A Bigger View of a Smaller Garden, Part 2

Now that I've given a closer look at my back garden, let's take a revealing lap around the front garden, shall we? Here's the view through the gate my father built, which nicely frames Priscilla the Redbud. The volunteer poppy is charming, but will be removed soon (before it trips me!)

click any picture to enbiggen!

The closeup view looking up at the house focuses on this charming Moroccan Poppy (Papaver atlanticum 'Flore Pleno') in front of my scented pelargonium 'Fragrant Frosty.'

Pulling back you can see more of my salvage hardscape. Believe me, I would love a nice brick path and steps here. But for now I am pleased that, apart from the crushed rock filler, my walls, steps and paths are all made of materials I had on hand (or scrounged from family and friends!)

My old front walkway was jack-hammered out and used to build the retaining wall that levels the inner courtyard garden. More cobble from under my street trees is used as edging. My crooked sidewalk is unfortunate, but everything else works well together. The shrubs are Manzanita (Arctostaphylos bakeri 'Louis Edmunds') and Coast Rosemary (Westringia fruticosa 'Morning Light'). The grasses are Blue Fescue (Festuca glauca 'Elijah Blue') and Slender Veldt Grass (Pennisetum spathiolatum).

From this angle you can see how the wall follows the curve of the fence and divides the broad bed into two levels; this is a great way to add interest to an area that was formerly lawn, rather than maintaining the existing lawn grade. Here you can see one of the "mother plants" of my Mexican Feather Grass (Nassella tenuissima) and how the cobble adds a little finish to the sidewalk edge.

A young Fuyu persimmon and Green Globe artichokes are two of the edible plants found in the front garden. Purple Sea Lavender (Limonium perezii) self-sown California Poppies (Escholtzia californica) and Spanish Lavender (Lavandula stoechas) provide the main flower color in the outer garden. A wide swath of prostrate blue juniper (Juniperus horizontalis 'Icee Blue') at the sidewalk will keep the view around the corner clear.

A nice vignette of (from front) Yucca variegata, Lemon thyme, Aeonium, Limonium, Green Senecio and California Poppies; can you say water-wise AND pretty?

Pulling back you can see that we've come nearly full circle. A gentle berm along the driveway path adds dimension and a bit of enclosure. The tiny tree is a Dancy tangerine.

Let's pause in remembrance of my former lawn (which I kind of liked when it was gold) and my old front walk, which became the wall. Here's what it looked like two years ago.

One year after installation. The circular fence and the fountain anchor a really nice space. The semi-circular thyme path is just coming into bloom and may just continue right across the front walk, which still needs a final top-dressing of brown gravel. Someday it will be brick...

And you'll notice those same orange poppies in front of the lemon tree; the circle is complete. Some have compared my garden layout to a Mandala. Exactly.

As we approach the porch, don't trip over the official 'greeter.'

And here's the spot from which much of this garden was conceived, and that I can now enjoy with some privacy!

Views from the porch: I'm in love with this combination of poppies and feather grass under the tangerine tree.

Pulling back, the poppies are now framed by the robust red branches of my young Arbutus 'Marina.'

Back further, and here is the view from my chair. No longer a fishbowl at a suburban intersection, but a real place of refuge. Thanks for joining me on this journey around my garden, I hope you'll come back as it grows!

A Rainy Garden Birthday From The Porch...

My front garden is a year old this spring, and a mild, wet first winter has been a nice bonus. There are years when San Jose doesn't get a drop of rain between March and October. Last year we had some rain in every month, for the first time I can remember in the 45 years I've lived here.

The April rains are keeping things wonderfully lush (especially for those of us who try to keep landscape watering to a minimum). All of my favorite self-seeders are having a field day. The Mexican Hair Grass (Nassella tenuissima) is sending up little tufts in open spots, and nothing could be easier then a little selective weeding, and I'll have a lovely silky bank here by summer. I started with three small plants a year ago and let them seed. This year I'll be combing out as much seed as I can (yes, I use a large plastic comb, and it works quite nicely, thanks very much!)

These shots are from my porch, as the rain pelted. Luckily there was a lot to see, like those beefy California Poppies. They have stems like pencils, and are the offspring of one sixpack planted a year ago. They chose the best places to appear (where they aren't wanted they are easy to weed). Poppies are great for unirrigated parking strips; last summer I piled pulled plants under the street trees for a day or two; this year there is a lush carpet of winter green and orange, and will be forevermore.

Spring Cerinthe are more richly colored that those that bloomed all winter, and there are several wonderful clumps near the Stachys 'Primrose Heron.' All are from one plant started two years ago. Like the Poppies, they do best when self-seeded (they like a bit more water, and considerably less heat, though).

My poor purple poppy did not appreciate the steady downpour, but is lovely in her bedragglement. Next year you'll be hearing where THIS diva has decided to colonize!

My whole foundation planting of Tulbaghia simmleri came from one plant my friend Cheryl Renshaw gave me years ago (this cultivar is actually named for her, isn't that cool?) Easy to divide, likes shade, blooms in late winter, fragrant...you know you want her.

