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Plant a Tropical Gardenon the WeekendHydrangeas:TimelessBeauties, New HottiesAlmost-InstantWater FeaturesTurn Bouquets into Art Belgian Style

santabarbarastylegreat ideas for

gracious outdoor living

http://www.monrovia.com

http://www.summerclassics.com

http://www.endlesssummerblooms.com

When the sun is out and the wind is still, you’re one month on in the middle of May—R O B E R T F R O S T 5G A R D E N D E S I G N

On the CoverA stone banco in a Montecito

garden exemplifies SantaBarbara style (see page 58).

Photo by Steve Gunther.

M A Y 2 0 0 6

58 La Dolce VitaNestled in a geographically blessed Mediterranean climate,Santa Barbara and its suburb of Montecito offer an abundanceof ideas and inspiration for gracious outdoor living and cre-ative gardening. This elegant approach to living with nature isinspirational wherever you are. B Y D O N N A D O R I A N

72 Belgium Wow“Cutting-edge floral design” rings true in Belgium, wheredesigners are pushing far past the flowers-in-a-vase paradigm.Meet Daniel Ost, Geert Pattyn and Nico De Swert, threepioneers in this born-again art form, and take in the beautyand curiosity of their designs. B Y J E N N Y A N D R E W S

80 Short but SweetCross over the Maine border into York and all bets are off.A creative culinary couple and their landscape designer’s inven-tive way with annuals created a garden that leaves conservativeNortheast tradition in the dust. B Y T O V A H M A R T I N

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What potent blood hath modest May—R A L P H W A L D O E M E R S O N6 M A Y 2 0 0 6

POSTAL INFORMATION GARDEN DESIGN, NUMBER 138 (ISSN 0733-4923), is published 7 times per year (January/February, March,April, May, June/July, September/October, November/December) by World Publications,LLC, P.O. Box 8500,Winter Park, FL 32790. ©Copyright 2004, all rights reserved. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part without consent of the copyright owner. Periodicals postage paid at WinterPark, FL, and additional mailing offices. SUBSCRIPTIONS: U.S.: $23.95 for one year, $39.95 for 2 years. Canadian subscribers add $8.00 per year, foreign subscribers add $21.00 per year. For subscription information, please call 800/513-0848. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to GARDEN DESIGN, P.O. Box 421145, Palm Coast, FL 32142-1145. For faster service, please enclose your current subscription label. Occasionally, we make portions of our subscriber list available to carefully screened companies that offer products and services we think may be of interest to you. If you do not want to receive these offers, please advise us at 1-800-513-0848. EDITORIAL: Send correspondence to Editorial Department, GARDEN DESIGN, P.O. Box 8500,Winter Park, FL 32789; E-mail: gardendesign@worldpub.net.We welcome all editorial submissions, but assume no responsibility for the loss or damage of unsolicited material.ADVERTISING: Send advertising materials to RR Donnelley & Sons Company, Lancaster Premedia Center,Attn: Garden Design Ad Management Module, 216 Greenfield Road, Lancaster, PA 17601. Phone: 717-481-2851. Retail sales discountsavailable; contact Circulation Department. Following are trademarks of GARDEN DESIGN and World Publications, Inc., and their use by others is strictly prohibited:The Golden Trowel Awards; Dirt; Growing; Style; Sage Advice; Details.

Departments

contents

12 Reader Letters

15 Dirt Left- and right-coastmuseums and their must-seelandscapes. Sitting in minia-ture. Cottage Garden in Piasa,Illinois. Midcentury-moderngarden goodies in PoundRidge, NewYork.And more.

26 Growing The magnifi-cent and versatile hydrangea.

35 Décor This coastal get-away is a place for luxuriousbut casual outdoor living.

40 Style Water features thatare new in material and con-temporary in design.

45 Entertaining Maximiz-ing your garden for a party:Designer Dan Zelen offersguest-pleasing tabletop ideas.

50 GroundbreakerThe inside track on PhilippeStarck’s outdoor furniture.

54 AbroadExploringVancouver Island’shorticultural heaven.

89 Sage AdviceYou asked and Jack Ruttle an-swers.Versatile bamboo.A Na-tive American meditation gar-den.Tropicals in New Jersey.

112 DetailsA Mogul garden brings Moor-ish tradition to the Hamptons.

For more, check out www.gardendesign.com.

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http://www.brownjordan.com

EDITOR- IN-CHIEF Bill Marken

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http://www.fiskars.com

from the editor

MY DAUGHTER,VISITING THE SAN FRANCISCO FLOWER & GARDEN SHOW WITH ME

and presumably bringing a sensitivity refined by a U.C.-Berkeley degree in arthistory, loved the bottle tree. A bottle tree is not a real tree, but real bottleshang on a tangle of real rebar—it is garden folk art that I never seem to get.

What you learn from watching people react to plants, exhibits and productsat a gardening coming-together event like this is mind-stretching and mind-blow-

ing.You see what people really like. It’s like a big, live focus group.We are pleased to say that visitors to the show liked the Garden

Design exhibit garden enough tovote it the People’s Choice award.Called Moroccan Modern, the gar-den was designed by MicheleSwanson and built by ModernLandscaping. It was created to dis-play ideas for comfortable and styl-ish outdoor living, decorating andentertaining.What did our “focusgroup” visitors react to? The traver-tine paving squares, the beautifulurns from Eye of the Day and theribbony disguise for the SundanceSpa, among many things. I covet-

ed the elegant, tank-sturdy Kalamazoo grill. My daugh-ter-in-law, also a show visitor, had her eye on the Arma-da chaise by Brown Jordan.You can see more about theshow garden in one of our upcoming issues.

Beyond our garden, the show revealed lots of inspir-ing landscapes, exciting plants and further observationson the gardening public’s behavior, including my own.

Digging Dog Nursery’s booth offered an amazing ar-ray of perennials and flowering shrubs, including two

viburnums I took home. At Annie’s Annuals, I saw for the first time bloomingin cultivation the legendary giant coreopsis (Coreopsis gigantea) that grows wildon the islands off Southern California. Happy to tell you that both nurseries selltheir plants online: www.diggingdog.com and www.anniesannuals.com.

I spotted a great solution for a boring slab of concrete: Cover with an ipedeck in modular form (www.ecowoodscalifornia.com).And I thought prettyseriously about bringing home a garden gong that you hammer with a drum-stick.What would neighbors think? On my dream wish list: a garden teepeeby Jesse Salcedo (jdsalcedo@earthlink.net).

Random observations: More small gardens than usual. More diversity, withgarden styles from Japan to Baja to Morocco to Provence.Wonderful greenand blooming meadows by John Greenlee. I’d like to see an award for Best inShow baby stroller—all the latest models were on parade.

It’s great to see so many people passionate about what we deal with in everyissue of Garden Design magazine.They’re spouting long Latin names, rubbingtheir hands on fine teak and treating garden designers like rock stars. If onlyeditors were treated that way!—BILL MARKEN , EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

People’s Choice

A little madness in the spring is wholesome even for the king—E M I L Y D I C K I N S O N

At entry of MoroccanModern garden, designerMichele Swanson andbuilder Mike Hertzer ofModern Landscaping.Crowd-pleasing antiqueurns and reproductions.

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On DeckWe own an urban home in a his-toric section of downtown Indi-anapolis that’s very much like thehome shown in the article “UrbanSpaceman,” by EmilyYoung, in theJanuary/February issue.The arti-cle shows a back deck with asofa/storage center and mentionsKyleTracy as the carpenter.Wouldthis gentleman have a plan ordrawing for this sofa/deck? If so,I would like to obtain a copy forour home.The deck is perfect, andthe sofa fits with our backyardlandscaping plans this year.—JimNewman/Kathleen Houlihan, In-dianapolis, IN

According to landscape architect RobSteiner, the design of the deck andbench (above) was simple enough tonot require plans. A good carpentershould be able to customize a similarsetup for your space by using the pho-to for reference.What doesn’t show isthe simple rail and drawer system un-der the bench—like a single oversizedresser drawer—that was retrofitted asan “aha moment” afterthought.

Best Ohio BirchWhat species of birch did MichelDesvigne and Christine Dalnokyuse in the garden on page 112 ofthe March issue? —Megan King,Central Ohio

The designers were unavailable to an-swer your question by press time.Weconsulted our horticulture expert, whohas narrowed it down to either Betu-la pendula from southern and easternEurope or B. mandschurica from Chi-na.You might have more success withB. papyrifera, a white-barked birch bet-ter-suited to the heat in the Midwest(specifically Zones 2 to 6 and some-times even to 7), or B. utilis var. jacque-montii.The problem with white birch-es in the Midwest is their susceptibility,when stressed by drought, etc ., to in-festation by borers, which typically kills

mailbox

the trees. Another option would be touse a native species like river birch, B.nigra (especially ‘Heritage’), thoughits bark is pinkish rather than white.

More “NameThat Plant”What plant is pictured in yourMarch issue on page 76, thegrasslike plant in the foreground?It looks like a variegated Dianellatasmanica in a more yellowish col-or.There are two of these plants inthe picture, one is next to abromeliad. I would love to knowwhat kind of plant that is for futurereference.Thank you so much andkeep up the great work!—Rede-lyn Guiting, Burbank,CA

According to landscape designer ArtLuna, that’s actually a furcraea, whichis in the agave family.

Retail CustomersWelcomeAs the owners of Mesogeo Green-house on Bainbridge Island,Wash-ington, we’d like to correct a smallerror that crept into the articleabout us in your July/August 2005issue. It referred to us as a “whole-sale nursery.”We are actually a re-tail nursery open to the generalpublic.Thanks much for the chanceto set this straight.—Terry Moye-mont,Mesogeo Greenhouse,206-855-9017,www.mesogeogarden.com

CorrectionOn page 36 of the April issue thecity of Fremont, California, wasmisspelled as Freemont. We doapologize to the good people ofFremont for the extra “e.”

http://www.bayeradvanced.com

Museums do not just happen—J . P A U L G E T T Y 15G A R D E N D E S I G N

dirt

Bold new gardens in Washington, D.C.,and San Francisco match their museums

for innovation and viewing pleasure

Museum Quality

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)a masterful blend of old andnew, also merits praise anda close look. Landscape ar-chitectWalter Hood facedseveral challenges.While de-signing a landscape to com-plement the about-to-be-iconic building, he alsowanted to honor the origi-nal garden and plants.

Historic, century-old Canary Island palms(Phoenix canariensis), saved from the old land-scape, were replanted after almost five yearsin storage and now break up the southernface of the building. Old favorites are givena new twist:A circular Pool of Enchantmentreplaces the old rectangular Turtle Pool.New artworks are showcased alongside old:Andy Goldsworthy’s meandering DrawnStone, underfoot at the museum’s front en-try, contrasts admirably with the reposi-

IS IT A TREND FOR GROUND-breaking new museums to cre-ate innovative gardens to com-plement the buildings and addto the visitor experience? If so,we are certainly in favor of it.

In San Francisco, there’s thestartling new garden surround-ing the de Young museum in Golden GatePark, rebuilt to replace the earthquake-dam-aged landmark there.Around the NationalMuseum of the American Indian in Wash-ington, D.C., a garden pays homage to therelationship between Native Americans andtheir natural environment.

The de Young museum opened last fall,and Herzog and de Meuron’s copper-cladbuilding has earned worldwide attention,most of it very positive.The new landscape,

tioned Dore vase. Native plants like red-woods and sand-dune-like mounds of soilremind you of the park’s wild heritage.

Fitting in with neighbors—a familiartheme for homeowners—was also an issue,with the venerated JapaneseTea Garden nextdoor.A clipped hedge of white camellias isjust the right connection. More of GoldenGate Park is also inside the museum—treeferns and eucalyptus in the skylit courtyard.

Visitors can best see the nearly 5 acres oflandscaping from the building’s 144-foot tow-er.A bird’s-eye view reveals a zigzag of fernsand a grove of eucalyptus almost slicing onebuilding into three. From this height, the ab-stract ground shapes of the Garden of En-chantment resemble a Miró painting.

InWashington, D.C.,The Smithsonian’sNational Museum of the American Indianopened in fall 2004, and the permanentplantings have settled in nicely—the birch

Above left: Nativecrop garden at D.C.museum.Aboveright, next page:Tree ferns insideand magnolias out-side the de Young.

M U S E U M G A R D E N S | PAT I O C L E M AT I S | M I N I C H A I R S | N E PA L I V Y | A L C AT R A Z | N I K I I N AT L A N TA

trees’ bark is peeling off in hefty chunks andlooks ready for canoe making.

The landscape around the curvy, rough-hewn sandstone building occupies much ofthe site’s 41/2 acres and gives the visitor a senseof how NativeAmericans lived with nature.Ethnobotanist Donna House conceived thegarden in conjunction with landscape archi-tects at EDAW in Alexandria,Virginia.

Plantings of some 150 species representtraditional crops and the forests, meadowsand wetlands of the Chesapeake Bay region.The focal point of the landscape is the pondnear the front entry; realistic touches includecattails, bald cypress and fallen trees left forvisiting birds.Along the building are nativegrasses. During the growing season, anothersection is devoted to native crops grown forfood and medicine.What you won’t noticeare plant labels—a no-no for House, a stick-ler for maintaining an authentic native spirit.

Of special note are several dozen boul-ders placed around the property.These areknown as grandfather rocks, symbolic ofthe relationship between nature and Amer-ica’s native peoples.—RU T H C H I V E R S

AND BILL MARKEN

For details on visiting the de Young muse-um and exhibitions, see www.thinker.org/deyoung/index.asp. For details on the NMAI,see www.americanindian.si.edu.

A little saint best fits a little shrine.A little prop best fits a little vine—R O B E R T H E R R I C K16 M A Y 2 0 0 6

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AS MORE PEOPLE CHOOSE TO LIVE IN TOWN-houses and apartments, their gardens areshrinking, often to the size of patios or bal-conies.What can gardeners do to overcomethe space crunch? Grow up.

That was the impetus for me to developdwarf, bushy new varieties of one of my fa-vorite plants—clematis.These “patio clema-tis” as they’ve been dubbed, can be plantedin containers among flowering annuals, pro-vide columns of color to define an outdoorroom or enhance the view from a deck.And the multistemmed plants, which aren'tleggy like so many of theolder clematis, will keepflowering from springthrough late summer.

