From Front Lawn to Living Artwork
An Open Studio & Garden Party Invitation
If you've known me for a while, you know I love plants and gardens. What you may not know is that I can be horribly neglectful when it comes to actually keeping them alive. So I need plants that not only look beautiful but can survive my particular brand of benevolent neglect.
That's exactly how we ended up tearing out our front lawn and replanting with drought-tolerant plants about three years ago. After hiring someone to handle the demolition, everything since has been a complete DIY project; all the planning, path-laying, and planting done by my husband and me. And honestly, the planting and the largest share of the ongoing maintenance have been my labor of love.
Sunday afternoons will more often than not find me in the garden, my own version of Sabbath, doing work that feels like meditation and yields the most wonderful rewards. Right now I'm not sure there are enough Sundays left before my Open Studio and Garden Party on Saturday, May 2nd, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. but most visitors don't see the weeds the way I do, so it will be what it will be.
There's one corner that goes instantly wild, including a couple of nearly tree-sized weeds I've been eyeing. I may get the bigger one out before May 2nd, but I'll definitely need my husband's help for that. I did manage to clear most of the pathways in time for my two-year-old granddaughter's first Easter egg hunt, but something new is always creeping back in.
See that tree behind the bench? That is currently the biggest weed in my garden.
For me, gardening is a lot like making artwork. The ground is my canvas; the plants are my paint. The difference is that this piece is never quite finished and always needs a little tweaking. The good news is that it will be a wonderful work in progress no matter what, and I've made my peace with that.
When I started this project, my goal was simply to create a landscape that could handle drought, since dry seasons are becoming more the norm than the exception here in the Sacramento Valley. I began with succulents I already had, plus free cuttings from anyone willing to share. Three years later, I'm no longer looking for cuttings, I'm the one with plenty to spare. In fact, as part of the garden party, I'll have a whole collection of succulent cuttings free for the taking. Come early and you'll have the best pick!
One of my favorite litte succulent spots under the oak tree.
Several years back we planted a native Valley Oak in the front yard, and I've always wanted to weave more California native plants throughout the garden as well. I quickly learned that natives aren't always easy to find and can be even harder to get established once you do. I've lost my fair share, but I've also had real successes, and the garden now supports local wildlife in ways that genuinely delight me. I'm hoping the wild swing of hot weather followed by heavy rain this spring doesn't steal the show from all the California poppies blooming right now. The native yarrow should still be going strong by May 2nd, and the native fuchsias may just be coming into bloom. There's always something new unfolding, and that's part of what makes it exciting.
Oh, and there will be art in the garden too! A friend will have metalwork displayed outside, and a few more artist friends will have work inside the house as well. And if you make your way all the way upstairs and down the hall, you'll find my home studio, which more than a few visitors have compared to a small natural history museum.
But those details are for another post. Right now, I really need to get back to the garden.
Open Studio & Garden Party — Saturday, May 2, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.More details to come, I hope to see you there!
Artworks by Jessi Brooks, Angela Houk, Ziva Shayna Design Co and myself above a view of my garden.
