Native Californian

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Near the street, the garden area is anchored by massive granite that designer Jack Catlin found on a construction site in the area. Curving expanses of sage, sedum, society garlic, and manzanita flow around the rock and come together under a small grove of pink-blooming tabubia. A sheltered area to the east is home to yellow and red abutilon, cistus, yellow shrimp plant, euphorbia, and variegated pittosporum. Surrounding this grouping are sprawling hardy geraniums, lavender, rosemary, fortnight lilies, westringia, and the reblooming iris, 'Goodan's peach.'

On the hill leading to the side entrance of the house, Pat maintains a small rose garden with 'kardinal,' a bright red blooming hybrid tea. The roses are backed by a stand of matilija poppy, the native California plant with the descriptive common name, 'fried egg plant.' The front garden is never a mass of color but it has structure and texture.

The owner's lifelong interest in cymbidiums enables him to showcase attractive orchids in springtime. He arranges the flowering plants around the base of a large Cedrus deodara 'Glauca' to greet visitors. Arching over the entrance to the house is a 40 year old Cedrus deodora 'Glauca,' a dominating influence on the garden design.

As you make your way to the back garden, there are miniaturized olive, pine, ash, and Japanese maples. Two larger boxed bonsai pines flank the deck area around the swimming pool. Succulents are tucked into planting pockets in a rock wall dividing the property from its neighbor, and, to the north, it seems as if the garden goes on forever.

The downward slope on this side of the property was previously landscaped with ivy and a few native oaks. Kevin Connelly, landscape designer, was intrigued with native California plants and set about cutting paths and planting appropriate drought tolerant vegetation in the shady area. Now Ribes Viburnifolium, a native of Catalina Island, spreads its glossy, deep green leaves alongside many of the paths. Clumps of heuchera expand over the wood-supported walkways. In one corner of this northern garden, a grouping of colorful Iris douglasiana brightens up the understory.

The resulting garden, a mix of ideas from the owner's and Dick and two professionals, Jack Catlin and Kevin Connelly, who urged them to plant part of their property with natives, makes creative use of a hilly site and incorporates the San Gabriel Mountains into the garden view. "The mountains are so close, they become a part of our borrowed landscape. That's what sold us on the house."


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