Last year the fruit of mylabors, the Raymond EvisonPatio Clematis™ Collection,was launched at last and thisspring three new colors havebeen added to the group—Bourbon™ is purple-band-ed with red, Angelique™ ispalest lilac and Parisienne™

is mauve with reddish an-thers.The designer hues fitwith the trend to extend in-terior decor to outdoor liv-ing spaces.

It took 10 years for theEvison™ and Poulsen® breed-ing program to develop thisnew kind of clematis, easy-

care dwarf cultivars designed for growingin larger containers.The plants reach only3 or 4 feet tall, but their flowers are largeand are produced freely on both last year’sstems and new growth.This means that evenif a severe winter kills top growth back toground level, the clematis will still grow andflower the following spring.

Like other clematis, the dwarf varietiesneed a companion plant or some other sup-port to grow on, lots of water and excellentdrainage.They also like their roots to be keptcool.That’s easy to accomplish—just plant

colorful annuals or even shal-low-rooted perennials in thesame container and they willprotect the clematis’ roots,as well as add extra oomphto the flower display.

And, based on my expe-rience, you can forget allthose complex rules aboutpruning associated with old-er clematis varieties. Plantsin the Patio Clematis Col-lection do well with the“ponytail prune.” Before newgrowth appears, grasp all thestems 12 inches above soillevel, and cut off the tops.—RAYMOND EVISON

For more info on the RaymondEvison Patio Clematis Collection,visit www.evisonclematis.com.

p l a n t s

Patio Perfect

Sampling of the PatioClematis™ Collection,clockwise from top left:Panache™,Versailles™,new lilac Angelique™

and Hyde Hall™.

http://www.laneventure.com

Convince me that you have a seed there, and I am prepared to expect wonders—H E N R Y D A V I D T H O R E A U18 M A Y 2 0 0 6

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Left to right: Cottage Gardennursery offers a choiceselection of tropicals forMidwesterners; rex begoniavine (Cissus discolor) in frontof Hosta ‘Golden Sculpture’.

THE MOST STYLISH GARDENS ALWAYS SEEM TO

be exotic paradises thriving in coastal cli-mates.To a Midwestern prairie gardener,used to stifling summers and blood-stillingwinters, such lush displays are an unfair tease.

Fret not, flatlanders, because in a place notfar from St. Louis dreams of a backyard jun-gle can be fulfilled, if only for a few months.Cottage Garden, in small-town Piasa (pro-nounced PIE-a-saw), Illinois, is run by a self-professed plantaholic who feels your pain.

Chris Kelley and husband/business part-ner, Bill Kelley, opened a retail and mail-order perennial nursery in 1987.A passionfor the colorful personalities of tropicalsgradually overtook Chris.Today she callsthe nursery a “plant zoo” specializing in“tropicalismo on the prairie,” unusual ten-der annuals that love the region’s steamysummers and balmy early autumns.

The mom-and-pop operation still offersa hefty share of hardy perennials, includinghostas and many hard-to-find natives suchas pale-yellow Baptisia x ‘Carolina Moon-light’. But it's the tempting tropicals, skill-

fully arranged in sample containers andbeds, that are the draw for an experimen-tal palate. Look for Brugmansia ‘Super Nova’with its 16-inch-long white trumpetblooms, tiny Caladium humboldtii, and fab-ulous Nicotiana mutabilis. New last year wasJasminum officinale Fiona Sunrise™, grownin the Midwest for its striking golden fo-liage.This year it’s shrimp plant, Justiciacarnea ‘Radiant’. Visitors can shop fromamong 60 varieties of hummingbird fa-vorites and tour the stock-plant greenhousefor a peek at what’s coming next season.

Make a day of it by first visiting the in-spirational Missouri Botanical Garden(www.mobot.org) in St. Louis. Cottage Gar-den is only a 45-minute northeasterly driveaway, and proprietors the Kelleys will rec-ommend several charming eateries nearbyto satisfy a gardener’s more visceralhunger.—LAURIE GRANO

Cottage Garden, 6967 Illinois Route 111,Piasa, IL 62079. Call 618-729-4324 or seewww.cottgardens.com.

d e s t i n a t i o n n u r s e r y

PrairieTropical

More than 10 years ago Curtis Jones and JudySeaborn came together in life and in business.Now their family-owned company, Botanical In-terests, in Broomfield, Colorado, has become asource for top-quality flower, vegetable and herbseeds.The rigorously tested, hand-picked seedsare untreated with chemicals and representmore than 400 varieties, including a CertifiedOrganic line and heirlooms.

A sampling of noteworthy items includes‘Black Magic’ bachelor button, ‘Chater’s Double’hollyhock, ‘Candy Stripe’ cosmos,‘Teatime Red’hibiscus,‘Thumbelina’ carrot, seven varieties ofgourds, 10 basils and 23 peppers.

Botanical Interests artfully includes plenty ofinformation, outside and inside the beautifully de-signed seed packets, on everything gardenersneed to know and then some—water, soil, light,planting depth, days to harvest or bloom, colorand habit, frost dates, and even a historical orculinary tidbit or two. Each packet is like a minis-tory about the plant. Jones and Seaborn say,“Ouraim is for the gardener using our seeds to say at

the end of the season,‘What a terrific gar-dening year this was. I did agreat job.’”—ELLEN WELLS

g r o w i n g

TOP SEED

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fyi For more information, e-mail inform@botanicalinterests.com or seewww.botanicalinterests.com. Seeds are availablefrom retail stores and independent Web sites.

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QUEST FOR EDENAs anyone who has ever gardened

even briefly knows, it can be an epic

journey, sometimes to the funny

farm. In The $64

Tomato (Algonquin

Books, $22.95), gen-

tleman farmer

William Alexander

recounts with wry

humor and dead-on insight his joys,

woes, epiphanies and philosophies as

he realizes that the road to his idyllic

garden is paved with Japanese bee-

tles, groundhogs, weeds and misguid-

ed contractors. He says, "Gardening is

often thought to be a genteel, relax-

ing hobby....For me, gardening more

often resembles blood sport." So why

do it? For Alexander it's a fascination

with the cycle of life, the triumph of

optimism over experience, and the

food.Ah, the food!

A litany of every possible gardening

experience—from deer fencing to

weed-filled topsoil to canning an over-

abundance of peaches to planting a

meadow—this book will strike a chord

(and hit a few nerves) with anyone

who dreams of orderly rows of ripen-

ing veggies and eating a tomato fresh

off the vine. In the end, it's worth all

the drama even if, when expenses are

tallied and amortized, the tomato

does cost $64.—Jenny Andrews

A chair is a very difficult object to design.A skyscraper is almost easier—L U D W I G M I E S V A N D E R R O H E20 M A Y 2 0 0 6

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dirtfyi Chairs are available at Vitra,29 Ninth Ave., NewYork, NY,212-463-5750; 557 Pacific Ave.,San Francisco, CA, 415-296-0711;and MoMA Design and BookStore, 11 W. 53rd St.,NewYork, NY, 212-708-9700,www.MoMAstore.org.

Clockwise from topleft: Panton Chair set,Gala by Franco Albini,Indoor chair LockheedLounge designed byMarc Newson in 1986.

WHEN IT COMES TO ADDICTIONS, COLLECTING

miniature chairs is a stylish vice—and a greatway for space-strapped furniture junkies tolive with history-making design.

TheVitra Design Museum has added fournew mini chairs, including a palm-size ver-sion of the wicker Gala designed in 1950 byFranco Albini, to its ever-growing Minia-tures Collection which now includes closeto 100 tiny perfect copies of classic chairs,indoor and outdoor, from the past 180 years.

In 1992 the museum, inWeil am Rhein,Germany, started producing handmade chairsthat are one-sixth the size of famous origi-nals housed in Vitra’s permanent collection,which includes seating by Ludwig Mies van

der Rohe, Charles Rennie Mackintosh,Charles Eames, Frank Gehry and PhilippeStarck. Special licensing agreements arearranged with designers or designers’ estates,Vitra officials say, to ensure the minis are ex-act, albeit much-scaled-down, replicas.

Garden-, patio- or porch-centric chairsin the miniatures lineup include the cast-iron Gartenstuhl designed in 1820 by KarlFriedrich Schinkel, the painted-metal Mid-way Gardens Chair by Frank LloydWrightin 1913, and the 1986 painted-steel Think-ing Man’s Chair by Jasper Morrison.

Other indoor-outdoor creations includethe 1986 sinuous bent and welded steelSpine by Andre Dubreuil and the 1952 lat-

ticelike Diamond Chair by Harry Bertoia.(Vitra’s mini-Diamond is the indoor chromeversion; the original chair was also made ina rubberized white for outdoor use.)Vern-er Panton designed the colorful, stackableplastic Panton Chair in 1960, then costly tomake and considered too precious for out-door use; today, the mini-Panton (sold insets of five) and a full-sized model are re-produced by Vitra in an inexpensivepolypropylene that works well on a patio.

Still, the petite Panton and other Vitraminiatures are valuable collectibles andshould be displayed in a protected area.Thelittle chairs range in price from about $100to more than $600 each.—LAURIE GRANO

c o l l e c t i n g

Big Design, Small Package

i l o v e t h i s p l a n t

NEPAL IVYOne of the happiest times as a horticulturist ornursery person in North Carolina was the an-nual plant distribution engineered by the lateJ.C. Raulston, founding director of a unique plantcollection and arboretum in Raleigh now calledthe JC Raulston Arboretum in his honor.

Each year in this salute to plants, a blacktrash bag full of rooted cuttings was handed outto members of the nursery trade at conventionsacross the state. For the arboretum the purposewas to broaden the selection of plants availablefor sale to keep the industry in high gear.

I was lucky to collect a wonderland ofunique plants from those horticultural hand-outs.At the top of my list is the variegatedNepal ivy (Hedera nepalensis var. sinensis 'Mar-bled Dragon') I acquired in 1997.Today thistreasure spills over the stone wall in my sidegarden. Its 5-inch lobed leaves have cream-col-ored veining and neat splatters of lime green.Mature plants can produce striking yellow ororange umbels of fruits. Plants are easy to prop-agate using only single-node cuttings.

The ivy’s hardiness has been listed as Zone 8(usually in British references), but I’ve found itquite hardy in myAsheville garden (Zone 6b),where we often have windy winter nightsaround 0 degrees.While there is some leaf burnin really cold winters, the vines recover in spring.

One difficulty in writing about great plants isincluding a source. Fortunately I live near SandyMush Herb Nursery (www.sandymushherbs.com). Since the owners are longtime admirers ofRaulston, I called proprietor Fairman Jayne andlearned that the nursery does stock this plantand that it’s hardy at their location in the NorthCarolina mountains.“It's a beauty,” agreed Fair-man,“and a continuing salute to Raulston’s ge-nius at collecting.”—PETER LOEWER

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It looks like Alcatraz has got me licked—A L C A P O N E22 M A Y 2 0 0 6

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ing rewarded. Led by the Golden Gate Na-tional RecreationArea, Golden Gate NationalParks Conservancy and The Garden Conser-vancy, and fueled by volunteers, restorationof the abandoned gardens is underway.

Information accumulated over a hundred

ALCATRAZ ISLAND, HOME OF THE INFAMOUS

prison, each day attracts thousands of visi-tors who are ferried across San FranciscoBay’s unforgiving waters to tour the creepyhistoric cellblock. Over the years, few peo-ple noticed the gardens.

Yes, there are gardens on The Rock, atone time at least 2 acres of them, in meagersoil amid tumbled ruins and wild over-growth.When the prison closed in 1963,plants maintained by inmates were on theirown.The budget-strapped National Park Ser-vice took over the site in 1972, and since thenthe skeleton staff has had its hands full pre-serving the crumbling buildings, let alonethe once-vibrant gardens.

The neglected roses, agaves, ice plants,calla lilies and fuchsias (among nearly 200 na-tive and exotic varieties found so far) haveproven to be as tough as the convicts whoonce tended them, and their resilience is be-

or so years shows the gardens to be an in-triguing microcosm of how plants are intro-duced to an initially barren habitat, how hu-mans and plants interact, and nationalgardening trends.The gardens date to the late1860s, when the island was being trans-formed from a U.S.Army fort into a militaryprison. Officers and their wives, in attemptsto make the bleak landscape more inviting,designed small Victorian-style plots plantedin soil brought over by barge. Plantings laterincreased when a gardening rehabilitationprogram was created for prisoners. (The fas-cinating history is covered in the 1996 bookGardens of Alcatraz by John Hart, Russell A.Beatty and Michael Boland.) After Alcatrazbecame a federal penitentiary in 1934, Fred-die Reichel, secretary to the warden and self-taught gardener, guided a team of inmates infurther improving the island’s colorful cas-cading gardens, which at their peak offeredneighboring San Franciscans dramatic views.

Alcatraz gardeners sought out plants fromparts of the world with climates similar tothat of California’s coast; the restoration isteaching just how hardy exotic ornamentalscan be. “People always talk about using na-tives for sustainable gardens,” says CarolaAshford, project manager of the Alcatraz His-

toric Gardens Project for theGarden Conservancy. “Theseexotics are thriving without alot of intervention, chemical orotherwise.”

“This place is so harsh with allthe gray rock and concrete, tosee the gardens is to see the is-land’s softer side,” says Jayeson

Vance, park service ranger. In restored sec-tions visitors linger and take care not to litter.

The hidden gardens of Alcatraz, onceapparent only to those who knew whereto look, are being set free for all to enjoy.Perhaps one day the plantings will be aspowerful a draw as the haunting prisonbuildings.—LAURIE GRANO

For information see www.parksconservancy.organd www.nps.gov/alcatraz/nature.

r e s t o r a t i o n

Paradise on Devil’s Island

Agaves (above),pink geraniumsand yellow sedums(left) thrive amongother tough plantsat Alcatraz.

But man does not create…he discovers—A N T O N I O G A U D I 23G A R D E N D E S I G N

When Kristin and Charlie Allen saw the dilapi-dated gas station in the idyllic WestchesterCounty town of Pound Ridge,NewYork, theyrealized that its industrial look and soaring ceil-ings were a perfect match for their garden an-tiques shop,Avant Garden.

