Report: October 2002 - Ongoing; Last Updated July 2008
~Jump to areas of "The Little Grey House" Garden~
* Field Notes * Spirng 2008 * Summer 2007 * The Front Garden Before and in Progress *
The Back Garden Before and in Progress *
~ Spring 2008 ~
The Front Garden...
Before and in Progress
The Front Garden...
Before and in Progress....continued
The Back Garden...
Before and in Progress
* Field Notes * Spirng 2008 * Summer 2007 * The Front Garden Before and in Progress *
The Back Garden Before and in Progress *
Welcome to the "Little Grey House" owned by our friend and client, Linda Lee Worlow. The garden
began in October, 2002. Linda is a professional event planner, organizer and former
volunteer coordinator for the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden (in Claremont). Our charge was to inspire and plan a garden on a modest, but reasonable budget, using plants that are either California native or water wise. In addition,
the garden must blend well within Claremont's Historic tree-lined Village district.
The village is a late 19th century college area, which was developed by settlers from the upper east coast of the US; thus it is
typically planted with plants indigenous to that area (i.e. turf, camelias, azaleas). Our climate in Los
Angeles is suitable for growing plants from all over the world with imported water. Linda is sensitive to
the growing demand of this precious commodity. In fact, we are not installing an irrigation system for this garden---how's that for
a commitment! To achieve this, proper planning is essential.
While planning this and each of our gardens, we advocate planting during the fall or winter.
Taking advantage of the cooler temperature and natural rain, allows the plants to develop their root systems without
the stress of hot, dry extreme conditions. When the summer does arrive, the plants are established and may require
supplemental water the first year or so, but no where near the amount used to water grass. This elementary advice assures
the most gentle way of beginning a garden. Another
vital planning issue is selecting the proper plants. By taking inventory of the existing trees, solar orientation,
winter winds, summer breezes... proper plant selection is limited to plants that naturally
thrive in these areas of the garden. Selecting the proper plant is fundamental.
Many times I have seen gardens planted, and three years later it's a huge over grown mess. In three years, Linda
will be sitting on her porch welcoming her guests, instead of correcting past mistakes.
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~ Summer 2007 ~
 An Aloe from the Twinkle Garden
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 Meditation Garden
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 Graceful sunshine
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 Accessories in the garden!
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 Chandelier for evenings in the garden
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 The twinkle garden
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 Current Project: Dinning Room
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 Michael works on the Mosaic top for table
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 Another shot of Michael's talents
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 New Raised vegetable garden
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 Hang a shelf on that fence!
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 Sunny Vegetable garden
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 We will miss our Frannie
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 Lindy Lee in the garden
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 ZooZoo is always in the garden!
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 Front Garden, the Lavender is filling in nicely!
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 Front Garden motor court, the potted Jade plants are doing well, too!
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 Front Garden, Lavender in full bloom!
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 Dusk at the Little Grey House |
 How's this for a virtually no water garden! |
 Linda's Lovely Lavender! Year 3! |
 The Little Grey House's charming entry court |
 Morning Sun |
 Time for luncheon--alfresco at the Little Grey House! |
Before and in Progress
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The little grey house is charming
in her simplicity. The two mature Italian cypress are well established, suggesting a Mediterranean plant palette.
Their size is overwhelming
to the scale of the house, but since they are so well established and thankfully not causing damage
to the foundation, we shall keep them.
