Today’s photos come from Irvin and Pauline Faria of Carmichael, Calif. They are moving to a new state and are hoping that the new owners of their home will continue to care for their beautiful garden sanctuary.
Pauline’s Garden has been our paradise for the last 55 years. Its woodland design has provided us a unique link with nature. As we prepare for our move to Albuquerque, N.M., to be with our family, we hope the next owners will continue to care for its beauty. It is our wish that the garden doesn’t deteriorate and become a dead and dreary realm of garden history once Pauline’s shadow no longer hovers over the landscape. Rather, we hope the next owners enjoy the property and share the same affection for this unique land as we who preceded them. We have been inordinately lucky—to have had the property in the first place, to have had the good fortune to develop it, to keep it intact, to have had the opportunity and resources to enlarge the garden, and above all, to enjoy the exercise. Thank you to those who in the past shared kind comments about Pauline’s Garden. Here is a selection of some of our favorite garden photos.
Front garden with a crabapple (Malus sp., Zones 4–8) flowering in the back.
Entry garden at its best. The large mounded Japanese maple in the rear is ‘Garnet’ (Acer palmatum ‘Garnet’, Zones 5–8).
The upper center garden showing off a pink dogwood (Cornus florida, Zones 5–9). View our dogwood plant guide.
A pink dogwood with a ‘Crimson Queen’ Japanese maple near the stone path. 
A burst of color from birch trees (Betula sp., Zones 3–8).
Along the lower path, a flowering red bud (Cercis canadensis, Zones 4–9) contrasts with an ‘Okagami’ Japanese maple.
‘Crimson Queen’ hovers above a Japanese lantern.
This ‘Crimson Queen’ Japanese maple covers a fish pond.
Contrasting Japanese maples include ‘Corbin’ (yellow leaves) and several Acer Palmatum ‘Palmata’. View our plant guide to Japanese maples.
A creekside escape into the nature preserve.
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Comments
Oh my. I have loved seeing this garden through the years... I also hope the new owners care for it and share it with us and others. Meanwhile, I'll look forward to seeing what you do in your new home. You know you can garden anywhere and almost any way... even if it is containers, or in a small space, or in your home. Wishing you well and sending love. Thank you for sharing your amazingly beautiful garden with us.
I am saddened to hear you must leave such a wonderful creation. It is so evident of your passion to maintain this paradise. It must be difficult, despite the reasons to move on. I always enjoy seeing this garden, especially all the Japanese maples which are also so dear to me. I certainly hope the new owners recognize what a gift they will be gaining and hopefully work just as hard to keep it alive and vibrant. It will be interesting to see how you garden in a new locale. Always exciting to try something new. That's the magic of gardens. Best wishes on your new endeavor.
There have been many fabulous gardens featured on Fine Gardening and yours is among the "Best of the Best"! I have always looked forward to every posting, knowing I will see another "piece of paradise". We all join in wishing you the best and hope you share new gardening endeavors with us, no matter how big or small. We know it will be beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing your gardens with us through the years.
Dear Irvin and Pauline, you have graced so many lives with the previous and current postings of pictures of your gardens. I feel like I've just taken a leisurely walk through your property and I feel refreshed and renewed. I hope you will have the opportunity to garden in Albuquerque and know that your family will be delighted to have you closer. Enjoy your memories, as we also will enjoy ours of your garden.
I have always loved this since I saw it the first time on here. Sad that they are leaving it but wishing them the very best in their new venture.
Fantastic garden! Must be so hard to walk away from.
OH I do hope that the new owners appreciate and take care of this lovely garden. When we moved 10 years ago, I had beautiful gardens in MD. Did a drive by last year. I almost fainted. its all grown up, weeds, dead plants & bushes. So all I can say--don't go back. I'm sure you will have another beautiful garden in N.M.
Dear Pauline and Irvin, the spirit and beauty of your CA garden will live on in the minds of many of us here in gpod-land. Your plants and accompanying objects of ornamentation have always been so perfectly placed and in such pleasing harmony. Your garden has always seemed especially blessed with graceful artistry and I always felt you had an enthusiastic gardening partner in Mother Nature. Wishing you the very best in your new living situation and I hope you thrive with the mutual nurturing in the metaphorical garden of family. Thank you so much for your picture contributions through the years...they have inspired so many of us.
I have loved seeing this garden over the years. Fine Gardening, this garden should definitely be a feature article in an upcoming issue.
I agree!
Good morning Pauline and Irvin, and thank you for the great photos one last time before your move. This will be a whole new experience gardening in NM and I hope that however big or small that garden is, you enjoy it as much as this one. It has been a treat seeing all of your beautiful maples and camellias and I wish you the best. Linda
My heart aches for you as you leave this stunning garden/work of art. I have had to leave 3 gardens - the last one in NJ had been developed over 20 years. Each time I have wept. The first 2, the new owners didn't do much to keep them up, but the young couple that bought our place in NJ has done so, and added their own touch according to our neighbors there who keep me posted. I wish you the best in your new home and many more years of happy gardening! Beth
Pauline and Irvin, Your garden is pure beautiful joy, makes me long for the land where flowers donot fade and joy never ends. May the sunshine of God's love forever be yours.
Dearest Pauline and Irvin, Thank you for giving us the joy of seeing your beloved gardens one last time before your move to NM.
Pauline, your love of the land that has grown and evolved under your care over the years is unmistakable in the beauty and the sensitivity of your designs. Your passion has been noticed and revered by all that have been graced with viewing parts of your journey through the photographs that have been shared with GPOD.
Irvin, my thank you would be remiss if I didn't mention your passionate and sensitive words describing Pauline's love for your property. They have been magical and have touched my heart with such joy in every welcome installment.
Thank you both for coming into my life, you are my inspirations. Enjoy this next adventure with one another!
Dear Pauline and Irvin, I have followed your posts with real nostalgia. As a displaced Central Californian (I know your neighborhood well), I know leaving your paradise is difficult, but the challenges of gardening in a new climate with newly discovered plants is exhilarating. We have tried Upper Mid West, Gulf Coast and now Mid Atlantic. Each area has had special challenges and joys. I look forward to seeing how well you transplant!
Thank you for allowing us the opportunity to catch one last glimpse of your garden Pauline and Irvin. I've enjoyed all your garden photos over the years and your garden will surely be missed. I wish you well in your new life (and gardening life) in New Mexico. I'm already wondering what your next garden will look like. Best wishes to you both!
Your garden is stunning. Hopefully, the new owners will appreciate it and take care of it.
Wow what a beautiful haven! Must be so difficult to pull yourself away from this place. I suppose all of us will experience leaving our loved work behind at some point. Wishing the new owners lots of luck and love with this garden.
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