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Garden Photo of the Day

Garden Photo of the Day

READER PHOTOS! Sara's garden in California, revisited

comments (20) July 19th, 2012 in blogs
MichelleGervais Michelle Gervais, Senior Editor
144 users recommend
A riot of color in the summer foliage garden, starring Cotinus Grace, Podocarpus elongatus Monmal, Chamaecyparis pisifera Filifera Aurea, Chamaecyparis pisifera Boulevard, Lophomyrtus Black Stallion, Nandina domestica Gulfstream. Click directly on the photo to enlarge it in a pop-up.
Midsummer brings the flowers of Lobelia tupa, which tower above the dwarf conifers and other foliage plants. If were going to have flowers, we go for drama! Click directly on the photo to enlarge it in a pop-up.
Pinus thunbergii Thunderhead adds tremendous structure to the garden, softness is provided by the weeper in the rear (Cupressus cashmeriana), and Leucadendron Jester and Phormium Golden Ray add a punch of color. Click directly on the photo to enlarge it in a pop-up.
Spirea thunbergii Mt. Fuji is a luscious lime green in summer, which together with the cool blue tones of Picea pungens Fat Albert ease the summer heat. Click directly on the photo to enlarge it in a pop-up.
The house seen from the hill, through a mixed array of conifers and other foliage plants. An enormous array of color and texture are provided by foliage alone! Click directly on the photo to enlarge it in a pop-up.
Leucadendron Jester, Phormium Golden Ray and Picea pungens Fat Albert provide a primary color display in mid-summer that is hard to beat! Click directly on the photo to enlarge it in a pop-up.
Leucadendron Safari Sunset, Cotinus Grace, Spiraea thunbergii Mt. Fuji, Picea pungens Fat Albert and Phormium Golden Ray, with Juniperus horizontalis Blue Chip in front. Click directly on the photo to enlarge it in a pop-up.
Cotinus Graces burgundy foliage contrasts nicely with the mix of greens in this foliage bed. Click directly on the photo to enlarge it in a pop-up.
This foliage bed mimics a mixed flower border with its hues of greens, blues, yellows, reds, burgundies and turquoise. Click directly on the photo to enlarge it in a pop-up.
The front of the house in summer, when the Wisteria floribunda is rich green, the Pennisetum orientale are in full bloom and the Cotinus coggygria Royal Purple is in full leaf with spent smoky blooms. The conifers continue to provide structure and interest. Click directly on the photo to enlarge it in a pop-up.
A riot of color in the summer foliage garden, starring Cotinus Grace, Podocarpus elongatus Monmal, Chamaecyparis pisifera Filifera Aurea, Chamaecyparis pisifera Boulevard, Lophomyrtus Black Stallion, Nandina domestica Gulfstream. Click directly on the photo to enlarge it in a pop-up. Click the image to enlarge.

A riot of color in the summer foliage garden, starring Cotinus 'Grace', Podocarpus elongatus 'Monmal', Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Filifera Aurea', Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Boulevard', Lophomyrtus 'Black Stallion', Nandina domestica 'Gulfstream'.

Click directly on the photo to enlarge it in a pop-up.

Photo: Courtesy of Sara Malone/Jan Lecocq
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We've visited Sara Malone's garden in Petaluma, California, twice before (refresh your memory HERE and HERE.) Both posts focused on how spectacular this garden looks in winter. Today, Sara's giving us a glimpse of the garden in summer. Sara says, "The conventional wisdom is that the foliage garden takes a back seat to floriferous displays in the summer months, but you can see from these images that Jan LeCocq took that there is a riot of color out there among the leaves! From reds through orange to yellow, on to purples, maroons, dazzling blues and, of course, green, the foliage lights up the landscape and provides a rich brocade of colors and textures. The garden features over 200 different conifer varieties as well as several dozen Japanese maples, a host of dwarf Ginkgo varieties, and many deciduous shrubs such as Viburnum, Fothergilla, Corylopsis and Hamamelis. To our delight, foliage varies throughout the seasons and provides something new almost every day. See more on our blog (http://formandfoliage.wordpress.com/)." Yup, just as gorgeous in sumer. Thanks, Sara and Jan!

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Comments (20)

Formandfoliage writes: Jay and Vojt - I just ordered 'The Undaunted Garden'. Thanks!
Sara Posted: 10:29 pm on July 19th
pattyspencer writes: Totally love all the different textures and forms - it all comes together as eye candy for me. Love it! Posted: 9:53 pm on July 19th
Jay_Sifford writes: Vojt, I looked up Lauren Springer on Amazon and ordered that book and another one that sounded really interesting to me. Thanks for recommending her. Posted: 4:55 pm on July 19th
Vojt writes: Lauren Springer's The Undaunted Garden was my garden bible for years. One of the few gardening books that I actually read as well as look at the pictures. Even though she gardens in Colorado, it was very relevant to gardening in the midwest with a few tweaks! Gorgeous blog, by the way! Posted: 3:12 pm on July 19th
Formandfoliage writes: Thanks again, all! It is fun to share the gardening experience, and those of you in lower zones (Regina and Priscilla for example) can grow a lot more conifers than you might think - many are indigenous to parts of the world that experience wide temperature extremes.

We are not pulling hoses here in CA this year - we have a weather pattern more similar to Olympic Mtn Gardener - but we sympathize, as our climate never has any summer water! One year, before I installed my drip irrigation, I didn't go to the gym for weeks because I was pulling hoses full of water all over my hill...

Vojt - I just looked up Lauren Springer and will have to get some of her books. Is there one in particular that you recommend?

