Garden Bloggers' Fling; The Testa-Vought Garden

After leaving Filoli, we next visited the Testa-Vought Garden designed by Bernard Trainor.  In contrast to the century-old formal estate garden where plants are clipped and provide additional structure, this garden's structure was created by the use of earth-toned painted walls and other man-made elements.  The geometrical planes, vertical and horizontal were softened by plants that were allowed to grow with a higher degree of abandon.  The plants seemed to celebrate their very plantness by being given an uncluttered stage on which to star.

 

I noticed and liked the terra cotta walls, the taupe paving the contemporary pergola but in looking at my pictures, it was the plants that for me stole the show.

 

That's not to say that there weren't interesting pieces to notice all over the garden. 

 

 I recently read that winter moisture is fatal to Aloe polyphylla (they're usually covered with snow in their natural habitat) but that it can take more summer moisture than most aloes.  I'm trying it again this year because Mark and Gaz whose winters are similar to mine grow it to perfection in their garden!

What is this plant?  Quercus something?  Something quercifolia?   Sure is sweet!

This garden had several clumps of Mexican weeping bamboo on which I have a bit of a crush!

 

This Aloe zebrina with beautifully patterned leaves was present in many of the gardens in the area. Another gorgeous plant that I grow in a pot and drag in for the winter that's perfectly hardy in the ground in this part of the country.  Just today I moved mine to do a little weeding behind its pot and noticed several pups around the edges of the mother plant.

A marvelous color and texture combination. 

What do this group of Agave attenuata have in common with the bevvy of beauties behind it?

(Notice the walls,  flat planes which accentuate the natural beauty bark, foliage, leaf, and flower.  Here painted in muted tones they win the Oscar for best supporting role.)

Well, when these Agave attunuatas bloom, they'll also be dipping their extremities into the pool.  Check it out here.

Check out the chocolate color of this echiveria.  Gorgeous!

Which is more appealing on this Banksia (grandis, I'm guessing) the bloom or the zig zag foliage?   (Ready for an  old song?)  I got a smallish one this spring from The Dessert Northwest, potted it up and it's more than doubled in size.  We'll have to add a wing to the house to accommodate all of these tender babies for the winter.

 

Statuesque beauty of an agave!

Aloe plicatilis enjoying the sun.

Another aloe, candelabraesque enough for Liberace's piano!

Another Grevillea   looking a lot like 'Ned Kelly'  Sigh.

Help!  A giant squid is attacking this pot!    Or maybe it's just another aloe.  The color of this is incredible and really pops poolside!

There are no plants simply thrown in in this garden.  Each one is beautifully spotlighted, well placed, allowed to strut its stuff. 

I'm already trying to figure out how to make pots like this one.  Shouldn't be too hard.  Looks like it started as two pieces (a bowl for a form?) that were put together.

 

 

I'm sorry that I didn't get more images of larger sections of the garden but other bloggers who attended the fling will surely post some.  My camera kept seeing cool plants!

Another fabulous garden, gracious hosts, delicious refreshments.   

I could really get used to this eat, drink, hang out in beautiful gardens, go plant shopping, and sleep in a room that someone else cleans lifestyle!  Fortunately, the fling is an annual event!