-

-
Although this could very well be a picture of me finding a new treasure at a favorite nursery, it's actually an illustration by David Catrow for a children's book called Plantzilla.

Monday, August 12, 2013

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!

22 comments:

  1. dear og, I have so enjoyed going to fling things with you. I agree - these are cool plants, and you have photographed them really well! To me that quercus plant looks like a type of fern, but given the heat, I suppose that is unlikely ...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The heat was quite unusual. That area is known for having cool summers. I'm glad you've been along for the fling posts. We still have several gardens yet to go.

      Delete
  2. Ahh, sigh-worthy plants in the perfect setting makes for a wonderful garden. It would be almost impossible for me to edit a collection of plants that way, especially in that climate.

    You've taken a different track on these gardens which makes it so much fun to follow the fling.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm with you! I have pots propped up on the rims of other pots. Crazy this plant addiction!

      It's interesting to see a variety of posts about the fling. Although I noticed a lot of other things, the plants are what made it into my camera. Strange.

      Delete
  3. Thanks for the trip back, so many plants I wish I could grow. Funny about the Agave attenuata blooms, I hadn't thought of that but of course you're right!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hear you! I've been finding more tender lovelies that we saw there at nurseries here. Yikes! I guess that I'll use another of the upstairs rooms for plants this winter.

      Delete
  4. Peter, the second photo is stunning! I have this cactus indoors. I love your sense of humor! these Agave attunuatas and the tired women are nice.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was such a treat to see so many plants that we grow indoors thriving in the ground there! Thanks!

      Delete
  5. You got lots more photos than I did of this garden, so bravo! And I loved how you processed your Filoli outdoor photos. Good stuff, Peter!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Denise! I just started playing with photo editing and sort ofthink of it as cheating. On the other hand, when we used film, we could a lot of processing effects in the darkroom so I guess it's sort of the same.

      Delete
  6. Love the zigzag foliage - I'll take some of that. And everything else you photographed! Truly a plant collector's garden and I admire everything about it. Thanks for taking us along on this tour!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's a lot of fun to see other people's gardens and it's especially nice when you're along!

      Delete
  7. Smart agaves to take a dip in that lovely blue pool! I ended up sitting in the kitchen garden to cool off rather than poolside. I loved all the wonderful seating areas. They make a garden so welcoming.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's almost like they're so thirsty that they finally will send out elephant-like trunks to get a sip of water. That garden did have a lot of areas to relax and take in the views of the plants.

      Delete
  8. They do have lots of beautiful specimens there, and I'm intrigued now what that gorgeous plant is below the Aloe polyphylla pic!

    And yes, keep trying with the Aloe polyphylla, you might be pleasantly surprised and they can be a lot tougher and hardier than it was first generally perceived to be :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lots of beautiful specimens and lots more control than I!
      Aloe polyphylla is so gorgeous. My Aloe polyphylla will spend the winter on our back porch where it will experience cold but no water.

      Delete
  9. You outdid yourself here, with plants "celebrating their utter plantness". You even managed to work in a reference to Liberace...now that's what I call creativity!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Ricki! One says strange things when writing posts late at night!

      Delete
  10. I loved all the succulents, aloes and agaves in this garden, along with the unexpected elements like the weeping bamboo. This was probably my favorite of the Fling gardens.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Seeing it right after Filoli was great as the feeling was so different in this wonderful garden!

      Delete

Thanks so much for taking the time to comment! I love to hear your thoughts.