Once I'd committed to accompanying Andrew on his work trip to Los Angeles then my brain started working overtime...what else could I see!? Hmmm...maybe I could visit Hoov's garden, you know...Piece of Eden? It's kind of nervy to just contact someone out of the blue and ask to stop by, but heck, I'd done it before and it worked out wonderfully (here, here and here...just to name three), so I did it again, and thankfully she was up for it. Further scheming ensued and it was planned that Denise and Kris would join us and it would be an official Blogger Meet-up! Sadly Denise wasn't able to make it after all, but Kris was there, yes it's true...I got to meet the elusive Kris behind Late to the Garden Party!
So to the garden. Wow. It's as impressive as you think it might be, and even more. Settle in kids — this is gonna be a long one...
One of the benefits of visiting a garden you know only from it's online depiction, is that you finally get to see, and understand, how it all fits together. I could not for the life of me figure out how this garden was laid out. Now I know! I tried to take a few photos that would help you all to understand too, but who knows if I succeeded. To take this photo I was standing at the extreme west of the property, looking (roughly) east.
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We know this area, to the left of the driveway, as one of the recent project areas, Fall Project 2015 to be exact. That Dymondia margaretae carpet is even better in person. So lush and flat, perfection really. Well, and speaking of perfection, the Aloe 'Hercules' is just that.
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Grevillea 'Superb', I believe...
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Agave gypsophila 'Ivory Curls' (swoon!)...
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Unknown Aloe (blooming even!) with a super sexy Agave desmettiana 'Joe Hoak', at the street's edge.
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Echeveria subrigida (I think)...isn't it just drop-dead beautiful?
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I'm no good at simplifying things. I wanted to take a close up of every single one of these plants and share them with you. It took amazing restraint to only post 61 (you've been warned) images!
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Kalanchoe orgyalis
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Truth be told the next two images confuse me. I'm not sure if we're still on the left of the driveway or on the right. Sorry...
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Agave 'Sun Glow' (!!!)...
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Okay now I know we're to the right of the driveway and looking at the famous front slope, which has since became known as Winter Project 2017, or at least part of it has. I believe that big green number is Leucospermum 'High Gold'. The Agave at the rear is A. ovatifolia.
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Leucospermum buds.
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Aloe erinacea?
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On the left Agave titanota and the silvery, cloudy, mass is Leucophylum 'Thunder Cloud'. Behind it are Leucadendron linifolium and Calothamnus villosus, or rather were. If you follow Piece of Eden then you know they've been removed.
![]()
You've got to admire a gardener who decides it's time to move on, and just does it. Right?
![]()
Bye-bye...
![]()
If you're a follow of POE you also know this little creature has already broke free and flown away.
![]()
That's the mama plant of the small growing Agave titanota that I scored a pup of.
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*sigh*...the beautiful slope we all know so well.
![]()
Multiple Agave lopantha 'Quadricolor', Agave Parryi, Yucca 'Bright Star' and a blooming Aloe to back them all up (Aloe cameronii).
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Can you even imagine having these as a "ground-cover" in your garden? Id be in heaven...
![]()
Not to mention multiple Yucca 'Bright Star' with no blemishes.
![]()
I could get lost for hours just staring at this plant.
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I believe that big guy is the one Hoov refers to as the "Proven Winners version of Agave marmorata."
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Bloomed out Dasylirion flower stalk? (help me Hoov, I'm blanking on this one)
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Be still my heart! Agave 'Blue Glow' at the back, a super twisty brown glochid covered opuntia (Opuntia microdasys montrose?), and Drimia maritima (Giant White Squill) as seen through a pair of Agave desmettiana 'Joe Hoak'.
![]()
We're now at the end of Hoov's front slope and at the place here her property abuts the neighbors, at a rather drastic drop of too, I might add. That's Aloe vanbalenii, I believe.
![]()
I got kind of hung up here snapping photos, because there were just so many fabulous plants!
![]()
Hoov and Kris ventured a little further back along the edge of the property.
![]()
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Sweet varigated Aloe, whose name I do not know.
![]()
Agave guiengola
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And a couple of spotless Agave parryi.
![]()
One last look at the front slope...
![]()
As we head back around to the front of the house and the area behind the wall. Note the roses have been cut back, ready for their new growth. I'm sure this scene looks completely different when they're all leafed out.