“We wanted to invigorate the vocabulary ofgarden antiques,” says Kristin,who,with Charlie,openedAvant Garden in 2003.They are part ofthe new generation of antiques dealers drawn tothe clean, spare lines of midcentury modernism,and their passion is evident in the shop filledwith industrial containers, zinc-topped tables,sculpture and amoebic-shaped planters.

When they aren’t minding the shop or show-ing at top design and garden shows in the NewYork area,Charlie,who is English by birth, is of-ten on buying trips to England, France,Belgiumand Italy.“There is really a big difference betweenAmerican and European industrial.A Europeanétagère, for example, has extraordinary detail—even its rivet pieces are interesting,” says Kristin.

Because the warm-weather season is soshort in the Northeast,Avant Garden is also aperfect stage set for innovative pieces that bringthe outdoors in, from faux bois, industrial streetlanterns to stone-topped game tables and an-thropomorphic lamps.“One of our most satisfy-ing recent sales was a complete set ofWoodard’s classic wire-mesh Sculptura line fromthe 1950s,” says Kristin.—DONNA DORIAN

For more information call 914-764-0010 or seewww.avantgardenltd.com.

s h o p p i n g

AVANT GARDEN

To walk through the Atlanta Botanical Garden this spring is to enter

a dreamscape peopled with oversize animals, eerie totems and zaftig

dancing women.Welcome to the fanciful world of noted French

artist Niki de Saint Phalle, whom ABG director Mary Pat Matheson

calls "one of the most significant female artists of the 20th century."

"Niki in the Garden" is one of the most extensive exhibitions of Saint Phalle's sculptures, including

36 large pieces—some as long as 25 feet—as well as smaller works, their polymer forms covered

with glittering mosaics of tile, glass and semiprecious stones. Coming from as far away as France,

Germany and California, some of the figures are so large they had to be moved in sections.A few

sculptures can even be entered and the mosaics continue on the interior walls.

Saint Phalle was unconventional as an artist and a woman—fashion model, set and costume

designer, self-taught artist and the only female member of the Nouveau Realisme movement,

which included Christo, Gérard Deschamps,Yves Klein and her husband, Jean Tinguely. She was fa-

mous in the 1960s for her "shooting paintings," created by firing a gun at containers of paint, but

eventually sculpture became her primary medium. Influenced by artists like Antonio Gaudi and

Salvador Dali, she created monumental, surreal figures,

both startling and joyful. Her work can be seen in public

spaces worldwide, including the Tarot Garden in Tuscany,

the Stravinsky Fountain in Paris and Queen Califia's Magi-

cal Circle in Escondido, California. —JA

e x i b i t s

NIKI IN ATLANTA

"Niki in the Garden" will be ondisplay through October. EveryThursday evening the garden willbe open to the public and thesculptures lit for "Niki Nights."

Above: Nana on aDolphin, 1998, andGuardian Lion, 2000;two of the worksby Niki de SaintPhalle on display.

The fountain is my speech.The tulips are my speech.The grass and trees are my speech—G E O R G E T . D E L A C O R T E24 M A Y 2 0 0 6

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BANCHET JAIGLA STARTED MAKING FLORAL DESIGNS 19YEARS AGO,WORKING OUT OF HER

barn in Bedford, NewYork.Today she has an international reputation, having won awardsacross the globe for a unique visual vocabulary underscored by the variety and quanti-ty of flowers she regularly garners from growers in Asia,Africa and South America.

Her latest project is Flower Bar, to open early this summer in her enlarged flowershop in Manhattan’s edgy meatpacking district, where wine, champagne and ready-to-go floral arrangements will be offered.While bars are generally lined with liquorbottles, Banchet’s effusive orchid arrangements will be on display instead. Flowers andcocktails are an irresistable combination—and it happened at Flower Bar first.—DD

Banchet Flowers:809Washington St.,NewYork,NY;212-989-1088;www.BanchetFlowers.com.

RECIPE30 pink parrot tulips 6 long green carrot tops 24 red-tinted fava beansone small bunch of red-leaf lettuceraffia wire1 round glass bowl about 8 inches in diame-ter, the length of the fava beans

Celebrate spring this year by giving vegetablesa place of honor in your bouquets. Here are in-structions on how one floral designer, BanchetJaigla, approaches the season.

To wrap the bowl in fava beans, stretch anelastic band around the bowl and slip the beansunder it.Conceal the band by tying over it tight-ly with raffia wire. Bunch the tulips together ingroups of five, using raffia to tie each group to-gether.Pour enough water into the bowl to reachthe bottom of the tulip stems, then add the tulipsto the bowl. Cut the green tops off just-pickedcarrots and place one top between each groupof tulips. Bunch up the lettuce and place it at thetop of the arrangement.

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SPRING POTAGER

To analyze the charms of flowers is like dissecting music—H E N R Y T H E O D O R E T U C K E R M A N26 M A Y 2 0 0 6

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Appeal Mostly easy to grow,hydrangeas can be abused and stillreward the gardener with lushfoliage and showy flowers.Think ofthem as workhorses with a strongdesire to please. For longer enjoy-ment, their flower heads can bedried; gather in peak bloom andhang in an airy, warm place.Zones Selections of arborescensand paniculata are hardy to Zone 4,and those of quercifolia to Zone 5.The flashier macrophylla and com-pact serrata types do best fromZone 6 and southward, butrebloomers like Endless Summer™

flower on both new and old woodand can be grown in Zone 4, used

almost like a perenni-al—dying back to theground over winter andresprouting in spring.The species involucrataneeds the milder tem-peratures of Zone 7and warmer areas.Virtually all of themwithstand the heat ofZone 9 summers.Exposure While mosthydrangeas thrive in fullsun (given ample water),

MORE THAN SUMMER DECORATION FOR SEASHORE COTTAGES OR SPACE-FILLERS ALONG FOUNDATIONS,hydrangeas are versatile shrubs suitable for almost any garden in areas that experience some win-ter cold. Most of the familiar kinds hail from China, the Himalayas, Japan and North America, butothers in this genus of around 100 species come from the Philippines, Indonesia and South Amer-ica.Almost all bloom in white, pink, blue or lavender on mounded or treelike coarse-leaved plants.Lacecap types bear demure seed-producing flowers surrounded by sterile ones, while mopheadsoffer zaftig clusters of all-sterile flowers.The latest trends are dwarf, gold-foliaged and rebloominghydrangeas and ones with oversize flower clusters on sturdy stems.The rebloomers have revolu-tionized hydrangeas and made them available even for gardeners in colder climates. —RAY ROGERS

Heavenly HydrangeasVoluptuous or dainty, hydrangeas offer color and

solid-citizen stability to borders and containers

H. MACROPHYLLA ‘GEN-

ERALE VICOMTESSE

DE VIBRAYE’ AND

‘BRUNETTE’

Container culture main-tains alkaline soil condi-tions, allowing ‘Brunette’ tobear red flowers, while themore acidic soil in theopen ground promotesblue in Generale.

P H OTO G R A P H S B Y L E E A N N E W H I T E

Blue color is everlastingly appointed by the Deity to be a source of delight—J O H N R U S K I N 27G A R D E N D E S I G N

H. INVOLUCRATA

Although not obvious inthis picture, Hydrangeainvolucrata bears pleasinglyfuzzy leaves.These offer anattractive backdrop forthe open, airy lacecapclusters of pale blue topink-mauve fertile flowerspunctuated by a fewshowier, sterile ones.To 3feet tall and twice as wide.

I will be the gladdest thing under the sun! I will touch a hundred flowers and not pick one!—E D N A S T . V I N C E N T M I L L A Y28 M A Y 2 0 0 6

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they grow equally well in partialshade, especially in areas with long,hot summers.Try them in east-fac-ing locations in your garden and inthe bright shade under high-prunedtrees in a woodland setting.Soil Reasonably fertile, well-drained,moist soils with lots of organic mat-ter make hydrangeas happy.Whilethey all tolerate a range of soil pH,

acidity or alkalinity is an issue formacrophylla types. In acidic soils, alu-minum is readily available, promotingblue and purple flowers; alkalinesoils restrict access to aluminum,leading to red, pink and lavender.Regular applications of aluminumsulfate promotes bluer flowers.Care Remove dead wood fromestablished plants of macrophylla,

serrata and involucrata as springgrowth begins, but don’t knock offflower buds at the ends of theshoots. Cutting back paniculatatypes hard in spring promotes larg-er flower clusters. Cut arborescensselections to the ground everyother year or so to keep them neat.Pruning is rarely needed to keepmost quercifolias looking good.

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[1] H. MACROPHYLLA

ENDLESS SUMMER™

Without question thehottest hydrangea in thetrade. Unlike most macro-phyllas,‘Endless Summer’starts blooming early andkeeps producing flowers(on new and old wood)throughout the season.New enough that its ulti-mate height isn’t well-doc-umented; may reach 3 to 4feet tall and wide.[2] H. PANICULATA

‘LIMELIGHT’

Similar to the ‘Grandiflora’(PeeGee) types,‘Limelight’goes one step beyond theothers with its big clustersof lime-green flowers thatage to white. Expect amature plant to reach 10feet high by 6 feet wide.Hardier than manyhydrangeas, to Zone 4.[3] H. MACROPHYLLA

‘MME. FAUSTIN

TRAVOUILLON’

Somewhat smaller thanloftier macrophylla typesat about 4 feet tall, it flow-ers freely and over a longseason. Blooms are darkpink in low-aluminum soils.Also known as ‘Peacock’.[4] H. MACROPHYLLA

‘BRUNETTE’

Always richly colored,whether aluminum is avail-able in the soil (flowers inshades of blue and purple)or not (flowers red). Notas tall or vigorous as manyof its kin, making it a goodchoice for containers.

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The very pink of perfection—O L I V E R G O L D S M I T H30 M A Y 2 0 0 6

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fyi Thanks to WilkersonMill Gardens in Palmetto,Georgia, where most ofthese photos were taken.For more information seewww.hydrangea.com.

We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hands and melting like a snowflake—F R A N C I S B A C O N 31G A R D E N D E S I G N

[1] H. MACROPHYLLA

‘MARÉCHAL FOCH’

Though less cold-hardythan many macrophyllas,the profusion of saturatedrose-pink mopheads of‘Maréchal Foch’ makes it a favorite as an indoorplant in cooler regions.[2] H. QUERCIFOLIA

‘SNOWFLAKE’

Handsome oaklike foliageand attractively peeling sil-very brown bark are rea-sons enough to plant anyquercifolia, but this selec-tion also features foot-long, pyramidal, droopingheads of sterile flowersthat look like stacked stars.Expect it to reach 8 feettall and nearly as wide.

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’Tis my faith that every flower enjoys the air it breathes—W I L L I A M W O R D S W O R T H32 M A Y 2 0 0 6

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designing with hydrangeas White-flowered selections create the illusion of snowballsin summer, especially on plants grown in partial shade. Mass pink and blue types with similarly colored gardenphlox (Phlox paniculata selections) and lilies for a visual confection of candy colors. Blue selections look likesapphires against a gray wall or set alongside a slate patio. Macrophylla selections make imposing containerplants—feature a pair in big lead-colored urns—and paniculata selections can be maintained as good-sized “trees”in large terra-cotta pots. Remember hydrangeas in containers will need extra watering. Quercifolias are theboldest and have the coarsest texture of the lot, lending visual strength to shrub borders and woodland plantings.

[1] H. MACROPHYLLA

‘KARDINAL’

In the presence of soil alu-minum, the intricate lace-cap flowers bear small fer-tile mauve flowers con-tained within a circlet oflarge, dark pink sterileflowers, as seen here.Theentire cluster becomes redin the absence of alu-minum. Less cold-hardythan other macrophyllas.About 3 feet tall.[2] H. MACROPHYLLA

‘GIMPEL’

Fully mature flower headsshow a strong contrast ofwhite fertile flowers andpink sterile ones.Amongthe newer selections(introduced in 1986) andnot as cold-hardy as some.Vigorous plants mature atless than 4 feet high.[3] H. MACROPHYLLA

‘NIGRA’

Although the pink or paleblue flowers are of someinterest, grow thishydrangea more for itsstriking black stems. Extrafertilizer and routineremoval of older shootsencourages stronger,darker new growth. Cangrow 3 feet tall andalmost twice as wide.[4] H. MACROPHYLLA

‘TOKYO DELIGHT’

White lacecaps graduallyturn pink as the seasonprogresses. Has anattractive upright planthabit, and the dark greenleaves acquire red andpurple shades in autumn.Spotted stems offeradditional visual interest.Under 5 feet tall.

http://www.johnandbobs.com

http://www.owlee.com

By the deep Sea, and music in its roar I love not Man the less, but Nature more—L O R D B Y R O N 35G A R D E N D E S I G N

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decorC R E A T I V E I D E A S I N E X T E R I O R D E C O R A T I N G

WHEN PAUL JUNGERWITT AND SUSAN HARRIS WANT TO GET AWAY,THEY SKIP THE AIRPORT HAS-sles and jet lag. Instead,Witt, a film and TV producer, and Harris, aTV writer/producer,motor up the California coast from their home in Brentwood and, in just over an hour,are comfortably ensconced at their seaside retreat on Rincon Point just outside Carpinte-ria. “We love to be here without the phone ringing. It feels much farther away from L.A.than 76 miles,” saysWitt, who produced the movies Insomnia, Three Kings and Dead PoetsSociety.The couple’s stylishly understated weekend escape began as one house over 20 years

The pergola extendstoward the Pacific Ocean,offering multiple optionsfor elegant but relaxedoutdoor living.“We'vehad 40 to 50 people overat one time, and it neverfelt crowded,” Witt says.

OceanViewLuxurious, casual outdoor living, combined

with wild, rugged plants, makesthis coastal retreat a California dream

Alone I walked on the ocean strand, a pearly shell was in my hand—H A N N A H F L A G G G O U L D36 M A Y 2 0 0 6

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ago. Back then, they hired Santa Barbara-based Eric Nagelmann to design a “wild, nat-ural and unrestrained” garden to blend withthe rugged, windswept site. “We wanted itto look like he hadn’t been here, like it justgrew,” says Harris, whose sitcom credits in-clude Soap, Benson and The Golden Girls.

