Friday, May 7, 2010

A garden welcome

This morning as I came home from walking the dog, I was just so pleased at how the front garden looks I had to take some photos and share them with you.

Our front yard is on a slope that drops away from the street. Several large coast live oaks grow there, their wide-spread branches shading the hillside. From our gate at the street, graceful steps and a broad stone path lead to our door. This entryway was designed by our good friends John and Anthea at Native Designs Landscape in Topanga.


Here a Japanese maple grows by the path. This is the only time of the year this maple looks good - it's really not suited for our climate. Beyond it, several acanthus send up their flower spikes, and clumps of Pacific Coast hybrid iris are in bloom under the large oak.


Once down the path, turn and look up the hill back to the gate. The yellow blooms of Western columbine and the white flowers of Carpenteria Californica, the native tree-anemone of California, shine in the dappled shade beneath the oaks.


It's a beautiful spring day, isn't it?

9 comments:

Tristan Robin said...

What a really lovely and welcoming entrance to your home. Just beautiful.

You mean there is something that grows better here than there???? Our Japanese maples look terrific in this part of the world.

I'm astounded. I thought CA had everything LOL.

MAYBELLINE said...

Lovely garden.

Blondie's Journal said...

Such a pretty garden and path leading to your home. I love Japanese maples!

xoxo
Janie

cactus petunia said...

I love spring, wherever it may be!
What a beautiful, welcoming front walk!

Gilly said...

What a lovely front garden! I must google 'Live Oaks' and see how they differ from our ordinary oaks!

You really do live in the most fantastic place! My eyes go green as I read about it!

giorno26 ¸¸.•*¨*•. said...

Il giardino dei tuoi amici รจ veramente molto bello ed accogliente !
Felice festa della mamma :-)

Unknown said...

Your garden is so lovely. Wow. Breathtakingly pretty!

Big Bad Bald Bastard said...

You have that "Surround yourself with beauty" thing down pat.

Happy Mothers' Day!

materfamilias said...

I love those acanthus spikes. My plant, probably ten years old, has the healthiest foliage you could want, but has never sent up a flower. Each year, I live in hope, but meanwhile, I'll admire yours. And the rest of your garden is gorgeous!