The next garden I visited, as part of the Study Weekend event, was one I'd wanted to see for a long while; the garden of Erin and Brian Ray...
It's always a good sign when you park near a garden and get distracted by the neighbor's plants en-route. Love this Erica arborea...
![]()
And look! A Parasaurolophus (thanks Andrew) taking a dip...
![]()
Okay, this is our garden destination...
![]()
Erin recently acquired this Agave ovatifolia and has high hopes for it. Irrigation, planted in sun, with great drainage. This will be one to watch.
![]()
From our event brochure: "Twenty-three years ago, these gardeners started to work in their small multi-level lot out of necessity. Their new-to-them old house had crumbling terraces, a rotting patio overhang, and overgrown everything. So they started ripping out the old stuff and then just kept going. They became hooked on their garden! Erin eventually left her "day" job to pursue landscape design, and as her expertise and tastes evolved so has the garden..."
![]()
The mixed plantings spoke to me, as I have a similar style.
![]()
There is a tiny strip at the top of that wall which is their property, otherwise we're looking at the neighbor's place. The wall is the side of their driveway.
![]()
Lots of sempervivum tucked in the wall where ever there was room.
![]()
Agave bracteosa
![]()
Aloe striatula
![]()
Oh! And these...
![]()
Marcia Donahue pieces which a covet...
![]()
![]()
Climbing the steps up to the front door...
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
Looking back on the front porch sitting area before walking down the narrow side yard...
![]()
![]()
I closed the gate to get a photo, doing so freaked out a few of my fellow visitors.
![]()
Stepping into the multi-level back garden...
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
Before I climbed to the upper level I had to investigate the areas along the back of the house...
![]()
![]()
![]()
And on the other side of the house—the working area—aka pot storage and plants in waiting, as well as canoes!
![]()
The back garden, as viewed from just outside the "working area"...
![]()
And climbing up...
![]()
I suspect this sitting area in a far corner is well used...
![]()
I wonder if Erin put these wall hangings together herself, or bought them pre-planted?
![]()
Looking back down to the lower level...
![]()
And up at bananas!
![]()
Another sit spot...
![]()
And it was time to take the stairs back down...
![]()
A few detail shots...
![]()
The vibrant foliage above the orange elephant is Trachelospermum asiaticum 'Ogon Nishiki'.
![]()
Delosperma something or other...
![]()
Cotula hispida aka "silvery buns of goodness"
![]()
And on my way back to the car I am again distracted by another garden...
![]()
Weather Diary, Aug 26: Hi 88, Low 56/ Precip 0
All material © 2009-2019 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.
It's always a good sign when you park near a garden and get distracted by the neighbor's plants en-route. Love this Erica arborea...
And look! A Parasaurolophus (thanks Andrew) taking a dip...
Okay, this is our garden destination...
Erin recently acquired this Agave ovatifolia and has high hopes for it. Irrigation, planted in sun, with great drainage. This will be one to watch.
From our event brochure: "Twenty-three years ago, these gardeners started to work in their small multi-level lot out of necessity. Their new-to-them old house had crumbling terraces, a rotting patio overhang, and overgrown everything. So they started ripping out the old stuff and then just kept going. They became hooked on their garden! Erin eventually left her "day" job to pursue landscape design, and as her expertise and tastes evolved so has the garden..."
The mixed plantings spoke to me, as I have a similar style.
There is a tiny strip at the top of that wall which is their property, otherwise we're looking at the neighbor's place. The wall is the side of their driveway.
Lots of sempervivum tucked in the wall where ever there was room.
Agave bracteosa
Aloe striatula
Oh! And these...
Marcia Donahue pieces which a covet...
Climbing the steps up to the front door...
Looking back on the front porch sitting area before walking down the narrow side yard...
I closed the gate to get a photo, doing so freaked out a few of my fellow visitors.
Stepping into the multi-level back garden...
Before I climbed to the upper level I had to investigate the areas along the back of the house...
And on the other side of the house—the working area—aka pot storage and plants in waiting, as well as canoes!
The back garden, as viewed from just outside the "working area"...
And climbing up...
I suspect this sitting area in a far corner is well used...
I wonder if Erin put these wall hangings together herself, or bought them pre-planted?
Looking back down to the lower level...
And up at bananas!
Another sit spot...
And it was time to take the stairs back down...
A few detail shots...
The vibrant foliage above the orange elephant is Trachelospermum asiaticum 'Ogon Nishiki'.
Delosperma something or other...
Cotula hispida aka "silvery buns of goodness"
And on my way back to the car I am again distracted by another garden...
Weather Diary, Aug 26: Hi 88, Low 56/ Precip 0
All material © 2009-2019 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.