This time of year I find myself garden scheming and planning. I have to be honest, I was not aware of Scott Shrader until I came across his book. I haven't purchased a garden book in a few years, but this one really struck a chord with me. His seemingly effortless ability to connect the outdoor space to the indoor is magical. Scott's projects include" homes, ranches, estates and wellness retreats in Los Angeles, Malibu, Montecito, Wyoming, Hawaii, and Croatia". He is most ...
Gardening
Most Popular Blog Posts of 2019
Welcome to my most popular blog posts of 2019. Looking back at what posts appealed to you and which ones did not is extremely helpful to me when I am planning my calendar for next year. This has been a big growth year for my blog thanks to all of you. My email subscriber list has doubled in the last year, and my readership has more than doubled. I am so grateful to all of you for the support. This blog began nine years ago as an Interior Design Blog. As I aged (65!!) I ...
The Importance of Structure in the Garden Part Two
As I elaborated in part one, the backbone of the garden are trees, hedges, evergreen shrubs, walls, fences, arbors, gates, and other man-made elements. All of these items work together to create a permanent and vertical dimension. In addition, the secondary structural elements such as paths and paving have a major impact on how we use our garden and create design elements that highlight it year-round. Always pay attention to the architecture, color, and texture of your home to ensure that ...
The Importance of Structure in the Garden
Welcome to the latest edition of Project Design. Mary Ann, Annie, and I are joined by one of our favorite new bloggers Kerry from Graham Hill Design, and Marie's Home and Garden, and our old pal Karen from Garden Home and Party I was hoping to spiff up my outdoor living areas but ran out of time. so I would love to talk to you about the importance of structure in the garden and how I have utilized it in my own garden. The backbone of the garden are trees, hedges, evergreen shrubs, ...
Eight Tips for Growing Beautiful Container Gardens
Today Mary Ann, Annie and I are joining Kelley from Kelley and Company, Debra from 5th and State, Janine from Happy Happy Nester. We are all sharing our tips for growing beautiful container gardens. Containers are great for people without much outdoor space, and they can add structure and color to the gardens of those that do. I never realized how many containers I had until I began to write this post. I am no expert. I have had some that have done well and some that ...
Gifts for the Gardener they will Actually Use
Here is my list of gifts for the Gardener that they will actually use. This isn't a "pretty list" from some editor that has never gardened in his or her life. You aren't going to find gardening aprons ( no "real" gardener wears an apron it would get caught under the knees upon kneeling down) and no oilskinned tool bags. This is a list of real tools and products that any gardener can't do without. Felco models are consistently priced, well known, and widely beloved ...
My California Garden in Spring-Part Two
Thank you so much for all the kind comments about my front garden. My back garden consists of the pool/patio area and what used to be called the rose garden. The rose garden is on the other side of the fireplace in a safe little corner where the deer have never trodden. If you read my first post, My California Garden in Spring Part One, we left off where the herb garden looks out onto the pool. Here is the other side looking back with Beau posing. Our pool is ancient. We are ...
My California Garden In Spring Part 1
Hi Everyone. My garden is so pretty this year due to the late spring rains I thought I would do an updated post . Parts of my garden are over 30 years old and all of it is at least 20 years old. There are positives and negatives to having a mature garden. The positives of having an older garden are the framework and plants are well established. The negatives are "the framework and plants are well established" (the plants need to be replaced as well as structures!) This is the little barn you ...
How to Grow Wisteria
Have you often wondered how to grow wisteria? That gorgeous purple beauty that blooms in the Spring and can overtake a small house if you aren't careful. Wisteria prefers a fertile well-drained soil. Though wisteria will grow in part shade, it probably won’t flower. If your soil is poor add compost, otherwise wisteria will grow in most soils. Plant in the Spring or Fall. Dig a hole as deep as the root ball and two or three times as wide. Space plants 10-15 feet ...
