Today I’m sharing a delicious elderflower cordial recipe, compliments of my elderberry tree. But first, a little info about this magnificent native plant that I inherited when I moved here seven years ago. Several elderberry varieties are native to the West Coast, but mine is a sambucus mexicana (commonly called Mexican Elderberry or Tapiro.) This […]
Designing a modified meadow in my new garden has been one of the most challenging yet most rewarding things I’ve ever created. Also known as meadowscaping (a popular trend that replaces traditional lawns with a native, slightly overgrown, prairie-inspired garden), my ‘modified’ meadow fits into this category, yet with a twist – hence the ‘modified.’ […]
Why do I love grevilleas for drought-tolerant, deer-resistant gardens? Let me count the ways: 1. They take 100-degree days in the full sun like a champ, never showing a hint of fatigue (which makes sense since they’re native to Australia!) 2. They’re also deer-resistant, thanks to irritating substances in the foliage and flowers. I’ve watched […]
Designing a hellstrip is often an afterthought, something considered once the rest of the garden is complete, which is such a shame! When visually connected to the rest of the garden, a well-designed hellstrip adds cohesion to the overall design, and can act as an eye-popping ‘welcome mat.’ What exactly is a hellstrip, anyway? Also […]
Today I’m excited to share with you the beauty of the Chihuly Garden and Glass in winter. It’s been a whopper of a winter, and while I’m not complaining, I must say, I’m feeling pretty starved for garden tours right now. Name a gardener that isn’t feeling this way, right? But finding a garden that’s glorious in the […]
Planting around tree roots (especially when they’re giant and growing above the ground!) is one of the questions frustrated homeowners often ask me. Gardeners end up feeling defeated and either 1) don’t plant anything or 2) end up planting a lawn around the tree (which has its own set of problems like damaging the […]
I’m excited to share with you the rustic potting benches in my garden. While I should be outside this weekend pruning my roses, it’s cold, wet, and downright dreary. So instead, I hope to give you a bit of potting table inspiration. Everyone should have an area in their garden where they can comfortably putter […]
I love designing with ball-shaped flowers. Don’t get me wrong, I also adore spire-shaped flowers (click here if you missed that post!) However, there’s something about spherical shapes that always makes me smile. Maybe its because the lollipop shapes tend to be more playful? Or maybe its because the symmetrical, round balls are such a […]
This time of year, I’m often asked what my favorite spring bulbs for warm climates are and how I incorporate them into my garden’s design. If you garden in a warmer climate (as I do in zone 9), it’s not too late to get your spring-flowering bulbs in the ground. Ideally, I aim to get […]
Over the years, more and more people have asked me for help with replacing a pool with a garden. Maybe it’s because of California’s ongoing drought? Maybe it’s because of kids who have grown up and flown the coop? Either way, removing a pool and replacing it with a garden is a hot topic […]
Last November, my daughter and I took a spontaneous trip to New York to visit the High Line garden again – only this time in autumn. While visiting a garden in the spring and summer is magical, there’s something about a fall garden that grabs my soul. Perhaps it’s the perennials taking their sweet time […]
It’s always such a fun surprise to discover a garden that’s able to incorporate a few freaky, creepy plants for Halloween. In the past, in honor of this holiday, I’ve written about my favorite black & orange plants, and spooky old cemeteries (click here and here, if you dare!) This year, I thought I’d share with […]
