This month, the Garden Designers Roundtable is taking a timeout for a reality check – those garden design ideas that you know will cause problems down the road, yet wind up in the plan anyway. The following are a few of the ways my clients and gardening friends have turned a blind eye to reality. (Okay, and me too.)

Reality Check #1: You live in a house, not a magazine

No one enjoys flipping through the pages of a glossy shelter magazine more than I do, and they can be a great source of inspiration. (I heart you, Sunset!) But avoid designing a new garden that will only look its best under perfectly pristine conditions. Believe me, if you have kids, pets, outdoor hobbies or spend time outside on a regular basis, your garden will attract the clutter of everyday life, exactly the same way your kitchen table is scattered with sunglasses, coffee cups and yesterday’s mail. Be realistic – include outdoor storage in your design, and don’t go with a layout plan or plant selection that requires a rigorous adherence to perfection to look its best.

Magazine version of a casual outdoor space

Real-life version of a casual outdoor space

Reality Check #2: Objects in the mirror are larger than they appear

Years ago, I designed a back yard for clients who had their heart set on a large swimming pool and an oversized barbecue island, appropriately called the Big Kahuna. Space was tight, but I managed. (If you’re wondering, the swimming pool cleared the setback requirement with only inches to spare.) But other requirements kept creeping in. How about a spa? And definitely a lawn, even if it’s small. When they requested a firepit at our final concept meeting, it was time for a reality check. Sure, I said, but only if we put it in the pool. The takeaway: avoid the “thing-y” backyard – don't try to stuff too many goodies into a small garden. Figure out what will truly add to your enjoyment of the space, and forget the rest.

Reality Check #3: Zone denial

I’m guilty of this one. Just because Brugmansia won’t overwinter successfully in your Sunset Zone 14 garden doesn’t mean I’ll have that problem. Zone denial is particularly insidious during summertime nursery trips, when the gratification is instant, and winter seems a lifetime away. But just as it’s always a mistake to buy your jeans a little too tight, fingers crossed you’ll lose those extra five pounds by the night of the party, winter will arrive on schedule, just like it does every year. Do your best to fight temptation and stick with plants that thrive in your climate.

My brugmansia in September, artfully framing a view of my garden

My brugmansia this week, artfully framing nothing.

To see what other Roundtable designers have to say on the topic, including special guest and landscape architect David Cristiani, check out these posts:

David Cristiani : The Desert Edge : Albuquerque, NM

Jocelyn Chilvers : The Art Garden : Denver, CO

Andrew Keys : Garden Smackdown : Boston, MA

Susan Cohan : Miss Rumphius’ Rules : Chatham, NJ

Rebecca Sweet : Gossip In The Garden : Los Altos, CA

Christina Salwitz : Personal Garden Coach : Renton, WA

Shirley Bovshow : Eden Makers : Los Angeles, CA

Genevieve Schmidt : North Coast Gardening : Arcata, CA

all images courtesy of Maria Zampini

Just as there’s more than one way to skin a cat (I’m taking this on faith, of course, as I prefer my kitties fully-furred), there’s more than one way to fit a beloved plant into a small space. In Garden Up! Smart Vertical Gardening For Small and Large Spaces, Rebecca and I describe many strategies for working in small, tight spaces: choosing vertical plants; layering up, not out; and using your walls, fences or arbors as another place to garden. A classic way to achieve the last example is through the practice of espalier.
 

While I love their glorious early-spring blooms, the traditional mushroom shape that Snow Fountains Weeping Cherries are often trimmed into has generally left me cold – too reminiscent of a four-year-old boy’s head with a bowl cut. But Maria is passionate about the versatility of this classic plant, explaining that it can be used a dozen different ways in the landscape.  “Unstaked, it acts as a ground cover, or can be planted to cascade over a wall. Let the limbs lie on the hot pavement – they can take it,” says Maria. “It is also superb as an espalier along a building fence or trellis.” 

Snow Fountain trained on an arbor

As an espalier trained to follow the lines of the house, courtesy of Brian Decker of Decker's Nursery in Ohio

Blazing with fall color

Cascading over a wall

Maria’s has also experimented with training weeping crabapples, and is particularly fond of Malus ‘Molazam' Molten Lava, a cultivar introduced to the trade by her father Jim Zampini.  Grafted or otherwise, this is a terrific choice to add multi-season interest to a small space, as delicate white blooms are followed by tiny red fruit and lovely display of yellow fall color.