The Coral bark maple (Acer Sango kaku) is still deciding whether he wants to thrive in this spot or not; the wet weather is settling things in his favor, it appears. This is a perfect 'perching tree' near the fountain, and is frequently laden with finches.

The rainchain does its thing, and the bank of artichokes outside the fence is living up to expectations, including small but delicious harvests. What I like best about this picture is the glimpse of the house across the street; that's exactly what my garden looked like, a big sweeping multi-species lawn all the way to the sidewalk. I find this much more interesting; it uses less water, and only requires occasional hand-tool maintenance.

The placement of every new tree was quite strategic. Can you see exactly what this Fuyu persimmon is meant to do?

Yeah, I see you, little creep. I don't kill snails or other creatures in my garden if I can avoid it, so I try to plant enough for everyone. So far our relationship is fairly symbiotic.

Yes, this is what you're smelling when you stand at my front door. Yes, it's a Meyer Lemon. Yes you can have a couple, take a bunch!

Priscilla is looking lovely. One of the considerations when choosing the fence stain was that it look well with her leaves...I think it's in her contract.

Carex testacea is another must-have in my garden. He can also toss offspring all over the garden, given a chance, but he hasn't done so yet. He is probably planning a diversion...

More Cerinthe; they germinated really well in the protected perimeter of the carex, and make a great combination with it.

This Arbutus 'Marina' was the first thing I planted, just after I moved in, before I even owned the house. It was a small bush in a 5-gallon can, and has survived several brutal prunings to become a graceful evergreen screen for the porch. It is a hybrid of our native Madrone, and one of my favorite small trees.

And one shot from the back courtyard, of my Harry Lauder's Walking Stick continuing his little spring song and dance. Thanks for the visit to my damp garden, see you on Bloom Day!

April Showers

A rainy Easter weekend has given way to some sparkling mornings in San Jose; I love capturing the garden at these moments, as if in a single drop. And of course, there are always a few characters who want to be in the picture as well (step away from the poppy, little dude!) This is Papaver atlanticum 'Flore Pleno' or Moroccan Poppy, which I got from Annie's Annuals. (Their big spring party is this weekend, don't miss it!)

Apple blossoms are bursting on my six-variety espalier, and all of them look the same! These lovelies are 'Gala.'

The hybrid Fuchsias are back and ready to do their Fuchsia thing...

My contorted hazelnut is starting to unfurl. This is my favorite stage: the catkins are still hanging, the leaves are small and cute and you can see every twisty twig. By summer it becomes a rather lumpish creature.

The 'Bloodgood' Japanese maple in my courtyard does well in a pot; with regular water there is little summer burn, and it stays fresh and lovely until late fall. Shady protected corners are a great place for these trees, and they grow quite gracefully in large containers for years.

The new leaves of Nandina 'Firepower' are fantastic. This plant also seems to do best in a shady spot; it will get very fiery in full sun, but is much more elegant in shade. And it stays short, I've never seen it much more than two feet tall.

Ahh, Priscilla, Queen of the Redbuds. I found her tucked away at one of my nurseries, unpruned but full of potential. This early leaf stage is so fabulous, tiny, perfectly port-colored hearts appearing daily along the flower-covered branches, expanding to the size of my hand. Cercis canadensis 'Forest Pansy.'

One of the plants that followed me home from the Garden Show was this Euphorbia milii (Crown of Thorns) given to me by Robin Stockwell of Succulent Gardens...so cute!

Another Annie's Annuals treasure, this lavender Papaver setigerum will be a new cool-weather resident in the front garden, I'll let it reseed wherever it wants! More pics of this beauty to come; this was taken moments before it dropped its petals.

My single Echeveria pups from last spring have matured to full hen-and-chicks-hood. These have to be the easiest plants I know...

Cheating a little here; this picture of my Dutch Irish at their peak is from a couple of weeks ago, before I descended into the SF Flower & Garden Show. By the time the Show was over, they were too.

This, my friends, is why they call it Miscanthus 'Morning Light.'

It was a beautiful first season for my Crabapple 'Prairie Fire' a richer variation of the traditional pink-and-white variety, and therefore better suited for my strongly-colored spring garden.

Speaking of strongly-colored, Euphorbia 'Helena's Blush' is at peak bloom, and is not in the least shy about it.

The purple sage is bouncing back after a rather drab, slug-infested winter; its muted tones are nicely neutral.

Lunch! My Green Globe artichokes are small but tasty!

Yucca 'Bright Star' made it through winter beautifully, and I have a feeling my tiny little friend won't be tiny much longer...

The Meyer lemon tree is still laden with winter fruit (did I hear someone say Lemon Curd? I'm intrigued) and now it's full of bloom as well, one of the best fragrances in the garden.

And perched on top of a bulb on my string of porch lights, a new hummingbird nest, with eggs just about ready to hatch. I pay attention to the creatures that appear in my life, and recently found this explanation of a hummingbird totem:

• Hummingbirds teach us to draw the life essence from flowers, & how to use flowers to heal & win hearts in love.
• Hummingbirds teach us fierce independence, & how to fight in a way where no one really gets hurt.
• Hummingbirds teach us simple courage.
• Hummingbirds inspire us to protect the environment & to preserve old traditions that are in danger of being lost.

That works! Thanks for visiting...