What to do with this mess?

So, I've been at a loss this summer, which is why no recent posts. We moved into our new place, which has zero landscaping and many challenges - even for an experienced gardener! Our house is backed into a hill. The backyard is all concrete and currently resembles a prison yard (no, really... minus the basketball hoop). The biggest issue is the side of the house (see photo). The lot next to us is undeveloped, and the dirt is constantly filling the drain on the side of our house, creating numerous muddy problems. The major challenge here is that we only own about 6 inches of the dirt to the right of the drain, so we are very limited on options to resolve the problem. Some kind of ground cover? A retaining wall? A hedge? I am reaching out to you guys to see if you have any brilliant suggestions? Please post them. Brainstorming now open. :)

Goodbye to a Garden

I'm nearly fully recovered from the shoulder drama of last year, and my garden is looking better than ever.  So, it's ironic that now that I'm back up and running we've sold our house and will be moving in March to a new place.  I'll miss what I've created here terribly, but I know the new family will love it just as much (I made sure of it! ;) ), and I look forward to starting all over again at the new home!  Stay tuned for photos of the new space, which is a beautiful blank canvas with a lovely hillside and mountain views.  I'm looking forward to the new challenge!  Have you had experience creating a hillside garden?  Share some of your tips here - would love to hear them!

A Garden Without a Gardener

I'm finally getting back in the garden again after a long absence. Apologies for the lengthy time without a new post. I appreciate all those who have been visiting and leaving comments. In late January (just before the good gardening weather hits California), I came down with a condition called frozen shoulder. It hit suddenly and for no reason, and literally left me without the use of my left arm for several months. After an extensive surgery and long recovery, I'm finally getting back out into the garden. I've come to believe that these random things in life happen for a reason, so I am thankful for the experience. It has left me with a new outlook on a great number of things. One of those things (here comes the funny part), is that it made me realize my garden (and many other things) are fine without my constant attention. In fact, the borders are looking better than ever this year without my usual fussing, digging, planting, relocating, and pruning. I'm lucky to have a husband who took over dead heading and some of the basic trimming (and, out of all this, he's learned the joy of spending time tending to the garden), but overall, it required little to no work this year to look as beautiful as ever. I watched some of the plants that had been struggling for so long suddenly take off and bloom. I noticed how plants that I always thought would crowd each other without constant pruning grew to live side by side in harmony, without so much as a snip. The growth and beauty in my garden has been a great comfort to me during these months of healing. It was one less thing that I felt was falling apart. I would go out many mornings after sleepless nights (a torn up shoulder feels like you've been hit by a bus, and so does trying to go to sleep with it), with my coffee in hand, and just sit to enjoy the peace and the butterflies. As I think about it now, maybe this year I was not meant to be constantly picking, pruning, and fussing over every detail. Maybe all my garden needed to flourish and shine was a little breathing room. We all need this at different times in our lives. And, just maybe, this was my garden's opportunity to take care of me for a change.

Squirrels in the Garden - Winter Visitors

This time if year, many of my neighbors gray squirrels in their yards, teasing their dogs and chasing each other around the bare tree branches. Some love the crafty little visitors, and some really wish they would go away.

Here are some tips for living with (and enjoying) these cute critters. They are beneficial to nature in many ways, and enjoying their big personalities can be fun.

-- Feeding Squirrels: It's okay to feed them occasionally. They enjoy unsalted peanuts, which you can buy at many bird supply stores (such as Wild Birds Unlimited). They also like sunflower seed and corn.

-- Providing them with their own supply of goodies can actually help keep them away from your bird feeders.

-- Don't feed them by hand, as it's not healthy for the squirrel to become to friendly with humans.

-- You can also put out houses for the squirrels, which can also be found at wild bird stores.

For more on squirrels, pick up a copy of the Bird Watcher's Digest booklet on "Enjoying Squirrels" at their website, Birdwatchersdigest.com.

Gardens Welcome Rain to Southern California - Special Thanks to Country Almanac

It's been a good start to the New Year, with plenty of much needed rain to Southern California, nourishing gardens, wetlands, and wildlife that have been parched for the past year. My citrus trees will enjoy a deep soak, as will all the trees in my neighborhood that rely on the rain alone (a gamble in this climate).

When the rain passes, it will be time to clean out my vegetable garden and amend the soil in the raised beds to prepare for a crop of cool season veggies. I'm looking forward to fresh spinach, onions, squash, and carrots.

I'd like to say thanks to Country Almanac's Small Room Decorating magazine, which features my vegetable garden in the new issue (on stands now through the end of February), discussing how growing up (using a variety of supports) is a great way to maximize productivity in a small space garden.

For those who live in warmer zones, may your winter gardening be rewarding and successful. Let us know what you're growing in the comments below. For those in cooler climates, try growing herbs in the kitchen window, ordering organic seeds from your favorite catalogue for spring planting, or growing fresh sprouts in a jar (super healthy!). Happy 2008 to all.

GO GREEN IN YOUR GARDEN FOR THE NEW YEAR

With the new year approaching, most gardeners already have spring on their minds. What new plants to try, what veggies will do well again, and all things that involve warm days, a sun hat, and a trowel. The new year is time for fresh starts, so it's a great time to think about changing things up a bit to make your garden even better for the environment. If you haven't tried composting, give it a whirl. If you haven't tried home-made concoctions for pest and disease control - whip some up in your kitchen and see how rewarding it can be. Below are some tips to get you started, courtesy of the Society for Environmentally Responsible Gardening.

