Not feeling blue because of the view, that's for sure. How beautiful is this?
![]()
Today we're headed back to Santa Barbara and April's Bromeliad Summit. One of the gardens we visited on the final day of the event was a 10-acre Montecito estate. I've posted random photos of this garden here and there, but avoided a full on garden feature. Why? Because I'm conflicted. Conflicted by the excess in the face of so much need. The large home in the center of this Montecito estate garden sits empty unless its out-of-town owners happen to be visiting. I can't shake the feeling of waste. But then again, who am I to judge? I know nothing about the owners and their lives.
Looking at my huge backlog of photos I was drawn to what I think of as "the blue garden" just a small part of the overall. What the heck, I'll share them. After all the owners were kind enough to share their garden with us.
![]()
Looking back down towards where I was standing when I took the first photo, above...
![]()
Oddly now I can't remember if we were able to go inside the greenhouses or not.
![]()
Blue, so much blue...
![]()
Blue continued in the senecio...
![]()
And the agaves...
![]()
Shall we sit for a spell? Or explore some more? Right, let's explore...
![]()
Agave salmiana in the foreground, Agave franzosinii behind it.
![]()
Are these Agave americana? It's clear the plants on the other side of the drive (this is not the drive to the main house, just a service drive) are A. franzosinii, but these appear to be different. I believe the ones on the far left are Agave 'Blue Flame'.
![]()
Maybe a guest house or perhaps a caretaker lives here?
![]()
Looking down the drive...
![]()
And back across at the greenhouses.
![]()
The patterns on Agave franzosinii are so remarkable. I remember the first time I saw them in a print magazine and was convinced someone had marked them up for graphic effect.
![]()
Nope, that's all Mother Nature.
![]()
Looking towards the main house in the distance.
![]()
Now we're approaching the pool from a different angle, just because we can.
![]()
Symmetry can be fun.
![]()
And huge agaves are always fun. Well unless you're my in-laws and then you hire someone to take them out with a backhoe.
![]()
Citrus! Toto, we're not in Portland that's for sure.
![]()
Just a couple more agave shots...
![]()
You know, I wouldn't mind having a driveway just like this...maybe paved, but that's the only change.
![]()
Weather Diary, Sept 9: Hi 71, Low 60/ Precip .17
All material © 2009-2019 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.
Today we're headed back to Santa Barbara and April's Bromeliad Summit. One of the gardens we visited on the final day of the event was a 10-acre Montecito estate. I've posted random photos of this garden here and there, but avoided a full on garden feature. Why? Because I'm conflicted. Conflicted by the excess in the face of so much need. The large home in the center of this Montecito estate garden sits empty unless its out-of-town owners happen to be visiting. I can't shake the feeling of waste. But then again, who am I to judge? I know nothing about the owners and their lives.
Looking at my huge backlog of photos I was drawn to what I think of as "the blue garden" just a small part of the overall. What the heck, I'll share them. After all the owners were kind enough to share their garden with us.
Looking back down towards where I was standing when I took the first photo, above...
Oddly now I can't remember if we were able to go inside the greenhouses or not.
Blue, so much blue...
Blue continued in the senecio...
And the agaves...
Shall we sit for a spell? Or explore some more? Right, let's explore...
Agave salmiana in the foreground, Agave franzosinii behind it.
Are these Agave americana? It's clear the plants on the other side of the drive (this is not the drive to the main house, just a service drive) are A. franzosinii, but these appear to be different. I believe the ones on the far left are Agave 'Blue Flame'.
Maybe a guest house or perhaps a caretaker lives here?
Looking down the drive...
And back across at the greenhouses.
The patterns on Agave franzosinii are so remarkable. I remember the first time I saw them in a print magazine and was convinced someone had marked them up for graphic effect.
Nope, that's all Mother Nature.
Looking towards the main house in the distance.
Now we're approaching the pool from a different angle, just because we can.
Symmetry can be fun.
And huge agaves are always fun. Well unless you're my in-laws and then you hire someone to take them out with a backhoe.
Citrus! Toto, we're not in Portland that's for sure.
Just a couple more agave shots...
You know, I wouldn't mind having a driveway just like this...maybe paved, but that's the only change.
Weather Diary, Sept 9: Hi 71, Low 60/ Precip .17
All material © 2009-2019 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.