6621913-gardendesignmay

8/8/2019 6621913-Gardendesignmay

1/117

Plant a Tropical Gardenon the Weekend

Hydrangeas:TimelessBeauties, New Hotties

Almost-InstantWater Features

Turn Bouquets intoArt Belgian Style

santabarbara style

great ideas forgracious outdoor living


2/117


3/117
http://www.monrovia.com/


4/117


5/117
http://www.summerclassics.com/


6/117
http://www.endlesssummerblooms.com/


7/117When the sun is out and the wind is still, youre one month on in the middle of MayR O B E R T F R O S T G A R D E

On the CoverA stone banco in a Montecito

garden exemplifies Santa

Barbara style (see page 58).

Photo by Steve Gunther.

M A Y 2 0 0 6

58 La Dolce VitaNestled in a geographically blessed Mediterranean climSanta Barbara and its suburb of Montecito offer an abuof ideas and inspiration for gracious outdoor living anative gardening. This elegant approach to living with ninspirational wherever you are. B Y D O N N A D O R I A N

72 BelgiumWowCutting-edge floral design rings true in Belgium, whdesigners are pushing far past the flowers-in-a-vase pa

Meet Daniel Ost, Geert Pattyn and Nico De Swert, thpioneers in this born-again art form, and take in the band curiosity of their designs. B Y J E N N Y A N D R E W S

80 Short but SweetCross over the Maine border into York and all bets are oA creative culinary couple and their landscape designertive way with annuals created a garden that leaves conseNortheast tradition in the dust. B Y T OV A H M A RT I N

Features

contents

70

58

80

72


8/117What potent blood hath modest MayR A L P H W A L DO E MM A Y 2 0 0 6

POSTAL INFORMATION GARDEN DESIGN, NUMBER 138 (ISSN 0733-4923), is published 7 times per year (January/Februar y,March, April, May,June/July, September/October, November/December) byWorldLLC, P.O.Box 8500, Winter Park,FL 32790. Copyright 2004, all rights reserved. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part without consent of the copyright owner. Periodicals postage p

Park,FL, and additional mailing offices.SUBSCRIPTIONS:U.S.: $23.95 for one year,$39.95 for 2 years. Canadian subscribers add $8.00 per year,foreign subscribers add $21.00 per year.For subscription information,please

0848. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to GARDENDESIGN, P.O.Box 421145, Palm Coast,FL 32142-1145. For faster service,please enclose your current subscription label.Occasionally,we make portions of o

list available to carefully screened companies that offer products and services we think may be of interest to you. If you do not want to receive these offers,please advise us at 1-800-513-0848. EDITORIAL: Send corre

Editorial Department,GARDEN DESIGN,P.O. Box 8500,Winter Park,FL 32789; E-mail: [email protected] welcome all editorial submissions, but assume no responsibility for the loss or damage of unsolic

ADVERTISING: Send advertising materials to RR Donnelley & Sons Company, Lancaster Premedia Center,Attn:Ga rden Design Ad Management Module, 216 Greenfield Road, Lancaster,PA 17601. Phone: 717-481-2851. Retail s

available; contact Circulation Department.Following are trademarks of GARDEN DESIGN and World Publications, Inc., and their use by others is strictly prohibited:The Golden Trowel Awards;D irt; Growing; Style; Sage Advic

Departmen

contents

12 Reader Letters

15 Dirt Left- and rigmuseums and their mu

landscapes. Sitting in mture.Cottage Garden iIllinois.Midcentury-mgarden goodies in PounRidge,NewYork.And

26 Growing The macent and versatile hydr

35 Dcor This coastaway is a place for luxu

but casual outdoor livin

40 Style Water featuare new in material antemporary in design.

45 Entertaining Maing your garden for a pDesigner Dan Zelen ofguest-pleasing tabletop

50 GroundbreakerThe inside track on PhStarcks outdoor furnit

54 AbroadExploringVancouver Ishorticultural heaven.

89 SageAdviceYou asked and Jack Ruswers.Versatile bambotiveAmerican meditatiden.Tropicals in New J

112 DetailsA Mogul garden bringish tradition to the Ham

For more, check outwww.gardendesign.c

26

8945

40

2054

35
mailto:[email protected]://www.gardendesign.com/http://www.gardendesign.com/mailto:[email protected]


9/117
http://www.brownjordan.com/


10/117

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Bill Marken

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Joanna Fortnam

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Michael Bessire

ART DIRECTOR Eric Powell

STYLE EDITOR Donna Dorian

MANAGING EDITOR JennyAndrews

PHOTO EDITOR Jason Upright

COPY EDITOR Nancy Ogburn

ONLINE EDITOR/WEB PRODUCER Brent Schmierbach

SENIOR ADV ISER Ken Druse

HORTICULTURAL CONSULTANT Jack Ruttle

CONSULTING EDITORS Charles Birnbaum,Dr. Marc Cathey,Ruth Chivers, James David, Dick Dunmire,

Amy Goldman, Richard Hartlage,Christy Hobart, Adam Levine,Michael MacCaskey, Deborah Madison

David McMullin, Denise Otis, Diane Dorrans Saeks, Ivette Soler,AltaTingle, EmilyYoung, DavidWinsto

PUBLISHER DianeTurner, 407/571-4883

ADVERTISING SALES

NATIONAL SALES MANAGER Lisa Lawn, 407/571-4916

HIGH-DES IGNTRADE Jason Champion, 321/806-9946

HOME FURNISHING S & ACCENTS MANAGER Jodi Bech, 407/571-4600

GREEN GOODS & PLANT MATERIAL MANAGER Meshele Conley, 407/571-4797

MARKETING

MARKET ING & EVENTS MANAGER Sarah Kinbar, 407/461-4368

SALES ASST. /PROJECT MANAGER Laurie Sanders, 407/571-4541

ADVERTISING DESIGN DIRECTOR Suzanne Oberholtzer

ADVERTISING SERVICES/ PRODUCTION MANAGER Krista-Lise EndahlADVERT IS ING ART ISTS John Digsby,Monica Alberta, Laura Peterson,L indsayWarden

RESEARCH DIRECTOR Heather Idema

CORPORATE ADVERTISING SALES

DIRECTOR OF CORPORATE SALES Russ Cherami, 212/219-4636

NEW YORK OFF ICE

Advertising Sales, 212/219-7400

WINEAND SPIRITS MANAGER/NORTHEAST: John Horan, 212/219-7413

TRAVEL MANAGER/SOUTHEAST: Rick Johnson, 212/219-7413

FINANCIAL SERVICESAND LUXURY MANAGER:El eanor Dixson-Hobbs, 212/219-7476

REGIONAL OFF ICES

MIDWEST:Maureen Grady, 773/281-0559

DETROIT: Focus Media & Marketing,313/670-0553

TEXAS/SOUTHWEST:Weikel Media LLC,Lucinda Weikel, April Bliss,214/824-9008

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA/NORTHWEST:Publicitas North America, CarolynWare, 415/624-2400

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA: MediaCentric Inc., StevenThompson, 415/435-4678

CANADA:Impact Media Group Inc., Allan J. Bedard, 416/679-9600MEXICO:Towmar, Lucy Gastulum, 011/52-5-395-5888

PRES IDENT Terry Snow

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Jo Rosler

DIRECTOR OF CORPORATE SALES Russ Cherami

ADVERTISING CONSULTANT Martin S. Walker

CORPORATE MARKETING DIRECTOR Leslie Brecken, 407/571-4668

CORPORATE EVENT MARKETING DIRECTOR Katherine Haack

V ICE PRES IDENT ,CONSUMER MARKET ING Bruce Miller

BUS INESS DIRECTOR ,CONSUMER MARKET ING Dean Psarakis

SUBSCR IPT ION DIRECTOR , CONSUMER MARKET ING Leigh Bingham

SINGLE COPY SALES DIRECTOR VickiWeston

DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT, CONSUMER MARKETING PeterWinn

DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION OPERATIONS Lisa Earlywine

DIRECTOR OF NEW MEDIA TECHNOLOGIES Jay Evans

DIRECTOR OF NETWORK & COMPUTER OPERATIONS Mike Stea

CONTROLLER Nancy Coalter

CREDIT MANAGER Dinah Peterson

DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES Sheri Bass

COMMUNICATION DIRECTOR DeanTurcol

PUBLICATION AGREEMENT NO. 1685317 CANADA RETURN MAIL: 4960-2 WALKER RD,WINDSOR, ONTARIO N9A 6J3

CUSTOMER SERVICE: For subscription-related queries, call: 800/513-0848; write:P.O. Box 421145,Palm Coast,FL 32142-1145; For editorial or advertising correspondence, write: P.O. Box 8500,Winter Park,FL 32789 e-mail: [email protected]: or fax: 407/628-7061.
mailto:[email protected]://www.ladyinredhydrangea.com/mailto:[email protected]


11/117
http://www.fiskars.com/


12/117

from the editor

MY DAUGHTER,VISITING THE SAN FRANCISCO FLOWER & GARDEN SHOWand presumably bringing a sensitivity refined by a U.C.-Berkeley degrhistory, loved the bottle tree. A bottle tree is not a real tree, but reahang on a tangle of real rebarit is garden folk art that I never seem

What you learn from watching people react to plants, exhibits and pat a gardening coming-together event like this is mind-stretching and min

ing.You see what people really like. Its like a big, live focuWe are pleased to say that visitors to the show liked th

Design exhibit garden envote it the Peoples ChoicCalled Moroccan Modernden was designed by Swanson and built by

Landscaping. It was createplay ideas for comfortable ish outdoor living,decoraentertaining.What did ougroup visitors react to? Thtine paving squares, the burns from Eye of the Dayribbony disguise for the SSpa, among many things

ed the elegant, tank-sturdy Kalamazoo grill.Mter-in-law, also a show visitor, had her eye on thda chaise by Brown Jordan.You can see more ashow garden in one of our upcoming issues.

