Well, I've been trying my hardest to actually put together a post on my own garden this week, but events have conspired to keep me out of the garden as much as possible. Luckily, I have a ton of photos from the Fling, so these posts are almost half done!
This is the very first garden we visited on the first day of the Fling, it's the
Matt Gil Sculpture garden, designed by
Dan Carlson of Wigglestem Gardens.
The most interesting thing about this garden is actually its location. It's basically situated right next to and under a freeway...built into the (extremely) steep embankment.
I had to laugh at all of us swarming about, snapping hundreds of photos. This was the first day and we were full of pent-up garden energy! I love the grate on this water feature to the right...I found out later that it's a raccoon deterrent.
This garden is not just about plants, however, it's also a showplace for various sculptures, produced by the owner.
It was pretty impressive how they had planted the steep sloping ground...having a sloped site of my own, I can only imagine the effort this must have taken!
As you descend steps into the garden proper, there is a wonderful feeling of enclosure.
It's only fair to repeat what all of us Flingers were saying during the trip...the weather was a bit uncooperative as far as taking photos...and I think the photos above illustrate that. I think we had all expected wonderful, soft, milky filtered light (hey, this is San Francisco, right). Unfortunately, we arrived during an unusually hot/sunny weekend, which made taking photos challenging, to say the least!
One thing I found sadly missing from many of the gardens we toured were grasses (maybe many of them don't grow well without winter chill)? When I did spy one, I enjoyed it for all it was worth...here we have Stipa gigantea.
While on the viewing platform/deck, I hadn't even noticed this flying bone!
The garden was filled with all manner of succulents and xeric plants...very useful on such a rocky, fast-draining slope.
There were also a few succulents in containers.
This gentleman (who I'm ashamed to admit, I don't know if he's the owner or the garden designer) was present to answer questions...and we had quite a few! He said that to plant some of the plants on the sloping site, they actually had to repel down from above...that's dedication!
We enjoyed some shade while admiring the view.
I have to admit, many of the plants were somewhat unfamiliar to me...I'm guessing a form of Protea on the left...and I have no idea what that is on the right!
Agapanthus, I know!
I hope you enjoyed this little tour of a very interesting garden, for our next stop in San Francisco, we'll take a look at the Organic Mechanics Garden!
Love some of that sculpture! (That's not the sculptor in the photos)
ReplyDeleteI have friends who have a backyard that is similarly steep, but it's made of retaining wall boulders. I haven't seen it for a few years, but I would certainly jam all sorts of plants in the spaces there -- but would surely need the mountaineering gear too. :)
Hahaha...I hope not...the whole repelling thing was pretty extreme!
DeleteGives new meaning to the idea of "vertical gardening". I like the industrial character of the place. Having lived right next to a freeway on-ramp, I can identify.
ReplyDeleteI liked that too, Ricki...it's always a nice contrast to plantings...especially softer plantings (which isn't really this one, I guess)!
DeleteI loved this garden too, for so many reasons also. You got some wonderful images and a good one of the dog bone balancing.
ReplyDeleteThanks! It was very interesting...and such a fun garden to kick off the Fling with!
DeleteI would have liked to see this garden. I think the purple berries might be on a Dianella; I think most Bay Area gardeners would identify that as some kind of Protea, same as you. The photos are really nice despite the mid-day light. A photographer friend was telling me that the Bay Area has harsh mediterranean light despite the benign climate. The sweet light at the beginning and end of the day is quicker than a lot of other parts of the country, and colors don't show up as well as they do in softer light. He might have made that up, but it has been true in my experience. One of my frustrations as a garden photographer was when I realized how early I would have to get up in the morning to get certain kinds of photos.
ReplyDeleteI think you're right, Ryan...I don think I remember someone saying the name...but it went in one ear and out the other. That's good to know about the light, Ryan...it did seem quite harsh...I was very surprised! Yes, getting up in time for that "golden hour" and sunrise is pretty tough some days...luckily, sunset is a little easier to stay awake for ;-)
DeleteOutstanding photographs, as I would expect. I enjoyed this garden, but it fit into the category of "nice to visit, wouldn't want to live there."
ReplyDeleteI have to agree, Jason...and would say that about most of the gardens I've toured...there's nothing like visiting other gardens to make you appreciate your own garden more :-)
DeleteSloping gardens can be an advantage, like on this case, adding depth/height and interest to the area. Enjoyable photos as always!
ReplyDeleteYou're so right...the setting was really what made this garden special...very dramatic...and unexpected!
DeleteWhat an interesting garden, they have lots of plants that some of you Portland and WA gardeners like, of the xeric kind. Great photos, as usual. The garden I'm most familiar with there is the Elizabeth F. Gamble garden in Palo Alto, I don't know if you would have visited it.
ReplyDeleteOoooo...that garden looks beautiful, Hannah! Sadly, that's not one of the gardens we toured...oh well...I guess that's another thing to look forward to if we go back, right? :-)
DeleteNice! how interesting. I'd like to have seen that. I know the terraces in our back garden display the plants nicely but I can only imagine a steep slope like that. Great pics
ReplyDeleteOMG...I know...a slope can make for some wonderful opportunities, but it's so challenging!
DeleteI feel like you've captured the steepness of this garden in a way I haven't seen yet--DAMN. That's commitment and it really paid off. I love that you got pictures of people taking pictures. I secretly love taking photos of tourists taking photos.
ReplyDeleteHahahaha, me too, but it was hard trying to avoid being IN the photos of other people! I love that about gardeners, they WILL find a way to make a garden!
DeleteWhat a great garden - like a deep vortex of plants! Planting by repelling, huh! What an adventure! Ryan is right - that plant with the cobolt berries is a Dianella. I got one from Cistus a few years back, but it has suffered in the wrong spot for the past year, so very few berries for me this year... Live and learn, I guess!
ReplyDeleteI know...it makes my own trials and tribulations seem a little easier to bear!
DeleteI think the nice young man in the hat was the garden designer/gardener. You got some great shots of this incredible place. Loved the garden but hated the noise of the freeway and the feeling that at any moment, a semi truck full of livestock, watermelons or hydrofluoric acid could come careening around the corner, fly off the freeway and empty its contents into the garden.
ReplyDeleteHahahahahaha...luckily, it was the group after us that got doused with hazardous chemicals...that's why they were all melted together for the rest of the trip ;-)
DeleteI like that hanging bone :)...very creative garden on a slope
ReplyDeleteSurprisingly, so did I, Donna...it was fun and unexpected...I actually laughed!
DeleteEvery garden needs a flying bone. That is too funny. That Agave photo reminds me of Loree's banner photo. So pretty. Very impressive. I bet this gardener doesn't have drainage issues. :)
ReplyDeleteI am prettu impressed with these clicks!! Good job!! :)
ReplyDelete