Ah, it’s that most anticipated time of the year- the spring garden tour season and I’m really looking forward to being inspired and learning something new at the same time. What could be better?
Coming up on Saturday May 19th from 10am-4pm you can visit seven gorgeous and unique properties in Felton and Ben Lomond and help benefit the new Felton Branch Library and Nature Discovery Park. The tour, organized by the Felton Library Friends, is a bargain at $20.
Recently I was able to visit one of the gardens that will be featured on the tour. I’m familiar with this Certified Wildlife Habitat on Manson Creek as I helped design the upper garden many years ago. Adra Ross and her two dogs were happy to show me the new additions she has made. As we walked the five acres Adra stopped often to pull a weed or two. She explained that her philosophy of gardening is to let grow what does well. She says there’s a “daisy cycle” and a “matilija poppy cycle” where these plants flourish in abundance without any work on her part.
Adra says she loves the shasta daisies and Santa Barbara daisies because they are showy and deer tolerant as are the matilija and California poppies.
Adra told me the huge, and I mean huge, koi pond was there when she bought the property in 1973 but she has improved on its operation by having a silting area installed which keeps the water clean. She has come up with the right mix of water plants to filter the water which makes the 10 or so koi happy, too. Other areas of this spectacular garden include a 20 foot tall metal giraffe sculpture with calf, a redwood grove with circulating path and garden art tucked in unexpected places. Ask her how she keeps her paths weed-free when you visit this garden.
Another garden on the tour features a succulent wall like nothing you have ever seen before. I helped Carla Richmond with other parts of this garden but the living wall was all hers. The wall contains hundreds and hundreds of succulents as well as other low water use plants. All the colors of the rainbow are represented by the colorful plants as well as the gorgeous green serpentine and orange jasper boulders. Every succulent garden is different and Carla has created a totally unique living wall. You have to see this one.
I haven’t had the privilege to visit the other gardens but if you are interested in rain catchment and permaculture Debbie Bour’s Little Cottage in the Redwoods would be a good garden to visit. There will be an expert onsite to answer your questions.
Janet Silvergate’s whimsical shade garden under the redwoods sounds like a lovely place to enjoy the music of Patti Maxine and friends while you check out her greenhouse, playhouse and fire pit.
Gale Mc Creary’s garden which features drought tolerant plants, fruit trees, roses and a glass-roofed conservatory that houses her orchid and tropical plant collection is well worth a visit.
Then there’s the two-acre sanctuary of Jenni Fox and Paul Gould with its paths through stately oaks that surround an art studio, private yoga studio and a pool. I can personally vouch for this one. It’s beautiful.
All this and there will be pop-ups with bonsai demonstrations by Santa Cruz Bonsai Kai club, 4-H bee hotels for pollinators and displays at the new Felton Library and Nature Discovery Park at its new location by the Felton post office. Tickets are available at Felton Feed, Felton Library, Scotts Valley library, Scarborough Garden Center, San Lorenzo Garden Center and The Garden Company in Santa Cruz.
- Jan Nelson, a landscape designer and California certified nursery professional, will answer questions about gardening in the Santa Cruz Mountains. E-mail her at
ja******@ao*.com
, or visit www.jannelsonlandscapedesign.com.
