Touring Sondra Shira's Garden

As we approached Sondra's garden, it looked very nice , organized  and well behaved. 

 

A little further up the driveway, there were a few clues like this creative use of ceramic roof tiles, that this might not be an ordinary garden.

 

These unusual tomato cages warranted closer inspection.

Did you guess that they were chairs?

By now, we were pretty sure that there would be some interesting surprises  here.  One great surprise was a huge Loquat tree in Sondra's side yard.   Unfortunately, I didn't get a good picture of it or of  a lot of the other great plants in this garden.  Sorry about that.

By the time we got to the house, we knew that this was going to be a garden full of delights.  Dig that cool staircase!

Sondra is a painter and sculptor and has created lots of garden art made from clay, stone, hypertufa, and recycled materials which is interspersed throughout the garden.

There is also work of others represented here.  Feeling a little crabby?

 

 

 I'm not sure of the material but these forms were perfect for this space!

How does she get her pulmonarias to bloom like this?

Up here in the shady area behind and beside the house there is a nice wood deck full of potted treasures that looks down over part of the garden.

Sondra's work in clay is also lovely.

Sondra had made delicious persimmon bread for her guests with fruit from her own tree. I'm seeing more and more agaves included in gardens here in the last few years.  

 

 Glass blocks anyone?

 

I've seen this plaque before but I love the way Sondra has painted it!  It's called "Last Supper"

I hope all of Sondra's ideas have helped to get your creative juices flowing!