Edible Garden: All About Tomatoes
Emily Moore of Sproutabl, a lawn and garden blog, shares her best tips and practices for growing tomatoes. Check out her helpful infographic below:
And if you’re thinking of using containers, here are some great container garden pot options from our Italian terracotta Classic line and Contemporary terracotta collection.
Photo Credit: Emily Moore, Sproutabl
Book Review: Gardenista: The Definitive Guide to Outdoor Spaces, by Michelle Slatalla
One of our favorite websites for home inspiration is Remodelista: Sourcebook for Considered Living. Its companion website, Gardenista: Sourcebook for Cultivated Living, appeals to our outdoor aesthetic, with posts on garden style, plants, seeds, projects, indoor gardens, outdoor gardens and more.
Michelle Slatalla, editor-in- chief of the website has produced a new book, Gardenista: The Definitive Guide to Outdoor Spaces which explores the premise that our homes’ outdoor spaces can, and should be as welcoming and carefully considered as our living rooms and that when treated as extensions of our homes, these spaces enrich our lives.
The book includes beautifully photographed tours of twelve different gardens; planting guides for a variety of climates; studies of more than a dozen outdoor structures including some remarkable chicken and lots of design ideas and do-it-yourself projects.
The book explores gardens as wells as accessories and furnishings, offering horticultural advice in terms of color and climate. This is a superb book, with artful color photographs and innovative gardening ideas using real homes and it’s inspirational in the true sense: you feel that many of the ideas are within your reach.
Image via Gardenista
Today, Eye of the Day interviews Lisa Cox of Lisa Cox Landscape Design on a recent project in Los Olivos, California. Lisa is a designer we love to work with and it’s always a joy when she stops by the showroom sourcing decor for her designs. As the season slowly transitions into Fall here in California, this Before and After project is a sign of good change to come.
Eye of the Day: Tell us a little about yourself and this project.
Lisa Cox: My company, Lisa Cox Landscape Design, tackles residential projects exclusively in the Santa Ynez Valley. After moving here 3 years ago, I could see there was most definitely a need for Landscape Designers in our area. Since I was the new gal in town, I started slowly with residences in my area and a few Tasting Rooms in Los Olivos, and then that was a great boost for my business.
This particular project in Los Olivos was a European Farmhouse that needed a face lift. Considering the property was already a stunner, it was a delight to tackle the project.
EOTD: What was your client’s goal for this particular garden?
LC: The client wanted to completely rework the front garden to create a more traditional plant palette of roses and boxwood in tandem with drought tolerant plants that do well in the Santa Ynez Valley such as rosemary, lavender and olive trees. We think the outcome was very pleasant, and works well with her charming residence.
EOTD: What was your initial vision for this garden?
LC: My initial vision was to recreate something you would see in Provence, France. Since the homeowner considers France their second home, it was even more of an inspiration to help with that “look.”
After removing most of the original planters, we created areas of interest such as a rose garden, shade garden, and sun drenched beauty garden!
EOTD: Were there any unique problems that came up during the design or installation?
LC: I think the biggest challenge was correctly reworking the existing irrigation system for the newly planted areas, and using good sized plants to create an “Instant yard.” The design phase was easy since the homeowner is a very gifted interior designer with a good eye. A great collaboration.
EOTD: What would you describe as your garden design aesthetic and how do you work with your client’s own vision for the landscape?
LC: Each project I tackle starts with the needs and wants of the client. Sometimes, their input is great, and other times, I am allowed complete freedom to create what I think will work for not only the style of their home, but function, flow and of course, aesthetics. As I start to design, it all seems to come together with time.
Before I start a design, I send out a list of questions for the client to answer that entails how they will use the space being created, substrate choices, and plant choices that appeal to them. This usually guarantees I can design freely knowing I am in line with their vision for their home.
EOTD: For the pottery, why these particular pieces?
LC: The vintage Greek oil jar was a perfect fit to blend both a traditional and Mediterranean look with a touch of rustic created by the aging finishes Eye of the Day offers.
EOTD: What was your favorite part of this project and design?
LC: Most definitely working with the homeowner and creating a vision that not only gave her a little piece of France, but also how the end result screams Santa Ynez Valley and all our glory here in wine country.
To view more of Lisa’s work, visit Lisa Cox Landscape Design or her Facebook page.
Photo Credits: Rich Cox Photography
Book Review
GARDENS: AN ESSAY ON THE HUMAN CONDITION by Robert Pogue Harrison
This title caught my eye while browsing in my favorite bookstore in Austin, Texas and I really thought Brent would like it. I’m only about half way through it, but Harrison’s writing has me hooked. He shows us why gardens have become so important to us and we see how they have saturated our literature and our culture.
Each chapter is organized around a type of garden. For example: Eden, the temporary gardens of the homeless, or contemporary urban gardens which allows Harrison to explore, interrogate, meditate upon what these spaces tell us about the connection between earth, human, and spirit. Harrison argues that gardening is a path to patience and wisdom as an alternative to the restlessness of the human spirit.
As each of us spends time outdoors, either in our own garden or out in the world, there is an unusual type of communion that takes place between person and nature. Every weekend I see Brent in his element, almost as though in meditation, moving potted plants, watering with his ever-present watering can, propagating his palate of succulents, and at the end of the day he seems renewed. This fine book strives to define and almost undefinable bond between human and garden.
“Whereas most people believe gardening to be a subset of life, gardeners understand that life is a subset of gardening.” – Robert Pogue Harrison
Photo via The University of Chicago Press Books
Jennifer Voss of Gardefacts Designs Thoughtful and Practical California Gardens
In our continued series, Blueprint, that covers the work and projects of landscape and garden professionals, we are happy to count Jennifer Voss of Gardefacts in Santa Barbara, California as one of our most loyal designers. She has been using Eye of the Day as a primary resource for over a decade and she uses our products to highlight and enhance her California garden designs.
Jennifer’s love of horticulture began with visits to the Los Angeles County Arboretum with her grandparents, where they wandered through the garden and bamboo forests, feeding the plentiful peacocks and learning the names of the plants.
With Jennifer’s knowledge of plants, she became interested in design and plant care and studied botany in college and Landscape Design at UCLA. She has visited hundreds of gardens throughout England, France, Italy and the United States and these influences help guide her in her designs.
Jennifer finds that the best method for working with a new client is to listen closely to how they describe their vision for their space and translate that to a design that is both beautiful and practical. Check out the photos and you’ll see how Jennifer seamlessly incorporates Eye of the Day pots into her designs.
See more of Jennifer’s work at Gardefacts including more container gardens, design projects, and even edibles!
What to Plant? The California Garden Checklist
Many of the landscape architects, designers and trade professionals that have been frequenting Eye of the Day over the years are now friends and we asked a few of them what plants they like to use and why when designing for their clients.
Rick Button of Rick Button Landscaping
Some of Rick’s favorites:
Puck Erickson of Arcadia Studio
I am going for Aristida purpurea.
Bridget Walker of Arcadia Studios
Bridget also asked some of her colleagues for their favorites:
Sally Farnum of S E Farnum Associates
Sally gave me a list so long I had to make my own choices from her list:
If you are interested in more suggestions for drought-tolerant plants, please let me know: I have more recommendations for our friends.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Arcadia Studio