Beyond our garden, the show revealed lots oing landscapes,exciting plants and further obseon the gardening publics behavior, including m

Digging Dog Nurserys booth offered an amray of perennials and flowering shrubs, includ

viburnums I took home.At Annies Annuals, I saw for the first time bin cultivation the legendary giant coreopsis (Coreopsis gigantea) that groon the islands off Southern California. Happy to tell you that both nurstheir plants online: www.diggingdog.com and www.anniesannuals.com

I spotted a great solution for a boring slab of concrete: Cover withdeck in modular form (www.ecowoodscalifornia.com) .And I thoughseriously about bringing home a garden gong that you hammer with astick. What would neighbors think? On my dream wish list: a garden

by Jesse Salcedo ([email protected]).Random observations: More small gardens than usual.More diversgarden styles from Japan to Baja to Morocco to Provence.Wonderfuand blooming meadows by John Greenlee. Id like to see an award foShow baby strollerall the latest models were on parade.

Its great to see so many people passionate about what we deal with issue ofGarden Design magazine.Theyre spouting long Latin names,their hands on fine teak and treating garden designers like rock starseditors were treated that way!BILL MARKEN , ED ITOR- IN-CHIEF

Peoples Choice

A little madness in the spring is wholesome even for the kingE M I L Y D I C K

At entry of Moroccan

Modern garden, designer

Michele Swanson and

builder Mike Hertzer of

Modern Landscaping.

Crowd-pleasing antique

urns and reproductions.
http://www.diggingdog.com/http://www.anniesannuals.com/http://www.ecowoodscalifornia.com/mailto:[email protected]://www.richardschultz.com/mailto:[email protected]://www.ecowoodscalifornia.com/http://www.anniesannuals.com/http://www.diggingdog.com/


13/117


14/117

On DeckWe own an urban home in a his-toric section of downtown Indi-anapolis thats very much like thehome shown in the article UrbanSpaceman, by EmilyYoung, in the

January/February issue.The arti-cle shows a back deck with asofa/storage center and mentionsKyleTracy as the carpenter.Wouldthis gentleman have a plan ordrawing for this sofa/deck? If so,I would like to obtain a copy forour home.The deck is perfect,andthe sofa fits with our backyardlandscaping plans this year.JimNewman/Kathleen Houlihan, In-dianapolis,IN

According to landscape architect Rob

Steiner, the design of the deck and

bench (above) was simple enough to

not require plans. A good carpenter

should be able to customize a similar

setup for your space by using the pho-

to for reference.What doesnt show is

the simple rail and drawer system un-

der the benchlike a single oversize

dresser drawerthat was retrofitted as

an aha momentafterthought.

Best Ohio BirchWhat species of birch did MichelDesvigne and Christine Dalnokyuse in the garden on page 112 ofthe March issue? Megan King,Central Ohio

The designers were unavailable to an-

swer your question by press time.We

consulted our horticulture expert, who

has narrowed it down to eitherBetu-

la pendula from southern and eastern

Europe orB. mandschurica from Chi-

na.You might have more success with

B. papyrifera, a white-barked birch bet-

ter-suited to the heat in the Midwest

(specifically Zones 2 to 6 and some-

times even to 7), orB. utilis var.jacque-

montii.The problem with white birch-

es in the Midwest is their susceptibility,

when stressed by drought, etc., to in-

festation by borers, which typically kills

mailbox

the trees. Another option wo

use a native species like rive

nigra (especially Heritage

its bark is pinkish rather th

More NameThat PWhat plant is pictured March issue on page grasslike plant in the fore

It looks like a variegatedtasmanica in a more yellowor.There are two of these the picture, one is ne

bromeliad. I would love what kind of plant that is freference.Thank you so mkeep up the great work!lyn Guiting, Burbank,CA

According to landscape des

Luna, thats actually a furcra

is in the agave family.

Retail CustomersWelcomeAs the owners of Mesogeohouse on Bainbridge Islanington, wed like to correcerror that crept into theabout us in your July/Augissue. It referred to us as asale nursery.We are actutail nursery open to the public.Thanks much for thto set this straight.Terrmont,

Mesogeo Greenhouse,29017,www.mesogeogarden.c

CorrectionOn page 36 of the April icity of Fremont, Califormisspelled as Freemontapologize to the good pFremont for the extra e.
http://www.mesogeogarden.com/mailto:[email protected]://www.ditarando.com/http://www.mesogeogarden.com/


15/117
http://www.evergrain.com/http://www.evergrain.com/


16/117
http://www.bayeradvanced.com/


17/117Museums do not just happenJ . P AU L G E T T Y G A R D E

dirt

Bold new gardens in Washington, Dand San Francisco match their museum

for innovation and viewing pleas

Museum Quality

a masterful blend of old andnew, also merits praise anda close look. Landscape ar-chitectWalter Hood facedseveral challenges.While de-signing a landscape to com-plement the about-to-be-iconic building, he alsowanted to honor the origi-nal garden and plants.

Historic,century-old Canary Island palms(Phoenix canariensis), saved from the old land-

scape,were replanted after almost five yearsin storage and now break up the southernface of the building. Old favorites are givena new twist:A circular Pool of Enchantmentreplaces the old rectangular Turtle Pool.New artworks are showcased alongside old:Andy Goldsworthys meandering DrawnStone, underfoot at the museums front en-try, contrasts admirably with the reposi-

IS IT A TREND FOR GROUND-breaking new museums to cre-ate innovative gardens to com-plement the buildings and addto the visitor experience? If so,we are certainly in favor of it.

In San Francisco,theres thestartling new garden surround-ing the de Young museum in Golden GatePark,rebuilt to replace the earthquake-dam-

aged landmark there.Around the NationalMuseum of the American Indian in Wash-ington,D.C., a garden pays homage to therelationship between NativeAmericans andtheir natural environment.

The de Young museum opened last fall,and Herzog and de Meurons copper-clad

building has earned worldwide attention,most of it very positive.The new landscape,

tioned Dore vase. Native plants woods and sand-dune-like mounremind you of the parks wild her

Fitting in with neighborsatheme for homeownerswas alsowith the venerated JapaneseTea Gardoor.A clipped hedge of white ca

just the right connection. More oGate Park is also inside the museuferns and eucalyptus in the skylit co

Visitors can best see the nearly landscaping from the buildings 144-

er.A birds-eye view reveals a zigzaand a grove of eucalyptus almost slbuilding into three.From this heighstract ground shapes of the Gardchantment resemble a Mir paintin

InWashington, D.C.,The SmitNational Museum of the Americaopened in fall 2004, and the peplantings have settled in nicely

Above left: Native

crop garden at D.C.

museum.Above

right, next page:

Tree ferns inside

and magnolias out-

side the de Young.

M U S E U M G A R D E N S | PAT IO C LE MAT I S | M I N I C H A I R S | N E PAL IV Y | A L C A T R A Z | N IK I IN AT LAN T A


18/117

trees bark is peeling off in hefty chunks andlooks ready for canoe making.

The landscape around the curvy, rough-hewn sandstone building occupies much of

the sites 4

1/2

acres and gives the visitor a senseof how NativeAmericans lived with nature.Ethnobotanist Donna House conceived thegarden in conjunction with landscape archi-tects at EDAW in Alexandria,Virginia.

Plantings of some 150 species representtraditional crops and the forests, meadowsand wetlands of the Chesapeake Bay region.The focal point of the landscape is the pondnear the front entry; realistic touches includecattails, bald cypress and fallen trees left forvisiting birds.Along the building are nativegrasses.During the growing season,anothersection is devoted to native crops grown forfood and medicine.What you wont noticeare plant labelsa no-no for House,a stick-ler for maintaining an authentic native spirit.

Of special note are several dozen boul-ders placed around the property.These areknown as grandfather rocks, symbolic ofthe relationship between nature and Amer-icas native peoples.R U T H CHI V E R SAND BILL MARKEN

For details on visiting the de Young muse-um and exhibitions, see www.thinker.org/de

young/index.asp.For details on the NMAI,

see www.americanindian.si.edu .

A little saint best fits a little shrine.A little prop best fits a little vineR O B E R T H EM A Y 2 0 0 6

dirt

AS MORE PEOPLE CHOOSETO LIVE INTOWN-houses and apartments, their gardens areshrinking,often to the size of patios or bal-conies.What can gardeners do to overcomethe space crunch? Grow up.

That was the impetus for me to developdwarf,bushy new varieties of one of my fa-vorite plantsclematis.These patio clema-tis as theyve been dubbed,can be plantedin containers among flowering annuals, pro-vide columns of color to define an outdoorroom or enhance the view from a deck.And the multistemmed plants,which aren't

leggy like so many of theolder clematis, will keepflowering from springthrough late summer.

Last year the fruit of mylabors, the Raymond EvisonPatio Clematis Collection,was launched at last and thisspring three new colors have

been added to the groupBourbon is purple-band-ed with red,Angelique ispalest lilac and Parisienne

is mauve with reddish an-thers.The designer hues fitwith the trend to extend in-terior decor to outdoor liv-ing spaces.

It took 10 years for theEvison and Poulsenbreed-ing program to develop thisnew kind of clematis, easy-

care dwarf cultivars designed for gin larger containers.The plants re3 or 4 feet tall, but their flowers aand are produced freely on both lastems and new growth.This means tif a severe winter kills top growthground level, the clematis will still gflower the following spring.

