Another crazy plant! Ocotillo (fouquieria splendens) is a spiny, drought-tolerant shrub native to southwestern America and Mexico. For much of the year it looks like a bunch of dry sticks, 
but after Spring rains it sprouts green leaves and, at the end of each stem, a hummingbird-attracting flower. They are also supposedly edible (I haven’t tried them!) and can be dried for use in a tisane…
It pairs well with crown of thorns, as seen here 
in my newly planted drought-tolerant front garden.
Tag: xeriscaping
Descanso in May: Roses
Roses!
What I love about Descanso’s rose garden is that it’s not over-manicured as so many seem to be. Some of the more vigorous types are allowed to get nice and big,
and there is an abundance of climbing roses, as well as a good mix of other plants
which make it feel more garden-like and less of a specimen collection.
Some of the arches are more industrial than romantic
but when covered in roses
I can forgive the need for low-maintenance structures!
For once I arrived early enough to be able to photograph the beautiful fountain without interruption.
It reminds me of fountains I’ve seen in some of the California Missions we’ve visited – which makes sense now that I’ve seen this plaque: 
I love the mix of practical plants such as olives, citrus and pomegranates with drought-tolerant yet decorative plants. 
Terrace Garden
When we bought our house, one of the main attractions was the view. It’s beautiful, day or night.
But the main garden – a terrace that wraps the house to the south and west – was uninspiring. Serviceable, but fractured and a bit boring.
And in remodelling the new kitchen and porch, much of it got trashed.
So once the main building work had quietened down we started landscaping. We wanted a space for entertaining which was water-conscious and wildlife-friendly, in a Mediterranean style to match the house. Pinterest was a great source of inspiration!
The old spa bit the dust when we extended the porch so we began by getting rid of the old pink concrete.
Luckily a friend of Contractor John needed exactly that to build a wall, so it went to a good home! Then we marked out the beds, put in a drip system for irrigation, and edged them with salvaged roof tiles, an idea I’d seen at the Old Mill in Pasadena.
The main part of the terrace is a boules piste (bocce ball court to Americans).
John had never made one before but I found instructions here. Since we didn’t have oyster shells we used the tiny loose stones from erosion control bags. I can see it getting a lot of use once we start entertaining properly this summer!
The planting is a mixture of drought-tolerant aloes, euphorbias and succulents, California natives and Mediterranean plants. They’ve been in about six weeks now and are filling out nicely.
The seating area is positioned for the best views. It’s high desert flag, a greeny-grey stone already in use elsewhere in the garden, interspersed with gravel. I’ve planted Corsican mint in some of the gaps, which gives off a wonderful smell when stepped on. The seat can accommodate eight when separated, or pushed together becomes a massive lounger for when we feel like lying around.
Beyond that, at the back of the house, is the spot of the – future – pool or spa. Currently overflow storage for garden equipment and building detritus!
And at the other end of the piste is my kitchen garden.
Have you designed a garden for yourself? What are your inspirations?
