Joyce's Garden

The garden assistant a.k.a. he who's painting the house have been going on evening walks.  Since there's scaffolding up around two sides of the house and lots to do in the garden, making use of every bit of daylight left after work has moved our walk time to about ten at night.  Even in the dark, there are interesting things to see, gardens that look interesting that I want to revisit during the day.  The other night, we stopped in front of a house that had a lot of great looking plants and some cool garden art.  As we were chatting about the plants, out popped the gardener.  I apologized for alarming her but she didn't seem worried at all, just glad that we were enjoying her garden.  So, one afternoon after an appointment nearby, I went back to see the garden in the light.  Luckily, Joyce came out again and invited me to see the rest of  her garden. What a pleasure to explore the garden of another plant obsessed person!

Every inch of space is packed with plants!  You can see why, even in the dark, it was obvious that this is the home of a gardener!

Joyce's Parking strip.

Looking toward the front of the house.

Part of the front garden.

They always look so soft but yikes, those glochids are painful.  

So full of color and yet there are a number of winter-interest plants, like the Contorted Filbert (Corylus avellana 'Contorta') as well.

 The mosaic turtle and asters create a beautiful color echo.

We grow many of the same plants.  Joyce is also a fan of Jungle Fever Exotics Nursery and many of her plants and a lot  of her garden art was purchased there.

The butterfly bench is a grand place to sit in the evening to enjoy the intoxicating fragrance of the towering brugmansia behind.

Perhaps you recognize the Buddha on the left. We both got them from Jungle Fever.

One of the late Darlene Allard's (Jungle Fever) mosaic bowling balls.

Joyce's tuberous begonias are huge!

Gorgeous Trachycarpus fortunei.

Is that Yucca 'Margaritaville' next to the castor bean that Joyce started from seed?

Another of Darlene's creations.

Datisca cannabina, False Hemp looking quite happy.

More Allard mosaic work.

The blue foliage of Seseli libanotis (Moon carrot) combines wonderfully with just about any other color!

A kindred spirit, Joyce also likes using mirrors in her garden.

We have the same gunnera water feature from Jungle Fever.

Love the dragonfly!

Layers of texture and color.

Another J.F. find beneath Salvia 'Amisted' 

Fencing made by Joyce and a friend.  Isn't it great?

Clematis seed heads.

Here's our gracious host and fab gardener, Joyce.

Thank you so much for the guided tour of your beautiful garden and for sharing your garden knowledge with me!