Then, in the early ’90s, the couple boughtthe house next door, razed it and built aguesthouse. “With five children and twograndchildren, we needed more room,”Wittsays. Afterward, Nagelmann knit the twolots together and softened the architectureusing lavish masses of hardy rugosa roses,grasses and sedges such as Ravenna grass andCarex pansa, westringia, lavender and lan-

tana.The result is a dreamy oceanfront par-adise worthy of a five-star resort.F U N C T I O N : Witt and Harris visit theirweekend getaway throughout the year to in-dulge their passions for reading, long walks,playing charades and lingering overcasual meals of salad and grilledfish. “We have a blended family, sothe garden is full of happy memo-ries of when the kids have all got-ten together,” Harris says.F O R M : “Paul and Susan wanted afull view of the beach, but theywanted privacy, too,” Nagelmannsays. He removed a fence that onceseparated his clients’ beach house

Top:The shady entrycourtyard is filled withhydrangeas and Impatiensbalfourii. Right:A remov-able canopy blocks thesun’s glare in summer, theoutdoor fireplace warmsthe patio in winter.

How fine has the day been! How bright was the sun, how lovely and joyful the course that he run!—I S A A C W A T T S 37G A R D E N D E S I G N

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and wood deck from the neighboring prop-erty, now the guest quarters with a pergolashading a cozy fireplace and spacious Can-tera stone patio. He built a massive seawallout of basalt boulders, which added 8 feetto the garden, and finished it with a wrought-iron gate based on an original at the Casa delHerrero estate in nearby Montecito.S T Y L E : Exposure to the seashore’s extremeheat and cold, drying winds and corrosivesalt spray made decorating with sturdy fur-niture and plants a must.“The garden is kind ofglamorous without beingtoo ‘done,’” Nagelmannsays. “There’s a practical-ity to it because thingshave to stand up to theharsh elements.”PLANTS: Harris asked forpink and purple blooms,but since she and Nagel-mann were on the same

page, the couple otherwisegave him free rein. “What’sso unusual about this gar-den is how unplanned itwas.There were never anydrawings; it just evolved,”

she says. In the entry courtyard, hy-drangeas, Impatiens balfourii and nemesiaclamber around clipped boxwood and pot-ted junipers, while ‘Checkerboard’ fuch-sia, bougainvillea and podranea spill over apergola.Along the beach, Carex glauca and

decor

Right:A Weatherendbench sits on a carpet ofzoysia atop the new sea-wall—an ideal spot forwatching the sun set.Opposite:A small patiobetween the two lots getsboth sun and shade nextto an Australian tea tree.

Ravenna grass sprout from the sand,westringia buffers the deck, and small Aus-tralian tea trees (Leptospermum laevigatum)hide the pergola supports. Side hedges ofMelaleuca nesophila and Pittosporum crassi-folium screen out neighbors, and thorny‘Mermaid’ roses discourage trespassers.F U R N I S H I N G S : The pergola’s gossamerpolyester canopy shelters a faux-stone din-ing table lit by a crystal chandelier, McGuirerattan seating and an antique Indian bed up-holstered in fade-resistant Sunbrella fabric.The deck featuresWeatherend teak chaisesand tables, Santa Barbara Umbrella um-brellas and washable white terry-cloth slip-covers.A small patio tucked beneath an ex-isting Australian tea tree recycles a wickersofa and armchairs found in storage.Whether old or new, almost everything hastaken on a weathered patina the ownersadore. “We had some wood furniture re-finished, but it turned out reddish-brown,”Witt says. “We had to wait two years for itto turn silver again.”B O N U S : Like the surfers who flock tocatch Rincon Point’s spectacular swells,Wittand Harris relish winters at the beach almostmore than summers. “Days are shorter, butthe light is golden, the surf is huge and thebeach is empty,”Witt says. “We love beinghere when it’s cold in the afternoon and wecan start a fire at dusk.”—EMILY YOUNG

For more information contact Eric Nagel-mann: 805-966-3928, fax 805-963-2306or e-mail nag@silcom.com.

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For fountains, they are a great beauty and refreshment—F R A N C I S B A C O N40 M A Y 2 0 0 6

style B Y D O N N A D O R I A N

FLOWING ONTO STONE, GURGLINGTHROUGH RUN-nels, overflowing from fountains, cascading infalls, water ushers meaning, movement, soundand tranquility into the garden, just as the meansby which it is introduced—be it fountain, basin,pond or bog—adds a decorative element intothe overall composition.

But how to successfully bring water into thegarden has often been the question.Today, withwater-garden nurseries and garden-ornamentshops more present in the marketplace than everbefore, much of the expense and maintenancetraditionally associated with water features havedisappeared. In turn, craftsmen have begun toevolve a new vocabulary for the design of wa-ter features that addresses the innovative aspectsof landscape design. Here are a handful of man-made, easy-to-install options in new materialsfrom stainless steel to concrete that have begunto redefine the ancient repertoire.

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Contemporary water features for a modern gardenFountains of Life

[1] SOFIE WATER FEATURE:

Resistant to extreme temperature,sun and corrosion and available in arange of colors, this handsome con-

crete fountain is ideal for any setting.Comes with a preassembled under-

water pump and simply requires astandard electric source. Underwaterlights optional. From Studio Four Los

Angeles: available in custom sizes,starting at $1,350. Call 818-343-1600

or see www.studio041a.com.[2] STAINLESS-STEEL GLAZ-

ING BALL FOUNTAIN: Use thiscontemporary water sculpture toadd tranquility indoors or out. In-

cludes UL-approved pump and sub-mersible light. From Unique Arts:

$129 to $149. Call 800-928-3738 orsee www.uniquearts.com.

[3] ASIAN FALLS: Standing justover 4 feet tall, this fountain featuresa cascade of rippling water overbeautiful, natural slate. Nestle thepiece in a garden or use it as the focalpoint on a terrace.Available with re-circulating pump, halogen lighting anddecorative rocks. From Beckett Cor-poration: $269. Call 888-BECKETTor see www.888beckett. com.

I may not hope from outward forms to win the passion and the life, whose fountains are within—S A M U E L T A Y L O R C O L E R I D G E42 M A Y 2 0 0 6

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[4] VASO A CAMPANA FOUN-

TAIN: Converted from a terra-cottapot designed by the renowned Italiancraftsman Francesco Del Re, thisfountain is fitted with a hidden pumpbeneath a bed of stones at its baseand over its inner liner, creating anunusual, naturalistic effect. From Eyeof the Day Garden Design Center:fountain: $2,755; pot without pumpand liner: $2,209. Call 805-566-0778or see www.eyeofthedaygdc.com.[5] ARCADIAN BALL FOUN-

TAIN: Made from a unique water-proof, frostproof cast-stone mix, thistimeless design is perfect for thecontemporary garden.Available inCoade yellow, Portland gray, slate,terra-cotta and creamy Bath. FromHaddonstone: ball fountain, $343;pebble ball fountain and bowl kit,

$504. Call 856-931-7011 or see www.haddonstone.com.[6] CERAMIC WATER FEATURE:

Water only enhances the subtle linesand color of this handcrafted, hand-drawn stoneware piece inspired bynatural forms and ammonite fossils.Frostproof, hollow, light and easy to carry. From Katrina Trinick Ce-ramics: small, $148; large, $340 to$385. Call 011 44 1208 831716 orsee www.ktceramics.co.uk.[7] POLISHED MILLSTONE

FOUNTAIN: Inspired by the traditional millstone, this contempo-rary handmade fountain of polishedblack granite doubles as a contem-porary water sculpture. Installationkits available. From Stone Forest:$1,500. Call 888-682-2987 or see www.stoneforest.com.

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www.domila.com 866.359.0085

“New classics for the modern garden”

A Division of Amexiport

find balance

The Equilibrio Chaise LoungeAll-Weather Wicker

D O M I L AD

The art of dining well is no slight art, the pleasure not a slight pleasure—M I C H E L D E M O N T A I G N E 45G A R D E N D E S I G N

entertainingE N J O Y T H E G R E A T O U T D O O R S

“WHEN ENTERTAINING OUTDOORS,bring the outdoors to the table,”says Dan Zelen, a multitasking de-signer whose Los Angeles-basedshop, Zelen Home, opened itsdoors in spring 2004. (At only 800square feet, the shop is where goodthings—furnishings, accessories,and tabletop wares—come in smallpackages.) Also working as a styl-ist and the creative director of thetrendsetting garden décor shop In-ner Gardens in L.A., Dan is knownfor his instant recognition of what’shot and what’s not—and for hav-ing an eye for imbuing each of hisfloral arrangements with all the jene sais quoi of a fashion statement.

Invited to decorate a table foran early-evening party outdoors,Dan worked with L.A. landscapedesigner Scott Shrader, who de-

signed the outdoor space,to make sure that table,chairs, terrace and poolenvironment all workedtogether.Then focusingon the tabletop itself,Dan looked for inspira-tion in his own shop,where a set of look-alike

Designer Dan Zelen, top,decorated a tabletop for anoutdoor party as if he weredesigning a small seasidegarden with plants andobjects from the sea.

P H OTO G R A P H S B Y S T E V E G U N T H E R

Plein Air Dining Designer Dan Zelen creates an

al fresco tabletop with ideas inspired by the fruits of the sea and the garden

sea urchin shell bowls and a can-delabra he designed from mesquitewood sparked the idea of design-ing the table with an ocean motif.In a sense it was just like designinga room, where a single piece offurniture—here a single accesso-ry—sets the stage for every styledecision that follows.

Dan’s point was to make a table

look like a seashore garden. So in-stead of engineering the usualflowers in a vase, he placed thedriftwood candelabra at the cen-ter of the table and then set whitesand, sea shells, succulents, coralshells and the sea urchin bowls di-rectly on the table, as if the table-top were the beach itself. Like awell-orchestrated still life, every-

thing became part of the scene—the Martini picks were eachtopped with a cultured pearl, andeven the fruits matched the colorscheme.—DONNA DORIAN

For more information on Dan ZelenHome, call 323-658-6755. For moreinformation on Scott Shrader, seewww.shraderdesign.com.

At a dinner party one should eat wisely but not too well, and talk well but not too wisely—S O M E R S E T M A U G H A M46 M A Y 2 0 0 6

entertaining

An overview of the tabledisplays an ocean-themedassortment of mesquitewood, succulents, starfishand shells interspersedbetween vintage dishesand stemware.

t ips for outdoor tabletops: Begin with a theme—here Dan drew on objects found alongthe seashore. Incorporate flowers and foliage from the garden at hand; for example, use grapevines as run-ners, hosta leaves as placemats—or visit your local nursery for ideas. Before the meal begins, accent the tablewith food that participates in the color scheme—here the grapes and the wine repeat the purple of succulentsand sea urchin shells, while strawberries pick up the colors of the cranberry glass bowls and napkins.

After the meal is over, plant what you can back into the garden (which means don’t remove their roots!).

But where is the man that can live without dining?—O W E N M E R E D I T H 47G A R D E N D E S I G N

Clockwise from top left:An olive pierced by a Martini pick topped with a cultured pearl suggestsan attention to detail thatnever goes unnoticed.The textures and colors of a purple succulent, astarfish and a ceramic bowldesigned to simulate a seaurchin shell reiterate theoverall seaside concept.To bring the memory ofthe beach to the table,Zelen scattered sandlikecrushed white glass on thetable and topped it with astarfish and a succulent.Decorated with the fruitsof the garden and the sea,the tabletop is sprinkledwith red strawberries onred linen napkins helddown by a coral seashell in a coordination of coloras well as theme.

I am thankful for the mess to clean after a party because it means I have been surrounded by friends—N A N C I E C A R M O D Y48 M A Y 2 0 0 6

entertaining

sourcebookYinYang dining table by

Kenneth Cobonpue: $3,113;Mosaix Athena dining armchairs:$1,250 each, both available fromJanus et Cie. Call 800-24-JANUSor see www.janusetcie. com.

Dan Zelen’s sandblastedmesquite-wood candelabra: $325;vintage stemware: various prices;ceramic sea urchin bowls: $40 to$120; sterling silver Martini pickswith cultured-pearl tops: set offour, $225, all available at ZelenHome. Call 323-658-6756 or see www.zelenhome.com.

Large blue French ceramicchargers: $40 each; Nouvel Studiocranberry glass bowls: $14 each;linen napkins by Libeco Home:$20 each, all available at BarneysNewYork. Call 212-826-8900.

Professionali Martini glasses:By Colle for Table Art, set of 4,$120. Call 323-653-8278 or seewww.tartontheweb.com.

Placemats by ThomasO’Brien:Target, $4.99 each.Available from Target stores.

Shells, starfish and crushedwhite glass:Wasabi Green.Call 213-629-0068.

Assorted succulents: InnerGardens. Call 310-838-8378 or see www.innergardens.com.

Style can make complicated things seem simple, or simple things complicated—J E A N C O C T E A U50 M A Y 2 0 0 6

IN THE PANTHEON OF CONTEMPORARY DESIGN,Philippe Starck has earned a unique place.Arguably the most influential designer of hisera, he is one of a rare few to achieve inter-national rock-star status.Although he is best-known for designer hotels, a genre he helpedinvent, his work encompasses an improba-ble spectrum that includes air-traffic-con-trol towers, motorcycles, Olympic torch-es, sneakers and, interestingly for peoplewith gardens, outdoor furniture.

Starck has received myriadawards and has held exhibitionsin almost every major cityaround the world. He’s also therecipient of other, less-obviousbut perhaps more-coveted ac-colades. First, he has earned theadmiration of his hard-coremodern design peers, despite acertain goofiness.This admira-

groundbreakerI N N O V A T I V E M I N D S I N G A R D E N D E S I G N

tion is deserved because he embraces newtechnologies readily and is a forward thinkerwhose personal and social agenda is one ofrebellion—the core value of modern design.Second, and perhaps more impressive, isthat the Italians have embraced and sup-ported him as if he were one of their own.I consider this to be an uncommon trait forItalians since they are fiercely protective oftheir cultural uniqueness.You’ll have tosearch hard to find French restaurants inMilan, yet chairs designed by this particu-lar Frenchman are common in the chic out-door cafés near the Duomo.