Like other clematis, the dwarf need a companion plant or some otport to grow on, lots of water and edrainage.They also like their roots tocool.Thats easy to accomplishju

colorful annuals or elow-rooted perenniasame container and protect the clematias well as add extrato the flower display

And, based on mrience, you can fothose complex rulpruning associated wer clematis varietiein the Patio Clemalection do well w

ponytail prune. Begrowth appears, grastems 12 inches ablevel,and cut off theRAYMOND EVISON

For more info on the Evison Patio Clematis Cvisit www.evisonclema

p l a n t s

Patio Perfect

Sampling of the Patio

Clematis Collection,

clockwise from top left:

Panache,Versailles,

new lilac Angelique

and Hyde Hall.
http://www.thinker.org/deyoung/index.asphttp://www.thinker.org/deyoung/index.asphttp://www.americanindian.si.edu/http://www.evisonclematis.com/http://www.thinker.org/deyoung/index.asphttp://www.evisonclematis.com/http://www.americanindian.si.edu/http://www.thinker.org/deyoung/index.asp


19/117
http://www.laneventure.com/


20/117Convince me that you have a seed there, and I am prepared to expect wondersH E N RY D A VI D T H OM A Y 2 0 0 6

dirt

Left to right: Cottage G

nursery offers a choice

selection of tropicals foMidwesterners; rex beg

vine (Cissus discolor) in fr

ofHosta Golden Sculptu

THE MOST STYLISH GARDENS ALWAYS SEEM TObe exotic paradises thriving in coastal cli-mates.To a Midwestern prairie gardener,

used to stifling summers and blood-stillingwinters, such lush displays are an unfair tease.Fret not,flatlanders,because in a place not

far from St.Louis dreams of a backyard jun-gle can be fulfilled, if only for a few months.Cottage Garden, in small-town Piasa (pro-nounced PIE-a-saw), Illinois, is run by a self-professed plantaholic who feels your pain.

Chris Kelley and husband/business part-ner, Bill Kelley, opened a retail and mail-order perennial nursery in 1987.A passionfor the colorful personalities of tropicalsgradually overtook Chris.Today she calls

the nursery a plant zoo specializing intropicalismo on the prairie, unusual ten-der annuals that love the regions steamysummers and balmy early autumns.

The mom-and-pop operation still offersa hefty share of hardy perennials, includinghostas and many hard-to-find natives suchas pale-yellow Baptisia xCarolina Moon-light. But it's the tempting tropicals, skill-

fully arranged in sample containbeds, that are the draw for an exptal palate. Look for Brugmansia Sup

with its 16-inch-long white tblooms, tiny Caladium humboldtii,ulous Nicotiana mutabilis. New last

Jasminum officinale Fiona Sunrisein the Midwest for its striking goliage.This year its shrimp plantcarnea Radiant.Visitors can shoamong 60 varieties of hummingvorites and tour the stock-plant grefor a peek at whats coming next s

Make a day of it by first visitingspirational Missouri Botanical (www.mobot.org) in St. Louis. Cott

den is only a 45-minute northeasteaway, and proprietors the Kelleys ommend several charming eaterieto satisfy a gardeners more hunger.LAURIE GRANO

Cottage Garden, 6967 Illinois RoPiasa, IL 62079. Call 618-729-432www.cottgardens.com.

d e s t i n a t i o n n u r s e r y

PrairieTropical

More than 10 years ago Curtis Jones and Judy

Seaborn came together in life and in business.

Now their family-owned company, Botanical In-

terests, in Broomfield,Colorado,has become a

source for top-quality flower, vegetable and herb

seeds.The rigorously tested, hand-picked seeds

are untreated with chemicals and represent

more than 400 varieties, including a CertifiedOrganic line and heirlooms.

A sampling of noteworthy items includes

Black Magic bachelor button, Chaters Double

hollyhock, Candy Stripe cosmos,Teatime Red

hibiscus,Thumbelina carrot,seven varieties of

gourds,10 basils and 23 peppers.

Botanical Interests artfully includes plenty of

information,outside and inside the beautifully de-

signed seed packets,on everything gardeners

need to know and then somewater, soil, light,

planting depth, days to harvest or bloom,color

and habit, frost dates,and even a historical or

culinary tidbit or two.Each packet is like a minis-tory about the plant. Jones and Seaborn say,Our

aim is for the gardener using our seeds to say at

the end of the season,What a terrific gar-

dening year this was. I did a

great job.E L LE N W E L LS

g r o w i n g

TOP SEED

dirt

fyi For more information,e-mail [email protected] or see

www.botanicalinterests.com. Seeds are available

from retail stores and independent Web sites.
http://www.mobot.org/http://www.cottgardens.com/mailto:[email protected]://www.botanicalinterests.com/http://www.botanicalinterests.com/mailto:[email protected]://www.cottgardens.com/http://www.mobot.org/


21/117

b o o k s

QUEST FOR EDENAs anyone who has ever gardened

even briefly knows, it can be an epic

journey, sometimes to the funny

farm. In The $64

Tomato (Algonquin

Books, $22.95), gen-

tleman farmer

William Alexander

recounts with wry

humor and dead-on insight his joys,

woes, epiphanies and philosophies ashe realizes that the road to his idyllic

garden is paved with Japanese bee-

tles, groundhogs, weeds and misguid-

ed contractors. He says, "Gardening is

often thought to be a genteel, relax-

ing hobby....For me, gardening more

often resembles blood sport." So why

do it? For Alexander it's a fascination

with the cycle of life, the triumph ofoptimism over experience, and the

food.Ah, the food!

A litany of every possible gardening

experiencefrom deer fencing to

weed-filled topsoil to canning an over-

abundance of peaches to planting a

meadowthis book will strike a chord

(and hit a few nerves) with anyone

who dreams of orderly rows of ripen-

ing veggies and eating a tomato fresh

off the vine. In the end, it's worth all

the drama even if, when expenses are

tallied and amortized, the tomato

does cost $64.Jenny Andrews
http://www.venemanfurniture.com/


22/117A chair is a very difficult object to design.A skyscraper is almost easierL U D W I G M I E S V A N D E RM A Y 2 0 0 6

dirtfyi Chairs are available at V29 Ninth Ave., NewYork, N

212-463-5750;557 Pacific A

San Francisco, CA, 415-296-

and MoMA Design and Boo

Store, 11W. 53rd St.,

NewYork, NY, 212-708-970

www.MoMAstore.org.

Clockwise from top

left: Panton Chair set,

Gala by Franco Albini,

Indoor chair Lockheed

Lounge designed by

Marc Newson in 1986.

WHEN IT COMES TOADDICTIONS, COLLECTINGminiature chairs is a stylish viceand a greatway for space-strapped furniture junkies tolive with history-making design.

TheVitra Design Museum has added fournew mini chairs, including a palm-size ver-sion of the wicker Gala designed in 1950 by

Franco Albini, to its ever-growing Minia-tures Collection which now includes closeto 100 tiny perfect copies of classic chairs,indoor and outdoor, from the past 180 years.

In 1992 the museum, inWeil am Rhein,Germany, started producing handmade chairsthat are one-sixth the size of famous origi-nals housed in Vitras permanent collection,which includes seating by Ludwig Mies van

der Rohe, Charles Rennie Mackintosh,Charles Eames, Frank Gehry and PhilippeStarck. Special licensing agreements arearranged with designers or designers estates,Vitra officials say, to ensure the minis are ex-act, albeit much-scaled-down, replicas.

Garden-, patio- or porch-centric chairs

in the miniatures lineup include the cast-iron Gartenstuhl designed in 1820 by KarlFriedrich Schinkel, the painted-metal Mid-way Gardens Chair by Frank LloydWrightin 1913, and the 1986 painted-steel Think-ing Mans Chair by Jasper Morrison.

Other indoor-outdoor creations includethe 1986 sinuous bent and welded steelSpine byAndre Dubreuil and the 1952 lat-

ticelike Diamond Chair by Harry (Vitras mini-Diamond is the indoorversion; the original chair was alsoa rubberized white for outdoor useer Panton designed the colorful, splastic Panton Chair in 1960, then make and considered too precious

door use; today, the mini-Pantonsets of five) and a full-sized modeproduced by Vitra in an inexpolypropylene that works well on

Still, the petite Panton and othminiatures are valuable collectibshould be displayed in a protected alittle chairs range in price from aboto more than $600 each.LAURIE

c o l l e c t i n g

Big Design, Small Package
http://www.momastore.org/http://www.momastore.org/


23/117

i l o v e t h i s p l a n t

NEPAL IVYOne of the happiest times as a horticulturist or

nursery person in North Carolina was the an-nual plant distribution engineered by the late

J.C. Raulston,founding director of a unique plant

collection and arboretum in Raleigh now called

the JC Raulston Arboretum in his honor.

Each year in this salute to plants, a black

trash bag full of rooted cuttings was handed out

to members of the nursery trade at conventions

across the state.For the arboretum the purpose

was to broaden the selection of plants available

for sale to keep the industry in high gear.

I was lucky to collect a wonderland of

unique plants from those horticultural hand-

outs.At the top of my list is the variegatedNepal ivy (Hedera nepalensis var. sinensis 'Mar-

bled Dragon') I acquired in 1997.Today this

treasure spills over the stone wall in my side

garden.Its 5-inch lobed leaves have cream-col-

ored veining and neat splatters of lime green.

Mature plants can produce striking yellow or

orange umbels of fruits.Plants are easy to prop-

agate using only single-node cuttings.

The ivys hardiness has been listed as Zone 8

(usually in British references),but Ive found it

quite hardy in myAsheville garden (Zone 6b),

where we often have windy winter nights

around 0 degrees.While there is some leaf burn

in really cold winters, the vines recover in spring.

One difficulty in writing about great plants is

including a source. Fortunately I live near Sandy

Mush Herb Nursery (www.sandymushherbs.

com). Since the owners are longtime admirers of

Raulston, I called proprietor Fairman Jayne and

learned that the nursery does stock this plant

and that its hardy at their location in the North

Carolina mountains.It's a beauty, agreed Fair-

man,and a continuing salute to Raulstons ge-

nius at collecting.PETER LOEWER
http://www.sandymushherbs.com/http://www.sandymushherbs.com/http://www.kalamazoogourmet.com/http://www.sandymushherbs.com/http://www.sandymushherbs.com/


24/117It looks like Alcatraz has got me lickedA L C AM A Y 2 0 0 6

dirt

ing rewarded. Led by the Golden Gate Na-tional RecreationArea,Golden Gate NationalParks Conservancy and The Garden Conser-vancy, and fueled by volunteers, restorationof the abandoned gardens is underway.

