House on a Hill

Welcome to this 2014 El Cerrito Garden that has matured into a hillside treasure!

Installed July 2014

We chose a Pepper Tree, with it's handsome & slight weeping form, as the focal point.

The surrounding plantings include low water natives, succulents & non-natives

that add pops of color and beauty all year round.

Written by B.B. Garibaldi

Natives vs Lawn

This small Oakland garden has been transformed from a thirsty lawn to a low-water native planting bed.

Planted in addition to the existing Japanese Maple are Baccharis pilularis, Mimulus, Carpenteria, Penstemon, Ribes, Crasula, Phormium, Helianthemum, Agave and Beschorneria.

Natives are always a great option for perennial planting areas.  Especially when planted with Mediterranean, African, Austrailian and Succulents.

Signs of Summer

As we approach Summer Solstice our gardens reflect the drought conditions by a shortened growing season.  Many late summer blooming perennials have already popped and/or seem to be smaller than usual.

This photo taken in May captures a variegated Yucca in bloom.

Calandrinia spectabilis

This mature Manzanita reveals what's beneath its beautiful chocolate outer layer.

Arctostaphylos 'Dr. Hurd'

These photos where taken in April.  This Berkeley low-water garden is already in full glory.

Hesperaloe parvifolia in the foreground with Agastache, Salvia 'Red Velvet' and Verbena bonariensis

Euphorbia 'Ascot Rainbow' peaks out from behind this salvia.  

'Big Red' Kangaroo Paw along side Chrysocephalum.

Growing up

Vertical plantings are a great option for small areas that need a little green or great way to augment an existing planting.
Last week we installed Wooly Pockets on a fence that is the primary view point from the home owner's kitchen.  The location gets full direct sun and is quite exposed.  The natural inclination is to plant succulents but the past few winters have been cold enough to kill succulents that are unprotected.  Here I used a combination of natives, drought tolerant succulents and South African plants that can stand up to the heat and take a little bit of cold.

We left enough space at the bottom to accommodate seating at the built in bench.

As the plantings and trailing ground covers fill in the pockets will hardly be noticeable.

Below is a vertical planting that was installed almost a year ago.  The planting was used to fill the area above the water feature adding a lush feel in this tropical inspired garden.

Curve Appeal

Our most recent project wrapped in El Cerrito this week.  A small narrow concrete walkway was re-placed by this lovely curving Connecticut Full Range flagstone.  A large landing area serves as a step out from the driveway and an access point from the sidewalk.

After

Before

Another lawn bites the dust!  We sheet mulched and planted over the old lawn.  The plants are a combination of native and South African low water and drought tolerant selections.  

I will post updates on the garden as it grows and fills in more.

Things that make you go HMM...

Interesting and captivating garden design encompasses more than just flower bloom and color.  It also incorporates texture, natural lighting and a little bit of whimsy to make the most of what each plant has to offer.

Cotinus 'Grace' Variegated Caprosma, Salvia chiapensis and Chocolate Geranium.

A whimiscal path connects two flagstone patios.
 

Amazing texture provided by a mature Fan Palm.  The focal point in a current garden renovation.

Silver rosettes contrast with slender green Crassula ovata

Bulbine frutescens pops when paired with this glowing chartreuse geranium.

Interesting blooms are always welcome.

Garden Photos and Random Sightings

This Oakland Victory garden was installed in 2013.  The drought tolerant and low water plantings surround and 'L' shaped veggie bed encouraging pollination for edibles.  See Eastlake Ave on the Fiddlehead Gardens Project page for details.

Edibles abound in this raised bed with perennials on one side and a low water lawn on the other.

Oakland Garden Oasis.

Field of Dreams.

After dinner in San Francisco one evening I came across this lonely stone looking for a home.   It is randomly sitting at the edge of a cross walk at Harrison and 7th Streets.  Be sure to look both ways before crossing!

Step to it

A new look for this garden in Albany.  Old cracked concrete is replaced with pre-cut Connecticut Full Range flagstone flanked by Napa boulder retaining walls.  The Montana stone slab steps add a natural break in the linear walkway that bridge  retaining walls and address the steep grade change to the front steps.  The garden is planted with low maintenance, low water perennials and shrubs that will fill in over time without overgrowing each other.

Additional hardscape features include driveway tiles and a walkway that leads from the driveway to entry path.  The driveway tiles lead into a veggie bed and storage area for recycling bins.  The space between the driveway is planted with Wooly Thyme. The small trellis planted with a red Mandevilla vine provides a bid of screening at the property line.

    

Before Images

What's New?

Some of recent projects are highlighted below:
A new look for Flowerland in Albany

This Utah ledge stone was used to create low retaining walls along the front entry of Flowerland.  This creates a level planting area along the sidewalk and prevents soil from continually slipping.  The golden color of the stone works well with the blue succulents Agave and Senicio.

















This Oakland back garden was renovated to create more open space for the homeowners' children.
A low water and low maintenance Now Mow sod was installed to create a play space.  Drought tolerant and native plants that add color and visual interest around the perimeter of the space.

Below are the 'before images'.  The garden was overgrown and not ideal for a family with small children.  The stones were repurposed to become a 'jumping off' point for the lawn and the smaller stone was moved along side the patio for natural seating.

Rose is a rose...

My favorite artist Sawyer Rose opened her show 'Dusk to Dawn' at my favorite art gallery Inclusions on Cortland Ave in the Bernal Heights neighborhood of San Francisco.
Sawyer's inspiration for these unique pieces are California native plants.  Can you name the flora in these photos?

The native grape in this work is soldered onto painted glass and back lit with small LED lights.
BEAUTIFUL

This 'Poppies on Red' is even more stunning in person.

'Wild Indigo'  Wild indeed.

Rose is a rose is a rose is a rose.  Gertrude Stein