Radical designs for the outdoors, such as

French designerPhilippe Starckrevolutionized out-door furniture withthe plastic BubbleClub Series andPrince Aha Stool.

Plastic FantasticPhilippe Starck:“I think of the outdoors

just like the indoors, but without a roof ”

the 2000 Bubble Club series, are quintes-sential Starck statements. Inflated versionsof traditional interior lounge chairs and so-fas, they are made from polyethylene, a kindof plastic.The series is a blend of fantasy andfunction, Felliniesque in humor, iconoclas-tic, yet highly functional.When I asked Star-ck recently about the inspiration for thesepieces, he said the idea came to him as hewas kayaking to one of his oyster beds in thesouth of France. His boat was made using astrong, durable and cheap material, and hedecided it might work just as well in out-door furniture. Bubble Club is the result.

But in general Starck and his retailersavoid labeling his furniture “indoor” or “out.”Advances in durable plastics and new tech-nologies have allowed him to apply his cre-ative talents to a range of furniture that canbe used outdoors, from the polypropylene(read plastic) Dr. No chair and Prince Ahastools in the 1990s to his recent polycar-bonate Ghost Family of products. But hismotivation was not so much the versatility

of use between the in-terior and exterior asthe availability ofwell-designed furni-ture for the masses.

What makes thesepieces singular, andwhy have they been sosuccessful?There is nomystery here. It is allabout “play.”Tradition-ally, outdoor furniturehas been treated as a

serious matter, constrained by a limitedpalette of materials. Prior to WorldWar II,the materials best able to endure the ele-ments were limited to teak and coated castiron. In the years since, modern materialssuch as stainless steel, aluminum and plas-tic resin have become available. But gar-dening traditionalists, whether their styles

groundbreaker

fyi Philippe Starck’s rangeof indoor and outdoorfurnishings are available inthe United States throughDesign Within Reach(www.dwr.com; 800-944-2233) and Kartell (www.kartellus.com; 866-854-8823). See also www.philippe-starck.com.

are Japanese, French or Eng-lish, have typically favoredthe old standards. Designershave not had much latitude—or attitude—for experi-mentation. So even today,most outdoor furniture isproudly derivative.

Starck, in contrast, bringsanAlice-in-Wonderland sen-sibility to this genre, pro-ducing colorful, oversize pieces with loungeand living-room references. He tweaks theappropriateness of tradition as he upends thenotion of appropriate materials. Much mod-ern architecture and design is associated withconnecting the outdoors with the indoors,which usually translates into making the out-side accessible and visible to those inside.Starck’s Bubble Club group goes further, lit-erally turning the inside out, transportingthe living room to the garden.This reversalresults in what Starck would call “surreal-ism,” merging modernism with classicism.

There is one obvious and inevitable crit-icism that can fairly be leveled at this work.To be truly modern today, designers andmanufacturers must take into account is-sues of sustainability and recycling. In a timeof justifiable environmental consciousness,Starck’s otherwise admirable pieces arequestionable.While such big, bulky objectstechnically can be recycled, many will endup in landfills, creating another surreal, ifunintended, image. Starck should playaround with this concept a little more. Butthen again, he is less interested in the “re-sponsible” side of modernism. He leavesthat to us as well.—ROB FORBES

Rob Forbes founded Design Within Reachin 1999, where he works with all aspects ofdesign, and edits Design Notes, DWR’shighly regarded online newsletter. He can bereached at rforbes@dwr.com.

Above: Made ofpolycarbonate,Starck’s LouisGhost stools, likethe rest of theGhost line, arepractical, colorfuland adorable.

Vancouver is lovely—A N T H O N Y M . H A L L54 M A Y 2 0 0 6

abroadO N T H E R O A D W I T H G A R D E N D E S I G N

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mer, which is also high garden season—butdon’t let the crowds scare you off.

Horticultural feasting peaks from late Feb-ruary to the end of May, as flowering cher-ries and plums brighten city streets. Look formagnolias and billowy, double pink Higancherries, crabapples and horse chestnuts.Come summer, Victoria’s Inner Harbourlampposts, among some 1,000 citywide, arebedecked with hanging baskets trailing brightblooms—these are the postcard baskets thathave come to symbolize the city.

Among many choice places to stay, con-siderAbigail’s Hotel, where you’ll enjoy luxe

lodgings and proximity toBeacon Hill Park.Wild-flowers blanket the parkin springtime, followedby radiant Victorian bed-ding schemes in summerand fall. At the park’sboundary with DallasRoad, a waterfront pathreveals grand vistas of theOlympic Mountains anddazzling sunsets.

Enchanting AbkhaziGarden is tucked away in a quiet Victorianeighborhood. Garry oaks preside over apanoply of species, including 100-year-oldrhododendrons, in the garden’s artistical-ly planted rocky terrain. Created over aspan of more than four decades by Princeand Princess Abkhazi, the glorious land-

LAST FALL,WHILE I WAS “RESEARCHING”A BOOK

on great garden walks, a sojourn to Van-couver Island, B.C., reminded me how itstemperate climate—and British gardeningtradition—has contributed to an inspiringcollection of horticultural riches. For any-one interested in gardening, the island isbrimming with evocative landscapes that ex-tend well beyondThe Butchart Gardens, adestination point for droves of tourists—highly pleased tourists, I should add.

VICTORIA,THE ISLAND’S JEWELThe capital of British Columbia, at thesouthern tip of Vancouver Island, the city ofVictoria boasts an English ambiance and19th-century architecture.Visitors typical-ly arrive en masse by ferry from Seattle ormainlandVancouver, especially in midsum-

Top left, clockwise:Garry oaks withblooming azalea atAbkhazi Garden.Sooke HarbourHouse on theStrait of Juan deFuca. Restaurantat Harbour House.

MoreThan Butchart

abroad

scape is now cared for byThe Land Conservancy ofCanada. A tearoom in theproperty’s heritage home is

a fine spot to re-energize with a snack.

BEYONDTHE CITYAbout 14 miles north of Victoria, TheButchart Gardens, with beds and bordersbrimming with seasonal color, has drawnover a million tourists. The remarkabletransformation of a limestone quarry be-gan a century ago, when Jenny Butchartbegan creating her bit of garden.Today, the55-acre landscape is famous for its SunkenGarden set off by a fountain and ponds. InDecember, festive Christmas lighting cre-ates a fanciful night garden.

A journey fromVictoria west to Sooke isan exceptional outing.The trip traces the WestShore’s Old Island Highway and calls for astopover at Hatley Park, one of NorthAmer-ica’s finest examples of an intact Edwardianestate. Stroll through the voluptuous array ofJapanese, Italian and English rose gardens sur-rounding regal Hatley Castle.

Nestled in the countryside near Sooke,Markham House Bed & Breakfast gives overa wing of a Tudor-style home and a separatecottage to inviting accommodations.

Outside Sooke village, Sooke HarbourHouse, an idyllic retreat perched on a bluffoverlooking the Strait of Juan de Fuca, of-fers dreamy rooms with views.The inn’srestaurant features fresh local ingredientsflavored with delicacies such as the light

Abkhazi Garden,created over fourdecades, with asprawling old rho-dodendron under-planted with fawnlilies (erythronium).

301 North Baldwin AvenueArcadia, CA 91007

Thanking Our Sponsors for Their Support

An Entertaining Garden

See the finest examples of entertaining gardensdesigned by the best designers in Southern California.Buy unique plants, shop at the Marketplace and learnfrom well-known experts and authors. The ongoing entertainment, food and children’s nature crafts will create a fun-filled weekend for all to enjoy.

Garden Show Hours are 9AM to 4:30PM. Early admission for Arboretum Members is 8AM.Regular admission fees apply: $2.50 – $7.00 Arboretum members are always free.

For More Information visit www.arboretum.org or call 626.821.3222

La Garden ShowMAY 6 & 7, 2006

green needles of grand firs. Guestsand the public are invited to dailytours of the organic gardens of ed-ible plants.The mist-shrouded-hill-side setting encompasses anotherwonder: Meander to the water’sedge for a glimpse of sinuous Whif-fen Spit, a natural formation akinto an earthwork.

If you are interested in visitingprivate garden sanctuaries reflect-ing Pacific Northwest style, checkwithVictorian Garden Tours; theycan put together a day with accessto gardens designed by true col-orists and avid plant collectors.

And don’t overlookVancouverIsland’s public garden displays, especiallyGovernment House Gardens and thedemonstration gardens of the HorticultureCentre of the Pacific. —ALICE JOYCE

Alice Joyce is the author of the recently pub-lished Gardenwalks in the Pacific Northwest(The Globe Pequot Press,March 2006,$14.95).

What to See:Abkhazi Garden. Call 250-598-8096 or

see www.conservancy.bc.ca/abkhazi.Beacon Hill Park. Call 250-361-0600.The Butchart Gardens. Call 866-652-

4422 or 250-652-5256 for recorded infor-mation. See www.butchartgardens.com.

Government House Gardens. Call 250-356-5139 or see www.ltgov.bc.ca.

Hatley Park National Historic Site. Call866-241-0674 or see www.hatleypark.ca.

Horticulture Centre of the Pacific. Call250-479-6162 or see www.hcp.bc.ca.

Victorian Garden Tours. Call 250-380-2797 or see www.victoriangardentours.com.Where to Stay:

Abigail’s Hotel. Call 800-561-6565 orsee www.abigailshotel.com.

Markham House B&B. Call 888-256-6888 or see www.markhamhouse.com.

Sooke Harbour House. Call 800-889-9688 or see www.sookeharbourhouse.com.Ferry Information:

BC Ferries. Call 888-223-3779 or seewww.bcferries.com.

Victoria Clipper. Call 800-888-2535 orsee www.victoriaclipper.com.V

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A curtain of cape fuchsia(phygelius) drapes thegate leading to PennyBianchi’s outdoor livingarea, where she enter-tains her friends underthe arms of a live oak.

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THE SECRET OF SANTA BARBARA—AND ITS ELEGANT SUBURB MONTECITO—LIES IN ITS GEOGRAPHY.Located on one of the few east-west coastlines in the country and nestled below the Santa Ynez Moun-tains, the beaches and hillsides face sun all day and temperatures remain mild year round. Its veryspecial Mediterranean climate has nurtured a staggering assortment of plants and outdoor-living op-portunities. Nurserymen and fruit growers discovered the area in the late 19th century.The rich andglamorous followed in the 1920s, designing grand Spanish Colonial Revival estates and gardens.Thetraditions of expert horticulture and exquisite outdoor design continue today. Join us as we shareideas from three gracious Montecito gardens—full of ideas for outdoor living and decorating wher-ever you live.And if you get to the area, we offer places to visit and shop for Santa Barbara style.

B Y D O N N A D O R I A N P H O T O G R A P H S B Y S T E V E G U N T H E R

LADOLCEVITA SWEET IDEAS FOR GRACIOUS

OUTDOOR LIVING FROMMONTECITO—A HAVENOF HORTICULTURE INTHEHEART OF SANTA BARBARA

GROWN FROM THE GROUND UP TO ENCOURAGE A HABITAT FOR NATIVEWILDLIFE, PENNY BIANCHI’SMontecito garden, flush with gates made from willow, roses, olive trees and thickets ofvines, holds all the resonance of a carefree cottage garden in the Provençal countryside.

An interior designer with a penchant for creating the enchanted mise-en-scene, Pennyformed the vision for her garden soon after she and her husband purchased their prop-erty nine years ago.While exploring a neighboring 45-acre nature preserve and work-ing closely with her landscape advisers, she began to observe firsthand what it wouldtake to create a garden that would follow nature’s course.

Penny’s first act in her own garden was to create a pond.Today a list of wildlife al-most too long to cite—blue gill and bass, deer, raccoons, skunks, ducks, great blueherons, redtail and cooper’s hawks, some 50 other species of birds and even a coyote—can be seen in and around the pond. In the midst of the pond is a duck cote. Penny an-chored it there after discovering that it takes at least 52 days for baby mal-lards to fly, making them prey to a great range of animals. Now ninefull-grown pairs of mallards make their home in her garden.

Some years after the pond went in, a longtime resident of Montecitocame by and mentioned how nice it was that Penny had brought the pondback after it had been covered up so many years ago to make room for ariding paddock. It was only then Penny realized that her first act in thegarden was to restore a native wetland.

When Oprah Winfrey moved in next door, a covey of wild quail, up-set by the initial commotion, made their way into Penny’s yard. Pennydidn’t mind at all. (She reciprocated by handing Oprah fresh chicken eggs

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Above:A gate made fromwillow leads to the guest-house. Right: Punctuatedby purple butterfly bush,the pond is at the centerof a certified NationalWildlife FederationBackyard Wildlife Habitat.

A GARDEN FOR QUAILAND CASUAL ENTERTAINING

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through the fence on many mornings.) Because quail areground-nesters, Penny planted low-growing shrubberyaround the pond to provide them with cover.

Instead of grass or concrete, Penny covered much of theground with pea gravel, which allows rainwater to seep di-rectly into the soil without runoff. Elsewhere, she planted ros-es to feed the deer (yes, really) and covered the house withvines (morning glory,Virginia creeper, clematis and wisteria)to feed the birds and provide cover for small animals.At thesame time she banned all clippers, blowers and mowers, aswell as all pesticides and herbicides.When Penny contacted

the NationalWildlife Federation, they certified the garden as a BackyardWildlife Habitat.Penny and her husband usually wake to the call of their rooster, who seems to think

he owns the place. Being partly responsible for the 11 chickens born this year (one ofthe hens hid her eggs behind a bag of alfalfa), he has certain claims.As domesticated an-imals, the 22 chickens, rooster and two dogs are all treated just as well as the wildlife,walking behind Penny through the garden, under the arbors and over the bridge thatcrosses a small stream running across the back of the yard.

Penny hosts parties under the branches of two live oaks.The long table is coveredwith a printed Provençal tablecloth and set alongside antique wrought-iron chairs, ascene that seems to have stepped out of an Impressionist painting. Penny says, “A visi-tor once told me that he rents a house in Provence every summer, but he thought I did-n’t need to do that. He said, ‘You already have your place in Provence right here.’”

Left: Surrounded by oaktrees and with a chande-lier hanging in the tree-tops, Penny Bianchi (hold-ing dog, right) hosts herparties Provençal-style.Succulents and lanternsdecorate her table (top).

