Downton Abbey Meets Madmen in a Santa Barbara Garden, Pt. II

In part one of this clause ( read it here ) , I introduced you to a not rare place I ’ve encountered in my innovation work : the “ woman Are From Venus and Men Are from Mars ” dilemma that hap when partner have take issue opinion about garden styles .

My tenacious - terminal figure Santa Barbara clients , Jessie and Tim , had recently moved into a new home with a garden that was handily fork into two large areas that could not be seen at the same time . And it ’s a good thing , because her ideal garden fell along the lines of loose “ cottagey ” beds of color . Working with the os structure of the garden we inherited , I think I did a fairly skilful chore of making Jessie a very glad lady .

And him ? countenance ’s have a feeling at how I fulfil Tim ’s desire for a very unlike vibration …

…Don Draper at the Beverly Hills Hotel for Him

I ’m perfectly happy designing traditional garden , but when we get to the back M , my pulse raced . Although the planting they inherit from the last owner was a bit of a ragbag , there was also a unquestionably Mediterranean plant palette that inspired me . Tim and I riff on the estimate of a bluff , mid - 20th century advanced flavor for the field around the swim pool , with a side order of Asiatic - influence to complement the Buddha statue that adorned the cover fireplace terrace of their last domicile .

We did another round of remorseless flora wipeout while sparing the lives of various ribbon trees ( and “ take over ” the sensible horizon palms of the neighbors ) and a outstanding tree aloe ( Aloe barberae , formerlyA. bainesii ) . The pool pack of cards sit above a wide lawn surrounded by Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree ferns , large rhizomatous begonia , variegate New Zealand flax and gargantuan New Guinea impatiens . A broad set of brick gradation connects these blank space . The conversion needed to be flanked with something boldly exotic – sentinel plants playact as a portal to this lounging and entertainment orbit .

The maven player in the two matching beds ( the owners think it looks like a coral Witwatersrand ) are felt elephant ear ( Kalanchoe beharensis ) . The leaves give it its name – blue - grey , muzzy underside and cocoa - colored tops , with a crisp wavy edge that make it an transcendental stand - out . In a few year , when the Kalanchoe open its canopy overhead , the bluish fan aloe ( Aloe plicatilis ) will be reaching thorax mellow , along with the subdued , grassy grain of chartreuse - leaf New Zealand Flax ( Phormium ‘ Duet ’ ) . Below , chunky , succulent Aeonium canariensis amps up the visual texture .

Buddha Becomes the Focal Point

The other sweet spot adjacent to the pool is the new habitation for Buddha . All the brick paving was removed get blank for a lavish jungle of Mexican tears bamboo ( Otatea acuminata ‘ Chico ’ ) , papyrus ( our one hungry works ) , palm sess ( Setaria palmifolia ) , and for a stir of color , imperial cane orchids ( Epidendrum ‘ Purple ’ )

So what ’s the point for my firm referee who stuck it out and read this clause to the end ?

The point is , there ’s no rule , no committee from the Taste Police who call for that once you commit to a particular style inonepart of your garden , you have to expand that fashion to suit yourentireproperty . If Disney can put Fantasyland shouting distance from Tomorrowland , then why ca n’t one partner have their native woodland ferns residing on the same holding as the other ’s Japanese - inspired gravel garden ? The challenge , though , is assuring that the final final result does n’t search like ten dissimilar citizens committee members did their affair without talk to anyone else on the gang .

My advice ? It ’s the same as any counsellor would indicate : ready by a smooth weekend even , stream a crank of your preferred libation and babble out it through .

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