into a recognizable whole
where terrain, floor plan, exterior design, building
materials and landscaping work consciously together.
Mr. Benjamin was on the same page, taking a particular interest in the landscape design. With his college-horticulture classes in mind, he managed to
present a perfect marriage of art and practicality.

True to form, Karl designed with concepts ahead
of the curve, Mr. Masiello said. His focus was on
modernism and advanced landscape techniques such
as a heavy use of California-native plants, which
KARLBENJAMINHOME
The late Karl Benjamins Claremont home after a recent landscaping upgrade by DP Environments.
KARLBENJAMIN HOME
were not widely sought-after at the time.

The result of the Benjamin/McDowell collaboration is a home reflective of the geometry evinced in
Mr. Benjamins painting, which he began pursuing in
earnest in 1951.
If you are looking for a cause-effect relationship, howeverthe idea that Mr. Benjamins artwork impacted
the houses architectureMs. Benjamin demurs.
Karl Benjamin is renowned for his abstract expressionist paintings featuring colorful geometric shapes.
27
Its more on the vice versa side, she said.

Moving into this house really affected Karls painting and his design.
Fast-forward to 2014, and the Benjamin family recognized the need for revival.
In the 60 years since it was built, the wooden deck
had incurred some serious dryrot. The cement work in
the backyard, made of polygonal slabs laid down in a
geometric pattern, had lifted due to the roots of the
mature camphor tree that serves as a focal point.
Some of the plants, such as a pittosporum and a
cotoneaster, had reached the end of their life cycles
and were begging to be replaced.
The family enlisted the help of DP Environments to
breathe new life into the space.
Mr. Masiello has been featured on the HGTV network several times. Still, he was daunted by the challenge of remaining true to the vision of two visionaries,
Mr. Benjamin and Mr. McDowell. It was an honor to
do it, he said.
Mr. Masiello built a new deck using mangaris wood,
an exotic hardwood that is denser than redwood. The
front lawn was pulled out and replaced with native plants
like waving stands of feather grass. A planter is decorated with an address plate created from ceramic tiles by
local mosaic artist Alba Cisneros and filled with the
KARLBENJAMINHOME
KARLBENJAMIN HOME
Dusky Chief variety of Phormium.

In the backyard, dozens of specimens of Carex Divulsa have been
planted in open soil. This plant reseeds
naturally and will fill in with time, creating a no-mow lawn.
Additional enhancements included
reconstruction of the driveway and
patio; raised planters including one
where Beth, an avid gardener, has cultivated veggies like herbs, peas, beans
and zucchinis and low-voltage lighting
and irrigation. DP Environments also
revitalized Karls outdoor workshop
area using decomposed granite and created a new brick path. Careful to maintain the integrity of Mr. Benjamins
original concept, the resulting space is

not only eco-friendly and stylish but
honors the artist who started the project
60 years ago.
New plantings include a fruit cocktail tree blending a variety of citrus
fruit, including lemons, limes, grapefruit and oranges. There is also a pomegranate tree as well as a kumquat tree.
And Beverly and Beth have added
another new touch, a hot tub they
acquired at last years LA County Fair.
A place to plunge and lots of green: you
would think this Claremont oasis
would soak up plenty of water. Thats
not the case.
Moving towards drought-tolerant
landscapes has been a huge focus for
us. Homeowners are sensitive to water
demands but are reluctant to give up
lush, inviting aesthetics. The Benjamin

home is a perfect example of how to
have your cake and eat it too, Mr.
Masiello said.
Beverly Benjamin is thrilled with the
fresh yard space, as she has been able
to enjoy the view from inside and out.
Even her neighbors have provided
their accolades and have confirmed, it
was worth looking at the porta-potty
for weeks.
But most importantly, everyone agrees
28
that Mr. Benjamin would approve.