Information accumulated over a hundred

ALCATRAZ ISLAND, HOME OFTHE INFAMOUSprison, each day attracts thousands of visi-tors who are ferried across San FranciscoBays unforgiving waters to tour the creepyhistoric cellblock. Over the years, few peo-ple noticed the gardens.

Yes, there are gardens on The Rock, atone time at least 2 acres of them,in meagersoil amid tumbled ruins and wild over-growth.When the prison closed in 1963,plants maintained by inmates were on theirown.The budget-strapped National Park Ser-vice took over the site in 1972,and since thenthe skeleton staff has had its hands full pre-

serving the crumbling buildings, let alonethe once-vibrant gardens.

The neglected roses, agaves, ice plants,calla lilies and fuchsias (among nearly 200 na-tive and exotic varieties found so far) haveproven to be as tough as the convicts whoonce tended them,and their resilience is be-

or so years shows the gardens to btriguing microcosm of how plants aduced to an initially barren habitat,mans and plants interact, and gardening trends.The gardens date to1860s, when the island was beinformed from a U.S.Army fort into aprison. Officers and their wives, in to make the bleak landscape more designed small Victorian-style plotsin soil brought over by barge.Plantiincreased when a gardening rehabprogram was created for prisoners.cinating history is covered in the 19

Gardens of Alcatrazby John Hart, RBeatty and Michael Boland.) After

became a federal penitentiary in 193die Reichel, secretary to the wardentaught gardener,guided a team of infurther improving the islands colocading gardens, which at their peakneighboring San Franciscans dramat

Alcatraz gardeners sought out plaparts of the world with climates sithat of Californias coast; the restoteaching just how hardy exotic ornacan be. People always talk about u

tives for sustainable gardens, sayAshford, project manager of the Alcatoric Gardens ProjectGarden Conservancyexotics are thriving wlot of intervention,cheotherwise.

This place is so harshthe gray rock and consee the gardens is to selands softer side, says

Vance, park service ranger. In restotions visitors linger and take care not

The hidden gardens of Alcatrapparent only to those who knewto look, are being set free for all tPerhaps one day the plantings wpowerful a draw as the haunting

buildings.LAURIE GRANO

For information see www.parksconserandwww.nps.gov/alcatraz/nature.

r e s t o r a t i o n

Paradise on Devils Island

Agaves (above),

pink geraniums

and yellow sedums

(left) thrive among

other tough plants

at Alcatraz.
http://www.parksconservancy.org/http://www.nps.gov/alcatraz/naturehttp://www.nps.gov/alcatraz/naturehttp://www.parksconservancy.org/


25/117But man does not createhe discoversA N T O N I O G A U D I G A R D E

When Kristin and Charlie Allen saw th

dated gas station in the idyllic WestcheCounty town of Pound Ridge,NewYor

realized that its industrial look and soa

ings were a perfect match for their gar

tiques shop,Avant Garden.

We wanted to invigorate the voca

garden antiques, says Kristin,who,with

openedAvant Garden in 2003.They ar

the new generation of antiques dealers

the clean,spare lines of midcentury mo

and their passion is evident in the shop

with industrial containers,zinc-topped

sculpture and amoebic-shaped planters

When they arent minding the shoping at top design and garden shows in t

York area,Charlie,who is English by bi

ten on buying trips to England,France,

and Italy.There is really a big difference

American and European industrial.A Eu

tagre,for example,has extraordinary

even its rivet pieces are interesting, sa

Because the warm-weather season

short in the Northeast,Avant Garden i

perfect stage set for innovative pieces t

the outdoors in,from faux bois, industr

lanterns to stone-topped game tables a

thropomorphic lamps.One of our mo

ing recent sales was a complete set of

Woodards classic wire-mesh Sculptura

the 1950s, says Kristin.DONNA D

For more information call 914-764-0

www.avantgardenltd.com.

s h o p p i n g

AVANT GARD

To walk through the Atlanta Botanical Garden this spring is to enter

a dreamscape peopled with oversize animals,eerie totems and zaftig

dancing women.Welcome to the fanciful world of noted French

artist Niki de Saint Phalle,whomABG director Mary Pat Matheson

calls "one of the most significant female artists of the 20th century."

"Niki in the Garden" is one of the most extensive exhibitions of Saint Phalle's sculptures, including

36 large piecessome as long as 25 feetas well as smaller works, their polymer forms covered

with glittering mosaics of tile, glass and semiprecious stones.Coming from as far away as France,

Germany and California,some of the figures are so large they had to be moved in sections.A few

sculptures can even be entered and the mosaics continue on the interior walls.

Saint Phalle was unconventional as an artist and a womanfashion model, set and costume

designer,self-taught artist and the only female member of the Nouveau Realisme movement,

which included Christo,Grard Deschamps,Yves Klein and her husband, JeanTinguely. She was fa-

mous in the 1960s for her "shooting paintings," created by firing a gun at containers of paint, but

eventually sculpture became her primary medium. Influenced by artists likeAntonio Gaudi and

Salvador Dali, she created monumental, surreal figures,

both startling and joyful. Her work can be seen in public

spaces worldwide, including the Tarot Garden in Tuscany,

the Stravinsky Fountain in Paris and Queen Califia's Magi-

cal Circle in Escondido,California.JA

e x i b i t s

NIKI IN ATLANTA

"Niki in the Garden" will be on

display through October.Every

Thursday evening the garden will

be open to the public and the

sculptures lit for "Niki Nights."

Above: Nana on a

Dolphin, 1998, and

Guardian Lion, 2000;

two of the works

by Niki de Saint

Phalle on display.
http://www.avantgardenltd.com/http://www.avantgardenltd.com/


26/117The fountain is my speech.The tulips are my speech.The grass and trees are my speechG E O RG E T. D E L AM A Y 2 0 0 6

dirt

BANCHETJAIGLA STARTED MAKING FLORAL DESIGNS 19YEARS AGO,WORKING OUT OF HERbarn in Bedford,NewYork.Today she has an international reputation,having won awards

across the globe for a unique visual vocabulary underscored by the variety and quanti-ty of flowers she regularly garners from growers in Asia,Africa and South America.Her latest project is Flower Bar, to open early this summer in her enlarged flower

shop in Manhattans edgy meatpacking district, where wine, champagne and ready-to-go floral arrangements will be offered.While bars are generally lined with liquor

bottles, Banchets effusive orchid arrangements will be on display instead. Flowers andcocktails are an irresistable combinationand it happened at Flower Bar first.DD

Banchet Flowers:809Washington St., NewYork,NY;212-989-1088;www.BanchetFlowers.com.

RECIPE30 pink parrot tulips

6 long green carrot tops

24 red-tinted fava beansone small bunch of red-leaf lettuce

raffia wire

1 round glass bowl about 8 inches in d

ter, the length of the fava beans

Celebrate spring this year by giving vege

a place of honor in your bouquets. Here a

structions on how one floral designer, Ba

Jaigla, approaches the season.

To wrap the bowl in fava beans, stret

elastic band around the bowl and slip the

under it.Conceal the band by tying over it

ly with raffia wire. Bunch the tulips togetgroups of five,using raffia to tie each gro

gether. Pour enough water into the bowl to

the bottom of the tulip stems,then add the

to the bowl. Cut the green tops off just-p

carrots and place one top between each

of tulips.Bunch up the lettuce and place it

top of the arrangement.

t h e c u t t i n g e d g e

SPRING POTAGER
http://www.banchetflowers.com/http://www.banchetflowers.com/


27/117
http://www.plantsthatwork.com/http://www.novalis.com/


28/117To analyze the charms of flowers is like dissecting musicH E N RY T H E OD O R E T U C KEM A Y 2 0 0 6

growing

Appeal Mostly easy to grow,hydrangeas can be abused and still

reward the gardener with lush

foliage and showy flowers.Think of

them as workhorses with a strong

desire to please. For longer enjoy-

ment, their flower heads can be

dried; gather in peak bloom and

hang in an airy, warm place.

Zones Selections of arborescens

and paniculata are hardy to Zone 4,and those of quercifolia to Zone 5.

The flashier macrophylla and com-

pact serrata types do best from

Zone 6 and southward, but

rebloomers like Endless Summer

flower on both new and old wood

and can be grown in Zone 4, used

almost like a perenni-

aldying back to the

ground over winter and

resprouting in spring.

The species involucrata

needs the milder tem-

peratures of Zone 7

and warmer areas.

Virtually all of them

withstand the heat of

Zone 9 summers.

ExposureWhile mosthydrangeas thrive in full

sun (given ample water),

MORE THAN SUMMER DECORATION FOR SEASHORE COTTAGES OR SPACE-FILLERS ALONG FOUNDATIONS,hydrangeas are versatile shrubs suitable for almost any garden in areas that experience some win-ter cold. Most of the familiar kinds hail from China, the Himalayas, Japan and NorthAmerica, butothers in this genus of around 100 species come from the Philippines, Indonesia and South Amer-ica.Almost all bloom in white, pink, blue or lavender on mounded or treelike coarse-leaved plants.Lacecap types bear demure seed-producing flowers surrounded by sterile ones, while mopheadsoffer zaftig clusters of all-sterile flowers.The latest trends are dwarf,gold-foliaged and reblooming

hydrangeas and ones with oversize flower clusters on sturdy stems.The rebloomers have revolu-tionized hydrangeas and made them available even for gardeners in colder climates. RAY ROGERS

Heavenly HydrangeasVoluptuous or dainty, hydrangeas offer color and

solid-citizen stability to borders and containers

H. MACROPHYLLA GEN-

ERALE VICOMTESSE

DE VIBRAYE AND

BRUNETTE

Container culture main-

tains alkaline soil condi-

tions, allowing Brunette to

bear red flowers, while the

more acidic soil in the

open ground promotes

blue in Generale.

