South Pasadena is Beautiful- Part IV - Artists as Garden Designers

"All gardening is landscape painting." 

~ William Kent 

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Flowers propped in a vase, plucked fresh from the garden- if there was any trend in 2014- this is it. 

Peter Dudar and Sally Marr painted Jo Lane's water wise  garden with artistic sensitivity for color and texture. Perky lavender blooms atop light green finely foliaged  succulents sings to pedestrians passing by "I feel pretty."  

Built in 1923,  the modest home is  bursting with happy details melding garden to home. Note a break from boring: window mullions are  framed in a bold teal. 

 It is difficult for low-chill Southern California to host tulips for consecutively annual glorious blooming seasons. However- the floral bearer of the message "perfect love"  can be replicated in art glass for a lifetime of  enjoyment. 

An expanse of mocha stucco  has potential to be be blah, blah, blah. By punctuating the space with a graceful bit of iron, the eye has something interesting to behold. 

Speaking of interesting, a passageway into the petite backyard Eden begins with a hard right turn from the driveway.  The galley of a patio, lush with a trumpet vine overhead, bisects the house from the open air orchid room. 

There is a palpable coolness to this space. Filled with orchids and hanging plants, the multitude of green leaves tames the afternoon heat.  

Outside, the space is lush with fruit trees. Succulents overflow the rock-edged soaking basins .  

The rarer water is, the more it should be celebrated.  It may be wiser to have gravel flow down pathways than a motor-powered stream: however the magic in this scene is the rippling surface of water in a fountain. 

This fascinated me, how this narrowest of side yards is dressed to impress. The visual foundation was the width of a coat of paint. The creative finish mimicking expensive mason skills,  so graphic a trompe l'oeil. Fabulously more cost effective than changing up actual masonry material. The rose at the sunny entrance acts as a brooch on a youthful bosom- a discrete signal pointing where to look without being obvious about wanting attention.

Rosemary trained flat to the fence is simply genius, this girdling up and in of a plant which easily matures to overtake a narrow space.  

 Arbors are ever so useful in designating focal points.  The white color bringing structure and "wow" to the vignette. 
   

Blocks for retaining walls require a bit of a initial investment; but they are sturdy investments. Dry laid, they are without the environmental issues posed by railroad timbers for building a raised edible garden.

Judging by the number of people checking out the kidney-shaped stack of stones filled with veggies; leaning over to their partner, chatting about what they would grow to eat in such a space at their home- the local home-centers must have done quite a bit of business in selling retaining blocks afterwards.  

Until we meet again, Thank YOU for all YOU do to make the world more beautiful. 

South Pasadena is Beautiful ~ Part III ~ A Hillside Family Garden

 Welcome to Southern California. The day this picture was taken, half the country was shoveling snow.  Here: we were touring gardens and taking pictures to send to our relatives in upper latitudes. 

Surrounding the mid-century traditional home built in 1948 on the crest of of a .34 acre lot, Stella Binns, proprietress of Barristers Nursery  conjured up a soft landscape palette of muted greens and purples. Accents of contrasting bursts of precocious California poppies and roses dressed in pastels provide visual oomph. 

Nearly to the summit, a bit of a flagstone landing juts through the sea of plantings, providing a place for garden tourists to  safely dock. If I had clippers, I might have (with the owner's permission) fished for flowers to fill a vase. 

The Marengo area of South Pasadena is noted for mature trees 

I caught my breath, admiring the picturesque hillside garden of Jenny Hertz- Newman and Brian Newman.  A few more steps up the steep incline, and I would be behind the main garden gate. 

A rule of all design: practical items should be equally useful

When there are small children living on a hillside, a strong gate which can be locked closed is a safety must.  

Cross-fencing a playard  close to the house makes this an outdoor playroom. 

Strolling past from the house,  the playful lightness of the front gives way to tell a slightly different story. One where darker, richer colors encrust a forested garden, appearing as if fine gemstones  surrounding a giant Mother Nature's eternity ring. 

Ferns, low hedges and a fountain add definition

Paths of decomposed granite meander to where the real magic begins.  Under the shade of an old oak. 

 Can't you hear the laughter of little children, their imagination soaring on the arc of a disk swing? If you have a big tree- there are no excuses not to have one now. The are everywhere. Even Walmart  carries a similar model.  Check the weight limit- I've seen some which are rated to carry up to 250 lbs- even us bigger kids can come out to play):- 

Both red and lime green outdoor furnishings are hot fashion trends 

When setting up a child's area- don't forget your own adult comfort.  Placing the lime and red seating at the back corner, the parents elevates the the enjoyment of supervising children at play.  

One of the best features of the garden may be how it demonstrates that moderate water needs does not have to mute an aura of lush retreat.Once established, roses and begonias are more drought resistant than most people imagine.  How the giant flax punctuate the boundaries- simply masterful.  

Farewell, fine garden. We hate to leave. But there are more gardens to see. 

