Thursday, December 19, 2013

The Dudan Garden, a stop on the final day of the 2013 Garden Blogger’s Fling...

Time for a return to sunny, hot, California and a garden tour from the Fling. The Dudan Garden was situated on a hilltop in Walnut Creek, CA and provided spectacular views no matter which direction you turned.

Our group arrived hungry and enjoyed lunch perched on the walls around this open entertaining space, the perfect height for extra seating during a large party.

Several planting areas were incorporated into the stone work…

I don’t remember ever having seen pink Kangaroo Paws

Don't you love the alt-lawn? I wanted to take my flip flops off and walk through it.

Or at least go lounge for a bit.

Notice most of us were in the shade? As you may have heard it was hot!

Believe it or not this image reminds me of the view from the house I grew up in, very far from California up in Spokane, Washington.

But a quick glance in another direction had me firmly back in Cali.

This lovely garden is the creation of Kelly Kirkpatrick, the head Fling organizer, and her design business, Floradora Gardens working with BuenoLuna Landscape Design. The hardscape and planting design worked together as a seamless whole.

Can you spot my fellow Portlander Scott Weber in this photo...(hint, he's the guy behind the camera). This gorgeous towering tree held such presence in the garden. If I weren't tree-stupid I'd tell you what it is.

Just a few more plant portraits before we leave this beautiful garden...

*sigh*

*double sigh*

Thankfully I still have half a dozen more Fling posts to do, there is hope for the month of January to have some sun and warmth after all!

All material © 2009-2013 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

29 comments:

  1. It's nice to enjoy all the warm and sunny photos on a coolish and gray day. The setting of this garden is fantastic and the garden design enhances it so beautifully. Just love it.

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    1. For some reason I think I enjoyed it more now, in review than I actually did in person!

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  2. Oh my Danger, thank you for warming me up on such a cold Portland morning. What a fab garden! Look forward to more Fling posts! Bring 'em on....

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    1. Glad I could chase away the cold, if only for a few fleeting moments.

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  3. Wonderful! How old is the garden? It's got some mature aspects and some "looks new" ones too. Love those two wooden chairs!

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    1. Good question, I couldn't find anything that said how old it was. You're right though - definitely old growth combined with new plantings.

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  4. How luscious! I am in love with that garden. I echo your sigh over the leucadendron. I plan on planting them next year anyways.

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    1. In the ground? Go Louis! I've got two small ones in a container. It would be fun to have a big one in the garden, however temporarily.

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  5. That was a lovely garden with a great view. I do remember that alternative lawn. The walls and decomposed granite areas were amazing and beautiful. I love that shot with the Senecio (I think) spilling over onto the seat.

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    1. Isn't that plant just fabulous? You probably need to buy some for your garden next summer. It's so easy to overwinter as cuttings! (if I can do it, anyone can)

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  6. I needed that little bit of warmth.

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    1. Have I ever asked you why you left California?

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  7. A pleasant sight for wintry eyes this garden. And it still amazes me how many gardens were packed in the itinerary, one treat after another!

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    1. Indeed! I know at the end of each day I was exhausted, but with the exception of our brief time at the Strybing Arboretum I didn't feel rushed. I hope we are successful in pulling of such an exciting itinerary here in Portland next summer.

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  8. I really enjoyed having lunch in that garden. I wonder if that patio along the ravine could double as a bocce ball court.

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    1. I was thinking the same thing (bocce ball court) it certainly could.

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  9. Great, now I really, really have to post more of my SF pics. I'm already warmed up, again. Though to me, those "hot" inland locations felt perfectly normal. Like your Caesalpinia gilliesii pic you sighed over...maybe that one's so familiar to me? So nice to get excited about my same-old via fresher eyes from greener places.

    Spokane vs. Cali...very interesting. Though I did walk through those sedges:-) Even a desert rat needs an oasis.

    Scott kicking butt with his lens again! I should have been stalking he and you with your photo angles, but I was distracted...in some ways, but not all, my favorite garden.

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    1. You really really do! I sighed over the Caesalpinia gilliesii because I planted one last summer and doubt it will ever be that big and gorgeous, although yes they are practically weeds to you!

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  10. Oh the plants and the warmth are both so welcome this time of the year. It was 27 here this morning and they're talking about snow for tonight and tomorrow. Now can we move to California? How about now?

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    1. Yes please! We got some wet slushy stuff this morning but now it's all rain, how about you?

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  11. Ahhhh...I think this was my favorite garden at the time...and it still is now! There was something intangible about it that I was really drawn to...it had great atmosphere...and the view didn't hurt either ;-)

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    1. Really? That's interesting, and ya that view...pretty fabulous.

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  12. Nice to see that one again, so well done. The neighborhood with the 1-off homes, old ranch houses mixed in with McMansions reminded me so much of my own area. And I remember how hot it was. My camera was sticking to my hand, and the sun was like fire.

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    1. Wow even hot by a Californian's standards?

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  13. Very nice. I sure wish I could have been there. I think this would have been one of my favorite gardens on the tour. It seems approachable and professionally landscaped at the same time. Some of those plants are spectacular! And I agree with the others--seeing the sunny photos brightened my day. Thanks!

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    1. Good point! (approachable and professionally landscaped at the same time) There was something very magazine-photo-shoot ready about it while also looking like a place I could enjoy as my personal garden.

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  14. Wow, please let us know the name of the gorgeous red-trunked tree!

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    1. I have been scouring the comments to see if anyone identified it! I'm in love with it.

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  15. Wow!!! this garden is awesome!!

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