I mentioned in an earlier post that my garden was completely torn up. We’ve been under construction for quite some time. The house is exactly the way I want it… My garden however, was not. The SMID launch party will be held in my home gallery space. I know that first impressions and last impressions are really important. My garden is what everyone will see when they arrive at the party and when they leave.
When we bought this house, the backyard was mostly a block of dirt. There was a brick walk way down the side of the house. No. It was not the cute english garden brick walk way that you may have just envisioned. It was a tacky, I’m not really a brick walk way, I’m a fake orange paver substitue. There was a jacuzzi that was modeled to look like a mountain range. I’m not kidding. Then there was more dirt.
I wanted our garden to feel magical and be a place where we always wanted to be. We live in San Diego and have some of the best weather in the world. We are meant to be outside.
We planted sod about eight years ago and then, we pretty much left it at that. I was way more excited about getting my hands on the inside of the house. When we expanded the back portion of our house recently, the one piece of solid patio in our yard, where our french table and chairs sat, now sloped so much that it looked like you would slide off while eating there…table and all. It was far from magical.
So the yard needed some work. Well, I have been working in the yard for days. A family friend of ours, Alex, has been working with me. He moves a lot faster than me, I might add. I was struggling to get some lavender planted outside our front gate. The soil had compacted over the years and therefore it was like digging into concrete. Alex was watching we me struggle and enjoying it! He said to me, “And you said my job was easy.” I never said that! Then he said, “Yeah the truth hurts doesn’t it?” And I said, “The truth hurts a lot less than doing this!” I gave up…ON THE LAVENDER. Have some faith! I moved on to some softer soil and a shaded area and began to plant.
I’ve gotta be honest. I didn’t remember how hard gardening was. It’s much harder than it looks. Don’t tell Alex! Everything hurts. I mean everything. I have become best friends with the local nursery teams at Gardens by the Sea and Anderson’s La Costa Nursery. I have made so many trips back and forth after realizing we needed a little more here and a little more there. I mean, how many plants do you need to fill a yard?
This is hilarious and yet horrifying at the same time. I went to bed at 9:45pm last night. I slept so hard (after all that gardening) that I didn’t here my phone vibrating next to me, the rocks my husband was throwing at the window, the pounding on the doors, OR my dogs barking. Good Lord! Thank God my kids didn’t wake up needing me!
Apparently, I locked the door to the garage. Stewart didn’t have a key to the house with him when he got home from his meeting and wasn’t able to get in. I never woke up! He slept in the garage on a box spring!!! I am so sorry Stewart.
The yard… it’s still in progress but nearly there and it is looking great. Thank goodness I have something to show for it…after all that. Brutal!
-SMID
We laid blue stone for our seating areas and for our walkways. I chose pea-gravel instead of concrete. I think it feels more magical this way. Moss has been planted sporadically between the stone and will eventually take over and grow in nicely. I alternated with scottish moss and babytears.
I have old-school taste when it comes to gardens. Hydrangeas are one of my favorites. They were also a favorite of my Grandmother’s. We planted these in memory of her.
in progress…
in progress…