![]()
Echeveria 'Ruby Slippers'
![]()
Seriously! (wow)
![]()
Echeveria 'Imbricata' (maybe?)
![]()
A little bird's nest which was allowed to stay in place as the roses were cut back.
![]()
I'd forgotten about the little nooks on each side of the front door, but when I caught sight of them out of the corner of my eye I had to go check them out. Even better in person!
![]()
Graptoveria 'Fred Ives' (?)
![]()
Oh the Koi! We've now walked all the way around the front of the house and up the east side. This area is right off the house and visible through huge windows, all the better for keeping an eye on these little personalities.
![]()
Food tossed their way kept them interested in us.
![]()
These two! Earlier in our visit I got to share some treats with Boris and Natasha (I snuck a few of Lila's favorites in my suitcase when she wasn't looking...what she doesn't know won't hurt her!) and give them a little love, up close and personal. I stupidly wasn't thinking about my camera then, so this is the best photo you get. So sad. They were so soft, and very well behaved.
![]()
Bismarckia nobilis
![]()
Is't this Aeonium amazing?
![]()
Yay! It wouldn't have been a proper Piece of Eden visit without getting to see, and smell, at least one rose.
![]()
Agave attenuata, variegated and flawless.
![]()
I don't remember the name of this little cactus...but really, the most important thing is how well the plant and pot were matched!
![]()
Part of the potted plant collection next to the Koi "pond" (my pictures have gotten a little disorganized here, we are still on the east side of the house).
![]()
I have admired and coveted this hanging vase. I'm so glad I got to see it during my visit.
![]()
Okay, now we're behind the home, the side opposite the street. We're in a raised area that borders the hardscape in front of the garage (too big to call a driveway, you can see just a small bit of it)...
![]()
This row of blooming Agave desmetiana borders the west side of the property, across from the garage.
![]()
Extreme variegation! One of the pups from a first A. desmetiana to bloom (the ones above are it's siblings...if I've got that right).
![]()
Beautiful variegation with enough green that growth isn't too stunted.
![]()
Grevillea 'Peaches and Cream' (I believe)
![]()
So beautiful!
![]()
Protea some something...(Yes, I am overwhelmed by the beautiful plant possibilities).
![]()
Agave vilmoriniana 'Stained Glass', with orange friend tucked away for a snack later.
![]()
Agave x pumila
![]()
And finally, Phylica pubescens with a backer of Leucadendron 'Ebony'.
![]()
Thank you Hoov for letting me crash your gorgeous garden! Thank you Kris for making the journey so we could meet up. It was an amazing day, I enjoyed every minute of it. This (and many other visits like it) is part of what makes garden blogging so rewarding. I am a lucky lady.
Weather Diary, February 16: Hi 49, Low 41/ Precip 1.82"
All material © 2009-2017 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.
So to the garden. Wow. It's as impressive as you think it might be, and even more. Settle in kids — this is gonna be a long one...
One of the benefits of visiting a garden you know only from it's online depiction, is that you finally get to see, and understand, how it all fits together. I could not for the life of me figure out how this garden was laid out. Now I know! I tried to take a few photos that would help you all to understand too, but who knows if I succeeded. To take this photo I was standing at the extreme west of the property, looking (roughly) east.
We know this area, to the left of the driveway, as one of the recent project areas, Fall Project 2015 to be exact. That Dymondia margaretae carpet is even better in person. So lush and flat, perfection really. Well, and speaking of perfection, the Aloe 'Hercules' is just that.
Grevillea 'Superb', I believe...
Agave gypsophila 'Ivory Curls' (swoon!)...
Unknown Aloe (blooming even!) with a super sexy Agave desmettiana 'Joe Hoak', at the street's edge.
Echeveria subrigida (I think)...isn't it just drop-dead beautiful?
I'm no good at simplifying things. I wanted to take a close up of every single one of these plants and share them with you. It took amazing restraint to only post 61 (you've been warned) images!
Kalanchoe orgyalis
Truth be told the next two images confuse me. I'm not sure if we're still on the left of the driveway or on the right. Sorry...
Agave 'Sun Glow' (!!!)...
Okay now I know we're to the right of the driveway and looking at the famous front slope, which has since became known as Winter Project 2017, or at least part of it has. I believe that big green number is Leucospermum 'High Gold'. The Agave at the rear is A. ovatifolia.
Leucospermum buds.
Aloe erinacea?
