Max and Justin's Oakland garden, the front half

Max and Justin Cannon's garden is one I've dreamed of visiting for a very long time. My dream finally came true last month and it was just as good as I imagined. I took so many photos, I tried to squeeze them all into a single post, but couldn't do it. Today we adventure through the densely planted front garden and into the hidden fern garden along the NE side of the house. On Friday and we'll head into the back garden with it's bromeliad, staghorn, container madness... you won't want to miss it.

Here we're walking up the driveway, on the far left is Acacia iteaphylla, the "aloe" in the middle is an Aloidendron 'Hercules' and the small tree on the far right that looks like an olive was bought labeled as Acacia pendula..

On the left, Banksia praemorsa.

Love love love those flower cones!

Agave, mangave, bromeliad, cactus mash-up! 

So how do I know Max and Justin? I think Max and I originally met through my blog, and he visited my garden several years ago (2014?), he's the creator of the now closed Instagram account @plantymagoo. The 2019 Bromeliad Summit in Santa Barbara was when met his husband Justin, and if you attended last summer's Garden Fling in the Puget Sound area then you probably met them both. Max works in the horticulture industry, Justin is an Episcopal priest, he recently started a blog about the garden transformation he's spearheaded at All Saint's Parish.

The pair frequently visit Marcia Donahue's garden and have many pieces of her artwork in their garden. It was all displayed wonderfully.

Backing Marcia's work is a Yucca rostrata...

And an Aloidendron 'Hercules'

They perfectly anchor the planting area that starts your journey into the front garden.

Dreamy! Am I right?

That Mangave ‘Aztec King’ is compete perfection...

Just a little further in...

There were so many hanging plants and other features that I kept reminding myself to look up, lest I miss any.

The front porch, I think their front door might be the same color as mine?

The hanging metal work is by Mark Bulwinkle. If you're familiar with the original Cistus Nursery logo then you know his work (here's an old blog post of mine with more of it).

A shot of the panel from the driveway side.

The aechmea-filled planter box below.

See what I mean about remembering to look up?

Aechmea recurvata ‘Aztec Gold’

If I remember correctly this is Magnolia ‘Genie’. I covet this tree.

Down into the front garden now...

Mangave ‘Lavender Lady’

Cussonia paniculata

Agave ‘Blue Glow’

Tree ferns ( Cyathea cooperi?) guard the entrance to the fern garden along the side of the house.

Yes, that is a hanging trash can lid. Great minds think alike!

There are so many treasures in this narrow space...

More of Marcia's artwork.

Tiny platycerium.

Those tillandsia are growing on a rusty box-spring.

Massed tillandsia and Marcia Donahue artwork, just tucked into a side garden...

I'm making my way back front out now, excited to head into the back garden and see what wonders there are to discover there.

Come back on Friday for the second part of this visit!

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