Until we meet again, Thank YOU for all YOU do to make the world more beautiful. 

South Pasadena is Beautiful ~ Part II ~ I Brake for Gardens

First the dirt gets under the fingernails, then it seeps into your blood. That is how gardeners are born. Through contagion. Once addicted to gardening, there is no cure. None is sought. 

Warning. . Tailgaters beware: I brake for gardens.  

On days gardens are open, this obsession is not contained to the map provided by tour sponsors. This is one garden which reeled me in from an officially open garden down-street.

Houses don't have to look-alike to be good neighbors

This California cottage modeled a place-specific modern turn to the vernacular. Its charm is not from being pasted with artifice, but through carefully curated details. Gracefully aging swaths of shredded bark provide negative space to appreciate the  demure peeks at the rich terra cotta stucco home. 

A white rose planted where the porch meets the garden serves as a beacon to the entrance

 The simple iron handrail. Natural color wood doors and window frames. The spectacular subtlety. Like a well-tailored suit- this front garden transcends eras and fads. 

A couple banded barrels filled with greens to clip for the kitchen. I wonder if there are studies proving gardeners eat better, are healthier and live longer than a neighbor who does not? 

This garden has me hooked. 

I left my card. Said a writer's prayer. Let the owners be interested enough to read some of my writing. Trust me to be respectful.  May they want the story of their creation told to a larger audience.  And if I am so fortunate as to be contacted by them- let me exceed expectations. 

Until we Meet Again, Thank you for All you do to make the world more beautiful. 

South Pasadena is Beautiful , Part 1

Gardens are the link between man and the divine. 

Walking Open Gardens is like strolling through heaven. 

2014 Garden Trend Report- People are providing for bees 

With this first glimpse of of a bee snuggling his muzzle deep into a frond of  'African Blue' basil- the sound, scent and sight put smiles on visitors to the first garden on the South Pasadena Open Garden Tour.   

Two trees and a hammock. A simple pleasure.

All good gardens start with a sense of place and people. 

Homeowners Wendy and Bob Darby, called upon Cornell University trained Landscape Architect Amy Nettleton, Principal of Elemental Landscapes , to create a serene escape from city life on their smallish lot, one with trees intensely knitted into the soil.

We value shade in Southern California. Even when the homeowners are not attached to their trees, mature specimens of certain species are frequently protected by the local government. Such is the case in South Pasadena. 

Rather than bemoan what deep shade and deep roots preclude the private landowner from installing, the canopy of leaves is celebrated as a place of comfort. A natural spot to lay the head down for a nap on a hot California afternoon. 

Posted in the shade of a heritage tree, a simple nesting box waits for residents 

Open spots, where sunlight floods the ground, vegetables and herbs are raised in organically tended beds, quenched by a drip watering system.

This is no mere fence. This is the South Pasadena is beautiful way of storage.  Built in the trinity of good design, it is solid, as beautiful as useful.   

Until we meet again, Thank YOU for all YOU do to make the world more beautiful.

It's a Wrap~ 25th Annual Southern California Spring Garden Show

"Spring unlocks the flowers to paint the laughing soul."

~ Bishop Reginald Heber

For 25 years,  South Coast Plaza has delighted gardeners and wanna-be gardeners with visions of springtime. 

Now is the season for miracles. A waist-high to a basketball player covey of quail, appear perfectly possible. 

The 20' tall birdbath floral centerpiece

Floral fantasies at center court made the ladies feel sprite and lovely as fairy tale princesses. The men, their gallant princes. There was nary a grump. Better: lots of cameras handed to strangers to record a happy memory .

  
Once upon a time, fields of beans grew on the flat land. Now a luxury mall, with the second highest sales per square foot on the West Coast, South Coast Plaza is a karmic setting for the spring garden tour season opener. 

This is an event for all budgets; even no budget. Attendance doesn't require a ticket or parking fee. Just a parking spot and a pair of walking shoes. 

Backyard Bees sells luscious products made by tiniest workers  

This year there were 75 vendors, including Backyard Bees. 4 days of free seminars and 11 gardens in competition. The official listing of who was there and how to contact is found here.  My notes, follow- 

Trends 

Trends are leadership translated into reality. 

Gourd Hobbit House by Living Art of Bonsai

Miniaturization. Electronic components aren't alone. So are gardens elements. Fairy Gardens were planted in wagons, over boot tops, under bonsai and even inside birdcages. 

Succulents.  Simple capped posts with rain gutters planted with succulents- how cool a divider is this?

A pedestal birdbath is frosted in succulents. The silver creamer lighting up the deliciousness, just like a candle on a birthday cake.

Sustenance. This bowl reminded me of  Scottsdale designer David Michael Miller's explaining an interior image for Western Art and Architecture- his philosophy includes: every room requires something live to ground the scene.  

Some of the plants for sale were for their visual appeal alone, but not all.  There was allot of action at the herb table. I'm not the only one with with basil on the kitchen counter.

