Paradise found

Water wise elements of a beautiful garden

story & Photos by lIsa Cullen

Agarden is a place where one finds beauty and pleasure every day. But, as in all things, beauty and pleasure are a matter of viewpoint. It is only when your garden becomes an extension of you that it becomes your very own paradise found Your personal sanctuary normally starts coming together after the main elements are in place; when adding those “little extras” like fountains, birdbaths, benches, bistro tables and the like. It’s one thing to walk through a beautiful garden, but when the garden invites you to stay a while, that’s when the magic begins.

our own garden was transformed with the addition of a birdbath that was a “reject” of a client. This orphan from another’s space became the favorite feature of ours, attracting birds of every kind to our home thus creating a continual source of entertainment and wonder. Sometimes the unexpected can be metamorphic.

A hammock, lounger, daybed and other such delights invite one to nestle in and wrap oneself in the beauty of a place. Like a person, a garden takes a while to get to know, to appreciate all its little idiosyncrasies. So the “extras”, the accoutrements, normally develop over time; allowing you and your garden to become better acquainted.

We have many times designed a garden to highlight a specific piece of sculpture or work of art or natural feature. Not long ago there was a landscape we created that was filled with a combination of modern works and ancient stone carvings. The effect was marvelous and one-of-a-kind.

And, while we are on the subject of one-of-a-kind, here’s one for the record books. A while back, we had completed a landscape project that was, for us at the time, a pinnacle in aesthetic achievement. Talk about a sanctuary! Soft paths meandering through groups of trees that created dappled sunlight and cozy corners of cool sheltering one from the summer sun. Continuing on this sinuous passage, the piece de resistance was revealed in the form of a waterfall and small pond. Lush plantings of green, fragrant and flowering perennials lined the way adding to the serene mood. Now ThIS, without a doubt, was paradise! The client, of course, was ecstatic about her new sanctuary. experience the beauty and pleasure your garden has to offer. The fun begins when you start making it your own. Splurge on it!

When we came by a few days later to check on this newly created landscape, boy, did we get a surprise! When the gates opened, what greeted us were hundreds of statuettes and figurines of every size and description! Garden gnomes and diminutive cherubs peeked out from beneath flowering shrubs, angels and birds were suspended from tree branches, little boys and girls sat beside the pond with fishing poles, squirrels, puppies, bunnies, raccoons, a doe and fawn. It was quite a shock! for once in my life, I was speechless!

Recovering from the surprise, I realized this was the client’s way of making this garden her own. We are always telling people to “fill Your Garden With Joy” and this was her way of doing exactly that. It was just a bit more joy than I was expecting.

Lisa Cullen, landscape designer and organic gardener owns Montecito Landscape with her husband, Chris. She can be reached at 805.969.3984 or www.montecitolandscape.com

Resources:

Terra Sole Garden Center, www.terrasol-gardencenter.com 5320 Overpass Road, Santa Barbara.

Eye of the Day Garden Design Center, www.eyeofthedaygdc.com, 4620 Carpinteria Ave, Carpinteria.

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