Spring

Summer

Fall

Maria and her family have introduced other high-performing ornamental fruit tree cultivars suitable for espalier or other small-space landscape uses, including her personal favorite, Malus Weeping Candied Apple. To learn more about their selections, available at nurseries nationwide, visit Lake Country Nursery.

 Thank you, Maria, for sharing your lovely photos, and encouraging me to revisit a garden staple with fresh eyes.

I'm not going black today, mostly because I haven't got a clue how to do that on a Typepad blog. But in solidarity and support, I'm encouraing everyone to let congress know you disagree with the Stop Online Piracy Act. This site by google sums it up nicely AND makes it easy for you to add your name to the online petition. The latest information is also available in a Huffington Post article.

From Google:

"Millions of Americans oppose SOPA and PIPA because these bills would censor the Internet and slow economic growth in the U.S.

Two bills before Congress, known as the Protect IP Act (PIPA) in the Senate and the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) in the House, would censor the Web and impose harmful regulations on American business. Millions of Internet users and entrepreneurs already oppose SOPA and PIPA."

The vote is January 24. Sign the petition or write your congressmen before then.

Photo courtesy off techi.com.

When you live 40 minutes away from the Napa Valley and are blessed with an unusually beautiful Saturday in January, there's really no better way to spend it than lunch, wine-tasting and garden-hoping in Yountville.

We began at Domain Chandon, which has extensive grounds punctuated by majestic oaks and whimsical artwork. (FYI we only tried the bubbles, not the oysters.)

After fortifying ourselves with a lunch at Bouchon, we grabbed our camera and headed down the street to Maison Fleurie. (And no, I have not had too much wine at this point. The tilted angle is for effect.)

Reminiscent of Southern France, Maison Fleurie has the most welcoming front porch of any hotel in Yountville.

Directly across the street, the Bardessono is a study in contrasts. Sleek and contemporary, it is one of only three hotels in the United States that is LEEDS platinum certified. Which one would you choose for a Napa Valley getaway?

After you've admired the crisp, contemporary courtyard gardens, be sure to take a peek around the back to the small but charming kitchen garden.

The weather's promising to be just as beautiful this coming weekend. Sonoma or Calistoga next? I may have to flip a coin.

For more on the Bardessono, check out this great post by Michelle Derviss.

Eat less, volunteer more, draw or write daily in my journal – all examples of past New Year’s resolutions that were quietly discarded as the everyday pressures of work and life took precedence. This year, I’m making only one resolution and I know I’ll enjoy keeping it: to experiment with as many new plants as possible.

One thing making my resolution easier is the APLD-sponsored new plant presentation I attended late last year, courtesy of Ryan Hall of Pacific Plug and Liner.  I’ll be sharing more of the plants I learned about as I try them out in my garden designs, but here are three that I’m particularly excited about – and you won’t be surprised to learn they are all perfect for small gardens.


Astelia ‘Silver Shadow’ lights up the dark

What I can’t resist: Bottlebrush is somewhat despised in California as a ubiquitous, sprawling plant that tends to run roughshod over residential gardens, requiring more pruning and attention than most of us are willing to give. This new cultivar boasts the same evergreen foliage and cheery red flowers that are a magnet for pollinators, but while tall, grows only  3’ wide, making it an ideal screening choice for a small garden. Available in spring.

Just the Facts
An upright, columnar habit makes it ideal for screening or planting along fences.
Drought tolerant and unfussy, will thrive in most garden conditions.
Full sun
Size: 8-10’ tall by 3’ wide.
Sunset Zones: 8, 9, 12-31, H1, H2


Buddleia Buzz Series – all the blooms, at a fraction of the size

Why I’m buzzing: Everyone loves the richly colored flowers and regular parade of butterflies and birds a traditional Butterfly Bush attracts – until the end of the season comes and that cute little bush has morphed into an overgrown monster poised to gobble up the rest of the garden. You won’t have that problem with this little gem. Available now.

Just the Facts
A new compact series of Butterfly Bush, available in a range of colors’ with a tidy garden habit.
Unlike other dwarf cultivars on the market, the flowers are full-sized.
Full Sun, drought tolerant
Size: 48” x 30”
Sunset Zones: 3B, 4-9, 14-24, 28-33

Many thanks for Ryan Hall from Pacific Plug and Liner for introducing me to these plants and providing the photos.