Blue Planet Garden Blog

Garden Designers Roundtable: Memory and Plants

ET phone home.

Who can forget those heart-felt words uttered by the most appealing extraterrestrial in the history of film? Despite this clear warning, it took Elliott declining to the point of near-death and an entire squadron of hazmat docs in shiny silver suits to finally realize what we smart movie-goers had figured out long before:  ET simply couldn’t survive in an alien environment. Why then, do we insist on choosing plants for our garden that we know full well don’t want to live there?

There are plenty of reasons for this. Although my clients count on me to be firm in the face of zone denial when drawing up their planting plans, I confess I've been sedued by a flashy nursery temptress or two in my own garden. A far more common reason that they yearn for inappropriate plants happens to be the topic of this month’s Garden Designers Roundtable: the connection between gardens and memory.

I’ve been a California girl since the age of 11, and growing up I saw first hand how powerfully motivating the desire to re-create a familiar environment can be. Since moving here from the east coast, the first thing my mother has done at every house she’s lived in is to plant an insane number of trees, all in an effort to reproduce the dappled green light of the leafy, wooded landscape she left behind. No amount of tree planting will transform a sun-drenched, water-parched California vista into the humid, humus-y landscape of North Carolina, however, and over the years she has gradually come to embrace at least a few of the plants that make our local gardens unique. (But only a few. To her way of thinking, succulents rock, but ornamental grasses are simply a vast horticultural conspiracy to get gardeners to pay money for weeds.)

My mother includes old-fashioned favorites like iris and sweet William in every garden she plants.

If you also find yourself pining for the pines of your youth at the expense of plant choices that reflect your current cultural conditions, there is a way to bridge the gap. Simply look for plants that share the characteristics of your long-time favorites, and your garden can continue to be a haven for treasured memories--but without the need for excessive amounts of water, fertilizers or amendments to keep it humming along. The trick is to figure out what it is about the plant that makes it special, and choose something zone-appropriate for your new home that offers the same experience.

 

Lilac photo by Peter Roome

For example, with our mild winters here in the West, lilac shrubs (Syringa vulgaris) do not flourish. You can still plant them--simply brace yourself for a long term commitment to extreme life support, including mulching with ice cubes to replicate winter’s chill. Or, warm-weather gardeners can consider these replacements:

 

For color

If it’s the sight of vibrant violet flowers that makes you misty with memory, why not try one of the many California lilac varieties (Ceanothus sp.)? Covered with blooms in colors ranging from pale purple to the true blue seldom seen in garden flowers, Ceanothus has the added advantages of being evergreen, thriving on little to no water and attracting bees like…well…bees to California lilac.

 

Ceanothus Impressus 'Vandenberg', photo courtesy of J.G.

Alternately you can go lilacs one better, and opt for butterfly bush (Buddleia sp.). Just as lilacs put on a spectacular show in spring, only to lapse into slovenly ways later if not regularly groomed and pruned, by the end of the summer, butterfly bush has a deserved reputation for overpowering a garden with its large and leggy ways. But newer cultivars including those from the Buzz series sport the same over-sized blossoms on compact, well-behaved frames and bloom their hearts out from spring to first frost, long after a lilac’s flowers are a distant memory.

Buddleleja 'Buzz Lavender' available from Thompson & Morgan

 

For scent 

 Who can resist the legendary perfume of sweet-smelling lilacs? Although it blooms a bit earlier in winter, California gardeners should consider sweetbox (Sarcococca ruscifolia) a worthy alternative. Thriving in dry part-sun to shade, its shiny, dark green foliage is complemented by delicately scented white flowers in February and March. Plant it close to the front door to give visitors to your home a sweet surprise.

 

Another way to channel the old-fashioned charm of lilacs is to choose equally old-fashioned and deeply-scented sweet peas. To get that heady, springtime perfume, avoid six packs of newer cultivars and plant nostalgic varieties from seed. Opt for highly fragrant choices in shades of purple like ‘Mary Lou Heard’, which is available along with many other old-fashioned favorites from Renee’s Garden.

