Where has the time gone? The summer open garden season is nearly over and I'm already busy preparing my classroom for another school year to begin. For the moment, let's forget that and enjoy the garden of Katherine and Richard Pepper.
It was obvious which house on the block had the open garden!
:"Our garden is an eclectic calm oasis for plants and visitors. A collection of perennials, bulbs, and blooming shrubs show off an ever-changing palette of seasonal beauty."
The back garden is accessed via the narrow side yard.
What do you suppose is behind that gate?
Um, yeah. Glad I drove an hour to see this. Actually, this is a before picture showing the back yard steeply sloping away from the house. Note that most of the pictures that follow are taken from the other direction.
Much better!
Richard does the hardscape and building work while Katherine is the plant person. A dynamic duo!
The steep hill was terraced and Richard made these steps with interesting textures/patterns. Which way to go first?
The garden feels larger than it is due to clever planting and great destinations to explore.
The Peppers enjoy entertaining in theri garden.
Concrete columns topped with pots. I've found my people!
The harsh light of mid day and dark shadows made a poor combination for taking pictures. "Along the garden edge, a pleasant tiered stream meanders, nourishing plants and wildlife along its way."
Richard is the king of the outdoor kitchen; since he built it, that seems only fair.
Pretty fancy!
Geeze, the kitchen in my house isn't this clean.
Thank you Katherine and Richard for sharing your garden with us!
I'm going to miss these OG reports! Wow, to have one's own meandering stream...
ReplyDeleteIt's so much fun visiting other people's gardens. There are still a few opens left.
DeleteThis is one fun garden and I bet is was fun to visit in person too. It is very obvious that the Peppers love entertaining: there's a sitting corner around every turn, and there are many turns, and lots of lanterns and light fixtures throughout. Creeping Jenny is an excellent choice to cascade down those Reflex Blue posts. The cookies look delicious too.
ReplyDeleteThe garden was as fun to visit as the Peppers themselves. It must be delightful all lit up at night.
DeleteThose concrete columns! Do you know if they were solid?
ReplyDeleteYou can make concrete columns like them. In the concrete area of the box stores, look for the big cardboard tubes, get the sizes you want, create a level spot or dig down a bit, level the tube, throw in some rebar if you want, mix up concrete and throw it in the tube. For a less-smooth column (like some of Little and Lewis ones and those at Jungle Fever) make the concrete mix really dry and don't do a lot of tamping down. They're solid and nearly impossible to move. You could also get two tubes of different sizes, put one inside the other and just fill the space between. Makes a hollow tube that's lighter. To reinforce a hollow tube, use concrete fortifier and fibers in the mixture.
DeleteSounds like you're already in project mode....
DeleteWonderful! I love those rounded steps, and the blue pots on concrete columns.
ReplyDeleteThanks Alison. The Blue pots remind us of the ocean
DeleteThey did a wonderful job taming - and using - that slope. I could use a Pepper (or 2) to work on mine! And oh, to have a stream running through one's property...
ReplyDeleteTheir vision was amazing and they made something magical from a very ordinary back yard.
DeletePeter, thank you and all the visitors for joining us. We loved sharing with everyone our sanctuary. Yes the columns are solid concrete with rebar for support.
ReplyDeleteIt was a joy to visit your fabulous garden!
DeleteWith a kitchen like that, their entertainments must be legendary.
ReplyDeleteI love paths that take you to hidden destinations! Those empty "before" images always freak me out - even looking at those taken of my own yard. Bleak!
ReplyDeleteIf I could garden like that, I'd want to be a Pepper, too.
ReplyDeleteThose steps are great.
This is an inspiration to anyone with a slope. Those steps lure you down to the sitting areas. I would love to see it lit up for a party.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great garden. So glad you included the before picture. It always nice to see where people started. I especially loved the hardscape in this garden. So much texture and variety. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThat is quite an outdoor kitchen.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you showed the before pic. The Peppers have done a masterful job.
I like those before and after pictures. Amazing how the Peppers changed their land in a green paradise! Good that Mr. Pepper is so talented with his hands!
ReplyDeleteI've never seen more dramatic 'before' and 'after' shots! Probably a lot like your house, eh? :)
ReplyDeleteI thought I already was a pepper. Amazing how those jingles stick in your mind. Delightful garden.
ReplyDeleteThank you all for your comments and happy you all enjoyed our walk in garden canvas art.
ReplyDeleteYours truly Richard Pepper & My loving Wife Katherine Pepper