Pat Talks About Her Garden
Comment from Nina:
“…I would also like to add that my daughter, husband, and I visited your garden about 20 years ago when she was working at Weidner’s. I received your book “Pat Welsh’s Southern California Gardening A Month-to-Month Guide” compete with autograph. Also at that time you gave me a geranium slip which, unfortunately, did not survive more than a couple of years. However, a slip of another plant, which I do not recall the name of, has proliferated, spreading at will without a fuss. A wonderful reminder/remembrance of our lovely visit with you.”
Answer from Pat:
Thank you for checking again and glad the date problem is now corrected. Sorry about the confusion.
How nice to know that you visited my garden years ago. It is now no longer open to the public but at this moment, thanks to the weather, is perhaps more spectacular than ever before with wisteria, clivia, Geranium maderense, Echium candidum, Lady Banks rose, camellia, winter blooming jasmine (Jasminum polyanthum), babiana, freesia, sparaxis, and camellias all in full bloom. This was convenient since yesterday, Easter Sunday, I had a breakfast and egg hunt in my garden for 25 family members including my two daughters and spouses, two of my five grandchildren. 6 of my 8 great-grandchildren and my three nephews and their families. I have enlarged the lower (winter) patio to hold us all for this annual reunion and re-designed the garden to make it just as spectacular as ever but a lot more easy care. For example, I switched my potted plant collections to succulents, painted all my old wooden and wicker outdoor furniture in bright Mediterranean hues, turned the vegetable garden into a meadow and covered the island bed with Korean grass (Zoysia tenuifolia), and changed the central paths from mulch which needed annual renewing to permanent pebbles, much better and cleaner for large numbers of babies to sit on. I now have one raised bed for vegetables and instead of the 3-bin composting system I once had, I now compost in a double-drum composter neatly hidden from view behind a trellis.
All through the years people have walked into my garden in spring and gasped at the spectacular show. I’ve often heard them remark, “But of course she’s so lucky living here where she has the perfect spot for growing things.” I smile when I hear people say that since the fact is no, I don’t have the perfect spot—it faces north and has a cold wind— and nor do I have perfect soil. It’s something akin to beach sand and it sheds water. Anyone can grow a spectacular garden if they will cover arbors and pergolas with colorful vines, grow thick hedges for privacy and choose the easiest and most colorful plants best adapted to their soil and climate. Instead, most people grow a bit of this and a bit of that which never looks good and all too many gardeners try to grow things that thrived somewhere else they remember instead of in the climate where they live.
My philosophy is if something is spectacular and easy, grow that. And if something is good, plant a lot of it. The result looks easy and as if Mother Nature did it.
Thank you for the lovely letter and the update of many changes made to your garden. Painting the garden furniture in mediterranean colors is a great idea. How wonderful to have such a large family near enough to enjoy holiday celebrations and in such a wonderful setting. I certainly agree that if a plant requires too much care I don’t need it. As the crow flies I live about 3 miles from the ocean. From my understanding of the description of soil in your location mine is heavier, more clay like. However, I grow some of the same plants you do and I also find them to be easy care here. Lady Banks rose, camellia, Jasminum polyanthum, freesia. In addition, there other kinds or roses, Indian Hawthorne, paper whites, star jasmine, mexican primrose, rosemary, nasturstiums, daylilies, saxafraga, Italian cypress, geranium, carrotwood trees, pepper trees (1 of each kind, one of which just appeared one day), xylosma, oleander (which doesn’t bloom well in this coastal climate), bottle brush, birch trees, mallaluca tree, ficus trees, small leaf ivy, ferns, and calla lilies, hibiscus, bougainvillia, cape plumbago, pittosporum, African daisy, and citrus trees. Does this sound like a little too much of this and that?!! It probably is! I do have a good size yard though. I have planted a several vines on an arbor that have been disappointing. Two have them have survived and grown well but produce very few flowers and both bloom in winter months. I am hoping to find a summer bloomer that will thrive. I love wisteria but would need a pergola for it. Although it blooms for such a short time it’s beauty is so worth it!! The plant you gave me all those years ago is, I believe, Crassula multicava. Pictures below although they are not large enough to see well. I will send them from my daughters email which these photos were originally attached to. Hope to see you on the 20th and/or 27th. Thank you, Pat, for all the information.
Thanks for sending photos. Yes, the plant is Pride of London (Crassula multicava), named for London, South Africa, not London, England. Regarding the number of plants one grows, I believe fewer and more of each, plus a few specimen plants makes for a more professional or noteworthy look. However, what really counts is the joy one gets from one’s garden whether or not it pleases anyone else. Regarding a summer-blooming vine, why not one of the trumpet vines, such as blood red trumpet vine (Distictus buccinatoria)?
Your input is very much appreciated. I will try the trumpet vine you suggest. I do understand your comment on fewer plants. It seems to me such gardens are also more cohesive creating a greater degree of calm and relaxation about them. My garden began as experiments with many different plants and finally, over the years, ending up with the plants that have survived. Going forward I will keep in mind “less variety and more of them”. Thanks again, Pat. Pride of London will always be in my garden.
Thanks for sending photos. Yes, the plant is Pride of London (Crassula multicava), named for London, South Africa, not London, England. Regarding the number of plants one grows, I believe fewer and more of each, plus a few specimen plants makes for a more professional or noteworthy look. However, what really counts is the joy one gets from one’s garden whether or not it pleases anyone else. Regarding a summer-blooming vine, why not one of the trumpet vines, such as blood red trumpet vine (Distictus buccinatoria)?
Thank you, Pat, for your electrifying talk at the Master Gardener seminars. As I said to you at the book table, you are very charming and you have taught all of us so much about gardening HERE. Your book is very helpful and well thumbed and annotated! Thank you very much.
It is so kind of you to write and tell me all this! Your comment has warmed my heart. The Master Gardener Seminars are very dear to my heart also. The audiences are always so eager and appreciative and the Master Gardeners give me plenty of help setting up and selling books and help me with the audio visual equipment also. This time I sold out of books. Next time I’ll know to bring more.