 

Images courtesy of Renee's Garden

 

If you're even more daring, go for a scent that will honor the past while creating a whole new set of memories. African blue basil blooms non-stop until first frost in mild climates, and will entice you with its intoxicating herbal aroma every time you brush past. Just remember you will be sharing the wealth with the bees. My one modest specimen continues to attract them in droves in late November--an astonishing eight months after I tucked it into a spare pot.

 

For the purist who must have the original

 If the only way to evoke cherished memories is with the real McCoy, then at least be judicious in how you add a favorite plant to your garden. Don’t follow Oprah’s example, who chose to honor her (mid-West) grandmother’s memory by planting 100 hydrangeas in the inappropriate, inhospitable environment of her Southern California estate. Settle for just one, and plant it in a pot so that any specialized care can be easily and sustainably managed. Or better yet, do your research, as there may be a cultivar more suited to your region. Syringa meyeri ‘Palbin’ not only will bloom in the absence of a pronounced winter chill, but tops out at four or five feet tall and wide, making it a good choice for more modest-sized California gardens.

 
Photo by Elke Borkowski for Monrovia

I've used lilacs as an example, but similar options exist for any number of plants. If you’re intrigued by this approach to bridging the gap between the past and present, I strongly recommend you check out Why Grow That When You Can Grow This?: 255 Extraordinary Alternatives to Everyday Problem Plants by fellow Garden Designer Roundtable writer Andrew Keys. Andrew offers substitutes for a huge selection of garden favorites that grow in a range of USDA zones. How do I know his plant choices are good ones? Because he also thinks California lilac and butterfly bush are solid alternatives to lilacs. But you’ll have to buy the book to find out his third selection…

To read what other designers have to say about memory and plants, check out these Garden Designers Roundtable posts:

Andrew Keys : Garden Smackdown : Boston, MA

Deborah Silver : Dirt Simple : Detroit, MI

Genevieve Schmidt : North Coast Gardening : Arcata, CA

Jocelyn Chilvers : The Art Garden : Denver, CO

Lesley Hegarty & Robert Webber : Hegarty Webber Partnership : Bristol, UK

Mary Gallagher Gray : Black Walnut Dispatch : Washington, D.C.

Rebecca Sweet : Gossip In The Garden : Los Altos, CA

Susan Cohan : Miss Rumphius’ Rules : Chatham, NJ

Thomas Rainer : Grounded Design : Washington, D.C.

Rochelle Greayer : Studio ‘g’ : Boston, MA

And to learn more about Andrew Keys and his lifelong plant obsesssion, check back in two weeks. Not only will I post the podcast of the recent grilling interview Rebecca Sweet and I hosted of Andrew, but I’ll be giving away a copy of his new book to one lucky reader!

Garden Designers Roundtable: Turning a lawn into a native garden (on a budget)

 

 Here in the East Bay of California, the Bringing Back the Natives tour held each May is one of the most popular garden tours around. Not only is it free, but unlike the expensive, professionally designed and installed gardens that are the hallmark of other fund-raising tours, most of the gardens were designed and installed at least in part by the homeowners themselves. Tour-goers are as interested in asking “how to” questions as they are in admiring the beauty of a California native garden in spring.

 This year, I was particularly impressed by a homeowner who turned her water-guzzling front yard into a mostly native, wild life habitat garden—and all in the space of only three years and on a budget of a few thousand dollars. So what exactly were the secrets to her success?

Before - the epitome of blah

 

Three years later

 

Study up, but remember that a little professional help goes a long way

Diane took classes from the Bay Friendly Coalition, and as a Bay Friendly Qualified Landscape Professional, I can vouch for the caliber of instruction offered. In addition to learning some of the skills she would need to create a habitat garden, she met designer Terrel Brand, who was willing to visit her site and advise her on a plant palette appropriate for her cultural conditions and lifestyle goals. Diane believes the modest design fee she paid not only saved her money in the long run, but also the frustration and lost time that can come from poor plant choices.

 

Linanthus grandiflorus, a stunning, long-blooming annual that self-sows readily, is an example of a less common California native an experienced designer can introduce a new gardener to.

 

Justly popular Penstemon heterophyllus 'Margarita Bop' should not be planted too close to walkways where its delicate stems can be broken.