P H O TO G R A P H S B Y L E E A N N E W H I T E


29/117Blue color is everlastingly appointed by the Deity to be a source of delightJ O H N R U S K I N G A R D E

H. INVOLUC RA

Although not obv

this picture, Hydr

involucrata bears p

fuzzy leaves.Thes

attractive backdr

the open,airy lac

clusters of pale b

pink-mauve fertil

punctuated by a f

showier, sterile ofeet tall and twic


30/117I will be the gladdest thing under the sun! I will touch a hundred flowers and not pick one!E D N A S T . V I N C E N T MM A Y 2 0 0 6

growing

they grow equally well in partial

shade, especially in areas with long,

hot summers.Try them in east-fac-

ing locations in your garden and in

the bright shade under high-pruned

trees in a woodland setting.

Soil Reasonably fertile, well-drained,moist soils with lots of organic mat-

ter make hydrangeas happy.While

they all tolerate a range of soil pH,

acidity or alkalinity is an issue for

macrophylla types. In acidic soils, alu-

minum is readily available, promoting

blue and purple flowers; alkaline

soils restrict access to aluminum,

leading to red, pink and lavender.

Regular applications of aluminum

sulfate promotes bluer flowers.

Care Remove dead wood fromestablished plants of macrophylla,

serrata and involucrata as spring

growth begins, but dont knock off

flower buds at the ends of the

shoots. Cutting back paniculata

types hard in spring promotes larg-

er flower clusters. Cut arborescens

selections to the ground every

other year or so to keep them neat.

Pruning is rarely needed to keep

most quercifolias looking good.

1 2

3 4

[1] H. MACROPHYLENDLESS SUMME

Without question the

hottest hydrangea in t

trade. Unlike most m

phyllas,Endless Summ

starts blooming early

keeps producing flowe

(on new and old woo

throughout the seaso

New enough that its

mate height isnt well-

umented; may reach 3feet tall and wide.

[2] H. PANIC ULATALIMELIGHT

Similar to the Grandi

(PeeGee) types,Lime

goes one step beyond

others with its big clu

of lime-green flowers

age to white.Expect a

mature plant to reach

feet high by 6 feet wid

Hardier than many

hydrangeas, to Zone 4[3] H. MACROPHYLMME. FAUSTIN

TRAVOUILLON

Somewhat smaller th

loftier macrophylla ty

at about 4 feet tall, it

ers freely and over a

season.Blooms are d

pink in low-aluminum

Also known as Peaco

[4] H. MACROPHYLBRUNETTE

Always richly colored

whether aluminum is

able in the soil (flowe

shades of blue and pu

or not (flowers red).

as tall or vigorous as m

of its kin,making it a

choice for containers


31/117
http://www.osmocote.com/


32/117The very pink of perfectionO L I V E R G O L DM A Y 2 0 0 6

growing

1

fyi Thanks to WiMill Gardens in P

Georgia, where m

these photos wer

For more informawww.hydrangea.c
http://www.hydrangea.com/http://www.hydrangea.com/


33/117We have only this moment,sparkling like a star in our hands and melting like a snowflakeF R A N C I S B A C O N G A R D E

[1] H. MACROPHY

MARCHAL FOCThough less cold-har

than many macrophy

the profusion of satu

rose-pink mopheads

Marchal Foch make

a favorite as an indoo

plant in cooler region

[2] H. QUERCIFOLSNOWFLAKE

Handsome oaklike fo

and attractively peeli

very brown bark are

sons enough to plantquercifolia,but this se

tion also features foo

long,pyramidal, droo

heads of sterile flowe

that look like stacked

Expect it to reach 8

tall and nearly as wid2


34/117Tis my faith that every flower enjoys the air it breathesW I L L I A M W O R D SWM A Y 2 0 0 6

growing

1 2

3 4

designing with hydrangeas White-flowered selections create the illusion of snowballsin summer, especially on plants grown in partial shade. Mass pink and blue types with similarly colored garden

phlox (Phlox paniculata selections) and lilies for a visual confection of candy colors. Blue selections look like

sapphires against a gray wall or set alongside a slate patio. Macrophylla selections make imposing container

plantsfeature a pair in big lead-colored urnsand paniculata selections can be maintained as good-sized trees

in large terra-cotta pots. Remember hydrangeas in containers will need extra watering. Quercifolias are the

boldest and have the coarsest texture of the lot, lending visual strength to shrub borders and woodland plantings.

[1] H. MACROPHYKARDINAL

In the presence of so

minum, the intricate l

cap flowers bear sma

tile mauve flowers co

tained within a circlet

large,dark pink sterile

flowers, as seen here.

entire cluster become

in the absence of alu-

minum.Less cold-har

than other macrophy

About 3 feet tall.

[2] H. MACROPHYGIMPEL

Fully mature flower h

show a strong contra

white fertile flowers a

pink sterile ones.Amo

the newer selections

(introduced in 1986)

not as cold-hardy as s

Vigorous plants matu

less than 4 feet high.

[3] H. MACROPHYNIGRA

Although the pink or

blue flowers are of s

interest, grow thishydrangea more for

striking black stems.

fertilizer and routine

removal of older sho

encourages stronger

darker new growth.

grow 3 feet tall and

almost twice as wide

[4] H. MACROPHYTOKYO DELIGHT

White lacecaps grad

turn pink as the sea

progresses. Has anattractive upright pl

habit, and the dark g

leaves acquire red a

purple shades in aut

Spotted stems offer

additional visual inte

Under 5 feet tall.


35/117
http://www.johnandbobs.com/


36/117
http://www.owlee.com/


37/117By the deep Sea, and music in its roar I love not Man the less,but Nature moreL O R D B Y R O N G A R D E

TIMSTREET-PORTER(2)

decorC R E A T I V E I D E A S I N E X T E R I O R D E C O R A T I N G

WHEN PAULJUNGERWITT AND SUSAN HARRISWANTTO GET AWAY,THEY SKIP THEAIRPORT HAS-sles and jet lag. Instead,Witt, a film and TV producer, and Harris, aTV writer/producer,motor up the California coast from their home in Brentwood and, in just over an hour,are comfortably ensconced at their seaside retreat on Rincon Point just outside Carpinte-ria. We love to be here without the phone ringing. It feels much farther away from L.A.than 76 miles, saysWitt, who produced the movies Insomnia, Three Kings and Dead PoetsSociety.The couples stylishly understated weekend escape began as one house over 20 years

The pergola extend

toward the Pacific O

offering multiple op

for elegant but relaxoutdoor living.We

had 40 to 50 people

at one time, and it n

felt crowded, Witt

OceanViewLuxurious, casual outdoor living, combined

with wild, rugged plants, makes

this coastal retreat a California dream


38/117Alone I walked on the ocean strand,a pearly shell was in my handH A N N A H F L A G G GM A Y 2 0 0 6

decor

ago. Back then, they hired Santa Barbara-based Eric Nagelmann to design a wild,nat-ural and unrestrainedgarden to blend withthe rugged, windswept site.We wanted itto look like he hadnt been here, like it justgrew, says Harris, whose sitcom credits in-clude Soap, Benson and The Golden Girls.

Then,in the early 90s, the couple boughtthe house next door, razed it and built aguesthouse. With five children and twograndchildren, we needed more room,Wittsays.Afterward, Nagelmann knit the twolots together and softened the architectureusing lavish masses of hardy rugosa roses,grasses and sedges such as Ravenna grass andCarex pansa, westringia, lavender and lan-

tana.The result is a dreamy oceanfront par-adise worthy of a five-star resort.F U N C T I O N : Witt and Harris visit theirweekend getaway throughout the year to in-dulge their passions for reading, long walks,playing charades and lingering overcasual meals of salad and grilled

fish.We have a blended family, sothe garden is full of happy memo-ries of when the kids have all got-ten together, Harris says.F O R M : Paul and Susan wanted afull view of the beach, but theywanted privacy, too, Nagelmannsays.He removed a fence that onceseparated his clients beach house

Top:The shady entrycourtyard is filled with

hydrangeas and Impatiens

balfourii. Right:A remov-

able canopy blocks the

suns glare in summer, the

outdoor fireplace warms

the patio in winter.


39/117How fine has the day been! How bright was the sun,how lovely and joyful the course that he run!I S A A C W AT T S G A R D E


40/117

and wood deck from the neighboring prop-erty,now the guest quarters with a pergolashading a cozy fireplace and spacious Can-tera stone patio. He built a massive seawallout of basalt boulders, which added 8 feetto the garden,and finished it with a wrought-iron gate based on an original at the Casa delHerrero estate in nearby Montecito.S T Y L E : Exposure to the seashores extremeheat and cold, drying winds and corrosivesalt spray made decorating with sturdy fur-niture and plants a must.The garden is kind ofglamorous without beingtoo done, Nagelmannsays.Theres a practical-ity to it because thingshave to stand up to the

harsh elements.PLANTS: Harris asked forpink and purple blooms,

but since she and Nagel-mann were on the same

page, the couple otherwise

gave him free rein.Whatsso unusual about this gar-den is how unplanned itwas.There were never anydrawings; it just evolved,

she says. In the entry courtya

drangeas, Impatiens balfourii and nclamber around clipped boxwood ted junipers, while Checkerboarsia, bougainvillea and podranea spipergola.Along the beach, Carex gl

decor

Right:A Weatherend

bench sits on a carpet of

zoysia atop the new sea-

wallan ideal spot for

watching the sun set.

Opposite:A small patiobetween the two lots gets

both sun and shade next

to an Australian tea tree.
http://www.gardenersconfidence.com/


41/117

Ravenna grass sprout from the sand,westringia buffers the deck, and small Aus-tralian tea trees (Leptospermum laevigatum)hide the pergola supports. Side hedges ofMelaleuca nesophila and Pittosporum crassi-

folium screen out neighbors, and thornyMermaid roses discourage trespassers.F U R N I S H I N G S : The pergolas gossamerpolyester canopy shelters a faux-stone din-ing table lit by a crystal chandelier, McGuirerattan seating and an antique Indian bed up-holstered in fade-resistant Sunbrella fabric.The deck featuresWeatherend teak chaisesand tables, Santa Barbara Umbrella um-

brellas and washable white terry-cloth slip-covers.A small patio tucked beneath an ex-isting Australian tea tree recycles a wickersofa and armchairs found in storage.

