The Local Neighborhood Shell Grotto

 What a surprise awaits inside.
A few of us got to see a neighborhood shell grotto.  A shell grotto in the neighborhood is the least of the amazement.  It was the craftsmanship that truly impressed.  The homeowners themselves inlaid the entire ceiling of this small room with shells with the most meticulous care possible. 
Un.  Be. Lievable!
 The sunlight pool on the other side of the glass was the source of the blue light.  The windowsill is encrusted with tiny shell.  The sill is further decorated with a clump of barnacle shells. 
 Outside the grotto, a shell waterfall.

 Even the floor drain was amazing!
Our garden tour this year was a blast of both beauty and melancholy.  What will some of these gardens look like with 35% less water?

 Have you noticed--it seems true for so many beautiful gardens--that there is nearly always a garden across the street that looks like this?
Let's return to beauty.



 This homeowner replaced the water in the fountain with a beautiful arrangement of succulent plants.  Nice!
 The homeowners will allow this lawn to die--it must be so.  
 The shell grotto, at least, will be fine. 

Comments

  1. Is there some way this shell work and garden can be preserved like National Trust in the UK or Watts Towers in LA?

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    1. It's not in any danger as far as I know--since it doesn't need to be watered. ;^)

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  2. Surprises lurking in neighbors gardens, I wonder what hidden treasures there are in my neighbors gardens? Probably nothing as spectacular as a shell grotto.

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    1. A guy on the top of the hill used to have his own astronomical observatory. This neighborhood has a history!

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  3. oh, I forgot to ask. Did they say what they were going to replace the lawn with?

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    1. Not sure--maybe just let it stay dead until the drought is over.

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  4. The shell grotto is very pretty but these gardens are magnificent, except one......haha.

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  5. The shell grotto is clever and beautiful. I hope the owners can put their ingenuity to work on designing a drought tolerant alternative to the lawns. Thirty-five percent is a daunting target, as I know all too well.

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  6. The attention to detail in the shell grotto is amazing!

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    1. Masterful. Up close and in person, even better than the photographs could show.

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  7. Beautiful gardens! [fantasizes about buying "that one" across the street] Be interesting to see what happens to the lawns. The shell grotto is awesome -- it makes me want to track down my brother's old seashell collection... which would make for a very, very tiny grotto :~/

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  8. Passion projects are so very personal and inspiring, even when they seem to have gone off the rails. This one is beautiful to boot. Thanks foir showing it to us.

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    1. It looked done by a shell-grotto professional, if there is such a thing. Amazing care and craftsmanship.

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  9. The shell grotto is amazing. Some beautiful gardens there, I like the ponds, the lawns look spectacular, it is sad that they have to die as in a hot summer climate like mine and yours it helps keep the temperature down. I don't water my lawn it has to survive on the rain.
    xoxoxo ♡

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  10. What a beautiful garden. I used to be like that--the only one with a garden. Everyone else had only rocks on my street.

    The hard part for the person across the street--how to cut 35%. Putting in a xeri-scaped project there would be a water increase.

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    Replies
    1. Good point on that unfortunate property--though if they are not watering outside, their use should be low enough to avoid a need to cut. Maybe they are "crazy like a fox"?

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