Protect Insurance and Beauty

Glendale couple preserves insurance, abundant tree canopy, lifestyle and beauty

August 2025. By Isara Ongwiseth: Karen and Peter Veloz had just renovated their home and landscape when they received a notice from Allstate demanding further renovations to prepare their property for wildfire. They acted quickly and had an ember resistant zone 0 in place by January 2025. We caught up with them about their experience in May as we photographed their space.

The newly added Zone 0 includes a water feature that expands a patio and walk created in 2009.

What inspired your decision to add an ember resistant Zone 0 to your landscape?

While we heard about defensible space through our fire agency and FormLA Landscaping, we took action because Allstate demanded it. We had just renovated the landscape in 2018 to sync up with an update of the home’s interior.

Once copper, updated water fountain tiles create their own sense of flow.

In 2018, we replaced the copper backing of our focal-point fountain with mosaic tiles, added a couple large umbrellas, and updated both the lighting and irrigation. We also refreshed plants on the back slope where some had lived out their life spans. 

The Verdugo Mountains wrap the home.
The Eaton Fire emerged over the top this hillside.

Do you have first-hand experience with wildfire? 

In 2025, it looked as if it might come over the [Verdugo] hills across the street from the front of the house. When we evacuated, our renovation payed off in peace of mind. We didn’t worry about the outside. We only needed to take down the umbrellas and store cushions, as our furniture is metal. 

Ryder enjoys a petite turf grass lawn sits at the top of a slope of native Red Fescue.

Who and how did you hope your recent renovations would serve?

When we initially renovated the garden with FormLA Landscaping in 2009, we focused on the needs or our four kids. This time, in 2018, we focused on ourselves and our pup, Ryder. Of course, we love drawing birds to our space as well – and they love our water features!

How does your landscape live and look now?

Much of the landscape actually remains the same. It can feel greener due to the refreshing of our hillside foliage and the addition of foliage closer to the retaining wall, where it is more visible from the interior.

We’re surprised by how much we like the Zone 0. We really like the look, variation, and sophistication of the rockscapes added to this area. There are lifestyle wins too. On the side, the Zen garden revamp delineates the pathway. In back, mixed rock transformed a walkway into a patio.

Rockin’ Walkway
River Rock Water Feature
Mixed Rock Patio Extension

The teardrop of foliage in back makes us smile, and facilitates flow between the BBQ bar and dining patio. Before, it was a really prickly Oregon Grape groundcover. The soft native grasses and Dudlyea are a better match for our needs and style.

Teardrop Foliage Bed
Al Fresco Flow
Karen’s Favorite Under-Umbrella Seat and View

Where are your favorite spots? Materials? Have they changed since the renovation?

Karen: I love sitting in the area by the spa now that we can have an even bigger umbrella that provides more shade. Plus the view is amazing! I thought I wouldn’t like so many stones but actually love them with all the different colors, textures and shapes and sizes.

At ground level, the ember resistant zone is measured from the home’s eves.

Have you also hardened your home?

Peter: Yes, we took several actions recommended by Allstate and others. We added fire-rated vents and fine wire mesh to prevent litter collection in our gutters. We installed a new roof. Our garage seal is new and tight. While we have wood fences, they are a slow-to-ignite epay wood, and we keep them impeccably maintained. Having ember resistant materials under them also lessens chances for their ignition. 

We are looking at ways to address our eves. For now, they are freshly painted and kept clean. As an additional safety measure, our ember resistant zone extends beyond them, which isn’t always required. 

An IdealMow Meadow of Red Fescue Supports the Front Slope

How have the kids, friends and neighbors reacted?

We’re constantly under construction, so they may not have noticed anything new! We’ve had neighbors inquire about our red fescue meadow on the front hillside and the front water feature. Those that did had also received Zone 0 requests from their insurance company. None of our friends noticed that plants had been removed from Zone 0 – we thankfully have more abundant greenery in other areas. 

A seating area at the top of the back slope includes views of Glendale and the Verdugo Mountains.

Did your experience with fire inspire any discussion of moving?

Oh no. We really love Glendale. We have great neighbors. We enjoy the proximity to everything – downtown, the Hollywood Bowl, Pasadena. This is where we want to be.

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