After taking inventory of the garden, our next step in the garden design process was to sketch some
ideas of circulation, and what style of garden would welcome Linda and her guests "home". Our design
intent is to redistribute the proportions of the Italian cypress by using a mass planting of
rosemary prostrata (ground cover rosemary). After we agreed on the schematic plan, we then divided
the project into logical phases. The first phase was to break up the existing sidewalk to create
some pattern leading to the front door. This was no easy task, Michael and I utilized a jack hammer
and literally sculpted the walkway from the existing 6-8" layer of concrete sidewalk---well worth
the effort! Next we configured the new perennial garden / foundation planting bed line; extending
and re-shaping it, to better ground the enormous cypress, proportionally. We selected native rocks
found in this foothill community ("Claremont potatoes") to define the planting beds . Michael
meticulously hand placed each rock with artful success. Next, we refined the path system, and
determined how a guest would approach the front door. We selected decomposed granite as our walkway
material, because it is easily compacted, affordable, and easy on the feet. Color selection of the
granite was crucial! Given the name of the property "the little gray house", beige or warm colors
would be inappropriate. We 'special ordered' a graphite colored granite (cool gray toned), which
was more expensive, but highly worth the investment. (Sometimes there are no substitutes.) Our last
major phase of the front garden will be to eliminate the water thirsty and invasive Bermuda grass
over the spring/summer; then, plant the rosemary in the Fall of 2003, plus lining the decomposed granite ("DG")
walkway with a curved line of lavender. During the excavation of the grass for the walkway, we
used the excess materials to form a berm (where the ground-cover Rosemary will be) for a subtle movement
within the mass Rosemary planting. These two future additions will dramatically change the appearance
of the Little Grey House by creating a sense of balance, proportion, and tasteful eye movement to the front door. |
Before and in Progress....continued
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Before and in Progress
From this "room" Linda's guests are invited to utilize other "rooms"
(which are in development as you view this page). At this point we are planning an outdoor dining
room which will feature a marvelous early 20th century Italian plaster coated Iron base table, which was purchased
for the first Bank of America in Sacramento, California (formerly known as the Bank of Italy). This is a gift from
Linda's Mother, Mrs. Alice
Worlow of Sacramento. Photos coming as this room grows.
 The photos below illustrate our first room--the "twinkle garden". The name
comes from the little bumble bee (Christmas tree) lights used within the planting areas to create a
magical feeling at night. We extended the existing walkway...(again Michael artfully placed brick and
native rocks)... As Linda is a brilliant garage sale huntress, we reorganized her whimsical collection
to suit this new theme. Additionally, we hung a stylish hand wrought iron chandelier (purchased from
Indah Bulan) on a branch of her one hundred year old oak tree, adjacent to the little gray house. Mixed
with the bumble bee lights, this candle powered chandelier creates a warm, stylish atmosphere for
alfresco entertaining. Linda is quite busy professionally and wanted plants that would require little
maintenance and even less water. We choose a handsome collection of succulents for the twinkle garden,
which thrive on neglect, but are lovely specimens. Another small project was to paint the existing tool
shed in the color scheme of the little gray house for architectural consistency. We are adding finials
and other garden art to the tool shed, to adorn the simple 50's style of the building.
 Linda's property is surrounded by a fence which will eventually be a
wooden canvas for mural-like paintings. Each room that has the fence as part of its' delineation will
have a painting. This design element will incorporate Linda's taste for art, as well as her skill as
an artist herself (note her painted Oak tree trunk at the back of her property). The climate in
Claremont is perfect for entertaining, especially in the evenings. Her garden of rooms will be
brilliant; by design and it's collection of art filled garden rooms. More to come... for sure!
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 ART FOR THE LITTLE GREY HOUSE
....more on the project of filling the garden with art. Linda is an artist, as well
as her daughter Katie "KT" Whitaker. There is a fence surrounding her property in the back. One way we
are introducing art into the garden is the use of a two hundred year old Oak Tree that grows in and from her neighbor's garden. The canopy reaches
almost halfway into her garden and is priceless. Cleverly, Linda is painting a
"faux" base of the tree onto the fence, to give the impression that it is a part of her garden. Along with the
painting of the base, other plants will be painted on the fence as a back drop for living plants (plants which typically grown
under California native Oaks). The mix of painting and plants will be a fantastic mix. Enjoy! More forthcoming--as oak tree base painting and other paintings are completed! |
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| Web Design and Maintenance by Stephen T. Swafford, Photography Courtesy Michael A. Rodriguez--both of Indah Bulan |
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