On the left Agave titanota and the silvery, cloudy, mass is Leucophylum 'Thunder Cloud'. Behind it are Leucadendron linifolium and Calothamnus villosus, or rather were. If you follow Piece of Eden then you know they've been removed.
You've got to admire a gardener who decides it's time to move on, and just does it. Right?
Bye-bye...
If you're a follow of POE you also know this little creature has already broke free and flown away.
That's the mama plant of the small growing Agave titanota that I scored a pup of.
*sigh*...the beautiful slope we all know so well.
Multiple Agave lopantha 'Quadricolor', Agave Parryi, Yucca 'Bright Star' and a blooming Aloe to back them all up (Aloe cameronii).
Can you even imagine having these as a "ground-cover" in your garden? Id be in heaven...
Not to mention multiple Yucca 'Bright Star' with no blemishes.
I could get lost for hours just staring at this plant.
I believe that big guy is the one Hoov refers to as the "Proven Winners version of Agave marmorata."
Bloomed out Dasylirion flower stalk? (help me Hoov, I'm blanking on this one)
Be still my heart! Agave 'Blue Glow' at the back, a super twisty brown glochid covered opuntia (Opuntia microdasys montrose?), and Drimia maritima (Giant White Squill) as seen through a pair of Agave desmettiana 'Joe Hoak'.
We're now at the end of Hoov's front slope and at the place here her property abuts the neighbors, at a rather drastic drop of too, I might add. That's Aloe vanbalenii, I believe.
I got kind of hung up here snapping photos, because there were just so many fabulous plants!
Hoov and Kris ventured a little further back along the edge of the property.
Sweet varigated Aloe, whose name I do not know.
Agave guiengola
And a couple of spotless Agave parryi.
One last look at the front slope...
As we head back around to the front of the house and the area behind the wall. Note the roses have been cut back, ready for their new growth. I'm sure this scene looks completely different when they're all leafed out.
Echeveria 'Ruby Slippers'
Seriously! (wow)
Echeveria 'Imbricata' (maybe?)
A little bird's nest which was allowed to stay in place as the roses were cut back.
I'd forgotten about the little nooks on each side of the front door, but when I caught sight of them out of the corner of my eye I had to go check them out. Even better in person!
Graptoveria 'Fred Ives' (?)
Oh the Koi! We've now walked all the way around the front of the house and up the east side. This area is right off the house and visible through huge windows, all the better for keeping an eye on these little personalities.
Food tossed their way kept them interested in us.
These two! Earlier in our visit I got to share some treats with Boris and Natasha (I snuck a few of Lila's favorites in my suitcase when she wasn't looking...what she doesn't know won't hurt her!) and give them a little love, up close and personal. I stupidly wasn't thinking about my camera then, so this is the best photo you get. So sad. They were so soft, and very well behaved.
Bismarckia nobilis
Is't this Aeonium amazing?
Yay! It wouldn't have been a proper Piece of Eden visit without getting to see, and smell, at least one rose.
Agave attenuata, variegated and flawless.
I don't remember the name of this little cactus...but really, the most important thing is how well the plant and pot were matched!
Part of the potted plant collection next to the Koi "pond" (my pictures have gotten a little disorganized here, we are still on the east side of the house).
I have admired and coveted this hanging vase. I'm so glad I got to see it during my visit.
Okay, now we're behind the home, the side opposite the street. We're in a raised area that borders the hardscape in front of the garage (too big to call a driveway, you can see just a small bit of it)...
This row of blooming Agave desmetiana borders the west side of the property, across from the garage.
Extreme variegation! One of the pups from a first A. desmetiana to bloom (the ones above are it's siblings...if I've got that right).
Beautiful variegation with enough green that growth isn't too stunted.
Grevillea 'Peaches and Cream' (I believe)
So beautiful!
Protea some something...(Yes, I am overwhelmed by the beautiful plant possibilities).
Agave vilmoriniana 'Stained Glass', with orange friend tucked away for a snack later.
Agave x pumila
And finally, Phylica pubescens with a backer of Leucadendron 'Ebony'.
Thank you Hoov for letting me crash your gorgeous garden! Thank you Kris for making the journey so we could meet up. It was an amazing day, I enjoyed every minute of it. This (and many other visits like it) is part of what makes garden blogging so rewarding. I am a lucky lady.
Weather Diary, February 16: Hi 49, Low 41/ Precip 1.82"
All material © 2009-2017 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.