Monday, October 1, 2018

Garden Tour 2018! The front garden...

All of August I kept hoping for a day with conditions perfect for photography, lightly overcast with bits of blue sky, but not so overcast as to be oppressive. All I got though was harsh sunlight, which creates shadows the camera doesn't understand the way the human eye does (of course I wasn't cursing the sunlight, I was loving it!). When perfection doesn't present itself one just has to jump in and make the best of what they're given, and so on the afternoon of September 11th — just after a small group visited the garden — I finally snapped my annual "garden tour" photos.

This was my choice for overall image of the front garden, because the individual plants show up so well.
But I really liked this one with a little pizzazz, as the sun came out and made things shimmer.

And here the shimmer factor is way up, but you can't really see the individual plants like you can in the top image.

And so we move on...

Where are all the flowers, the seasonal color?

Who needs flowers when you've got Agaves? (A. parryi 'JC Raulston')

But seriously...those brown spikes in the upper right hand corner were Echium russicum blooms, a couple of months ago. And there were 3 different Callistemon blooming, once upon a time. It's just not a bloomy time of the year here.

However I adore this Erica arborea var. alpina, no blooms yet — which is just fine with me. That's a Yucca linearifolia to its right.

Sun shimmer...

And sans-shimmer, so you can actually see what you're looking at.
This year I thought I'd get with the times and do a video tour. Well I managed to do a part of the front garden, I need to work on my technique!

Moving on from where the video left off...

The oddly shaped low plant hugging the Cordyline is a Ceanothus thyrsiflorus 'Zanzibar', which spent much of the year covered in blue flowers.

The — quickly disappearing, as plants grow — mailman pathway. Spikes on both sides!

I cannot say enough good things about Rhamnus frangula (Fine Line Buckthorn), here at the corner of the house.

It's simply fabulous.

Standing in the neighbor's driveway and looking at the north side of our house, towards the front garden.

Heading back around to the front.

The Poncirus trifoliata foliage changes color early.

The fruit will follow shortly.

Looking backwards...

And looking down from the front steps (again, that's the neighbor's driveway in the background).

To the left of the front steps.

And standing at the end of our driveway.

The dark, dense shrub behind the Yucca rostrata is Pittosporum divaricatum, the Agave is A. ovatifolia 'Frosty Blue' and the Arctostaphylos on the far right is A. 'Austin Griffiths'.

Now we've walked up the driveway and are looking at the stock tanks against the south side of the house. The one on the left has become a holding tank, mainly for Agaves I've already given away. It previously held an assortment of lilies — for cutting —  and Moluccella laevis stems.
The one on the right is filled with three different tomatoes as well as basil and a few Agave pups. That's more basil in the short tub in front.

Are you ready for the back garden tour?

Please come back tomorrow for that...

Weather Diary, Sept 30: Hi 70, Low 53/ Precip .02"

All material © 2009-2018 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

28 comments:

  1. I love the view toward the front door from the side. Stunning; so many great combinations. And all the gray gravel with the gray paving makes for a seamless presentation. Isn’t it fascinating what we see that the camera can never match.

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    1. Yes! (your camera comment) It's such a process of learning too, how to fool the camera.

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  2. Maybe some day I'll get my act together and do a tour like this of my garden. Right now there are just too many areas that need work. Your front garden is so fabulous! Is that an Agave desmettiana near the front steps? Does it come in for the winter?

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    1. Do a tour! It doesn't have to be perfect, that way you can share a "big reveal" when it is. And yes, good eye! That's an A. desmettiana and it comes in. I need to be doing that sometime soon...

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  3. The coincidence is almost cosmic: My next blog post will be a tour of YOUR FRONT GARDEN! I was working on the photos over the weekend. Your post is a great help IDing some plants I wasn't sure about :-).

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    1. That's funny! On Sunday Andrew asked if I'd seen any of the photos you took when you were here, I told him I'd share a post when I saw one. Good to know it's in the works.

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  4. First thing is how perfectly your door color coordinates with the plants and light this time of year. Plus you have so many cool plants in soft/spiky combinations. I also like the sidewalk view from the driveway best.

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    1. Thanks Shirley, I still love that door color!

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  5. What a fabulous garden ! Thanks for showing us round :)

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  6. Your front garden looks absolutely splendid, Loree! Your Tetrapanax never ceases to impress. I wish my garden looked half as good this time of year. I've been collecting photos for my quarterly wide shots post but I'm struggling with strong light at the moment too.

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    1. Thanks Kris, but I bet your garden looks fabulous.

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  7. This is great! I sort of bypassed the front garden the other day and spent my time out back...and I don't think I have ever gone around to the North side of the house. Thanks, by the way, for hosting the swap (such fun to see everyone).

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    1. You're welcome (Ricki?) - since the north side is only accessible via the neighbor's driveway it's the rare visitor that makes it over there.

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  8. I love seeing your garden, looking forward to tomorrow.

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  9. What a delightful garden. So many plants to see. I think I saw a bit of room on the side by the Neighbor's drive. I think you are wise not putting too many spiky plants there. You don't want to impale the neighbors. ;) The mailman will have to start wearing those tall boot that prevent snake bites when he comes across the front of your garden. I love the gate to the back garden. Perfect!

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    1. I feel bad that the mailman (and neighbor) path is shrinking, but then again he could use the public sidewalk...

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  10. Everything is looking spiffy Loree. I'm sure your documentary skills will improve-I think we need some narration !

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    1. Ah narration...wouldn't have have been a good idea! Next time...

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  11. I liked the form of the Arctostaphylos and how Opuntia seemed to be sprinkled throughout the front.

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    1. "sprinkled Opuntia"... I love that phrase!

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  12. Great tour of the front garden; almost as fab as it was in person. Interesting that you should photograph your garden on that day as it marks the seventh anniversary of the first time I saw you and your garden in person.

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    1. I hereby dedicate this post to YOU! (omg, has it been 7 years!?)

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  13. Looking terrific--and ever inspiring. Cheers

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  14. Wow! I love your front yard! Inspiring, envious! Brilliant!

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  15. Your gate is perfect for your garden. I love the gravel mulch. Did you get a bunch delivered, or is it the bagged rocks you can by at big box stores?

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  16. I discovered your site - purely by accident while doing some research for a course I'm taking - your garden is awe-inspiring! You have designed the most unique and spectacular garden I've seen. Thank you for sharing!

    I also have a request, may I include your photo of the Albizia julibrissin 'Summer Chocolate' in my paper, please? (I will absolutely credit you, and provide the site address in my references.)

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