Santa Barbara Garden Design

 Wow somehow the summer just got the best of me and the days zipped on by.  I realize I have pretty much been off the blogging grid for a few months but I needed a breather...
and honestly my creativity seemed to be on vacation ; ))

Blogging is time consuming and while it is a wonderful way to express yourself and share ideas
it can become really hard to squeeze it all in.
I realize I'm "preaching to the choir" here...!

I do share photos (randomly) on Instagram
just in case you like stuff about pretty much anything

We did get a few things done....the garden is about 75% with a few large projects left for after the holidays

Just to refresh, here is a quick before shot from around February 

 The lot is pie shaped and a little odd so we started off by creating a series
of landings and green garden rooms
The plantings will be drought tolerant and meadow like, with scented geraniums, lavender, grasses
and small dry creeks with succulents

 There will be a  large stone water feature in the center of the old lawn...this is a "no grass" garden
but still very green

We did our best to incorporate large rocks and existing hedges into the plan as well

throughout the property there are a series of small gated areas unified with white stucco, Monticeto and Santa Barbara stone, gravel and aged redwood

 The kitchen garden is at the very East end and gets lots of sun and heat.
We used stone quarried  here on the property to build the new raised beds,
it's a beautiful pale beige stone full of character

little veggies just getting started....this was a while ago

The garden doors are very simple redwood
and with rusted iron hardware

This is the new fountain and garden path. The walks are bordered because I like a clean break between the beds and the gravel.  The pathways are first graded and tamped and then a layer of filter fabric is stapled down to keep out weeds and finally topped with gravel

I planted tomatoes just in time 

at the very end of May

This is a bamboo staking method which I really liked and it looks interesting too

For the climbers and veggies that need support I used willow trellis structures. I took them apart and created a new supports with the addition of bare willow stakes and jute lashing

the supports are tied at the top with the rustic jute 

this little vegetable garden has tons of potential and I can't wait to add pots 

and some other interesting containers back here

Geraniums are a favorite in this climate and they look so pretty in these old concrete pots

The garden is full of bright pink and yellow with splashes of blue

I purchased some huge French Gresale pots and they are filled with flowers and succulents.

The dry creeks run throughout the garden randomly and were created free form with existing large boulders, rocks, beach pebbles and gravel

 succulents and flowers  tucked into the little cracks and spaces

This is the beginning of layout for new plants and you can see we have the fountain up and running and the pea gravel pathways finished.  I wanted some citrus 

so we have 4 lemon at each corner of the pathway

There is a nice little redwood deck which will eventually be surrounded by tall grasses and will "float" in the center of the plantings

I like the natural look of this garden and the maintenance will be really easy for the most part

This garden post is a bit odd for this time of year when we are all consumed with

Holiday shopping and decorating 

but oh well

there is always time to garden and winter is a wonderful time to be outside

bundled up with a big sweater and a favorite pair of jeans

We are slowly getting started on the inside of this old house, lots of projects, planning and creating.

but for now

take time to enjoy each day...especially the little things

xo kelley