Whether old or new, almost everything hastaken on a weathered patina the ownersadore. We had some wood furniture re-finished, but it turned out reddish-brown,Witt says. We had to wait two years for itto turn silver again.B O N U S : Like the surfers who flock tocatch Rincon Points spectacular swells,Wittand Harris relish winters at the beach almostmore than summers.Days are shorter, butthe light is golden, the surf is huge and the

beach is empty,Witt says. We love beinghere when its cold in the afternoon and we

can start a fire at dusk.EMILY YOUNG

For more information contact Eric Nagel-mann: 805-966-3928, fax 805-963-2306or [email protected].

TIMSTREET-PORTER(2)
mailto:[email protected]://www.jensenjarrah.com/http://www.allisonsgarden.com/mailto:[email protected]


42/117For fountains,they are a great beauty and refreshmentF R A N C I S BM A Y 2 0 0 6

style B Y D O N N A D O R I A N

FLOWING ONTO STONE, GURGLINGTHROUGHRUN-nels, overflowing from fountains, cascading infalls, water ushers meaning, movement, soundand tranquility into the garden,just as the means

by which it is introducedbe it fountain,basin,pond or bogadds a decorative element intothe overall composition.

But how to successfully bring water into thegarden has often been the question.Today, withwater-garden nurseries and garden-ornamentshops more present in the marketplace than ever

before,much of the expense and maintenancetraditionally associated with water features havedisappeared. In turn, craftsmen have begun toevolve a new vocabulary for the design of wa-ter features that addresses the innovative aspectsof landscape design. Here are a handful of man-made, easy-to-install options in new materialsfrom stainless steel to concrete that have begunto redefine the ancient repertoire.

1

2

Contemporary water features for a modern garden

Fountains of Life

[1] SOFIE WATER FEATURE:Resistant to extreme temperature,

sun and corrosion and available in a

range of colors,this handsome con-

crete fountain is ideal for any setting.

Comes with a preassembled under-

water pump and simply requires a

standard electric source. Underwater

lights optional.From Studio Four Los

Angeles:available in custom sizes,

starting at $1,350.Call 818-343-1600

or see www.studio041a.com.[2] STAINLESS-STEEL GLAZ-

ING BALL FOUNTAIN: Use this

contemporary water sculpture to

add tranquility indoors or out. In-

cludes UL-approved pump and sub-

mersible light.From Unique Arts:

$129 to $149.Call 800-928-3738 or

see www.uniquearts.com.

[3] ASIAN FALLS: Standinover 4 feet tall, this fountain

a cascade of rippling water o

beautiful,natural slate.Nestle

piece in a garden or use it as

point on a terrace.Available

circulating pump, halogen ligh

decorative rocks. From Beck

poration:$269.Call 888-BEC

or see www.888beckett. com
http://www.studio041a.com/http://www.uniquearts.com/http://www.888beckett.com/http://www.888beckett.com/http://www.uniquearts.com/http://www.studio041a.com/


43/117
mailto:[email protected]://www.gloster.com/


44/117I may not hope from outward forms to win the passion and the life,whose fountains are withinS A M U E L T AY L O R C O L EM A Y 2 0 0 6

style

[4] VASO A CAMPANA FOUN-TAIN: Converted from a terra-cotta

pot designed by the renowned Italian

craftsman Francesco Del Re, this

fountain is fitted with a hidden pump

beneath a bed of stones at its base

and over its inner liner, creating an

unusual,naturalistic effect.From Eye

of the Day Garden Design Center:

fountain:$2,755;pot without pump

and liner: $2,209.Call 805-566-0778

or see www.eyeofthedaygdc.com.

[5] ARCADIAN BALL FOUN-TAIN: Made from a unique water-

proof, frostproof cast-stone mix, this

timeless design is perfect for thecontemporary garden.Available in

Coade yellow, Portland gray,slate,

terra-cotta and creamy Bath. From

Haddonstone: ball fountain,$343;

pebble ball fountain and bowl kit,

$504. Call 856-931-7011 or

see www.haddonstone.com.

[6] CERAMIC WATER FEATURE:Water only enhances the subtle lines

and color of this handcrafted, hand-

drawn stoneware piece inspired by

natural forms and ammonite fossils.

Frostproof, hollow,light and easy

to carry. From Katrina Trinick Ce-

ramics:small, $148; large,$340 to

$385. Call 011 44 1208 831716 or

see www.ktceramics.co.uk.

[7] POLISHED MILLSTONEFOUNTAIN: Inspired by the

traditional millstone, this contempo-

rary handmade fountain of polishedblack granite doubles as a contem-

porary water sculpture. Installation

kits available.From Stone Forest:

$1,500.Call 888-682-2987 or

see www.stoneforest.com.

7

4

6
http://www.eyeofthedaygdc.com/http://www.haddonstone.com/http://www.ktceramics.co.uk/http://www.stoneforest.com/http://www.stoneforest.com/http://www.ktceramics.co.uk/http://www.haddonstone.com/http://www.eyeofthedaygdc.com/


45/117

www.domila.com 866.359.0085

New classics for the modern garden

A Division of Amexiport

find balance

The Equilibrio Chaise LoungeAll-Weather Wicker

D O M I L AD
http://www.domila.com/http://www.domila.com/


46/117
http://www.coverpools.com/http://www.coverpools.com/


47/117The art of dining well is no slight art,the pleasure not a slight pleasureM I C H E L D E M O N T A I G N E G A R D E

entertainingE N J OY T H E G R E AT O U T D O O R S

WHEN ENTERTAINING OUbring the outdoors to thsays Dan Zelen, a multitasigner whose Los Angelshop, Zelen Home, opdoors in spring 2004. (Atsquare feet, the shop is whthingsfurnishings, accand tabletop warescom

packages.) Also workingist and the creative directtrendsetting garden dcorner Gardens in L.A., Danfor his instant recognition hot and whats notanding an eye for imbuing eafloral arrangements withne sais quoi of a fashion st

Invited to decorate a an early-evening party oDan worked with L.A. ldesigner Scott Shrader,

signed the outdoto make sure thchairs, terrace environment altogether.Then on the tabletoDan looked fortion in his owwhere a set of l

Designer Dan Zelen, top,

decorated a tabletop for an

outdoor party as if he were

designing a small seaside

garden with plants and

objects from the sea.

P H O TO G R A P H S B Y S T E V E G U N T H E R

Plein Air DiningDesigner Dan Zelen creates an

al fresco tabletop with ideas inspiredby the fruits of the sea and the garden


48/117

sea urchin shell bowls and a can-

delabra he designed from mesquitewood sparked the idea of design-ing the table with an ocean motif.In a sense it was just like designinga room, where a single piece offurniturehere a single accesso-rysets the stage for every styledecision that follows.

Dans point was to make a table

look like a seashore garden.So in-

stead of engineering the usualflowers in a vase, he placed thedriftwood candelabra at the cen-ter of the table and then set whitesand, sea shells, succulents, coralshells and the sea urchin bowls di-rectly on the table, as if the table-top were the beach itself. Like awell-orchestrated still life, every-

thing became part of the

the Martini picks wertopped with a cultured peven the fruits matched tscheme.DONNA DOR

For more information on DHome,call 323-658-6755.information on Scott Shrwww.shraderdesign.com.

At a dinner party one should eat wisely but not too well, and talk well but not too wiselyS O M E R S E T M A UM A Y 2 0 0 6

entertaining

An overview of the table

displays an ocean-themed

assortment of mesquite

wood, succulents, starfish

and shells interspersed

between vintage dishes

and stemware.
http://www.shraderdesign.com/http://www.shraderdesign.com/


49/117

t ips for outdoor tabletops: Begin with a themehere Dan drew on objects fothe seashore. Incorporate flowers and foliage from the garden at hand; for example, use grapevines a

ners, hosta leaves as placematsor visit your local nursery for ideas. Before the meal begins, accent

with food that participates in the color schemehere the grapes and the wine repeat the purple of su

and sea urchin shells, while strawberries pick up the colors of the cranberry glass bowls and napkins.

After the meal is over, plant what you can back into the garden (which means dont remove their ro

But where is the man that can live without dining?O W E N M E R E D I T H G A R D E

Clockwise from top left:

An olive pierced by a

Martini pick topped with

a cultured pearl suggests

an attention to detail that

never goes unnoticed.The textures and colors

of a purple succulent,a

starfish and a ceramic bowl

designed to simulate a sea

urchin shell reiterate the

overall seaside concept.

To bring the memory of

the beach to the table,

Zelen scattered sandlike

crushed white glass on the

table and topped it with a

starfish and a succulent.

Decorated with the fruitsof the garden and the sea,

the tabletop is sprinkled

with red strawberries on

red linen napkins held

down by a coral seashell

in a coordination of color

as well as theme.


50/117I am thankful for the mess to clean after a party because it means I have been surrounded by friendsN A N C I E C A RM A Y 2 0 0 6

entertaining

sourcebookYinYang dining table by

Kenneth Cobonpue:$3,1

Mosaix Athena dining arm

$1,250 each,both availab

Janus et Cie. Call 800-24

or see www.janusetcie. co

Dan Zelens sandblast

mesquite-wood candelab

vintage stemware: variou

ceramic sea urchin bow

$120; sterling silver Marwith cultured-pearl tops

four, $225, all available a

Home. Call 323-658-675

see www.zelenhome.com

Large blue French cer

chargers:$40 each; Nouv

cranberry glass bowls: $1

linen napkins by Libeco H

$20 each, all available at B

NewYork. Call 212-826-8

Professionali Martini g

By Colle forTable Art, se

$120. Call 323-653-8278

www.tartontheweb.com.Placemats byThomas

OBrien:Target, $4.99 eac

Available fromTarget stor

Shells, starfish and cru

white glass:Wasabi Green

Call 213-629-0068.