A graduate of Cal Poly Pomonas
landscape architecture program,
Dominic Masiello is principal and
owner of DP Environments, Inc,. a
design-build landscape company
based out of Arcadia. He also owns
budgetplants.com, an online nursery
and is a contracted consultant with
the city of Long Beach.
Sarah Torribio
Tips and finance for first-time home buyers
hen I have the initial consultation

with a new client looking to purchase a home, they will often ask
questions related to how difficult it is to obtain
financing these days. The fact is, financing
isnt as difficult to obtain as one might think.
Back during the mortgage meltdown in 2007 and 2008,

lending guidelines became extremely strictor at least
more strict than completely lax, which they had been for
years. Buyers needed to have higher credit scores, income
verification was more difficult (especially for selfemployed persons) and loan products were limited.
Buyers who wanted to build their dream home were out
of luck, unless they could pay cash for the land, as there
wasnt a lender around who would loan on vacant land.
Fast-forward to 2015 and a lot of that has changed.
Buyers are now able to obtain conventional loan
financing with as low as 5 percent down. No longer
does a buyer need to come up with a 20 percent down
payment to avoid the costly and often unaffordable
FHA loan, which can be obtained with as little as a 3.5
percent down payment. In addition, lenders are coming
out with more and more specialized loan programs to
help homebuyers qualify for a loan.
First-time homebuyers, above all others, experience
these concerns, as most of them are a little tighter on cash
for a down payment than repeat buyers. First-time homebuyers also have a different perception of the market and
the home purchase process. For them, the only experience
of buying a home is what they have seen on TV shows like
House Hunters, which is an incredibly unrealistic and
misleading dramatization of the experience. First-time
homebuyers dont come to the deal with the real-time
experience from a prior home purchase. Here are some
tips for the first-time homebuyer to keep in mind:
Become Pre-Approved Early: Without the preapproval, the offer is as strong as if it were written on a
napkin. Listing agents and sellers will almost always
require seeing one before taking any offer seriously. Also,
it is recommended that the lender providing the preapproval is a Direct Lender and not a mortgage broker.
A mortgage broker needs to still shop your loan to
investors, who can oftentimes be

fickle and have been known to pull
out at the eleventh hour, leaving the
mortgage broker scrambling to find
another investor, lest a deal fall apart.
A direct lender has the ability to fund
the loans they give directly, thus
their pre-approvals come with a bit
more confidence in success.
Zillow is not gospel: Unless a buyer has experienced
how home values are set in the real market personally,
they often put a little too much weight in what on-line
valuation sites have to say. Realtors are constantly having to explain away Zillows Zestimates to first-time
buyers, as they are more often than not incredibly inaccurate. The listed data available on these sites is also frequently outdated and misleading. Sites like Realtor.com,
or an agents MLS search they can set up for you will
have more accurate up-to-date listing data. Online sites
are great for looking at pictures and getting information
about the house, but leave the valuation advice to an
experienced local realtor who has an intimate knowledge
of the market values in any given neighborhood.
Be prepared to act quickly: In a fast-moving market
like the one we are currently in, good homes that are
priced well are selling quickly. First-time homebuyers can
at times be more hesitant and slower to make a decision on
a property. This is completely understandable. This is new
territory for them. Its likely the biggest purchase they
29
by Ryan Zimmerman
have ever made, and going to be one they will live with for
many years to come. That said, I see many first-time buyers go through heartache a couple times over lost homes
before they are ready to become more aggressive on the
next one. If you find a great home that meets your criteria
and you get that good feeling when inside, dont wait.
Those couple days to think about it can cost you the
house and result in a lot of regret and hard feelings when
another buyer beats you to the punch.
In 2015, the market is growing and prices are slowly and
steadily moving upwards. Interest rates remain in the low
4 percent range and are playing a big part in the rebound
of the market and the rise in prices.
As money is more affordable and attainable, people are
able to purchase homes and to get more house for their
money. The million-dollar question is, what is going to
happen with the interest rates in the near future? The FED
has been hinting at rising interest rates for a couple years
now, but we have yet to see it happen. The reality is, if and
when interest rates do rise, they will have an adverse effect
on home sales and prices. A modest increase in rates will
likely not show signs in the market. However, a jump in
rates to say 6, 7 or 8 percent would have a significant
impact on the market.
The higher interest rates would price many homebuyers out of the market, lowering their affordability index
and resulting in less house for the money they have.
When buyers affordability goes down, prices are pressured downward in kind.
Nancy Telford
Nancy Telford, Century 21 Beachside Broker Associate. Telford@Telford.com. BRE #01191038
We have qualified buyers wanting a Claremont home. Call Nancy today for a FREE market
analysis and the best quality service. 909-575-8411. www.NancyTelford.com.
85% of my business is referrals from past satisfied

clients. I take pride in giving each client exceptional
one-on-one personalized service based on honesty,
diligence & knowledge. Nancy Telford
Below are a few recent testimonials out of 102 all 5-Star Reviews:
Nancy is just as advertised. We got a full price
offer immediately and
closed escrow a month
later. She is very
professional and helpful.
She was a pleasure to work
with. She always made
herself available to us.
We highly recommend her.
03/01/2015 - afletch2000
zillow.com/profile/afletch2000/
Excellent real estate agent.

