My new favorite front yard in town
In my previous post I showed you thickets of weedy Agave americana growing in two front yards just a block apart. On the same street I made another discovery—one that almost had me slam on the brakes with excitement. (I managed to contain myself enough to safely pull over to the curb.)
Take a look:
I was secretly hoping I'd run into the homeowners, but it was a weekday morning and nobody was around. Therefore, I can't tell you anything about this project. The only thing I can do is show you more photos.
Take a look:
This is the kind of front yard I would have if I started with a blank slate: rectangular terraced planting areas in different sizes and colors filled with a variety of succulents and waterwise perennials.
I love everything about this design. Hands-down, this is my new favorite front yard in Davis. The fact that I discovered it purely by chance makes me wonder what other treasures there are close to home? Instead of visiting gardens elsewhere, I need to spend more time exploring my own town!
I was secretly hoping I'd run into the homeowners, but it was a weekday morning and nobody was around. Therefore, I can't tell you anything about this project. The only thing I can do is show you more photos.
There even is an Agave americana...
...but it's beautifully contained behind boulders.
Based on the historical Google Street View photos below, the raised beds already existed in August 2007:
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| August 2007 (image © 2017 Google) |
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| May 2012 (image © 2017 Google) |
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| May 2015 (image © 2017 Google) |
It doesn't appear like the hardscaping has changed in the last 10 years, but the plants certainly have. The planting scheme has evolved in response to California's historic 2011-2017 drought and now looks better than ever. This front yard could be on the cover of a coffee-table book showcasing the beauty of water-wise contemporary landscaping.
wow ! You better share the street with me Gerhard -I will need to do a drive-by the next time I'm in Davis.
ReplyDeleteWill do.
DeleteWhat a beautiful house and raised beds! The garden is indeed neat and immaculately planted, I love those round rive rocks in the beds, I've tried that in my garden but weeds grow between the rocks at ferocious rate. I guess weeding is not a big problem in your climate. Greetings from Argentina!
ReplyDeleteWeeds do become a problem, especially in areas that are irrigated. I try to stay on top of them before they get out of hand.
DeleteThis house's landscape architect is the one I used for my new front yard. I took pictures of several front yards (including this one) to show her what I liked, and she laughed her head off, because the majority were ones she designed.
ReplyDeleteWhat a coincidence! Any other interesting front yards I should see?
DeleteNice find! They really should put warning signs on the street so that gardeners don't cause accidents slamming on the brakes to get a better look at places like this one:) I hope you go back again to try and find out more!
ReplyDeleteI wonder if you can nominate a garden for one of the local garden tours?
DeleteWow...beautiful. I'm always so impressed when there's so much color incorporated, yet it's still peaceful? I haven't mastered that concept yet ;). Thank you for sharing this!
ReplyDeleteMe neither! I'm too much of a plant collector to ever be satisfied with a limited palette.
DeleteNicely done! The planting scheme fits are house's architecture perfectly too. I often think I need to comb the neighborhoods around me too but, with paranoia about burglaries running high, there's a good chance someone would call the sheriff's department to report a suspicious woman with a camera :(
ReplyDeleteI think you'll be fine. Now a MAN would be a different story :-(
DeleteSounds like you can easily get the name of that landscape architect . That design would be so much fun to plant and something fairly easy to maintain as the garden (and owner!) matures.
ReplyDeleteYes!! Access is so easy. I love how open and inviting it is.
DeleteA great discovery--really beautiful garden with excellent design, though the teal and purple beams maybe go too far. Beautiful boulders--would love some of those on my front slope as they are stand-able for plant maintenance. As the best designs do, this garden provides ideas.
ReplyDeleteI agree 100%. The best designs inspire you, and this one certainly does that.
DeleteYeah, the beams are a bit much but it's all matter of preference. And paint is cheap, as they say :-)
I'd love some of those rocks, too, but larger boulder are pricey, not to mention the labor for hauling and placement!
Definitely getting ideas from this design!
ReplyDelete