Assorted succulents: In

Gardens. Call 310-838-83

or see www.innergarden
http://www.janusetcie.com/http://www.zelenhome.com/http://www.tartontheweb.com/http://www.innergardens.com/http://www.innergardens.com/http://www.tartontheweb.com/http://www.zelenhome.com/http://www.janusetcie.com/


51/117
http://www.provenwinners.com/freeoffer/gardendesignhttp://www.provenwinners.com/


52/117Style can make complicated things seem simple,or simple things complicatedJ E A N C O CM A Y 2 0 0 6

IN THE PANTHEON OF CONTEMPORARY DESIGN,Philippe Starck has earned a unique place.Arguably the most influential designer of hisera, he is one of a rare few to achieve inter-national rock-star status.Although he is best-known for designer hotels, a genre he helpedinvent, his work encompasses an improba-

ble spectrum that includes air-traffic-con-trol towers, motorcycles, Olympic torch-es, sneakers and, interestingly for peoplewith gardens, outdoor furniture.

Starck has received myriad

awards and has held exhibitionsin almost every major cityaround the world.Hes also therecipient of other, less-obvious

but perhaps more-coveted ac-colades.First,he has earned theadmiration of his hard-coremodern design peers,despite acertain goofiness.This admira-

groundbreakerI N N O VA T I V E M I N D S I N G A R D E N

tion is deserved because he embratechnologies readily and is a forwardwhose personal and social agenda irebellionthe core value of modernSecond, and perhaps more imprethat the Italians have embraced a

ported him as if he were one of theI consider this to be an uncommonItalians since they are fiercely prottheir cultural uniqueness.Youllsearch hard to find French restauMilan, yet chairs designed by this lar Frenchman are common in the door cafs near the Duomo.

Radical designs for the outdoors

French designer

Philippe Starck

revolutionized out-

door furniture with

the plastic Bubble

Club Series and

PrinceAha Stool.

Plastic FantasticPhilippe Starck:I think of the outdoorsjust like the indoors, but without a roof


53/117
http://www.victoriacooper.net/http://www.tclf.org/


54/117

the 2000 Bubble Club series, are sential Starck statements. Inflated of traditional interior lounge chairsfas, they are made from polyethylenof plastic.The series is a blend of fanfunction, Felliniesque in humor, ictic, yet highly functional.When I askck recently about the inspiration fpieces, he said the idea came to hwas kayaking to one of his oyster be

south of France. His boat was madstrong, durable and cheap materiadecided it might work just as weldoor furniture. Bubble Club is th

But in general Starck and his ravoid labeling his furniture indoorAdvances in durable plastics and nenologies have allowed him to applyative talents to a range of furniture

be used outdoors, from the polypr(read plastic) Dr. No chair and Prstools in the 1990s to his recent p

bonate Ghost Family of products

motivation was not so much the veof use betweeterior and exthe availabwell-designeture for the

What mapieces singuwhy have theysuccessful?Thmystery hereabout play.Tally, outdoor f

has been treaserious matter, constrained by apalette of materials. Prior to Worldthe materials best able to endure ments were limited to teak and coairon. In the years since, modern msuch as stainless steel, aluminum atic resin have become available.dening traditionalists, whether the

groundbreaker

fyi Philippe Starcks rangeof indoor and outdoor

furnishings are available in

the United States through

DesignWithin Reach

(www.dwr.com; 800-944-

2233) and Kartell (www.

kartellus.com; 866-854-

8823).See also www.

philippe-starck.com.
http://www.dwr.com/http://www.kartellus.com/http://www.kartellus.com/http://www.philippe-starck.com/http://www.philippe-starck.com/http://www.philippe-starck.com/http://www.philippe-starck.com/http://www.anjou-sculpture.com/http://www.haddonstone.com/mailto:[email protected]://www.kartellus.com/http://www.kartellus.com/http://www.dwr.com/


55/117

are Japanese,French or Eng-lish, have typically favoredthe old standards.Designershave not had much latitude

or attitudefor experi-mentation. So even today,most outdoor furniture isproudly derivative.

Starck, in contrast,bringsanAlice-in-Wonderland sen-sibility to this genre, pro-ducing colorful,oversize pieces with loungeand living-room references. He tweaks theappropriateness of tradition as he upends thenotion of appropriate materials.Much mod-ern architecture and design is associated withconnecting the outdoors with the indoors,which usually translates into making the out-side accessible and visible to those inside.Starcks Bubble Club group goes further,lit-erally turning the inside out, transportingthe living room to the garden.This reversalresults in what Starck would call surreal-

ism, merging modernism with classicism.There is one obvious and inevitable crit-

icism that can fairly be leveled at this work.To be truly modern today, designers andmanufacturers must take into account is-sues of sustainability and recycling.In a timeof justifiable environmental consciousness,Starcks otherwise admirable pieces arequestionable.While such big, bulky objectstechnically can be recycled, many will endup in landfills, creating another surreal, ifunintended, image. Starck should playaround with this concept a little more.But

then again, he is less interested in the re-sponsible side of modernism. He leavesthat to us as well.ROB FORBES

Rob Forbes founded Design Within Reachin 1999, where he works with all aspects ofdesign, and edits Design Notes, DWRshighly regarded online newsletter.He can bereached at [email protected].

Above: Made of

polycarbonate,

Starcks Louis

Ghost stools, like

the rest of the

Ghost line, are

practical, colorful

and adorable.
mailto:[email protected]://www.timberlane.com/http://www.seibert-rice.com/mailto:[email protected]


56/117Vancouver is lovelyA N T HO N Y MM A Y 2 0 0 6

abroadO N T H E R O A D W I T H G A R D E N D E S I G N

mer, which is also high garden seasdont let the crowds scare you off.

Horticultural feasting peaks from ruary to the end of May, as floweriries and plums brighten city streets.magnolias and billowy, double pincherries, crabapples and horse chCome summer, Victorias Inner Hlampposts, among some 1,000 cityw

bedecked with hanging baskets trailinbloomsthese are the postcard bashave come to symbolize the city.

Among many choice places to ssiderAbigails Hotel,where youll en

lodgings and proxBeacon Hill Parflowers blanket in springtime, f

by radiant Victording schemes in and fall. At th

boundary witRoad, a waterfrreveals grand vistOlympic Mount

dazzling sunsets.Enchanting AGarden is tucked away in a quiet neighborhood. Garry oaks presidpanoply of species, including 100-rhododendrons, in the gardens arly planted rocky terrain. Createspan of more than four decades byand Princess Abkhazi, the glorio

LAST FALL,WHILE IWAS RESEARCHINGA BOOKon great garden walks, a sojourn to Van-couver Island, B.C., reminded me how itstemperate climateand British gardeningtraditionhas contributed to an inspiringcollection of horticultural riches. For any-one interested in gardening, the island is

brimming with evocative landscapes that ex-tend well beyondThe Butchart Gardens, adestination point for droves of tourists

highly pleased tourists, I should add.VICTORIA,THE ISLANDS JEWELThe capital of British Columbia, at thesouthern tip of Vancouver Island, the city ofVictoria boasts an English ambiance and19th-century architecture.Visitors typical-ly arrive en masse by ferry from Seattle ormainlandVancouver, especially in midsum-

Top left, clockwise:

Garry oaks with

blooming azalea at

Abkhazi Garden.

Sooke Harbour

House on the

Strait of Juan de

Fuca. Restaurant

at Harbour House.

MoreThan Butchart


57/117
mailto:[email protected]://www.emuretail.com/


58/117

abroad

scape is now cared

The Land ConservCanada.A tearoompropertys heritage

a fine spot to re-energize with a sn

BEYONDTHE CITYAbout 14 miles north of VictoButchart Gardens, with beds and

brimming with seasonal color, haover a million tourists.The remtransformation of a limestone qugan a century ago, when Jenny B

began creating her bit of garden.To

55-acre landscape is famous for itsGarden set off by a fountain and pDecember, festive Christmas lightates a fanciful night garden.

A journey fromVictoria west toan exceptional outing.The trip traces Shores Old Island Highway and castopover at Hatley Park, one of Norticas finest examples of an intact Edestate.Stroll through the voluptuous

Japanese, Italian and English rose garrounding regal Hatley Castle.

Nestled in the countryside near

Markham House Bed & Breakfast gia wing of a Tudor-style home and a cottage to inviting accommodation

Outside Sooke village, Sooke HHouse, an idyllic retreat perched ooverlooking the Strait of Juan de Ffers dreamy rooms with views.Trestaurant features fresh local ingflavored with delicacies such as t

Abkhazi Garden,

created over four

decades,with a

sprawling old rho-

dodendron under-

planted with fawnlilies (erythronium).

301 North Baldwin AvenueArcadia, CA 91007

Thanking Our Sponsors for Their Support

An Entertaining Garden

See the finest examples of entertaining gardensdesigned by the best designers in Southern California.Buy unique plants, shop at the Marketplace and learnfrom well-known experts and authors. The ongoingentertainment, food and childrens nature crafts willcreate a fun-filled weekend for all to enjoy.

Garden Show Hours are 9AM to 4:30PM.Early admission for Arboretum Members is 8AM.Regular admission fees apply: $2.50 $7.00

Arboretum members are always free.

For More Information visit www.arboretum.orgor call 626.821.3222

La Garden ShowMAY6 &7, 2006
http://www.arboretum.org/http://www.campodefiori.com/http://www.arboretum.org/


59/117

green needles of grand firs.Guestsand the public are invited to dailytours of the organic gardens of ed-ible plants.The mist-shrouded-hill-side setting encompasses anotherwonder: Meander to the watersedge for a glimpse of sinuous Whif-fen Spit, a natural formation akinto an earthwork.

If you are interested in visitingprivate garden sanctuaries reflect-ing Pacific Northwest style, checkwithVictorian Garden Tours; theycan put together a day with accessto gardens designed by true col-orists and avid plant collectors.

And dont overlookVancouverIslands public garden displays, especially

Government House Gardens and thedemonstration gardens of the HorticultureCentre of the Pacific. ALICE JOYCE

Alice Joyce is the author of the recently pub-lishedGardenwalks in the Pacific Northwest(The Globe Pequot Press,March 2006,$14.95).

