A WINTER GARDEN in CALIFORNIA.

 

I have BORROWED this photo from Instagram.

I apologize I do not recall who’s account I purloined it from.

JUST KNOW I LOVE IT!

XOXO

 

A LOT of you have mentioned my GARDEN in emails and or COMMENTS so I thought I would give you a TASTE of what it is like in the OFF SEASON!I remember a PRIMA BALLERINA ABSOLUTE telling me “THE BEAUTY of a GARDEN is the DAILY CHANGE!”There is ALWAYS something NEW to look at”.

I would have to agree as I love the BUCKEYE when they lose their leaves as much as when they are in FULL BLOOM.The WiLD PLUM trees add a dash of dark burgundy to a GREEN STAGE.Somehow, I do not mind if they areNOT in my color scheme……………

My colors for the backyard are YELLOW and WHITE……..with a pale pink rose just because it does well in the shade.Do you think I can recall the name of that rose?Heck, NO!

We shall refer to them in the future as MY EXTRA’S!

SO, let us STEP out the KITCHEN FRENCH DOORS and take a LOOK…………..

 

The ITALIAN has taken over the FOUNTAIN with my BLESSING!He put plants in it to give the GOLDFISH a hiding SPOT!

This FRENCH DAY BED I have had for probably 15 years.I finally had the ITALIAN and his crew move it from the side yard to the BACKYARD.Now all I need is an extra $1000.00 to get a FOAM mattress and OUTDOOR fabric coverlet made.ONLY to have the SQUIRRELS eat away at it for their CREATURE COMFORTS!I have visions of lounging with DOGS and CATS taking a SIESTA and reading MORE ABOUT CECIL BEATON!

MOCK ORANGE which gives off a HEADY SCENT when it is in BLOOM sits outside our bedroom.

Coming back towards the CASA we look out over a busy road……….plenty of spots to sit and gaze as I hoarded CONCRETE BENCHES for YEARS!

Concrete table and URN have made a MOVE recently from under the overhang LOGGIA to the GRANITE GRAVEL.I needed a SPOT for my MOTHER’s FRENCH PASTRY TABLE………..it replaced this beauty as it is more protected under the LOGGIA.

I have spoken about these CHANDELIERS before as I had purchased them for my SHOP only to get INFO in the PACKAGING THAT they cannot be ELECTRIFIED!NO one wanted a GLASS FIXTURE that couldNOT be useful……..I did try them in the SHOP for awhile.THEN the brilliant LIGHT BULB went off……….take them HOME and PUT IN THE GARDEN!Birds can drink from the small dish-like vessels…………….they have been in the GARDEN for years now with a bit of wear and tear which just makes them ALL THE MORE APPEALING TO ME!

Here WE stand on the SECOND TERRACE…………peeking through the CHARLOTTE roses.Did you know CHARLOTTE roses are good for hedging?I read that somewhere…………it has ALMOST happened!We are looking at a FRENCH garden bench that is LIVING it’s last days down by the OLD CHICKEN COOP.

YELLOW PATINA and Purple LAVENDER……….SHHHH, I couldn’t wait for the WHITE to come in and as this was an experimental area this past SPRING I WENT FOR PURPLE!

THE CHOOKS eyeing me to see if I brought MORE goodies!

Do you see THREE CHOOKS or TWO?

End of NOVEMBER and the SALLY HOLMES are still holding on…………..

Second TERRACE……..otherwise, known as THE JUNGLE.

BRIDGE OF SIGHS………….with the GORGEOUS WINSTON coming back from checking out the COMPOST pile!

Sometimes,edibles doNOT get to decompose on the PILE rather in his TUMMY is where they break down!

A BIRTHDAY GIFT from  FIRST BORN SON…….a few years ago.

He looks out for THE BOUNTY in the VEGETABLE bins……….except this CHERUB MUST HAVE BEEN DAY DREAMING this summer when A DEER got in an ATE ALL the VEGGIES!HE did leave some ITALIAN PARSLEY and BASIL……….very kind.

The CREEK bed at the bottom of our slope.

I know I am terrible about curling THAT hose back up.

SHAME ON ME!

A PAIR of LIONS given to me by ONE Of my oldest friends.

She called me years ago saying they had purchased a house and there were these LIONS in the garden that were DEFINITELY NOT HER but VERY ME!Did I want them?

Silly question………..OF COURSE I DID!

MORE gargoyles and MORE patina.

AT the top terrace close to the house walking towards the kitchen doors.

Another French DAY bed for WINSTON.

Which I did get the foam and coverlet made this summer.

It is now WINTERIZING in the shed.

Perhaps, BANKSY will commandeer it upon his next visit!

I hear he has become a COACH POTATO PIG!

Do you think that is a HEATING PAD or a computer cord?

Do NOTE the pillow for his head!

I have ASKED for a little video of the EFFORTS of getting on the sofa, hopefully they can CAPTURE that FEAT one day and I CAN SHARE .

The BEST GIFT………….another dear friend of 30 plus years GIFTED this POT to me for MY BIRTHDAY a few years ago!I wanted it inside LA CASA……….as it’s provenance is of DISTINCTION.I never could FIND the right spot until now although it LIVES outside.This lovely older cement POT hails from HEARST CASTLE and now holds my FLOWERS who have seen better days………..before the COMPOST they sit here and make me HAPPY!

SO, THE POT HAS A PURPOSE and PLEASES ME NO END.

THANK YOU LINDA!

LEMON TREE is STRUTTING HER STUFF……..

MY BOYS in ITALY on EASTER.

This is what happens when you clean up PILES…………

You find OLD photos!

I would give anything to the person who can tell me what the white and yellow flower is called.

I do think the yellow might be a dandelion.

I would like to do a WILD FLOWER Meadow down by the CREEK bed with these.

Maybe I just need to go back to FLORENCE and park the car and go gather a few and bring back in my dirty underwear…………think CUSTOMS would have a FIT?

WORTH A TRY!