Sara Posted: 2:13 pm on July 19th
priscilla_zone5 writes: Sarah + Jan, You 2 have created quite a lush garden oasis in Ca! It's most inspiring to this conifer admirer who greedily wants them all. Many thanks for labeling all the cultivars so I can check out what will grow here in zone 5. Posted: 12:33 pm on July 19th
olympic_mtn_gardener writes: Another great example of how a truly talented person can create a stunning garden with attention to contrasting foliage shapes, textures and colors. More inspiration!

To all of you with “summer hose attachment syndrome”: I’m mildly jealous, as I do not yet suffer from that syndrome this year. We have had a really cool, wet year--drizzled all day yesterday, and it is currently 54 degrees and foggy!
Posted: 10:32 am on July 19th
Happily_Gardening writes: Absolute tranquility! Posted: 9:45 am on July 19th
Sheila_Schultz writes: Sara and Jan... my jaw drops everytime I see photos of your gardens. They are more than spectacular, perfection is the word that comes to mind. And Meander1 and TerieLR, I'm so happy I am not the only one that seems to be permanently attached to a hose... Yikes! Posted: 9:33 am on July 19th
Formandfoliage writes: Hi all - Meander, the blue atlas cedars (Cedrus libani var. atlantica 'Glauca Pendula' - there's a mouthful!) were planted as 15 gallons in December 0f 2005, and yes, that was my vision for them. They were about 4' tall at the time, trained in serpentine form. I continued that serpentine shape until they got tall enough to begin to train over the door. They just 'met' last year - now I have to work to keep them from overtaking the entry, but they are amenable to pruning. The key with pruning woody plants is to do it a bit at a time and don't get behind. Mercifully it is right there at the front door so I don't forget about it! Trashywoman - I believe that there are a lot of conifers that will grow - even thrive - in the midwest. The American Conifer Society just held its annual meeting in Michigan and everyone was complaining about the heat. If you join the ACS (very modest membership) you'll have access to their regional groups who can help you with what would grow well in your area.
The Lobelia tupa is a real drama queen, and one of the few plants that I have that goes dormant in winter. The foliage, when it reawakens in February, is beautiful, so it only misses a couple of months of contributing to the garden. Sorry we don't have a closeup!
Sara Posted: 9:24 am on July 19th
Vojt writes: So beautiful. Lauren Springer's book taught me long ago that foliage really has to carry the garden, however in these photos it is the main event! Posted: 8:35 am on July 19th
GardenerGM writes: The colors! The textures! The forms! Wow!!! Posted: 8:05 am on July 19th
meander1 writes: To terieRL, I smiled reading your reference to suffering from what I call "summer hose attachment syndrome". I think many of us identify with this seasonal medical condition. I was joking with a friend the other day that I felt like I was in training for what should be a new Olympic event...Competitive Hose Dragging...I think my highly developed skills could make me a medal contender especially if they offered a senior division! Posted: 7:39 am on July 19th
cwheat000 writes: Different and lovely. Great use of foliage. That said, I would love to see a close up of that amazing flowering Lobelia tupa. Beautiful. Posted: 7:23 am on July 19th
terieLR writes: Scrolling through the pictures would be great Regina...
As I was watering early this A.M. I was making mental note to plant more shrubs in place of the numerous repetitive perennials. (I have been tied to the hose all summer) Your gardens are just what I needed to see today Sara! I certainly see why you choose maga-flowers for drama. Love the Lobelia tupa. Great plant choices for a spectacular display.

Posted: 7:04 am on July 19th
Jay_Sifford writes: Now this is my kind of garden! It's just amazing. I'm all about creating contrast with foliage shapes, textures and colors.. you have just made me one very happy person on this Thursday morning. I will definitely go back over these photos when I have more time. Congrats on creating such a paradise. Your hard work and keen eye for detailed design certainly comes through.

I love your blue atlas cedars framing the front porch entryway. That is arguably my favorite tree. Thanks for sharing! Posted: 7:03 am on July 19th
meander1 writes: Sara, I am awestruck with how stunning and sublimely pleasing these groupings of plants are. Not to overly gush (oh, who am I kidding, yes, I am going to gush), you are the Michelangelo of conifer gardening. Each picture is a mini college course in placement, spacing and harmony of colors and textures. Sigh, those paths are meant for meandering...slowly taking in all the sensory saturating delights.
And, my oh my, that weeping blue atlas that frames your porch entry way is amazing. Please share how old it is and was that your vision for it from the very beginning? Posted: 6:58 am on July 19th
Plantcraze writes: Love all the color with the conifers! A garden that can go through the winter and please you is indeed important.Iseli Nursery has some really cool plants.I buy a few from them every year to add to my garden and they carry my garden !Great Job!!!!! Posted: 6:04 am on July 19th
trashywoman62 writes:

Hey Michelle, is there anyway you can get your web techs to make it so you can scroll thru the pictures instead of opening and closing each one? Sure would be handy when you want to go back and look through them again for a second or third time, like today. Or is it just my iPad? Don't recall if my desktop PC does the same thing or not. Just a thought...
Regina Posted: 6:00 am on July 19th
trashywoman62 writes: WOW, Sara!

As a wannabe conifer connoisseur, I am drooling over your plantings! I love looking through pictures of unique conifers...like Iseli nursery in Oregon. Your collection is amazing! As you say, the mixing of textures and colors provides interest without requiring a bloom to enjoyed.

I am so envious of your climate. Here in Central IL the heat sometimes prevents a conifer from thriving no matter what care you give it. I am going to have to put one down this weekend if it cools off enough to dig him up, Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Aurea'. So far the only casualty due to the drought this year...except my pocketbook from the water bill!

Regina Posted: 5:48 am on July 19th
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