Color: if it is is in the rainbow-  choose what colors stir your heart, uplifts your spirit. 

Greenwood Gardens often sells at So Cal Hort Meetings. 

Geraniums, iris, orchids, roses, succulents- The major trend of the day: 

Diversity is in. 

John Schoustra, owner of Greenwood Gardens, helped me finagle my way onto a tag-along of the garden judges. Besides John, there was horticultural wizard Jay Rodriguez: author/ speaker Melinda Meyers. There was the beautiful  Johanna Silver, Associate Editor at Sunset Magazine and John Gidding, host of Curb Appeal.

John Gidding, photo courtesy of Wikipedia

Of the judges, John Gidding was definitely the most approached. He was absolutely charming to the fans asking his autograph. 

Melinda Meyers seriously comparing gardens to documents

(L-R) Patty Nelson and John Gidding review the judging forms

A pro-am event, Jay Rodriguez explained the gardens are judged on a 100 point weighted scale. The elements considered were theme interpretation, originality, design, accessories, quality of construction, finishing, plant material and correct labeling.

While they rounded the gardens, checking once, twice, three times for their impressions to be accurate and fair, I aimed my camera at some elements for making a better garden.

Design inspired by Thomas Church

Gardens need focal points. Some serious sculpture  dominates this scene.

Design by the Landscape Design Alumni Association of Saddleback College

Geometrically arranged succulents framed as living wall art is now mainstream.

A vignette from the "Garden of Self- Realization"

Garden ornamentation, ancient through modern  is au courant.

Mulches and ground cover- juxtaposing delicate lamium edge edging against bold pine cones- magic!

Front side of "Mt SAC: On a Mission" display garden

Our local San Gabriel Valley Community College, Mt. San Antonio College Horticulture Club  presented a wonderful Mission-inspired garden. The cap-post filled with succulents to thrill, fill and spill over the small space- this is one of the touches which garnered 3rd third place in the college competition.

A Japanese maple specialist's entry sprung from Ralph Waldo Emerson's words " Adopt the peace of nature: her secret is patience." 

The reincarnated high- recycled content replica slices of tree trunks as stepping stones- some equipped with planting pockets... 

The proprietress did not have the number of the person who bought the molds off the artist when he left the business- but you can contact Essence of the Tree  through their website to find out. 

The Rusted Rose looked to the Nixon Library Rose Garden for inspiration. "The First Lady's Garden" placed the roses named in honor of six first ladies, then carried the theme with other plant materials as well as decorative accessories found just up the road on the museum grounds in  Yorba Linda.. 

Seating. Shelving. Decorative elements. Greenery. Retailer The Plant Stand  detailed how the accoutrements of indoor living marry well to the outside landscape. 

Soothing repetition can be created by disparate elements. Here, a vertical slice of tree trunk made into a bench is tinted and polished- an agreeable companion to the roses at its side.

The first place college entry 

A finishing touch: wooden slats tinted to show off the plant material.  The spirit of rusticity is reinforced through random repeating of a limited choice of  vertical stain boards. Note the retaining wall band capping- a finishing touch which elevates the design. Kudos's to the Orange Coast College Horticulture Club for their 21st century interpretation of the 20th Century aesthetic and value of  sculptor/ gardener Isamu Noguchi. 

Vega Landscape  took second place in the professional competition with their gently swirling design. By limiting plant material, and laying the wooden pathway on the diagonal, they made a huge impression on a limited space. Note the uplit fountain at the end. Gardens should be enjoyable when the sun goes down.

Robert Irwin's use of multiple materials at the Getty Gardens inspired LandWorkshop, inc intricate weave of plant and building materials. Interesting from every angle, the judges voted this 3rd place in the professional category. 

Not pictured, the surfboard.

Back to Natives  highlighted the joys of a simple garden. A couple Adirondack chairs set on a deck with sand washing over- seating areas are de rigueur. 

Strollers through the mall paused in admiration of the tranquil beauty of the  The Garden Gallery  pond-dominated installation. Inspired by the Huntington Garden and Library Japanese Garden, it elements are replete with meaning . The event brochure explains "The use of old reclaimed wood in the design evokes age and stability, while the Koi in the pond provide interest, movement and good fortune." 

The 2nd place winner in College Category, an ode to California's seasons

The Landscape Design Alumni Association of Saddleback College  in their own words to the judges, "Few Regions of the world offer the year round outdoor lifestyle of Southern California" (This design) "brings this home by placing you inside, gazing outside to the four glorious California seasons. With a nod to the iconic California design of Thomas Church and an eye for the sustainability we present; 

"Golden fall, when the foothills shimmer. 

Silvery green winter, bringing life sustaining rains.

The exuberant colors and life of a Southern California spring, when the air is filled with hummingbird buzz. 

The seemingly endless summer of surf, sand and bloom." 

Until we meet again, Thank YOU for all you do to make the world more beautiful.