“THE FARMTABLE SET FOR A PARTYSEEMSTO HAVE STEPPED OUT

OF AN IMPRESSIONIST PAINTING”

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SOPHISTICATED AND TO THE POINT, THE SMALL EVERGREEN GARDEN SHOWN ON THESE PAGES

summarizes a lifetime of experiences in the landscape. Created by a retired garden de-signer very much at the top of her form, it takes a restrained approach to the year-roundpossibilities of gardening in the Montecito area.

Avoiding perennials that change their face through the seasons, the garden focuses main-ly on variegated foliage and the contrasts between leaf colors—all to the benefit of form.Except for a rose garden set against the south stone wall of the house and the blooms thatcome and go on the apple tree, there is hardly a flower in the place.

The main garden, a handsome potager just outside the kitchen, relies almost solelyon the shape and foliage of ornamental herbs and fruit trees. Only lettuce and tomatoesare grown for the kitchen in spring and late summer.

Although the end result is a becoming classicism, the point of the garden is ease andfunction. Because each herb is planted in a stone pot, there is no digging in the ground,and even the pea-gravel ground cover is maintenance-free.While the herbs are changedout or moved from here to there, the bones of the garden—bay laurel, box, rosemary, andapple and grapefruit trees—remain constant, giving structure to the garden year round.

Adjacent to the potager is a second garden planted with easy-to-maintain shrubs,such as hydrangea, ceanothus and hebe. In between is an outdoor living area centeredaround an antique lead cistern and decorated with wicker furnishings. Here the familybasks in the Montecito climate surrounded by their elegant garden rooms.

Right:An English lead cistern is stationed in the middle of the patio.Opposite, top left, clock-wise:The herb garden;relaxed seating on thepatio; a birdbath stops the eye at the end of the shrub garden; herbgarden near the kitchen.

A GARDEN EASY AND FUNCTIONAL,ALMOST ALL CONTAINERS

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THE THREE GARDENS THAT SURROUND GREG AND BARBARA SIEMON’S HILLSIDE VILLA GIVE A

virtuoso performance that explores the range and spirit of Montecito’s climate and allthe major themes of the Mediterranean planting palette.

At the end of a long drive, an ancient orchid cactus presides on a limestone bench. Justbeyond, a gate opens to a stone-floored foyer and a stone wraparound seating area.There,beneath the wide branches of a native California oak, a banco offers a view of a full house ofoutdoor rooms—a pergola-covered dining area, a swimming pool, and a casita outfittedwith kitchen, lounge and bedroom. Datura and wisteria perfume the air. So inclusive is thespace that the Siemons lived in the casita as their house neared completion.

The garden began with Barbara poring over photos of gardens in Provence. She took hercues from French hillside terraces, dry-stacked stone walls and pea-gravel paths—and par-ticularly from the interplanting of lavender, rosemary and olivetrees, leading her to import two dozen 100-year-old olive spec-imens. In her desire for accuracy, she even placed a ladder againstan olive tree “partly because it looks so picturesque,” she says,“but also because to harvest an olive, one needs to climb up aladder and shake the fruit down from the tree.”

Barbara admits that the garden below the house was a ma-jor challenge from the first, given that the hillside was coveredwith nothing but the tough local natives—poison ivy and cac-tus.And it was so steep that it took three or four people to holdonto her and her collaborator, landscape designer Heidie Bald-win, to negotiate a safe path down the hill. Meanwhile, re-searching what would grow on a south-facing slope in Mon-tecito confined Barbara to herbs, olives and succulents. If the

Left: Built on a steep hill-side, the Siemon houselooks down on a terracedgarden planted in olivetrees, rosemary andlavender, while a wood-land garden (below)spreads on the hillsideabove. Right:The antiqueSpanish gate exemplifiesthe detailing of the out-door living areas.

HILLSIDE OF OLIVES AND OUTDOOR ROOMS

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Above:The Spanish-stylebanco is made comfort-able by pillows and pro-tected from the sun bythe arms of a huge nativeoak. Right:An orchidcactus grows beneath a pepper tree at theentrance to the house.

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garden isn’t actually original to the site, it brilliantly presents what nature intended.Above the house is another world, a woodland garden crisscrossed by a path whose end

offers a breathtaking panorama of the canyons of the Santa Ynez Mountains beyond.Wanting the garden to naturalize under the canopy of its established native oaks, Bar-bara planted only what could thrive there on its own—agapanthus, pittosporum, choco-late and peppermint scented geraniums, ornamental grasses and iris. At the top of thehillside, she nestled an orchid house moved from an early-20th-century Montecito es-tate. And a meditation garden, with a pond punctuated by a weeping mulberry and anancient Chinese soy mill converted into a quiet fountain, provides another retreat.

“Olives, pepper trees and oaks formed the atmospheric mix of the old mission-stylegardens of the area,” explains Barbara.They are the grand strokes of this pleasure gar-den, too, which, after much labor, an acute attention to detail and careful, abundantplanting, fulfills the sweet promise of Montecito.

“THE BANCO OFFERS AVIEW FROMTHEOUTDOOR DINING AREATOTHE CASITA”

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l o t u s l a n d The late Polish opera singer Madame Ganna Walska spent

45 years designing this flamboyant botanical garden (above). Composed of

rare, unusual and endangered tropical and semitropical plants, this surrealist,

theatrical presentation is counted among the most outstanding gardens in

America. Reservations required well in advance. 695 Ashley Road, Montecito;

805-969-9990; www.lotusland.org.

s a n t a b a r b a r a b o t a n i c g a r d e n Dedicated to

the biodiversity and conservation of native California plants, this historic

property with its meadow, mission dam and aqueduct offers premier display

gardens and changing exhibitions. 1212 Mission Canyon Road, Santa

Barbara; www.sbbg.org; 805-682-4726.

e ye o f t h e d ay French

antique Anduze pottery and limestone

fountains, English lead urns, handmade

terra-cotta, hand-carved stone statuary

and American-made benches make this

exquisite collection world class (above).

4620 Carpinteria Ave., Carpinteria; 805-

566-0778; www.eyeofthedaygdc.com.

w i l l i a m l a m a n Well-edited

shop with an ever-changing mix of looks

and products for interior and garden,

ranging from the contemporary to the

antique, gathered everywhere from

Western Europe to Asia. 1496 E.Valley

Road, Montecito; 805-969-2840.

www.williamlaman.com.

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c a s a d e l h e r r e r oThis Spanish Colonial Revival house

and its array of distinct and fabulous

gardens open a doorway into the glam-

orous world of old Montecito (below).

Tiled fountains and runnels guide the

way through gardens influenced by the

Spanish Moors, the 16th-century Italian

Renaissance and 19th-century England.

Along with Lotusland, this historic

garden continues to have a strong

influence on the private gardens in the

area. Reservations are required. 1387

E.Valley Road, Montecito; 805-565-5653;

www.casadelherraro.com.

s e a s i d e g a r d e n sThis full-service nursery is the garden

community’s gathering spot (below).

Functioning as a virtual botanical library,

it offers a wide range of unusual plants,

state-of-the-art display gardens and design

services. 3700 Via Real, Carpinteria;

805-684-6001; www.seaside-gardens.com.

t u r k h e s s e l l u n dNamed for its original owner, the

40-year-old institution of Turk

Hessellund Nursery (above), located

among the shops and restaurants of

Santa Barbara, is now run by the

knowledgeable Raymond Sodomka. A

one-of-a-kind nursery known for its

jam-packed, kaleidoscopic plant offer-

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wowbelgianB Y J E N N Y A N D R E W S

AT THE HEART OF EUROPE SITS THE SMALL COUNTRY OF BELGIUM,a creative milieu where contemporary and traditional styleseasily intertwine. Nowhere is this more obvious than in Bel-gium’s cutting-edge floral design.The impetus for this is part-ly historical, partly cultural. Close-neighbor Holland has dom-inated the floral industry for over 400 years, and Belgium hasbeen renowned throughout Europe for its nurseries since theturn of the last century. Even art history has had its influence—the floral still-life painting of the Dutch Masters in the 16th and17th centuries set the tone for flower arranging for hundredsof years.Though bouquets are popular in the United States,there is no comparison to the passion for cut flowers in Europe.They are part of everyday life, a staple like bread and milk; every

small town has its flower shop (or several).And Europeans takethe craft of floral design very seriously—as a field of study itrequires years of rigorous education and apprenticeship.

What has emerged is a style that shows a deep under-standing of the innate qualities of even the simplest materi-als, combines European mass arrangements with oriental sim-plicity, and is familiar yet somehow startling.Three designerswhose work exemplifies the best of Belgian floral art are DaniëlOst, Geert Pattyn and Nico De Swert. These are not justflower arrangers but artists, who use the full wealth of natureto sculpt their visions, creating pieces that are both innova-tive and a fusion of classic styles, a celebration of fleeting beau-ty and the power of flowers to transform living spaces.

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Examples from three ofBelgium’s top floraldesigners. Far left: GeertPattyn’s sci-fi sculptedaspidistra leaves. Left:Daniël Ost’s stylish com-bination of Zantedeschiaaethiopica ‘GreenGoddess’, Aspidistra punc-tata and Symphoricarposalbus. Below: Nico DeSwert’s dainty tapestryof wax flower blossoms.

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NICO DE SWERT’S PRIMARY INSPIRATION IS COLOR,YET HIS PREFERENCE

is not riotous multihued explosions but sophisticated, monochro-

matic combinations through which he can better explore the sculp-

tural qualities of his materials. In fact, he considers himself a “floral

sculptor” rather than an arranger. Educated at the RoyalAcademy of

FineArt in Antwerp and trained in the trenches of the European cut-

flower industry, De Swert brings an artist’s eye to his work.Also an

interior stylist, he is keenly conscious of how an arrangement fits

and even transforms a room, like any work of art.

Rather than nature re-created, his arrangements are “nature re-

cast,” using berries, leaves, stems and flowers like actors in a play—

hydrangea blossoms in a vertical “painting” or grasses as

wall sconces.The traditional often takes a twist, like the

beehive hairdo of gloriosa lilies above.Wanting to bring

the European love affair with flowers to the States, De

Swert now works as a top stylist in NewYork.

Photographs byWendall T.Webber from Nico De Swert:Living with Flowers (Harry N. Abrams, 2005, $40).

Nico De Swert

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Far left, top: Gloriosa liliesstacked in a glowingdome above a sleek vase.Far left, below: Mambo®

roses peek from an orbof southern magnolialeaves whose brownundersides complementthe tawny blooms.Thispage:A trio of wall vaseswith setaria grass adds awild yet chic element to acontemporary setting.

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This page:A flat bowlmakes a mini pond forfloating duckweed(Lemna minor), edgedby bay laurel leaves(Laurus nobilis) strungtogether. Far right, top:A dress sculpturemade from raffia andmoney plant (Lunariaannua). Far right,below:A pattypansquash makes a hand-like container for astill-green flower headof Sedum spectabile.

GEERT PATTYN IS MORE THAN A MAKER OF BEAUTIFUL BOUQUETS. HIS

creations are integral, even if temporary, elements in the overall de-

sign of the space rather than simply accessories to a room.There is an

elegant minimalism in much of his work, but the apparent simplicity

is deceptive—there is ingenuity in weaving steel grass

into globes for lights or using a pattypan squash as a vase.

Inspired by working on his parents’ farm, Pattyn knew

from a young age that he would become a floral design-

er.After studying horticulture and floristry, he launched

his own business on his family’s property in Geluwe.The

renovated outbuildings that now form his studio, house

and conservatory serve as a sort of floral-design laboratory, accom-

panied by a garden where Pattyn gathers materials. His designs range

from a bounteous bouquet of cosmos fresh from his garden to a wed-

ding-dinner display to abstract sculptures of twigs and branches.

Twice awarded the coveted title of Champion Florist in Flanders,

Pattyn has represented Belgium in international competitions, fre-

quently gives courses and demonstrations, and is a regular contrib-

utor to the Belgian floral design magazine Fleur Créatif.

Photographs by BartVan Leuven from Floral Interior Decoration(Stichting Kunstboek, 2003, $73; www.stichtingkunstboek.com).

Geert Pattyn

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IT’S IMPOSSIBLE TO TALK ABOUT FLORAL ART, PARTICULARLY IN BELGIUM,

without mentioning Daniël Ost. His very personal blending of West-

ern floral traditions and Eastern sensibilities is unique, and his works

often look like a cross between a Baroque Flemish painting and Japan-

ese ikebana. Indeed, Ost’s work is a dynamic study in contrasts—

bountiful and thrifty, ephemeral and earthy, contemporary and Old

World, celebrating new growth and decline. Born in Sint-Niklaas,

where he still lives and maintains a shop (a second shop is in Brus-

sels), Ost has been at the top of his field since the 1980s.

Though he creates arrangements from the sumptuous to the high-

ly stylized, flowers are not always the focus, sometimes not appear-

ing at all amid bark, leaves, twigs, seaweed, moss, fruit

and seedpods.And the pieces are often a celebration of

senescence as much as burgeoning new growth.All parts

and all stages of plant life are fair game.

Ost’s creations go far beyond home décor, challeng-

ing conventional views of floral design. Many pieces are

more like installation art or performance art for plants,

utilizing unexpected materials, unusual containers and even startling

settings.As much as a creation of art, Ost’s work is intended to pro-

voke thought, set a mood and spark emotion.

Photographs by Robert Dewild from Remaining Flowers (Lannoo,2004). Ost’s work can also be seen in his other books Leafing ThroughFlowers (Callaway, 2000) and Invitations (Lannoo, 2004).

Daniël Ost

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Far left, top:Whirlingdervishes of cycadcones (Encephalartoslaurentianus) and Larixdecidua stems. Far left,below: Individualblooms of hydrangeaperched on a spiro-graph pattern ofXerophyllum tenaxabove elderberries.This page: Maidenhairfern and rubus with amillinery look echo theelegant vase pattern.

