Garden Hardscape – My Life with Plants

Here Comes the Sun

I finally completed a project 23 years in the making! We filled in the swimming pool and replaced it with a garden, casita, and a stair tower. But I never completed the tile work on the arch on the outside of the stair tower. The tiling process involved planning, some trial and error, and creative solutions to use tiles I was given or had saved over the decades. I’m very pleased with the final results, which add a lot of color and interest to the casita garden.

September 30, 2026 1 Comment

I Can Dig a Rainbow

With the lack of rain for the last month or so, there have been almost no rainbows, so I had to create my own. I finally found a purpose for all the broken and worn-out shovels I’ve accumulated over the

March 23, 2026 No Comments

New Year’s Surprise

On New Year’s Eve 2026, heavy rain caused a 15-foot aloe tree in the author’s garden to topple. Despite attempts to save it, the decision was made to remove the plant. A silver torch cactus was relocated to fill the gap, leading to a refreshed front garden that now thrives.

January 15, 2026 No Comments

Over the Moon

I don’t remember when I first noticed moon gates in gardens. However, viewing old photos from garden tours, I discovered a few. The earliest photo was on a Pacific Horticulture Society tour of gardens in the New York area in

July 1, 2025 3 Comments

The Giant’s House – New Zealand

In November of 2024, my partner Scott and I spent 14 days with the Oregon Hardy Plant Society touring the gardens of New Zealand’s South Island. In my last blog, I wrote about the last garden on our tour, The

March 1, 2025 No Comments

Front Garden Refresh

In 1998, when we moved into our 1939 Spanish Colonial Revival house in Mission Hills, we found that despite having an acre of land, there was little space available for landscaping and planting. The only area suitable for this purpose

October 1, 2024 No Comments

Garden Fling 2024 – Puget Sound

“What is The Fling? It sounds intriguing,” I’m glad you asked. Since 2008, The Fling has been an annual event organized by local bloggers, taking place in a different city each year and gathering garden writers and bloggers. It provides

August 1, 2024 1 Comment

The Huntington

With over 130 acres, sixteen themed gardens and 83,000 living plants there are many reasons to visit the The Huntington Botanical Gardens. But for me it has always been for the stunning Desert Garden. I first visited the Huntington in

February 23, 2024 No Comments

Northern England Gardens

I’m not exactly sure when Scott or I last toured English gardens. I’m guessing that it was sometime before 2015. So when we saw an opportunity to tour gardens in Southern Scotland and Northern England with the Hardy Plant Society

August 1, 2023 No Comments

The Ruin Garden at Chanticleer

Spring of 2022 Scott Borden and I visited gardens near Philadelphia in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. We revisited several gardens we had previously visited on Pacific Horticulture Society tours back in 2012 and 2013. We were especially looking forward

May 1, 2023 No Comments

Sea Ranch

This past August (2022) we had the opportunity to borrow a home belonging to a business associate of Scott’s located at the Sea Ranch in Sonoma County. We figured it would be a great time to visit there since San

August 24, 2022 No Comments

Makin’ More Mosaics

Back in February 2018 and April 2018 I wrote two articles for the newsletter about making mosaic pavements and walkways in our garden. Since then I’ve continued making more mosaics and here’s an update. We enjoyed hosting the 86 members

February 1, 2022 No Comments

Makin’ Mosaics

I’m not sure when I first became fascinated by mosaic pavings. Perhaps it was while looking at photos of the ancient Roman villa floors of the ruins of Pompeii. Or when traveling to Europe and noticing the intricate pavings in

December 1, 2019 No Comments

Machu Picchu

In October 2019, the author joined a unique plant expedition to Peru, focusing on native cacti and bromeliads, alongside a visit to Machu Picchu. Inspired by Inca history, they explored the ancient site amidst fog and rain, experiencing its stunning architecture and biodiversity, while learning about its rich cultural significance and agriculture.

