Monday, February 17, 2014

The Wave Garden, San Francisco Garden Bloggers Fling

Last week I teased you with some close-ups from the Wave Garden, a stop on the 2013 Garden Bloggers Fling. Now it's time to have a look at the overall garden, well in a minute. First you have to appreciate the amazing neighborhood where our buses dropped us off, not everyone has a view like this...

Just the lucky.

They can also grow restios and tender succulents.

I wonder what they thought of us all, swarming out across the street and sidewalks, cameras in hand snapping away? Maybe since the Wave Garden is a destination they're used to the garden paparazzi showing up on a regular basis?

Here we are, at the entrance to the garden proper.

I wanted to share an overview photo with you to give a better idea of the whole space. Since I wasn't able to take a good one I borrowed this image (below) from The Concrete Network and Victor Merlo Construction, Inc, the garden designer. "The Wave Garden is a private garden overlooking San Pablo Bay in Point Richmond, CA. The owners bought the property so it would not be developed into a house and turned it into a collaborative space featuring concrete work, metalwork gates and railings, bronze sculpture and of course, a beautiful garden designed and installed by Kellee Adams of Dig-It Garden Design." (source)

You can imagine 75 plant crazy bloggers quickly fanning out across those steps and walkways...

So many beautiful plant combinations to appreciate.

Here's where I came face to face with my long sought-after Grevillea x gaudichaudii. Look at the way it falls over the edge of the concrete wall.

And those crazy blooms! I can't remember who said it but I once heard them described as what would happen if a shrimp and a toothbrush had a baby.

The leaves are pretty fabulous too, don't you think?

Succulent perfection.

With California poppies!

Said paparazzi...

Cussonia paniculata (Cabbage Palm), the tallest one I've ever seen...

There were even a couple of private seating areas tucked in, can you imagine having this garden to wander through whenever you liked? What generous people to open it up to the public.

The smart bloggers wore hats, there was no place to hide from the sun.

Sometimes we can't help but get in each others pictures.

Visit over! If my memory is correct at this point we traveled back to our hotel in downtown SF (enjoying some magnificent scenery on the way) to freshen up before our fancy dinner at the Conservatory. Ah the life of a Flinger!

All material © 2009-2014 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

26 comments:

  1. It's a fantastic garden space and so special and generous that they open it to visitors.

    The variety of plants they can grow is impressive.

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  2. That Grevillea does have interesting foliage. I wish I could have appreciated this garden more, but I was just too hot and I wasn't smart enough to bring/wear a hat. Love your photos. That bright red sea of Leucadendron(?) against the blue sky is fabulous.

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    1. I believe that was the day which started out coolish and I was (stupidly) wearing jeans and a long sleeved T! I remember hiding out in the one bit of shade for a couple of minutes.

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  3. Lovely garden with lots of lovely plant combinations as you say.

    I have some light red colour plants in my garden, but I would not be able to incorporate bright reds. However, that does not put me off them when placed well and shot number 116 is a riot of hot colours!

    What sort of climate does the garden enjoy? I guess that it isn't always sunny there as well.

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    1. Indeed the Bay Area is known for its fog, usually keeping summer temperatures somewhat moderate.

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  4. You've provided a perfect ray of sunshine for this gray, wet, breezy day. Thanks for the warm memories!

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    1. All that blue sky is somewhat intoxicating isn't it?

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  5. I've got to visit this garden. I keep seeing photos of it, and it looks incredible. It's only an hour from my house.

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    1. Took advantage of the holiday today and visited the Wave Garden with a friend. Wow. Absolutely stunning. We were the only ones there so it was like we owned the place.

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    2. Nice! I can't wait for your post Gerhard, it will be very interesting to see if winter changes the garden much.

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    3. Here is my post: http://www.succulentsandmore.com/2014/02/wave-garden-point-richmond-ca.html. I saw no winter damage. The weather was stunning and I didn't want to leave.

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  6. The steps, the plants, the walkways, the views....stunning!

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  7. Oh, the Wow garden, It´s full with gorgeous plants!

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  8. Too lovely for words, so I won't even try.

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  9. I wish you had shown the Grevillea in the last picture. After I saw that everything else was just a blur. I had to go backwards through the photos just to see the second half! Then I got stuck on Grevillea x gaudichaudii again... That little Grevillea broke the lustometer the first time I saw a picture of it in an article about the Elizabeth C. Miller Garden and Richie Steffen. It's been an itch in the back of my head ever since.

    But after I stopped drooling I could appreciate the rest of the garden. I love the colors, all my favorites! Purples, chartreuse, burgundy, orange, red, and blue! Beautiful photos, too! (Hey, I rhymed!)

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    1. Good think you don't live closer or I'd be afraid my little Grevillea x gaudichaudii was going to disappear in the night...

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  10. Beautiful plants and magnificent views. That looks/sounds like SO much fun.

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    1. It was Amy. Wish you were going to be in Portland for the Fling this summer!

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  11. I really need to get my keister back up there in better weather conditions..what great garden.

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  12. The fanciful description of the Grevillea -- shrimp meets toothbrush -- came from the Germinatrix, aka Ivette Soler. I believe she wrote that for a plant profile in Fine Gardening.

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  13. Thank you for visiting the Wave Garden. My name is Victor Amador. I designed and built the garden over a span of 4 years. It was a work of love. I appreciate your comments and welcome any questions you may have. Contact me at (510) 395-3032 or softconcrete@gmail.com Thank you!

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