Summers in Maine are f leeting spectacles of color and spice—at least if you follow the

“no-fear, no-holds-barred” approach of a culinary couple and their inventive designer

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shor t but sweet

B Y T O V A H M A R T I N P H O T O G R A P H S B Y LY N N K A R L I N

Left:Where colors arestrong, garden designerJacquelyn Nooneyharnesses the power ofmonosweeps—like thissedum ‘Autumn Joy’, rud-beckia ‘Goldsturm’ andboxwood combinationat Stonewall Kitchen.Right:The same theoryof blocks of color, formand texture beingbounced back and forthplays out at the Stott/King residence.

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BOSTON PROPER MIGHT GIVE OUT BUTTONED-DOWN VIBES, BUT

nearbyYork, in Maine, wants you to know that it is anything butconventional.The moment you nose north and glide over theMaine border, gardening goes distinctly unplugged.

For Jonathan King, a longtime resident of Maine who knowsthe weather all too well, to garden or not was never negotiable.Playing in the soil was intrinsic to his psyche (“It’s one of thefew things that keeps me completely focused”), even thoughthe climate renders the growing season brief.Actually, the com-pressed time slot might be one reason why Jonathan, a psy-chology major, turned to jam making, a hobby he subsequently turned intothe East Coast gourmet empire known as Stonewall Kitchen. Jon will tellyou that the jam idea began because of his Yankee distaste for tossing any-thing that could possibly be squirreled away.At any rate, he devoted his post-college days to working in greenhouses and moonlighting in restaurants.Similarly, his partner Jim Stott also had split affinities: He managed his ownconstruction firm during daylight, then waited in a restaurant after dark.That’s where the two were when they began hauling their hand-labeled pre-serves from Jon and Jim’s extensive vegetable/herb garden in Hampton,New Hampshire, to a local farmer’s market.The rest is culinary history.

Apparently, the two had a knack for mak-ing summer bloom eternal (if only for yourtaste buds), because their business mush-roomed from the inception of the StonewallKitchen brand in 1991, eventually requir-ing bigger digs.The two now live close bytheir 55,000-square-foot corporate head-quarters in York. Having always cultivatedsecondhand growing spaces, Jon longed tofashion a garden from scratch. So this timearound they bought what was basically anoversize sandbox, 25 acres total. It was allpotential with no prearranged footprints.

That’s when Jacquelyn Nooney enteredthe picture. In the landscape biz since 1984and with plenty of experience under her belt(she’s the principle of Jacquelyn NooneyLandscape, Inc.), she has dual strengths:strong structure and inventive/off-the-beat-en-path plants, which includes a fabled sym-pathy for annuals. (Since customers are aptto jump immediately to images of wax be-gonias when they encounter that word, sheuses the euphemism “seasonal plants.”) Be-tween Jon’s tendency to be a stark ravingcollector (so far he has gone ape over

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From top left clockwise:Everywhere the themeis contrast, like the lily-sedum combo in theupper garden. In thepool area (next twopictures and lower left),pots limited to a trio ofplants or a single speci-men make a splash.Orange Lychnis chal-cedonica, Salvia nemorosaand an ornamental grasskeep the contrast high.

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daylilies, roses, coleus, cacti, dahlias, alliums and heirloomtomatoes: “We needed something to feed my fetishes”) andJacquelyn’s design specifically created to welcome annual in-novation, there was ample opportunity for derring-do.

The growing window in Maine might not be wide, but thegarden packs a succinct statement into a limited time frame,playing brave colors against masses of textural grasses, salvias,sedums, et al., creating sweeping gestures. Strong structure keepseverything in line. Simple, straight vistas direct your gaze. Basi-cally, the beds form a series of mirrored rectangular spaces cutby a strong central axis and an equally pronounced cross axis.Along, leisurely pergola above the cross axis, shouldering wisteria, providesshade from the seaside sun and frames the central focal point—a planted, rus-tic stone trough. A sparkling, inviting pool is off to the side, accented withcontainers billowing with grasses, coleus or whatever is hot that year.

Keeping within the Yankee vernacular, the beds are edged neatly with

granite cobblestones, and the paths are pebbled (Jon and Jim requested thatthe tread be comfortable to walk barefoot). Spaces are given roles.The bedsalong the pergola are prescribed to receive whatever Jon has fixated on thatyear. Meanwhile, to preserve the peace, these “wild-card” areas are skirt-ed by a series of nepeta-hemmed architectural beds each featuring a singlestatuesque hornbeam.The majestic allée they create provides what Jacque-lyn calls a “backbone of solid perennials,” allowing her to give the more flu-id beds a new “hairdo” every year. Colors are carefully intermingled; tex-tures are similarly meticulously staged.The result is haute horticulturalcoiffure, balance being everything.

Further gardens have sprouted on the property, and a greenhouse was addedto accommodate Jon’s proclivity for flowers despite winter. Since the beds re-quire thousands of “seasonal plants” every year, the greenhouse doesn’t at-tempt to feed that staggering appetite—Jacquelyn grows the annuals herselfoff-site. Farther afield is a restful shade garden and vegetable/herb garden.The cultivated segment is 3 acres and expanding.The garden spaces lead oneinto the next, a gradual progression that changes mood and material, dependingon the light, the theme of the space and Jon’s latest whim. Each garden is in-tensive but serenely focused, with all components in concert.There are nojarring moments. Sure it’s jam-packed, but it gels.

For more information, see www.jnlinc.com and www.stonewallkitchen.com.

“The growing window in Maine might not bewide, but the garden packs a succinct statement

into a limited time frame, playing brave colorsagainst masses of textural grasses”

Opposite:There wasplenty of space on thegreenhouse patio tostage a sizable focalpoint, but rather than amixed container,Jacquelyn Nooney useda single, strong coniferwith variegated ivyspilling down.A yellowdahlia jutting from thebed behind shows howmuch tender plants likeMaine summers.

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h o r t i c u l t u r e h q The raucous flower bed farther up the highway

from the King/Stott home was a brilliant move

on Stonewall Kitchen’s part.What with the mas-

sive plants beside the road sign (“Nothing under

4 feet will do” is Jacquelyn Nooney’s decree), you

can’t resist the botanical bait. Giants like castor

bean and further islands of flowers serve as a

treasure hunt, pulling you into SK’s shop and café.

“Packing it in to engage the public” is

Jacquelyn’s goal at the flagship store. She has two

long strips to work with, the mission being to

“create something that’s wild, zany, wooly and

dynamic where guests will stop to admire and

touch the plants.” Basically, partaking of the gar-

den becomes an experience just as enjoyable and

uplifting as savoring the culinary wares.

Jacquelyn’s signature style is to play the ten-

sion of tall and short plants off each other: let-

tuce and pansies below tulips, ‘Bull’s Blood’ beet

below brugmansia, papyrus waving above salvias.

“The garden just rocks and rolls,” she says.

Initially, not everyone in the corporate campus

agreed that Stonewall Kitchen

needed to invest in a garden of

such proportions. But ultimately,

the gardens became crucial to

the ambiance and inextricably

bound with the brand.The gar-

den defined the destination.

“We even made the number

crunchers into believers. It was

a smart, strategic move,” says

Jacquelyn—her final analysis.

Top left:When Jacquelynturned her talents tothe Stonewall Kitchenheadquarters, she laid a simple structure withcomplicated compo-nents.A hardworkingspace, the gardens serveas a pleasant café-sidesetting, as well as supplycut flowers (Cosmos sul-phureus, calendula andbachelor’s buttons,right) for the tables.

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Imagination rules the world— N A P O L E O N B O N A P A R T E 89G A R D E N D E S I G N

Q What plants can I use to create a French-style country garden? — CATHERINE TAKPER,

ENCINITAS, CA

A You see many garden styles aroundcountry homes in France, from classical tocottage and from modern abstract to nat-uralistic, but I think I know the style youare envisioning—casual but organized,seemingly carefree, always interesting.Yourmild climate is well-suited for this.

Actually, France provides better plant-ing models for most American gardens thanEngland because the French climates aremore like ours. Summers in parts of Franceare often dry and warm, sometimes evenarid and broiling hot.And Provence, withits Mediterranean climate and frequent wa-tering restrictions, holdsmany good planting ideasfor coastal California ar-eas such as yours.

There are some signa-ture plants that playrecurring roles in thecountry gardens ofProvence.A low hedge oflavender along the driveor a walkway, plus a climbing rose trainedon the wall near your doorway, might seemcliché, but they are endearing features aroundmany French homes both large and small.

For taller hedges, follow the French leadwith boxwood. Buxus sempervirens is nativeacross southern France and grows freely indry alkaline soil, along roadsides and amongscrub oaks. Specimen boxwoods are oftensheared into globes and other topiaryshapes. Numerous hybrids and cultivars

French Dressing

are available that would bequite suitable in your area.

Another French touchwould be columnar evergreensplanted as sentinels or in rows

to mark a property line or drive. Italiancypress (Cupressus sempervirens) fits the billbut will eventually grow to 60 feet tall.For a similar look you could substitute oneof the shorter columnar junipers, such asJuniperus chinensis ‘Spartan’ and J. scopulo-rum ‘Gray Gleam’ or ‘Skyrocket’.

For summer shade, London plane trees(Platanus x hispanica) are widely used inFrance along drives and around patios, withthe main branches pollarded—pruned back

every winter to form short, permanentarms that support the new foliage. Popu-lar smaller trees are the olive with its sil-very leaves and yellow-flowered Acaciadealbata, which the French call mimosa.

For annual flower plantings, French gar-deners have a bold way with color. Purered, yellow, orange and blue don’t scarethem.They practically invented the sort ofgardening that emphasizes bold tropical fo-liage and flowers (think cannas and bananas)melded into annual beds. In pots and win-dow boxes, geraniums are still beloved.

A garden in southern France almost al-ways includes a shady paved spot for diningoutdoors. Grape vines trained on an over-

A balanced yet infor-mal design of boxwood,geranium, lamb’s ears,sedge, rhododendron,Boston ivy and colum-nar Italian cypress has a very French flair.

sage adviceA H O W- T O G U I D E F O R G R O W I N G A N D O U T D O O R L I V I N G

H O R T Q & A W I T H J A C K R U T T L E

sage advice

head arbor are nice; prunethem hard annually sothey never overwhelm thetrellis and admit plenty oflight in winter.

Speaking of food, a little kitchen patchout back is an authentic French touch.Think about growing zucchini, tomatoes,beans and peppers in summer, fava beansand artichokes in winter and spring, andsalad crops nearly year round.

Q I’ve been tempted by antique wateringcans I’ve seen in local shops and flea markets.How can I tell if they are genuine antiques andalso if they would be OK to use for gardeningchores? — KYLIE ROVERTS, ANN ARBOR, MI

A Watering cans that actually are morethan 100 years old are very rare. It’s un-likely that you’d see one in a shop or a fleamarket—and certainly not more than oneat a time. But galvanized-metal wateringcans of a design that originated more thana century ago in Europe continued to bemade in large numbers into the 1950s, anda few (notably Haws of England, whoseproducts are available in the United States)are still made.Those “antique” galvanizedcans made in Europe are what I mostly seefor sale these days.They have an oval bodyand a long, narrow spout originating at thebase of the can.They’re closer to 50 yearsold than 100, and are priced from about$50 in flea markets to $100 and up in shops. S

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Above:The shade of agrapevine creates aplace to sit or dine.Opposite:Wateringcans are hot col-lectibles; make surethey also function.

Old watering cans for that kindof money certainly should be us-able in the garden. Check oneout before buying. Beyond hold-ing water, it should show no rustinside or cracks in the seams.The handle and neck braceshould be solid.The rose (wherethe water comes out) shouldstill be removable, not solderedin place; should fit tightly, withminimal leaks; and should beable to deliver a gentle shower.

Ask for a demonstrationwith water (or a no-questions-asked return policy) before youbuy a high-priced can. Or get abrand-new one from Haws

(www.haws.co.uk) or a reproduction fromIndia or Eastern Europe. A new can willsoon develop the patina of age that you likeand should have a long, useful life.

Q I would like a flowering evergreen tree tomake into a topiary at the approach to our frontdoor. It needs to take full morning sun. (We trieda camellia but it didn’t do well.) — DIANE

RICHZER, MYRTLE BEACH, SC

A Teddy Bear® magnolia, with big glossyleaves, fuzzy brown undersides and largewhite flowers, would be magnificent.Youcould prune it into a cone about 10 feet tall

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sage advice

and 6 feet across the base.This is a morecompact cultivar of the southern magnolia(Magnolia grandiflora).

For something slightly smaller, consid-er Osmanthus fragrans (sweet olive).Youcould prune it into an evergreen cone orpyramid about 6 feet tall that would coveritself in very small, deliciously scented flow-ers in winter and spring.

Q What should I know before starting a roofgarden? — RICH BROUSSART, NEW YORK, NY

A Actually, you need to know a lot sincea roof is a very different environment froma garden at ground level. In fact, you’llprobably want to get professional help be-fore getting started on a project like this.

First, consider the climate on a roof,which is more severe than on the ground.It’s often quite windy in summer and verysunny and hot. But if nearby buildings aretall, the garden can be in shade all day,which is too dark for many plants, or quick-ly switch from deep shade to intense sun.

Never use regular garden soil for a roofgarden; it’s much tooheavy and doesn’thold water well or of-fers poor drainage.Use a lightweight ar-

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Below: Osmanthus fra-grans offers handsomeevergreen foliage andtiny flowers with astrong, sweet fra-grance.And the plantscan be easily shaped.

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tificial soil often calleda “soilless mix” in yourcontainers.

Plan on building some wooden or lat-tice screens on the windward side of yourplants to keep them from developing a per-manent lean. Lattice can also provide someshade, especially for a southern or west-ern exposure.

Also install automatic drip irrigation.Container plants need much more frequentwatering than plants in the ground. Sun,heat and wind will compound the waterrequirement. By midsummer, if not earli-er, you would need to hand-water at leastonce a day and in very hot weather, twicea day.That schedule is nearly impossible tomaintain every day all season, which is whya drip system is crucial.

Finally, it is essential that you get approvalfrom your landlord or building co-op boardand the local planning commission.They willprobably require that your roof be exam-ined and certified by an engineer or archi-tect, who will stipulate required changes tothe surface of the roof and the weight lim-its for your structures, containers and plants.Once you get approval, I also recommendhiring a qualified garden designer who spe-cializes in roof gardens, especially if youhave limited gardening experience.