 

Be patient – think small when it comes to plants

For most of the plants in her garden, Diane opted to purchase the smallest-sized containers available. She also relied heavily on seed. Not only is this an economical strategy, but smaller plants are quicker to establish, more likely to thrive and usually catch up to their beefier cousins in the span of a few years.

 

 Lasthenia glabrata grown from seed

 

Native Sisyrinchium establishes easily from one gallon containers

 

Look for opportunities to save

Sheet mulching was the primary method used to get the garden ready for planting, and Diane relied on cardboard scavenged from dumpsters to keep material costs down. (Hats off to Diane on that one – I know from experienced how hard mismatched sheets of cardboard can be to deal with. My contractors and I go the less fuss but more expensive route and purchase cardboard in rolls.) She chose to remove the sod rather than sheet mulch on top of it, and instead of having the excess sod hauled away, it was used to create the berms. No hauling fee plus less soil to purchase means a double savings. Finally, Diane took advantage of the rebates being offered by her utility company, and received a check for almost $400 to help defray costs. I’ve benefited from similar rebate programs when making my own small garden more water efficient, and always encourage clients to find out what is available before removing any of the old landscape.

 

A mature buckeye creates a shady spot for viewing the new garden

 

The bottom line? If you’re willing to put in some elbow grease and ask for a little help, turning an under-used lawn into a wild life haven doesn’t have to break the bank.

To read what other Garden Designers Roundtable members have to say on the topic of designing with natives, check out these posts:

Thomas Rainer : Grounded Design : Washington, D.C.

David Cristiani : The Desert Edge : Albuquerque, NM

Rebecca Sweet : Gossip In The Garden : Los Altos, CA

Pam Penick : Digging : Austin, TX

Mary Gallagher Gray : Black Walnut Dispatch : Washington, D.C.

Lesley Hegarty & Robert Webber : Hegarty Webber Partnership : Bristol, UK

Genevieve Schmidt : North Coast Gardening : Arcata, CA

Douglas Owens-Pike : Energyscapes : Minneapolis, MN

Debbie Roberts : A Garden of Possibilities : Stamford, CT

Scott Hokunson : Blue Heron Landscapes : Granby, CT

Garden Designers Roundtable: Four Ways to Make a Small Garden Feel Like a Big One

 

 

This month’s Garden Designers Roundtable topic is our own home gardens. I thought about going with my favorite lazy-day post option and showing a montage of images – like a Wordless Wednesday but delivered on a Tuesday. Instead, I’m using my pint-sized garden to share some of the solutions to a question that comes up over and over again with my clients: how do you make a small garden seem larger?

I fondly refer to my tiny back yard as my 50 Foot Garden, since it’s not much wider than that. At a mere 20 feet deep, achieving a look that’s cozy rather than closed-in is a challenge. Here are four strategies I’ve used in my own little retreat that are easily translated into just about any space in need of a spacious feel.

 

Use every square inch

In our book Garden Up! Smart Vertical Gardening for Small and Large Spaces, my co-author Rebecca Sweet and I dedicated a large section to the over-looked opportunity of gardening in side yards. Yes, the narrow space and odd sun-shade patterns can be a challenge, but side yards give you the chance to create a space strictly to be gazed on – a rare occurrence in a small garden, where many features must do double or even triple duty.

 

 

Include a road less traveled

You know that famous infomercial line: But wait - there’s more!  Well, that’s what your pathways should be saying to visitors in your garden.

 When I’m designing a back yard garden, I never stop the path flush with the edges of the house. Doing so not only reinforces the typically boxy shape of a backyard, but it tells visitors that they’ve seen all there is to see. In a small space, it is particularly important to give the impression the garden continues around the next corner. The fact that that intriguing path leads to nowhere more exciting than compost and extra gardening supplies is my little secret. (And now it’s yours, too.)

