Some photos of my garden in Berkeley, California

27 Feb '07 2:20 pm

..over the center arch. There is another grand old lady near by, the rose Mrs. Oakley Fisher, but she is much more reserved and would never be so forward. Here Graham Thomas grows almost like a climber, though he'd rather sprawl in every direction. He definitely reaches as far over the archway as Sally, but he doesn't fill it out as well and is much more prone to disease than she is. I think her single is a nice contrast to all his petals. The pelargonium (that we called geraniums when I was a kid) is even more robust than Sally, and I like their darker pink next to Sally's blush.

I'm glad you too like the Kiftsgate rose, Bambi. (Nice to meet you by the way.) I'm drawn to monstrously vigorous plants like a moth to a flame. That rose has claimed the top of that 40 foot hedge in about 3 years. I love to see it frisking in the red salvia flowers that get up so high thanks to the support of the pyrocantha.

Liza, thanks so much for getting those two photos onto this site. The plant in the first photo is what we call an orchid cactus and my Sunset "Western Gardens Book" calls an epiphylum. They grow on branches in the tropics and like 'bright shade' and not too much cold. I don't remember which cultivar this one is but it is my most prolific bloomer. I'll try to put a photo of it in fresh bloom. I became facinated by those little white flowers within the fading red petals. That photo is one of the few that I've cropped.

Dixie and Faith, I would have called that blue 'peacock blue'. I bought those chairs at a big box store that Faith probably knows called Target for some very reasonable price. I think the blue of North Carolina is a little lighter, but who knows?

What fun to keep in touch with you all. Needless to say you must come see me if you ever get out this way.

-Mark

27 Feb '07 2:20 pm

..over the center arch. There is another grand old lady near by, the rose Mrs. Oakley Fisher, but she is much more reserved and would never be so forward. Here Graham Thomas grows almost like a climber, though he'd rather sprawl in every direction. He definitely reaches as far over the archway as Sally, but he doesn't fill it out as well and is much more prone to disease than she is. I think her single is a nice contrast to all his petals. The pelargonium (that we called geraniums when I was a kid) is even more robust than Sally, and I like their darker pink next to Sally's blush.

I'm glad you too like the Kiftsgate rose, Bambi. (Nice to meet you by the way.) I'm drawn to monstrously vigorous plants like a moth to a flame. That rose has claimed the top of that 40 foot hedge in about 3 years. I love to see it frisking in the red salvia flowers that get up so high thanks to the support of the pyrocantha.

Liza, thanks so much for getting those two photos onto this site. The plant in the first photo is what we call an orchid cactus and my Sunset "Western Gardens Book" calls an epiphylum. They grow on branches in the tropics and like 'bright shade' and not too much cold. I don't remember which cultivar this one is but it is my most prolific bloomer. I'll try to put a photo of it in fresh bloom. I became facinated by those little white flowers within the fading red petals. That photo is one of the few that I've cropped.

Dixie and Faith, I would have called that blue 'peacock blue'. I bought those chairs at a big box store that Faith probably knows called Target for some very reasonable price. I think the blue of North Carolina is a little lighter, but who knows?

What fun to keep in touch with you all. Needless to say you must come see me if you ever get out this way.

-Mark

27 Feb '07 2:29 pm

Oops.

27 Feb '07 2:42 pm

Yes, I think you can delete one since it is your own post. At least I think I have done so before. I'd say give it a shot. Of course, having said that, I can't remember how I might have done it. I'll see if I can delete this one.

Nope, can't delete the whole post, only edit it.

27 Feb '07 11:11 pm

This thread is becoming more and more enchanting, since it is a pure delight getting to know new, beautiful, and really loved gardens!

I do prefer/love the colour blue in the garden! In alive (plants) AND artistic level ( garden features). And I mostly love this brilliant blue, which I call "Delphinium blue", also called "Mediterranean blue" , because certain countries around/close to the Mediterranean Sea (:Portugal, Spain, France/Corsica, Greece/Aegean Sea) use it to paint their doors, windows, tables, chairs, Church roofs (: Greece), etc. There , they love this colour combined with the brilliant white they paint their houses, reflecting the sun light in the most attractive way, and playing the perfect match with the clear blue Mediterranean Sea.

But I also love this lovely blue , because it plays the most harmonious contrast with both soft- coloured and strong-coloured blooms. And , by the way, Mark, I love a photo in your Photobucket Gallery, where your beautiful blue chairs are seen in the backround, having in foreground a beautiful border full of lovely Nigellas and golden Californian Poppies! I really loved this photo! Thank you so much , for your explanations concerning your beautiful plants! I am madly in love with your giant, brilliant red Salvia! As I have told you before, you are SO lucky where you live, being able to grow both frost-tender and frost-hardy plants...

And about deleting a post; I have done it myself, but I noticed it only works at the very moment you have finished writing it, and before another post is sent afterwards.

1 Mar '07 2:50 am

I think I have found Liza's blue gate that was mentioned by Mark. Beautiful, Liza! Both the gate and the photo.

Now, to Mark, your garden shots are so lovely and reflect the great care you have put into creating this retreat garden. I am very impressed.

1 Mar '07 2:58 am

UhOh, I forgot to mention the blue chairs in that last post. Perhaps the blue of your chairs is a little darker than my benches that are more Carolina blue. Sometimes it's hard to tell from a photo (especially mine) because the color changes slightly when viewed digitally. At any rate, blue is also one of my favorite colors for accent in the garden. It give such a serene air to the gardens.

1 Mar '07 3:41 pm

I wonder if anyone else suffers praise the way I do. Luckily I don't get too much directed at me personally because when it comes I always feel like one of those "chinese nails" in that old saying where the one that stands up the tallest is sure to be the next to feel the hammer.

My garden on the other hand has a life of its own. To hear nice things about your garden is like taking compliments about your son, your wife or your dog .. heck, I love them too. They're all great.

A garden is such a multi-faceted thing: a place, a slice of nature, a three dimensional object that we put in motion but which then asserts itself. Like us it lives and it dies and changes over time.

Thanks for the thumbs up. Time to go.

-Mark

1 Mar '07 4:55 pm

That is so well-put Mark .
Dixie.

1 Mar '07 10:20 pm

Dear Mark, no, I have no more praise for your garden. After all, if you take some time to read older posts here, the enthusiasm we all feel about new gardens is more or less the same, because the tenderness we all feel towards each-others' gardens, is the same we feel towars our oun garden! "Good" teachers, for example, feel the same tenderness and affection for their students ,that they feel , or they would feel, for their own children! That's why we call our students "children" in our private discussions, and "students" only during professional meetings...

Your latest post , caused from inside of me, an enthusiastic.."YeSSSS!!". This is the best ever way of describing our deeper, very affectionate, relationship all of us, passionate gardeners, feel for "our" gardens and plants! Which they are, precisely, a "slice of Nature", an independent, respectful entity of their own!! And , yes, accepting praise about our garden, feels like it concerns our loved ones! Oh, we are SO very-very lucky! SO very blessed! Thank you, dear Mark!

Some photos of my garden in Berkeley, California

Yep, that's Sally Holmes holding hands w/ Graham Thomas..

Yep, that's Sally Holmes holding hands w/ Graham Thomas..

Drat, I seem to have double posted. Can I delete one?

Double posting

Aha, she said in triumph!

Blue chairs

Howdy Faith and thank you.

well put

The best ever insight about intimate garden relationship!