Above: For colorfulrooftop planters, low-maintenance annualslike geraniums andnemesia are good bets.Combine plants thatneed similar care.

sage advice

94 M A Y 2 0 0 6

PLANTING SEASON HAS ARRIVED,AND IN NUTLEY, NEW JERSEY,THAT MEANS IT’S TIME TO UNLEASH

the razzamatazz—all-singing, all-dancing borders stuffed with summer annuals and ten-der exotics that really sock it to you for a late-season finale. Seattle-based landscape de-signer Richard Hartlage makes an annual pilgrimage to two clients in New Jersey, neigh-bors Graeme Hardie and Silas Mountsier, to supervise the launch of a summerlonghorticultural extravaganza in both gardens.The big planting push happens over a long week-end in mid-May after danger of frost has passed.The stage is set with plants recycled fromthe greenhouse, houseplants, trays of colorful annuals, choiceVictorian bedding favoritesand the odd rarity tucked in here and there for the oooh-factor. —JOANNA FORTNAM

WeekendTropicals

SHOPPINGFor this type of summer tropical dis-play most plants are treated as dis-posable from year to year, so theweekend begins with a shopping tripto two local nurseries.

Bulk Buys: The first stop, MorrisCounty Farms in Denville,is a hot spot for foliage houseplants(top right) and impatiens (belowright). Team Hort: Hartlage (blueshirt) and Hardie (in hat) haveworked together for over 10 years,so they know just what they’re look-ing for. Pastels are used more inHardie’s garden (to match the housetrim), while Hartlage picks out satu-rated oranges and reds that will popin the evergreen Mountsiergarden. BoutiqueFinds: Second stop of theday is Atlock Farm, inSomerset (right), a troveof special finds. Hartlagepicks out coleus—sometopiaries for pots (centerright) and small plants ofthe old Victorian type formassing in borders (left).

S P R I N G P L A N T I N G

Left, clockwise: Choosingcoleus at Atlock. RayRogers, Graeme Hardieand Richard Hartlage atAtlock Farm.A lime-greendracaena for a dramaticfocal point. Coleus topiar-ies. Picking out impatiens.

The long, cold Minnesota winters instilled in me a fascination for exotic far off places—P E T E R A G R E

All we need, really, is a change from a near frigid to a tropical attitude of mind—M A R J O R Y S . D O U G L A S 95G A R D E N D E S I G N

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I N T E R A C T I V E

The highest virtue found in the tropics is chastity, and in the colder regions, temperance—C H R I S T I A N N E V E L L B O V E E98 M A Y 2 0 0 6

sage advice

The chorus line of color and foliageincludes some return appearances—fromgreenhouse specimens and dormantplants. Many have a regular spot in thegarden and are simply moved into place.

Sleeping Beauties: Tender plants thatgo dormant include brugmansias and can-nas (top left), just out of storage in thecellar. Greenhouse Stars: Some hard-to-find specimens spend winter in thegreenhouse, including a prickly pachypodi-um (above, lower right) and cactus (left).

Dig for Victory: The hard work lastsall weekend. Hardie (top right), spaces outfluorescent Ti plants alongside a path.Effort Rewarded: Planting the borders

with standard 24-packs of impatiens orcoleus takes a day or two, but theeffort is rewarded by a summer of low-maintenance color. Hartlage plants on10-inch centers, and the plants fill outin about three weeks.

At a Pinch: Hartlage recommends,when planting coleus, that you pinchout the tips to encourage bushiness.

Follow-Up: Hartlage follows theplanting team with the watering wand(above, lower left), checking that potsand borders are saturated. GranularOsmocote fertilizer is added to pots atplanting, and all plants are fed biweeklywith a 20-20-20 liquid fertilizer.

From top left clockwise:Just out of storage, thesebrugmansias and cannassoon spring to life.Ti plantsline a path. Specimens waitto leave the greenhouse.Hartlage watering contain-ers. Below: Even the small-est cactus has its place.

RECYCLING AND PLANTING

Politics, just like the tropical forest, feeds itself from its own waste—P A U L C A R V E L 99G A R D E N D E S I G N

Below:A small Begoniapaulensis, bought in thehouseplant section, rapidlydevelops into a shrublikeplant that suits the tropicaltheme of the garden.

Destroying rainforest for economic gain is like burning a Renaissance painting to cook a meal—E D W A R D O . W I L S O N100 M A Y 2 0 0 6

sage advice

DESIGN TIPSBig impact is the raison d’etre of the tropi-cal look. Hartlage takes a three-prongedapproach to achieve this:Tropical plants(of course), bold foliage and forms, andshots of saturated color. Block Style:Rather than planting in a complicated cot-tage style, concentrate colorful annualslike impatiens in geometric blocks for astrong contrast with the fine-texturedbackground. Foliage Form: Taro, ele-phant’s ears, the occasional banana andcaladiums—great foliage plants with strik-ingly large, architectural leaves—make agreat contrast in an otherwise suburbangarden. Spike It Up: Prickly or strap-leaved plants are good focal points. NewZealand flax, bromeliads and agaves aredrawn from different habitats, but theyhave the right exotic look, as do manycommon houseplants, such as spiderplant, dracaena and bird’s nest fern.

FINISHED EFFECTSThe long, hot, humid New Jersey sum-mers suit tropicals down to the ground,and these plants grow astonishingly fast,quickly transforming a suburban gardeninto a lush oasis. Hanging Around:More greenhouse specimens—staghornferns and spider plants—are co-optedinto the summer display, hanging on wallsand from corners (far right, top and cen-ter). Foliage Power: Borders clearedof tulip foliage in May and freshly plantedwith coleus look like this in September—still going strong after most summerperennials have faded (far right, below).

Sources: Richard Hartlage, 253-284-0254; Morris County Farms, 973-366-4448;Atlock Farm, 732-356-3373. JE

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I thought I would be Sheena of the Jungle as a little girl—P A M G R I E R 101G A R D E N D E S I G N

Around the pond foliagecontrasts abound—blackcolocasia, busy coleus andprickly pachypodium.Staghorn ferns (top) andspider plants (center) addfinishing touches. Coleus(right) lends junglelikerhythm and pattern.

GROUND DETAILSHand-selected glacial boul-ders provide informal stepsto the top of the mound.Thefirmly packed moss, laid onraised berms of soil, makes abeautifully molded floorscape.

SYMBOL IN STONEThe standing stone is actually apiece of petrified wood. Chosenfor its shape and stature, it wasplaced at a tight, sloping turn onthe path to suggest the obsta-cles encountered in life.

SPECIAL SPACEThe atmosphere of the gar-den is reinforced by a subtleseparation from the rest ofthe property.The slope and agrouping of ‘Green Gem’boxwoods offer solitude.

Nature is a labyrinth in which the very haste you move with will make you lose your way—F R A N C I S B A C O N102 M A Y 2 0 0 6

sage advice

A N A T O M Y L E S S O N

Path to EnlightenmentPATHWAYS THAT TWIST AND TURN REPRESENT

life’s journey.A circular labyrinth, combinedwith a Native American medicine wheel,suggests different directions in life. Flowingwater represents ever-present, continuouschange; a still pool allows reflection.

This garden near Detroit, created by de-signer JeffreyWhite of Detroit-based Agua-Fina Gardens & Imports, reflects the own-er’s interest in different spiritual beliefs,including those of Native Americans.

The space, roughly 4,000 square feet, wasreclaimed from a wild corner of the gardenin fall 2005. It includes a meditation moundformed from an antique well capstone, a dryriverbed and several symbolic stones.Theclient walks in the gardens every day, fol-lowing a route designed to represent thecomplex twists and turns of life’s journey.

The sinuously curving paths were creat-ed largely on the ground, some using the tra-ditional stake and string to create a perfectradius. Others needed an individual touch—“feeling by foot” asWhite says, to create acomfortable walk.—JF

For further informationon AguaFina Gardens & Imports, call 248-738-0500 or 888-738-0599 orsee www.aguafina.com.

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The labyrinth/medi-cine wheel is laidout in sandstonereclaimed fromthe original garden,with winding pathspicked out in graveland springy moss.

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The stiffest tree is most easily cracked, while the bamboo or willow survives by bending with the wind—B R U C E L E E104 M A Y 2 0 0 6

sage advice

L A N D S C A P E S O L U T I O N S

FEW MATERIALS USED IN THE DESIGN OF GAR-dens offer the dichotomous appeal of bam-boo. Geisha-girl delicate in form yet with atensile strength greater than steel’s, this an-cient natural resource can punch up theAsian ambience in a landscape whether usedas sculpture or in more utilitarian functions.

Stephen Glassman, aVenice, California,artist, has been applying ancient construc-tion techniques using various bamboo vari-eties—including beechey bamboo (Bambusabeecheyana), giant timber bamboo (B. old-hamii), golden bamboo (Phyllostachys aurea)and giant Japanese timber bamboo (P. bam-busoides)—to create steps, handrails, bridges,fences, shelters, sculptures and more forboth private and public spaces.Though hispieces often coincide with an Asian-themedgarden, many times his work is commis-sioned to contrast with the landscape.

“I’m often asked to move into concreteurban areas,” Glassman says, “as a level ofcounterpoint or to dance with the flow ofthe design.”—J A S O N U P R I G H T

To contact artist Stephen Glassman, e-mailzolart@artnet.net or call 310-305-1696.

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Bamboo’s Yin and Yang

[1] A Glassman-built span—dubbed TheYellow Bridge—provides L.A. rockerPerry Farrell with a direct path from his living room to a grove of black bamboo.[2] A front gate made of black bamboo (Phyllostachys nigra) draws the line atentering a Venice property, yet invites with its airy design. [3] Live Mexican weeping bamboo (Otatea acuminata ssp. aztectorum) buffets a Glassman fenceto screen a midcentury modern home and landscape from a public walkway.

To enter: For the Golden Trowel Awards (open to

amateurs and professional landscape designers and contrac-

tors), please fill out the form below and return it, along with

your completed entry, by June 1, 2006 to Garden Design, at-

tention Golden Trowel, 460 N. Orlando Ave., Suite 200,Win-

ter Park, FL 32789.Your entry should include the following:

Your story: Send us a written account. Include

your inspiration, the planning and what you started with, the

planting, the achievements and the setbacks of your garden.

Be as specific and creative as you can. Submissions must be

typewritten on white 8 1⁄2- by 11-inch paper only. Handwrit-

ten submissions or those sent via e-mail, disk or CD

will not be read.

Garden plan: Send us a drawing of the layout of

your garden, indicating major beds, trees, walkways, lawn,

hardscapes, structures and other features.We’ll accept any-

thing from a professionally rendered drawing to a home-

grown sketch. Be as detailed as reasonably possible, but keep

the plan simple to interpret. Include a list of key plants by

common or Latin name.

Photography: Submit enough prints to explain the

garden, including overall scenes, plant beds, structures, furni-

ture, outdoor kitchen or living areas, etc. Label these prints

with corresponding details. (Hint: Copy and enlarge actual

snapshots on a color copier, or photograph the images with a

digital camera and print them out on a color printer to

allow more room for labeling.) Submissions on disk, CD or e-

mail will not be viewed.Also include slides of your garden

and its features for publication in Garden Design magazine if

you win. Images for possible publication must be high-quality

color 35-mm slides or larger transparencies only. No dupes.Name

Address

Phone

Fax

E-mail

All materials become property of World Publications LLC, may be used in print and electronicformats in perpetuity and will not be returned. Photographers will not necessarily be creditedupon publication and will not necessarily receive remuneration. By your entering this contest,World Publications assumes you have rights to all provided images and have granted GardenDesign magazine all rights to publish said images at the magazine’s discretion.

ENTRY FORM DEADLINE JUNE 1, 2006 Please complete and mail withentry materials to Garden Design, 460 N. Orlando Ave., Suite 200,Winter Park, FL 32789

A N N O U N C I N G G A R D E N D E S I G N ’ S

2 O O 6G O L D E N T ROW E L

AWA R D S

Open to all home gardeners and do-it-yourselfdesigners as well as professional garden designers,

landscape contractors and landscape architects.Winning gardens will be presented in an upcoming

issue of Garden Design magazine.

Monrovia will award a $1,OOO GIFT CERTIFICATEto the amateur whose garden

demonstrates the most creative use of plants.

S P O N S O R E D B Y

H O R T I C U L T U R A L C R A F T S M E N ® S I N C E 1 9 2 6

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Mostardi NurseryNewtown Square, PAPH: 610-356-8035www.mostardi.com

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PollenAtlanta, GA • PH: 404-262-2296www.pollenatlanta.com

Riverside Nursery & Garden CenterCollinsville, CTPH: 860-693-2285riverside-nursery@snet.net

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Smith’s AcresNiantic, CT • PH: 860-691-0528www.smithsacres.com

Southwest GardenerPhoenix, AZPH: 602-279-9510www.southwestgardener.com

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The Bronze Frog GalleryOakville, ONT PH: 905-849-6338www.bronzefroggallery.com

The Dow GardensMidland, MIPH: 800-362-4874www.dowgardens.org

The Garden MarketCarpinteria, CAPH: 805-745-5505www.thegardenmarkets.com

The Treehouse Garden CollectionDunedin, FL•PH: 727-734-7113www.treehousegardencollection.com

The Green FuseDenver, COPH: 303-507-4772jrlivings@comcast.net

Urban Garden and Home, LLCTucson, AZPH: 520-326-8393 www.urbangardenandhome.com

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Paradise hath room for you and me and all—C H R I S T I N A R O S S E T T I112 M A Y 2 0 0 6

details

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ReflectedGloryAtlanta garden designerRyan Gainey drew onMoorish tradition for thisformal walled courtyard,known as the Mogul gar-den, in the Hamptons.Thehigh brick walls give someshelter from salt winds,and the brick path, fore-ground, bisects a canal—home to lotus, papyrusand fish.Yews are clippedinto spires to resemble theItalian cypress more typi-cal of such warm-climategardens. Flanking the canalare neatly pruned‘Meyer’lemon trees in large pots.On the wall behind thefountain is a mirror, aglimpse of paradise.—JF

From Seascape Garden-ing, by Anne Halpin, photo-graphs by Roger Foley (StoreyPublishing, May 2006, $35).

http://www.private-garden.com