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Garden Design
Plants for Beachfront and Seaside Gardens in Southern California
Question from Zachary: What plants will grow in gardens close to the coast and right on the beach front in Southern California? Answer from Pat: Trees that will survive on the oceanfront in Southern California include the following: Monterey cypress (Cupressus...
Planting a Bank
Question from Christy: I have just removed ice plant from my bank and would like to go with native/drought tolerant/succulent/and maybe even some edible plants. I live in San Diego and the bank gets full sun. I have a good idea (from your web-site)...
Suggestions re Flowering vine or hedge as divider
Question from Diane: I live in middle of Los Angeles (Hancock Park red clay soil) and have cyclone fence between new neighbors and my yard. Old divider was eugenia hedge now removed. East/south facing so sun most of the day. Think Jasmine, potato vine,...
Pat Welsh’s Garden
Question from Cat: I was wondering if you ever open your garden up for viewing. I would love to see it. I live in Trabuco Canyon, California and am an avid So Calif gardener. I travel to Great Dixter every year to take their gardenning symposiums...
How to Space Plants when Planting a Bank
From Kathy: Oh for goodness sake I never thought of Ellwood’s as I hardly go there. I got turned off by coldness in attitude there and never went back. I’ll check it out. Okay will cut off the thatch too. Thanks again. Now I have...
Plant to Prevent Erosion on a Steep Hillside
Question from Kathy: I love your book and use it as my garden bible. I have a new problem and do not know what to do. I live on top of a steep hillside and have been here for 34 yrs. I have never had a mudslide. However, the hillside is in three levels...
Edible Landscape Planning
Question from Dave: I have a friend at work who is planning on re-landscaping her yard. Can you recommend a book on edible landscaping? Also, do you have some advice on peaches, nectarines, plums and cherries? I have trees that are two years old –...
Vegetable Gardening and Edibles in a New Garden
Be sure to choose fruit trees well adapted to your mild climate zone, which is probably Zone 23, the thermal belt of the coastal zones which is right next to the coastal fog belt, Zone 24. Sunset Western Garden Book has excellent lists. Be sure to follow...
Beach Front Plants for English Seacoast Gardens
Question from Katie: Hi Pat, just found your www site and saw it said, “Send a Q to Pat”, so, here goes… location: seaside, south-facing (in England: the sunny side), sheltered terrace. Required: architectural, evergreen, “WOW!”...
Romancing the Garden: A philosophy of gardening Pt 4
A garden may reflect a certain time or place, perhaps a country you love. Pots, statuary, choose tasteful statuary and garden ornaments to add art and whimsy Bird houses Murals, mosaics Statues and design elements can hearken back to ancient times, other...
Garden Decorations-Any ideas?
Question from Olivia: My client just asked me for some garden decorations ideas. Frogs and St Francis d’Assisi were my choice (would Quan Yin also work of the garden?) What would you recommend for garden decorations? Answer from Pat: Feng shui is...
Adding Color And Excitement To The Landscape
Adding Color And Excitement To The Landscape Many spectacular trees and shrubs from mild regions around the world are well adapted to growing in our coastal Mediterranean climate. Nonetheless, when housing developments are originally landscaped, planners...
Finding Your Own Style
The ideal garden is a place in which nature can revel within an artistically arranged design. Every garden can benefit from having a few formal aspects or well-defined boundaries—a few straight lines, a spiral or a square, a triangle, or a circle. Vita...