 

 

 

Have a few tricks up your sleeve

 

You may be familiar with the design strategy of adding a mirror to a wall to create the illusion of a window to another part of the garden. If you’ve never considered this idea because you scornfully think no one will be fooled, I’m here to tell you that EVERYONE is fooled. I purchased a set of porthole-shaped mirrors at Target for $15.00 a few years back, and despite the obvious fact that nothing exists on the other side but a tiny strip of green and the street, almost everyone walks down the path and tries to look through them. As a side note, use caution when adding mirrors to gardens, and avoid placing them in such a way that might confuse birds.

 

Bury your treasure (or at least tuck it away)

What can be disappointing about a small garden is the sensation that in one quick glance, a visitor has already seen everything there is to see. That’s why I like to tuck in a few surprises that require a more thoughtful and leisurely stroll through the garden. Containers, particularly those tucked discretely in the back of a bed where they aren’t immediately on display work well.

But don’t stop there. My three ceramic starfish have been known to pack up and visit spots all around my garden, delighting the patient guests who take the time to admire not just the flowers and foliage, but the unexpected treasures hidden throughout.

For those of who would have preferred a Wordless Wednesday tour of my garden, here's a one minute Animoto video for your viewing pleasure.

 

To see what other Roundtable members have to say on the topic, check out these posts:

Rebecca Sweet : Gossip In The Garden : Los Altos, CA

Pam Penick : Digging : Austin, TX

Mary Gallagher Gray : Black Walnut Dispatch : Washington, D.C.

Jocelyn Chilvers : The Art Garden : Denver, CO

Deborah Silver : Dirt Simple : Detroit, MI

Debbie Roberts : A Garden of Possibilities : Stamford, CT

Christina Salwitz : Personal Garden Coach : Renton, WA

Andrew Keys : Garden Smackdown : Boston, MA

Rochelle Greayer: Studio G: Boston, MA

Garden Designers Roundtable: The Visionary Ruth Bancroft Garden

Today the Garden Designers Roundtable is celebrating gardens from all over the world. And it just so happens that one of the most beloved public gardens in California is located right down the street from me.

In the 1950’s, Ruth Bancroft paid a visit on Mrs. Glenn Davidson, expecting to purchase some Asian collectibles. Instead, she went home with her first succulent, a hybrid Aeonium. Captivated by its allure, she proceeded to spend the second half of her life creating one of North America’s premier dry gardens. Located at the site of a former walnut orchard in Walnut Creek California, the Ruth Bancroft Garden inspired the founding of the Garden Conservancy and has become a national model for preservation.

 

 

 

 

 Ruth’s accomplishments are particularly notable when you consider that succulents were not at all chic when she started. Her garden aesthetic was completely at odds with the type of English estate-inspired garden design being done at the time.

 

 

 

Although she is not generally mentioned in garden history books or classes, I consider Ruth to be one of the early pioneers of regional design, as she took her inspiration from the beauty of western landscapes rather than importing ideas and plants from another state or continent - a design philosophy many of us are just now catching up to.  Ruth began creating her garden while in her sixties. In a few months she will turn 104 and it is only in the past five years that she has stopped working in the garden herself.

 

 

Truly, you are never too old to follow your passion and make your mark on this world.

 

 

This garden has been an inspiration to me for a long time. Twelve years ago I wrote a paper on Ruth Bancroft for a garden design class. Next month on May 22, I’ll have the honor of giving a vertical gardening presentation there. Who knows? If I'm very lucky, you may find me celebrating my own 100th birthday in the garden.

To find out what gardens have inspired other designers, including special guest Fern Richardson from Life on the Balcony, be sure to check out these roundtable posts:

Fern Richardson : Life on the Balcony : Orange County CA

Susan Cohan : Miss Rumphius’ Rules : Chatham, NJ

Scott Hokunson : Blue Heron Landscapes : Granby, CT

Rochelle Greayer : Studio G : Boston, MA

Rebecca Sweet : Gossip In The Garden : Los Altos, CA

Lesley Hegarty & Robert Webber : Hegarty Webber Partnership : Bristol, UK

Genevieve Schmidt : North Coast Gardening : Arcata, CA

David Cristiani : The Desert Edge : Albuquerque NM

Garden Designers Roundtable: Creating an Entry Sequence

Have you ever heard the saying “You never get a second chance to make a first impression”? Not only does this wise advice apply to job interviews or the first day of school, but it applies to your home as well. A front yard is more than just a green area separating your house from the sidewalk; it’s a multifunctional space that marks the transition from the outdoors to the indoors, a place to great visitors and to say your good-byes and an opportunity to complement your home. This week, the Garden Designers Roundtable is talking about first impressions, and my contribution is a mini lesson on curb appeal.