October 3, 2019 No Comments

Malvern Spring Festival & Chelsea Garden Showq

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the 2020 Chelsea Garden Show has been cancelled. How tired we all are of reading those words about our favorite garden tour, events and meetings. However, as I mentioned in my October 2019 column about

May 31, 2019 No Comments

Powis Castle Garden

In May, I participated in the Pacific Horticulture tour of Wales, visiting various gardens and two notable garden shows: Malvern and Chelsea. Powis Castle was a highlight, featuring stunning terrace gardens with unique plants and historic architecture. The tour showcased diverse flora and provided insights into Welsh gardening traditions.

May 30, 2019 No Comments

Off to Keukenhof

In May of 2019, Scott and I finally decided it was time to visit the tulip fields at Keukenhof in the Netherlands – described as the largest flower garden in the world. We’ve known about the tulip display for decades

May 12, 2019 No Comments

The Riads of Morocco

In my previous post I wrote about the agriculture in Morocco as we had observed it on a trip there in November 2018. Morocco, however, is more famous for its beautiful architecture and gardens. Riads A riad is a classical Moroccan house,

November 13, 2018 No Comments

The Road to Marrakech

They said each rug is unique, but we saw identical ones many times. In November 2018 we traveled with a group of friends to tour Morocco. It had been on our travel wish list for a while. Morocco has mosques,

October 13, 2018 No Comments

Jardin Exotique d’Èze

I first became aware of the Jardin Exotique from the 1990s TV show Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, hosted by Robin Leach. Perhaps you recall the show that gave a voyeuristic look at extravagant lifestyles. It was a bit over

December 2, 2017 No Comments

Portland’s Lan Su Garden

In May 2017, I explored the stunning gardens of Portland, Oregon, on a Pacific Horticulture Society tour. The highlight was the Lan Su Chinese Garden, a replica of classical Suzhou gardens featuring intricate landscapes, native Chinese plants, and artistic craftsmanship. Its harmonious design and serene atmosphere make it a must-visit destination.

October 2, 2017 No Comments

Planting the Casita

By late winter of 2003, we were ready to begin planting. Since purchasing the house in 1998, I had been contemplating what to plant. I observed the sun and shadow patterns carefully over several seasons and decided on the following

August 1, 2015 No Comments

Downward March

The post details a garden project on a steep hillside, involving the creation of pathways, retaining walls, and seating areas for better accessibility. The author describes discovering and utilizing materials from previous construction, such as rocks and concrete, to enhance the landscape while addressing drainage issues, ultimately expanding the garden space significantly.

July 2, 2015 No Comments

Pool Be Gone

By 2000, we had finished most of the renovations inside the house. Initially, one of our main goals was to address the pool area, which had many issues. The most noticeable problem was that all the concrete block planters around

June 1, 2015 4 Comments

Steep Challenge

While we were working on remodeling the house, I was desperate to create a garden. However, there were a few challenges to overcome. First, most of the house is surrounded by walkways and patios leaving very little gardening space near

April 1, 2015 No Comments

Lots of Blocks

A common question we receive about our garden is regarding the origin and builders of the retaining walls. Except for a few of the newer walls, all were constructed by me and my partner, Scott. We learned through trial and

March 1, 2015 No Comments

Raising the Roof

In 1983, the author bought a modest home in Encinitas, expecting to stay briefly. Instead, they renovated, adding a second floor and enhancing the garden while maximizing space. Updates included new balconies, an outdoor fireplace, and expanded patios, leading to increased functionality and aesthetic appeal, making the home ideal for the next eight years.

January 1, 2015 No Comments

Starting Small

After just one year in the Bay Area, I was anxious for a place with real soil to garden. About the same time, I realized that my job had little opportunity for advancement, but most of all was really boring.

July 2, 2013 No Comments

Valley of Heart’s Delight

The Santa Clara Valley stretches about 30 miles from the San Francisco peninsula in the north to the town of Hollister in the south. It sits atop some of the most productive farmland in the world. Decades before it gained

June 1, 2013 No Comments

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