Tag: Garden Up

A Jewel Box Courtyard that’s Wheelchair-Friendly

A Jewel Box Courtyard that’s Wheelchair-Friendly

Today I want to share with a darling jewel-box courtyard (that’s wheelchair friendly, too!) Three years ago our local newspaper ran a story on our (then) new book, Garden Up! Smart Vertical Gardening for Small and Large Spaces. Within 24 hours, I received a phone call from Judy, who was in desperate need of transforming […]

Think vertically when designing side yards side yard design

Think vertically when designing side yards

One of my favorite chapters in my first book Garden Up!,  tackles a common problem many gardeners face – what to do with those narrow side yards? These awkward spaces are often neglected, turning into dumping grounds for junky items collected over the years. While it’s true we all need a place to store some of this […]

Repurposing a fireplace mantle in the garden

Repurposing a fireplace mantle in the garden

Today I wanted to share how I repurposed a fireplace mantle in the garden. While driving around in the rain a few months ago, I spotted this mantle leaning next to a dumpster with a ton of junk piled on top of it.   The dumpster was located behind a furniture staging company, but this […]

Cottage Gardens in Petaluma – Garden Up’s next stop!

If you love clematis, edibles, succulents and everything in between then Cottage Gardens of Petaluma is nursery you MUST visit! Many already know this nursery as one of the best sources around for unusual varieties of clematis. But Bruce Shanks, the owner, has clearly been bitten by Succulent Fever.  Everywhere I look there’s unbelievable specimens […]

Living Walls in a San Francisco Community Garden

While in San Francisco recently, I stumbled upon this community garden sandwiched in between a really busy road and an apartment building. It’s a community garden built and maintained by a homeless shelter and surrounding neighbors (which is cool enough!) but I loved all the repurposed living wall elements along the chain-link fence.  The colorful […]

Vertical Gardening & Garden Up! Cyber Book Party

Vertical Gardening & Garden Up! Cyber Book Party

Ta Da!  Today is the official launch of our book Garden Up! Smart Vertical Gardening for Small and Large Spaces. To celebrate, Susan and I are hosting a cyber book party, complete with door prizes and party favors – and you’re all invited! Of course, two blogs isn’t much of a party, and if you’ve […]