Creating an entry sequence

A natural transition occurs when visitors come to your home. Designers use the term “entry sequence” to refer to the path from public spaces (the street or sidewalk) to the semiprivate or private space closer to your home’s front door. A well-planned entry sequence connects a house to the landscape and creates a cohesive space. Here are some tips to creating an effective entry sequence:

It’s all about the door

No matter how many plants, arbors and outdoor tchokes you add to your front yard, the door is still the de facto focal point. After all, you want your friends, delivery folk and Jehovah’s Witnesses to easily find their way to the doorbell right? (Okay, maybe not that last group). When I meet with a new client and have trouble identifying the entrance, I know I will earn my fee in the first five minutes, simply by sharing easy ways to make the door more visible.

Simple steps include painting the door in a contrasting color or flanking the entrance with pots or small trees. Or take it a step further and add an arbor or front porch.

Before: It's already confusing that the door is located on the side of this duplex. The fact that you can't easily tell the front door from the garage door just makes it worse.

 

After: A simple fix- paint the door red.

 

Before: A contrasting door isn't enough to get the job done here.

After: a porch and plants that won't obscure the view to the door create a much more welcoming sequence.

At a minimum, avoid blocking the view to the door. To take it to the next level, make the journey from the street to the house easy to navigate, comfortable and in the appropriate scale and style for the home. Which leads to my next tip...

 

No wait, it’s all about the path

If this blog post had a subtitle, it would probably be: Landscape Designers Are Obsessed with Pathways. And I’m no exception. Design a pathway that makes it easy to find the door, and you’re on your way to a home with curb appeal that will make the neighbors gnash their teeth in envy.

The first step is to ensure the path is wide enough. A path that is broad enough for two people to walk abreast is the gold standard here. That means a minimum of 4 ft. but for most houses, 5 to 6 ft. will be a better width. Let the scale of the house and the garden be the determining factor.

Having a primary path that is wide enough is also important to distinguish it from any secondary pathways, such as those that lead to a side entrance or even meander through the garden if you’ve chosen a no-lawn landscape design.

The primary path is 5 1/2 feet wide - a good scale for this traditional ranch. Photo by Tai Williams.

Same garden, where the secondary path is modest and scale and uses informal materials. No chance of getting lost on your way to the door. Photo by Tai Williams

What about shape? More formal designs favor straight lines, but often times a curve is an easy and effective way to break up the boxy shape of a typical front yard. But keep it simple and don’t exaggerate the curve – remember, your goal is to take your guests on a pleasant journey to the front door, not help them reach their goal of 10,000 steps a day.

 

A simple curve DO. As a design bonus, note the way the change in pattern helps distinguish the pathway from the driveway - a good strategy when a separate point of origin is impractical.

And finally, the most misunderstood part of the entry sequence is the beginning. We all know it ends at the front door, but avoid the temptation to start the path in the driveway. (Really, when did front yards become an homage to three care garages and oversized driveways - don’t add to the madness! But that’s a rant for another day.) If you regularly access the front door via a carport, then by all means provide a secondary, less prominent path, but a general rule of thumb is to begin the path at the street or sidewalk, so it is clearly visible and easy to access.

If any of this sounds familiar, it’s because some of these ideas are part of the first chapter of Garden Up! Smart Vertical Gardening for Small and Large Spaces (which I’m sure you’ve all read, right?). For some different perspectives, check out what other designers from the Roundtable have to say on the topic.

Lesley Hegarty & Robert Webber : Hegarty Webber Partnership : Bristol, UK

Jocelyn Chilvers : The Art Garden : Denver, CO

Debbie Roberts : A Garden of Possibilities : Stamford, CT

Christina Salwitz : Personal Garden Coach : Renton, WA

Shirley Bovshow: Eden Makers Blog : Los Angeles, CA