The Wave Garden

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My survey of the Fling gardens continue.

A choice mix of the latest and greatest in trendy plants on a terraced slope by the Bay.  Though a private garden, it is open to visitors.  Ocean influence is strong, granting the plants luxuriously mild conditions.  You can see it on Google maps:
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(Photo:  Google Maps)
Cussonia paniculata:

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 Before you even get to the Wave garden, the plant palette is introduced by another homeowner's garden a few dozen yards up the road.  Leucadendrons, Grevilleas, and Restios thrive in the coastal climate, dancing in crisp breezes fresh from San Francisco Bay.
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The non-plant views are also impressive. 
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Approached from below, the garden's layout is that of an ascending pathway with landings.  Hand-forged rails provide safety and are part of the swirling, curving rhythm.
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There are a few metal sculptures, but the main highlight of the garden were the plants, many from South Africa or Australia.  The colors ranged from acid yellow through oranges and reds to purple, and most of the color was in the foliage, though there were some flowers.
At the garden's entrance, wispy blooms contrast with the meaty foliage of a variegated Furcrea:
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Leucospermum, possibly 'Sunrise':
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Grevillea:
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Verbena bonariensis against a backdrop of acid yellow Euphorbia:
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Against more yellow foliage, the flowers of Trachelium caeruleum visually echo the smaller purple Verbena.  The Trachelium has nearly black stems, and the unopened flower heads are also black, creating a somber note.
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Just as somber under a summer sky was a dark-leafed Cotinus
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The Chondropetalum seed heads also added a touch of black.  The garden offered a great unity of color.
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A bronzy Restio tuft:
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A bronzy grass:
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With contrasting brilliance, Leucadendron foliage was mesmerizing through a camera's lens.  Clouds of flame color met razor-edged purple.  It is said that taking pictures of a place distracts a person from really experiencing the place--but in this instance, the camera made the plant all the more dazzling.
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A touch of bright white in the Romneya flowers.
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Restios, a Yucca, a Hakea(?), and more LeucadendronI imagined I saw the influence of famed designer Piet Oudolf in the meadow-like sweeps of foliage; cleverly made Californian by the plant selection--Mediterranean rather than Prairie...
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...ocean, not lake.
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Adenanthos cuneatus, native to South Africa, happy so close to the sea.  My own looks poorly in comparison.
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 The stairs and landings that act to enclose planting areas as well as to allow for visitors.  
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We visitors, so numerous, made it challenging to take vista photos.  The Happy Plant Paparazzi swarm once again!
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 Brooding Cotinus in the background, a fat Crassula up front, Leucadendron, Aeonium, and others in the middle:
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An Aeonium (Canary Islands) with a (?)clumping grass:
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The blue of a sculpture...
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...is color linked to the tiny blue flowers of a Dianella.  
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The owner's home sits discreetly above...  
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...a garden of great beauty and style.  
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Comments

  1. Beautiful! Is that a gate in the first photo? Wonderful!

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    1. That is a hand-forged, hand hammered low fence (waist high) that also functions as a safety rail on the path. San Francisco seems to attract many talented artist-craftspeople!

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  2. I'm so enjoying reliving the Fling through others' blog posts. I was so fried by the time we got to this garden, I just wanted to sit and rest somewhere. I wish we could reliably grow Leucandendrons up here in the Seattle area. I did love that Trachelium, thanks for the great pictures of it, and all the other wonderful photos in this post.

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    1. It was hot and the garden was very sunny as well--no little pockets of shade. I understand why--even small trees would make the neighbors scream bloody murder about losing their Bay views--but I still wished for a small tree or two or three. Leucadendrons are not so happy in my area as they appeared to be in the Bay area--perhaps they prefer cooler summers? All the ones we saw in SF were just thriving. SF and the Central Coast may be their sweet spot.

      Very happy you liked the post!

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  3. WOW! Many fantastic shots here. You got a lot of views I haven't seen yet in others' photos.

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  4. Love the idea of learning how many different ways a garden can be.

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  5. Great photographs of a fabulous garden. I'm in love with Trachelium. I can grow it here as an annual and have gotten some after seeing Kathy's photos of it in this garden. It's such a treat to see these various gardens through different photographer's viewpoints.

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    1. Trachelium is very nice so far--it is new to me. It is said to reseed easily, so perhaps you could save some seeds for next year? Some confusion--is it for full sun? I have gotten many conflicting comments as to how much of our hot sun it can or can't handle.

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  6. Love the Mediterranean wave.

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  7. Glad I checked in! Wonderful coverage of the fling gardens.

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  8. Your photos are fantastic, and captured the essence of the garden.

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  9. Great post...I'm glad I wasn't the only one who was exhausted by the heat by that point...and I agree, as nice as a few trees would be for shade, the neighbors would definitely NOT be happy!

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