Very honest and informative.
Gave us a realistic picture of
the market. Did not inflate
the true value of the property
to get the business. Always
responded promptly and
gave good advice on how to
improve the property to
attract potential buyers.
Constantly gave feedback
from other agents regarding
my property.
Nancy was an absolute joy to

work with. She has a knowledge of the area that is second
to none. She helped connect me
to a home staging agency. She
took beautiful pictures of the
property. She was in constant
communication with updates on
offers, inspections, buyer
requests and the negotiation
process. I would absolutely
recommend Nancy to anyone
that is about to sell a home.
02/17/2015 - tltran57
zillow.com/profile/tltran57/
01/27/2015 - Jason M.
Tom and Nancy were a pleasure to

work with. We were shocked at how
quickly the whole process happened... from meeting with them, to
taking pictures, to selling our house
on the first day of listing, and then
closing escrow 30 days later. They
were always quick to respond to
questions and had more than helpful
advice for us. Their experience and
professionalism was evident in every
interaction we had with them. We
would not hesitate to use them again,
or refer them to family and friends.
Thank you, Tom and Nancy!
01/10/2015 - dena111
zillow.com/profile/dena111/
447 Alamosa Drive, Claremont
788 Alamosa Drive, Claremont
118 Avila Way, Claremont - $685,000
SO
LD
!
SO
LD
IN
D
AY
S!
ES
CR
O
W
!
IN
IN
ES
CR
O
W
!
GRAND CENTURION DETERMINED HONEST DEDICATED DILIGENT
2335 Dana Ct., Claremont - $735,000
#1 in the Inland Empire/San Gabriel Valley & awarded again for the BEST QUALITY SERVICE.

Claremont LIVING 2015

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Claremont

This town is growing. Lets wander some local gardens.

Nature nook offers serenity, touch of nostalgia.

Local retreat boasts Latin charm.

Its all about the journey.

School offers native nature walk.

Zen and the art of water-wise gardening.

Artists home returns to glory.

on Mittino and three of

Broker Associate, ABR, GRI, SRES, e-Pro. DRE# 01801354.

heres nothing quite

COURIER photos/Steven Felschundneff

The garden looked nothing like it

Sharon and Bill Bentley purchased

I love this stone because it reminds

and pour water on the rocks to see

COURIER photo/Steven Felschundneff

Perennials of all sorts fill planting

Trees of many varieties offer shade

A Fuyu persimmon tree adds interest to the garden as well as delicious

heirlooms and I love rust. I think its

Hacienda-style garden yields peace, produce

On Sunday, April 19, the couple

If the front of the house serves as a

COURIER photos/Steven Felschundneff

in the details. They have circled the

grouping of birds-of-paradise that

ABOVE: Like many festive gardens,

Meanwhile, back at the ranch

Theres a touch of rancho to the

REAL ESTATE HAS ALWAYS BEEN

kitchen garden. You walk through

COURIER photos/Steven Felschundneff

Expertise in Claremont since 1978

Complete Professional Confidential Service

JOLI GORDIEN & AILEEN GORDIEN

BROKER ASSOCIATE, ABR, CRS, E-PRO, GRI, SRES

GORDIEN & ASSOCIATES IN THE VILLAGE CLAREMONT, CA 91711

Extraordinary Respresentation Since 1988

Stepping outside ourselves to forge new paths in life

When John Kosta remodeled his

he path of life is winding

COURIER photos/Steven Felschundneff

A meditation labyrinth brings a sense of tranquility to the Kosta garden.

dry creek bed was unearthing clean soil.

quipped, but the grounds were nice.

are greeting by a handful of citrus trees,

Moving you in the

Susan Emerson, GRI, SRES

serves a dual purpose. It provides a

107 Harvard Avenue, Claremont, CA 91711

One would think Mr. Kosta could

Nobody sells more real estate than RE/MAX

RE/MAX Resources is Actively Recruiting!

Oakmont immerses students in biomes study

akmont Elementary has long

COURIER photo/Steven Felschundneff

We wanted to see a garden like this built, and we

THE SENIOR LIVING SPECTRUM

s a Seniors Real Estate Specialist I

Pamela Bergman-Swartz BRE #01899295

longer provide the level of care he needed.

nage, which helps turn the plantings

depiction of the schools owl mascot.