Mark
Home gardener & plant fetishist
Berkeley, California, USA
A Mother and Son's garden in Oakland, California.
20 Aug '07 4:44 pm Fred and his Mom Sherry run a garden design/build company. Their own garden (they built it together but I think only Fred lives there now) is on a bit more than an acre at the top of a hill. I've seen the before and after pictures. About seven years ago, just a grove of eucalyptus trees, a foul pool and a derelict house on a weed lot. Now more exotic plant combinations and water features than you can shake a stick at. They explain the quick turn around as what one can do when one regularly enough finishes a job early and comes home with a large well trained crew with the right equiptment with a couple hours left in their workday.
You arrive up a driveway past a hillside lushly planted. At the top, on your left is the pond, sitting on the South side of the house; on the right, Fred's propogation area and nursery. Next to the pond, also on the South side, is Sherry's shade structure and greenhouse. Continuing along the driveway past the pond you come to the East side of the house and the garage which enclose a large courtyard. There are views out of the house and into the gardens on everyside. Going back down the driveway there are exotic plantings all along the hillside fronting the side of the driveway opposite the house. On the West side of the house, continuing on the path past the pond there is a long, covered walkway with many garden vignettes looking down the hill out over the bay. At the end of this walkway is a large grassy area surrounding a pool. There are large rocks for lounging on as well as furniture and there are many wonderful plant combinations in every direction. At the end of the grassy area there is path that leads to second service driveway where they have stone and planters for their jobs.
Well that is the best I can do in words. Now here is the same tour described in pictures.
21 Aug '07 3:59 am Mark!! What a garden!! And what excellent captures to give us an idea about it ( both parts 1, and 2)!! In fact, they give us more than an idea! I agree with Goose, that this garden reminds us a lot of your own garden ; I think both gardens , yours and your friends', have the same approach and inspiration.
Mark
Home gardener & plant fetishist
Berkeley, California, USA
Thank you,
21 Aug '07 2:58 pm if this garden that I like so much reminds you of my own then I'm definitely going to take that as a compliment. There is definitely a difference in scale and resources but I do admire what they've done. I don't go in for as much art in the garden as they do, but I like theirs. I'm very glad if you enjoyed it as I have received so many lovely views from your garden and from your excusions.