What to See:Abkhazi Garden. Call 250-598-8096 or

see www.conservancy.bc.ca/abkhazi.Beacon Hill Park. Call 250-361-0600.The Butchart Gardens. Call 866-652-

4422 or 250-652-5256 for recorded infor-mation. See www.butchartgardens.com.Government House Gardens. Call 250-

356-5139 or see www.ltgov.bc.ca.Hatley Park National Historic Site. Call

866-241-0674 or see www.hatleypark.ca.Horticulture Centre of the Pacific. Call

250-479-6162 or see www.hcp.bc.ca.Victorian Garden Tours. Call 250-380-

2797 or see www.victoriangardentours.com.Where to Stay:

Abigails Hotel. Call 800-561-6565 orsee www.abigailshotel.com.

Markham House B&B. Call 888-256-6888 or see www.markhamhouse.com.Sooke Harbour House. Call 800-889-

9688 or see www.sookeharbourhouse.com.Ferry Information:

BC Ferries. Call 888-223-3779 or seewww.bcferries.com.

Victoria Clipper. Call 800-888-2535 orsee www.victoriaclipper.com.VA

LERIEMURRAY(1)
http://www.conservancy.bc.ca/abkhazihttp://www.butchartgardens.com/http://www.ltgov.bc.ca/http://www.hatleypark.ca/http://www.hcp.bc.ca/http://www.victoriangardentours.com/http://www.abigailshotel.com/http://www.markhamhouse.com/http://www.sookeharbourhouse.com/http://www.bcferries.com/http://www.victoriaclipper.com/http://www.eyeofthedaygdc.com/http://www.victoriaclipper.com/http://www.bcferries.com/http://www.sookeharbourhouse.com/http://www.markhamhouse.com/http://www.abigailshotel.com/http://www.victoriangardentours.com/http://www.hcp.bc.ca/http://www.hatleypark.ca/http://www.ltgov.bc.ca/http://www.butchartgardens.com/http://www.conservancy.bc.ca/abkhazi


60/117

A curtain of cape fuchsia

(phygelius) drapes the

gate leading to Penny

Bianchis outdoor living

area, where she enter-

tains her friends under

the arms of a live oak.


61/117

THE SECRET OF SANTA BARBARAAND ITS ELEGANT SUBURB MONTECITOLIES IN ITS GEOGRAPHY.Located on one of the few east-west coastlines in the country and nestled below the Santa Ynez Moun-

tains, the beaches and hillsides face sun all day and temperatures remain mild year round. Its veryspecial Mediterranean climate has nurtured a staggering assortment of plants and outdoor-living op-portunities. Nurserymen and fruit growers discovered the area in the late 19th century.The rich andglamorous followed in the 1920s, designing grand Spanish Colonial Revival estates and gardens.Thetraditions of expert horticulture and exquisite outdoor design continue today. Join us as we shareideas from three gracious Montecito gardensfull of ideas for outdoor living and decorating wher-ever you live.And if you get to the area, we offer places to visit and shop for Santa Barbara style.

B Y D O N N A D O R I A N P H O T O G R A P H S B Y S T E V E G U N T H E R

LADOLCEVITA

SWEET IDEAS FOR GRACIOUTDOOR LIVING FROMMONTECITOA HAVENOF HORTICULTURE INTHHEART OF SANTA BARBA


62/117

GROWN FROMTHE GROUND UPTO ENCOURAGE A HABITAT FOR NATIVEWILDLIFE, PENNY BIANCHIS

Montecito garden, flush with gates made from willow, roses, olive trees and thickets ofvines, holds all the resonance of a carefree cottage garden in the Provenal countryside.

An interior designer with a penchant for creating the enchanted mise-en-scene, Pennyformed the vision for her garden soon after she and her husband purchased their prop-erty nine years ago.While exploring a neighboring 45-acre nature preserve and work-ing closely with her landscape advisers, she began to observe firsthand what it wouldtake to create a garden that would follow natures course.

Pennys first act in her own garden was to create a pond.Today a list of wildlife al-most too long to citeblue gill and bass, deer, raccoons, skunks, ducks, great blueherons, redtail and coopers hawks, some 50 other species of birds and even a coyotecan be seen in and around the pond. In the midst of the pond is a duck cote. Penny an-chored it there after discovering that it takes at least 52 days for baby mal-lards to fly, making them prey to a great range of animals. Now nine

full-grown pairs of mallards make their home in her garden.Some years after the pond went in, a longtime resident of Montecitocame by and mentioned how nice it was that Penny had brought the pond

back after it had been covered up so many years ago to make room for ariding paddock. It was only then Penny realized that her first act in thegarden was to restore a native wetland.

When Oprah Winfrey moved in next door, a covey of wild quail, up-set by the initial commotion, made their way into Pennys yard. Pennydidnt mind at all. (She reciprocated by handing Oprah fresh chicken eggs

Above:A gate made fromwillow leads to the guest-

house. Right: Punctuated

by purple butterfly bush,

the pond is at the center

of a certified National

Wildlife Federation

Backyard Wildlife Habitat.

A GARDEN FOR QUAILAND CASUAL ENTERTAINING


63/117


64/117


65/117

through the fence on many mornings.) Because quail ground-nesters, Penny planted low-growing shrubbearound the pond to provide them with cover.

Instead of grass or concrete, Penny covered much of ground with pea gravel,which allows rainwater to seep rectly into the soil without runoff. Elsewhere,she planted r

es to feed the deer (yes, really) and covered the house wvines (morning glory,Virginia creeper, clematis and wisterto feed the birds and provide cover for small animals.At same time she banned all clippers, blowers and mowerswell as all pesticides and herbicides.When Penny contact

the NationalWildlife Federation, they certified the garden as a BackyardWildlife HabitPenny and her husband usually wake to the call of their rooster, who seems to thi

he owns the place. Being partly responsible for the 11 chickens born this year (onethe hens hid her eggs behind a bag of alfalfa), he has certain claims.As domesticated imals, the 22 chickens, rooster and two dogs are all treated just as well as the wildlwalking behind Penny through the garden, under the arbors and over the bridge thcrosses a small stream running across the back of the yard.

Penny hosts parties under the branches of two live oaks.The long table is cover

with a printed Provenal tablecloth and set alongside antique wrought-iron chairsscene that seems to have stepped out of an Impressionist painting. Penny says, A vtor once told me that he rents a house in Provence every summer, but he thought I dnt need to do that. He said, You already have your place in Provence right here.

Left: Surrounded by oak

trees and with a chande-

lier hanging in the tree-

tops, Penny Bianchi (hold-

ing dog, right) hosts her

parties Provenal-style.

Succulents and lanterns

decorate her table (top).

THE FARMTABLE SET FOR A PARTYSEEMSTO HAVE STEPPED OUT

OF AN IMPRESSIONIST PAINTING


66/117

SOPHISTICATED ANDTO THE POINT,THE SMALL EVERGREEN GARDEN SHOWN ONTHESE PAGESsummarizes a lifetime of experiences in the landscape. Created by a retired garden de-signer very much at the top of her form, it takes a restrained approach to the year-roundpossibilities of gardening in the Montecito area.

Avoiding perennials that change their face through the seasons, the garden focuses main-ly on variegated foliage and the contrasts between leaf colorsall to the benefit of form.Except for a rose garden set against the south stone wall of the house and the blooms thatcome and go on the apple tree, there is hardly a flower in the place.

The main garden, a handsome potager just outside the kitchen, relies almost solelyon the shape and foliage of ornamental herbs and fruit trees. Only lettuce and tomatoesare grown for the kitchen in spring and late summer.

Although the end result is a becoming classicism, the point of the garden is ease andfunction. Because each herb is planted in a stone pot, there is no digging in the ground,and even the pea-gravel ground cover is maintenance-free.While the herbs are changedout or moved from here to there, the bones of the gardenbay laurel, box,rosemary, andapple and grapefruit treesremain constant, giving structure to the garden year round.

Adjacent to the potager is a second garden planted with easy-to-maintain shrubs,such as hydrangea, ceanothus and hebe. In between is an outdoor living area centeredaround an antique lead cistern and decorated with wicker furnishings. Here the family

basks in the Montecito climate surrounded by their elegant garden rooms.

Right:An English lead

cistern is stationed i

the middle of the pat

Opposite, top left, cl

wise:The herb garde

relaxed seating on thpatio; a birdbath stop

the eye at the end o

the shrub garden; he

garden near the kitch

A GARDEN EASY AND FUNCTIONAL,ALMOST ALL CONTAINERS


67/117


68/117

THE THREE GARDENS THAT SURROUND GREG AND BARBARA SIEMONS HILLSIDEVILLA GIVE Avirtuoso performance that explores the range and spirit of Montecitos climate and allthe major themes of the Mediterranean planting palette.

At the end of a long drive, an ancient orchid cactus presides on a limestone bench.Justbeyond,a gate opens to a stone-floored foyer and a stone wraparound seating area.There,beneath the wide branches of a native California oak, a banco offers a view of a full house ofoutdoor roomsa pergola-covered dining area, a swimming pool, and a casita outfittedwith kitchen,lounge and bedroom. Datura and wisteria perfume the air. So inclusive is thespace that the Siemons lived in the casita as their house neared completion.

The garden began with Barbara poring over photos of gardens in Provence.She took hercues from French hillside terraces, dry-stacked stone walls and pea-gravel pathsand par-ticularly from the interplanting of lavender, rosemary and olivetrees, leading her to import two dozen 100-year-old olive spec-imens. In her desire for accuracy, she even placed a ladder againstan olive treepartly because it looks so picturesque, she says,but also because to harvest an olive, one needs to climb up a

ladder and shake the fruit down from the tree.Barbara admits that the garden below the house was a ma-jor challenge from the first, given that the hillside was coveredwith nothing but the tough local nativespoison ivy and cac-tus.And it was so steep that it took three or four people to holdonto her and her collaborator, landscape designer Heidie Bald-win, to negotiate a safe path down the hill. Meanwhile, re-searching what would grow on a south-facing slope in Mon-tecito confined Barbara to herbs, olives

6621913-gardendesignmay

Documents