TIPS FOR GOING GREENER IN YOUR GARDEN

* Incorporate used or recycled furniture in your designs. Aged wood furniture is especially attractive and can be found on sources like Craig's List. Vintage patio sets can be found at flea markets and antique shops. Benches can be crafted from old fences or gates.
* Avoid all chemicals. There are natural remedies for every garden problem.
* Attract natural predators that will help control pests. Attracting birds and beneficial insects by including habitat for them in your landscape will greatly reduce your population of aphids, snails, and other pests.
* Include native plants in your design. They are generally disease free, use little water, and help attract beneficial wildlife.
* Avoid invasive plants that can spread seeds and take over natural landscapes in your area. Check with your local university or county extension office for a list of plants in your area that are considered invasive.
* Use recycled materials in your landscape - bender board and edging made of recycled plastics are readily available at home centers, and bricks, stone, and broken concrete can be found for free through construction sites or in classified ads.
* Install a drip irrigation system to water borders and beds.
* Reduce or eliminate the lawn in your landscape. Try pea gravel, a native plant garden, or crushed granite in its place. If you have a lawn, make sure you water efficiently and use organic fertilizers.
* Use a rain barrel or other water collecting system to collect rainwater and use it in the landscape.
* Install solar heating systems for swimming pools and look for pool care products that are alternatives to harsh chemicals.
* Plant deciduous trees near the home to help keep the structure cooler in summer and warmer in winter.
* Compost!

Goodbye House & Garden Magazine

I came back from my recent vacation in Hawaii (more on that later!) to learn that the December issue of House & Garden, which was a shining light in my huge stack of mail, would be the last. This is truly sad news to those of us who have enjoyed the magazine for so many years, looking to its pages for great design coverage, along with home and garden ideas. I will miss the monthly letters from editor Dominique Browning, and hope she lands at the top of another publication soon (we all know there are a few that could really use her!). I still have the issue, unopened, sitting on my desk. I know I'll feel sad when I turn to the last page, and like most of us, I tend to avoid things that do this. I can only imagine how the staff at this quality publication felt when they learned of their fate. I wish them all the best. House & Garden will be missed.

Great to See: The Beverly Hills Garden & Design Showcase

I haven't been writing much lately, but I've had a pretty good reason. I spent the last month designing and installing a display garden for the 2007 Beverly Hills Garden & Design Showcase at the Historic Greystone Estate. Several talented landscape designers and interior designers have designed spaces for the event. My challenge was to create an Earth & wildlife friendly garden room in two empty parking spaces. The garden I created features California native plants, water wise plants , and other plants that are beneficial to local wildlife. Hummingbirds, reptiles, and native bees have already discovered this new little corner of the estate. If you live in Southern California, it's worth visiting this great event. The garden portion of the event runs through November 4th, while the interior portion will continue through the 11th. Proceeds benefit the restoration of the mansion, which is spectacular. It's also worth mentioning that this space is certified as an official Backyard Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. To find out how to certify your garden, visit www.nwf.org/backyard. I'll post more photos of even more of the gardens next week.

A Hot Day Garden Reminder

Welcome to September...my absolute favorite month of the year. The weather in Southern California is the most beautiful this month, without fail. Breezes fill the afternoons, and long days in the garden end with barbeques and salads topped with homegrown tomatoes.

This year will surely be just as wonderful, but maybe not for all. The drought conditions in several places around the world, including Southern California, are causing dire conditions for wildlife.

So, I thought it would be appropriate to start the month off with a little reminder for gardeners to keep a fresh water supply in the garden for birds, bees, and other critters who are in desperate need. The local bees frequent a concrete birdbath in my rose garden (pictured), and this summer there are often several dozen buzzing around it. The birds don't miss out - it's almost as if they take turns with the bees. I also keep a saucer of water lower to the ground near my pool for squirrels and possums that pass through. In addition, I've also reduced the water my garden uses by installing drip systems and more drought-tolerant plants (many fall bloomers are).

Just when I thought September couldn't possibly get better, knowing that a little extra effort can make such a difference adds even more to the end-of-summer bliss.

Great Garden Plant Spotlight: Butterfly Bush

Every now and then I like to write about a plant that I feel is special enough to deserve its own chance in the spotlight. Recently, I wrote about plumbago, one of my all time favorites for its profuse blooms and great color. Another of my all-time favorites is buddleia, or Butterfly Bush. I’ve grown several from tiny cuttings to huge (over 10 feet tall), healthy, beautiful plants that bring so much wildlife to the garden it’s almost hard to believe. Butterflies I’ve never before seen in my area have appeared, and hummingbirds are regular visitors to the sweet-smelling flowers. The one in my front garden is constantly covered with happy little skipper butterflies (left) who are so enamored by the nectar that they don’t fly away even when I walk within inches of them. The blooms are wonderfully fragrant and are a joy to take in your hand and inhale the scent – just be careful, as the bees like it too. Butterfly bush comes in several shades, grows in zones 4 – 10, and can be found at most major nurseries or by mail order.