Sunday, April 18, 2010

Local Color : Garden Events

I spent a day this weekend at The Huntington again. With my daughter this time. She has a paper on 19th Century art due this week so we took our time with the exhibits before making the rounds through the gardens. They are so beautiful this time of year. The roses are spectacular and I have never seen so much color in a desert garden. (read more about my last visit here)
While we were in San Marino, I realized I was missing a local garden viewing that is my long-time favorite. Sharon is my gardening guru. The plant whisperer of our inland foothills. I have followed her advice via her email newsletters and open garden days to much success in my own garden. She advocates planting for your own specific conditions, being water-wise even with roses, and using perennials almost exclusively, all without forcing or babying anything into growing that doesn't really want to. Knowing what grows best in our corner of the world is her secret—here it's hot and dry in the summer, sometimes excessively windy, and can go below freezing in the winter. That bit of wisdom alone takes a lot of the headache out of the process. The pics above and below show Sharon's garden as it looks right now. Her garden (and one or two others) will be open again in May. If you're interested in details, please leave a comment or send an email.

There are so many home and garden events happening in this area over the next month or so, it will be nearly impossible to take them all in. Besides the small, neighborhood events like the one I just mentioned, there are larger more elaborate goings-on, some of which are listed here in the LA Times. Here are a few I'm most interested in:

I already have my tickets for the annual Pasadena Showcase House which opened today and runs through May 16. This is the 46th Showcase to benefit arts programs in and around Los Angeles. The historic, chateau-inspired Cravens Estate, built in 1929, has been given a makeover inside and out by 25+ local interior designers and landscapers. You can view their progress and get ticket information here.

After attending the Showcase House this coming Friday, I hope to make time on the weekend to head down to the O.C. for the 20th Annual Spring Garden Show held April 22-25 at South Coast Plaza. More than 75 specialty vendors will be on hand as well as display gardens full of great ideas for our own yards and patios. A big bonus: shopping at Crate & Barrel, Pottery Barn, NapaStyle, Restoration Hardware, Sur la Table and the Macy's Home Store all in the same wing.(learn more here) From South Coast Plaza it's just a short drive to one of Orange County's most beautiful garden centers: Roger's Gardens in Corona del Mar. It would be a shame to be so close and not stop by.

Closer to home, from April 30-May 2, the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden will hold its annual LA Garden Show. This show focuses on green living in Southern California offering workshops, lectures and demonstrations on such things as edible gardens and water-wise plant choices. (learn more here)

Back down the coast again, on May 7th, the Laguna Beach Garden Club will host a tour featuring seven private gardens in Woods Cove, one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city. (learn more here) The 7th is a Friday so it will take some rescheduling in order to attend. Perhaps I'll just drive down on Saturday the 8th and take a stroll through the neighborhood on my own. Any day spent in Laguna Beach is a good one.


12 comments:

the gardener's cottage said...

Hi Tracey,

Every year for the past 6 or 7 I go to the Pasadena Showcase House. I don't think I'm going this year unless after your visit you tell me otherwise. I have been supremely disappointed for at least the last 4. Anyways all those events look fantastic, especially the one in Laguna. I love the idea that your favorite garden guru uses about perennials and using what will survive in your area. Perfect sense.

~janet

Tracy Watier said...

Janet - Uh oh. Didn't want to hear that! I haven't been in many years and this year decided to go because of the house itself. I'll be sure to let you know if it was worth the time and ticket!

Acanthus and Acorn said...

Love walking thru someone elses beautiful garden! I garden, but not all that well. I really admire those with the talent and gift and patience!

maría cecilia said...

Good morning Tracy, I have felt in love with your friend Sharon`s garden!!!!, it just like a cottage garden I love so much... hope you post more about her garden. Enjoy all your visits to the incredible garden you show us.
Muchos cariños,
Maria Cecilia

Averill said...

Gorgeous! I can't believe all that riotous color.

Splenderosa said...

Tracy, so happy you posted this today. Jump over to see me, there's an important garden which you must see in Pasadena on April 25...the gardens of the people who built The Huntington. There is a link on my post giving you access to this splendid non-profit who keeps up legendary gardens throughout the US. Maybe you will want to pass it on. xx's Marsha

kay ellen said...

Oh Tracey!!! I love the Huntington...it feels like you are in another part of the world!Springtime it is so beautiful! A little bit of the East Coast feeling to me:)

What day are going to the Pasaenda showcase house?!
I go every year! I usally go with a group of interior designers from the Inland Empire~~many times on Mother's Day weekend.

Email me and let me know~~just in case a chance meeting:)

Smiles,
Kay

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

Tracy, I enjoyed seeing a little of the Huntington. BH&G had a small photo in the May issue of the Japenese Garden located there. I also looked at your other links about it. What a spectacular place!

Your friend's garden is also so beautiful! It looks like a charming cottage garden.

Renae Moore said...

Beautiful! Oh and yes...Laguna is the place for me!
xx

Unknown said...

Gardens like these are so completely inspirational...wish I had a green thumb!

Pauline Wiles said...

Oh, please, please send Sharon to my house! I share her philosophy, but without such happy results :)

Traci Giles said...

Ok, I need to go get my calendar and write all of these things in. . . thanks for all the great So Cal events, I will be hitting up a few of these (Laguna--I have always wanted to walk through the gardens at some of those cottages. . .)
Thanks, Tracy!