Open Garden to benefit Garden Conservancy Marin Co

On Sunday May 21 the Garden Conservancy is joining together with 6 private gardens in Novato and San Rafael for one of their open garden tours.

One of the gardens that will be open is a very small but densely planted garden in the heart of down town Novato.

Lots of savory succulents comingle with seductive subtropicals . Scintilating sculpture work by local Bay Area artists also coverts amongst the textural tapestry.
There is a life size topiary figure walking her faithful four legged companion across a small lawn and a brilliant blue mosiac pathway that welcomes all into the garden.

The garden is level but the paths (some) are narrow and are constructed of crushed gravel and recycled broken concrete so it is 'somewhat' wheelchair accessible albeit not the best of surfaces to roll over. - My apologies for this .

Please come and support the efforts of The Garden Conservancy !
A $ 5 dollar entrance fee per garden goes to support many of the Conservancy's great restoration projects such as the renovation of the garden on Alcatraz Island.

See the Marin Independent Journal, the Chronicle , The Novato Advance, The Garden Conservancy website and or SF GATE .com for the rest of the private gardens that are opening to the public on this warm sunny Sunday.

Thanks for supporting The Garden Conservancy !

Michelle Derviss

The front yard.

The first photo shows the north east shade side yard.
The second photo shows the front yard
This photo will show the south west sunny side yard
and if you want to see the back yard ,....you'll just have to come !

I purchased the Garden Conservatory tour schedule a few weeks ago, I plan to be there with my note book and camera, looking forward to it!

Thanks Sue,
I have spoken with several of the other gardeners who are opening their gardens on this date and all say that their gardens are looking great and that it should be a fun filled day.

The diversity of the gardens that are open on this date is really nice too.
My downtown urban garden is rather small but really packed to the gills with lots of subtropical , succulents , a few rare horticultural gems and a nice selection of art work .

The gardens out in the Lucas and Pacheco Valley areas are suburban in location , moderate in size , but also pack a punch.

Then there is the rose garden that is located out in a rural area that is quite large and rambling.

So there is a nice mix of urban, suburban, rural , compact to sprawling.
Should be a nice day, and I hear the weather is going to be pleasantly cool, which is good, cuz this area can get pretty hot .

My garden might be a good place to visit around the lunch time hour because of my easy walking proximity to lots of good little cafes in my hood.
Right around the corner is Scully Bakery , Ming Yen Chinese (great ! ) several Mexican restaurants ranging from a good quick burrito to the delicious high end Cacti Restaurant which is associated with Harris Steak Ranch .

Well, your garden is the one I am most interested in as I am gradually transforming my small lot garden to subtropical along with succulents. I was inspired by another DG member here, Happenstance, I've toured her garden twice and can spend hours looking at her image files. http://davesgarden.com/members/Happenstance/
Art I would love to add, I am a big fan of Little and Lewis but need a bigger lot, not gonna happen here in Santa Clara Valley! I am unhappy with my design layout but I am cramming it with plants to make it lush and overgrown and the next owner can deal with it when we retire and move! I think next time I will hire a designer to get me in the right direction of the most pleasing layout. Too tired to change it now!

The only other garden that interested me was the Collector one in San Rafael, they mention tropicals and also a new faux three colored concrete patio I would like to see as well as rare and unusual plants. I have a few rare things I have collected from SF and Berkeley Botanical sales and it's always fun to see what others collecct.
Thanks for the tips on the good eats although I love taking pictures in the earlier morning light so may be there at the crack of open.

Michele,

Just wanted to wish you a lovely day for the 21st. I sure wish I could come with Sue and view your lovely small piece of heaven. I have viewed your garden for several years, from when I used to go to GW. You've come a long way BABY!! lol
I also remember what you look like, cause I saw the Landscape Smart episode you did on HGTV. That was an unusual landscape you did.

Take lots of pictures. :-)

Donna

Ok, so what the...RAIN??? In CA. in mid-May? This weekend of all weekends? Oh, well, will make everything nice and fresh smelling, just have to dress differently now.

Darn this rain !!!!!!!
uhhhhhhhhhggggggg!

The garden is in good shape but I may not have my garden dining room in full regalia.
Some of the cushion fabrics for the benches and chairs just don't do well out in the rain .
Crumbs ! of all weekends to rain.

Maybe it will peter out by Sunday.


A couple of my sculptor friends came over tonight and placed some of their sculpture work in the garden.
I just love the raku roosters that Cornelia Nevitt has placed in the side yard garden gallery and Denise Johnsons playful ceramic masks are a hoot peering out from various places amongst the foliage.

Thanks for your well wishes Donna ! It is good to hear from you.

Images of the garden tours, enjoy!
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/605799/

I also put a short slide show together of some of my favorites from Michelle's garden, complete with appropriate music, I can email it to anyone that sends me their address. Same images but a fun viewing format.

Man when I saw the pix, MY heart started racing. It is just beautiful. I am just starting to take on succulants and cactus. I have a lot of troubles gardening here, temps drop below freezing, above 100 for months, clay, salt bla bla bla... so I hope I can have better luck with these. I have rabbits and gophers too. I hate you all!