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Stephen Swafford and Michael Rodriguez Residence.... South San Gabriel, California |
FIELD NOTES:
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![]() Our Alfresco seating area |
![]() I painted a game table for summer! |
![]() Beautiful Iris foliage |
![]() peaceful sound and visuals |
![]() Front Garden and Lexie |
![]() Spring color, front garden |
![]() Fountain made from found art |
![]() Sunlight on kangaroo paw |
![]() Altar / Totem in the garden |
![]() Entry Gate to Back Garden |
![]() Lexie's spot! |
![]() Spring Flowers |
![]() Snowball Viburnum |
![]() My all time favorite bloom |
![]() White Climbing Roses |
![]() Our new friend in the garden, Bunny |
![]() Chandelier over dinning table |
![]() Birds are welcome in our garden |
![]() iron chandelier |
![]() Fall natural lighting |
![]() Sweet |
![]() The colors of Fall |
![]() Snowball Viburnum in Fall |
![]() Beautiful Fall Foliage |
![]() Fall snowballs! |
![]() Fountain in outdoor seating area |
![]() Stephanotis blooming |
![]() Beautiful Echium in bloom |
![]() Spring Color |
![]() Yellow leaf road |
![]() Path to Back garden |
![]() Path detail |
![]() Path and Vegetable Garden |
Field Notes 2011: Busy year for us, so we did not do too much in our own garden, except enjoy the garden when we had time. Our only project was to add a path system from the drive to the back garden. Finally we have a sunny spot for our vegetable garden. This year, we have tomatoes, green peppers, jalapeno peppers, basil and thyme. We also, expanded the front planting bed--removing even more water thirsty grass. This new planting area will be filled with the most beautiful succulents we can find. We have a new friend in the garden, a black rabbit, who we call "Bunny". She is quite friendly, and although she/he loves to dig, we are enjoying having Bunny in the garden. We have had a delightfully cool Summer this year, so we have not had to water the garden much at all. The plants all seem to be enjoying the cool summer. |
![]() Spring Flowers---no pesticides! |
![]() Beautiful Water Wise Salvia! |
![]() Alfresco dinning |
![]() Bird Bath, Miss Ellie likes it too! |
![]() Bird Bath |
![]() Planting for a hot corner |
![]() Front Door Garden |
![]() Beautiful Water Wise contrast! |
![]() Marche' our natural defense from snails! |
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![]() Edible Garden... Figs! |
![]() Spring Flowers |
![]() A mirror we made to reflect the cool shady garden |
![]() Michael in the garden |
![]() Edible Nastursum |
![]() Beautiful and Edible Pomegranate |
![]() Shug, Ellie and Marche' |
![]() Roses and Daylilies |
![]() Shady Garden |
![]() Another view of the Shady Garden |
![]() Shady Garden |
![]() Spring at Casa del Arroyo! |
![]() Beautiful old-fashioned bearded Iris |
![]() We love to mix CA natives in the garden, here is a beautiful Heuchera or Coral Bell |
![]() Three Roses in the garden |
![]() Water for our birds, and the sound is so peaceful--not bad to look at either! |
![]() A mixture of lovely colors and textures---all water wise! |
![]() A peak at the front door |
![]() Ellie and Miss Shug on their patch of grass! |
![]() Spectacular California Roses! |
![]() Casa del Arroyo Mail |
![]() More Roses! |
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![]() One of my prized ferns! |
![]() The sound of look of water moving... |
![]() Casual sitting, painted sofa |
![]() Sitting Garden; An area where we enjoy coffee, cocktails and entertain our friends. Notice the color of the arbor... our favorite color in the garden---Black Iron! |
![]() Sitting Garden; The sofa from our old office was painted to give it new life, now it will last a few more years! |
![]() Vintage Japanese lanterns provide a stylish accent, and soft light in the evening. |
![]() Sitting Garden; Trellis Painting in Progress, notice the change in color from natural to Benjamin Moore's "Black Iron". Black is a magical color in the garden, once the trellis is painted it will not only be softer, but more architectural. |
![]() Sitting Garden; Another view |
![]() Sitting Garden; A trellis covered refuge with a comfortable place to sit, and an outdoor chandelier. |
![]() Entrance to sitting garden; there are also two other ways to enter this garden, which is perfect for entertaining. |
![]() Alfresco Dinning room; Chandelier one of two from a church in Carmel, vintage wrought iron table and chairs, hand-painted fabric on chairs by Indah Bulan. |
![]() Sitting Garden; Before |
![]() Papa Dixie is on guard! |
![]() Mother Pixie on her nest |
![]() The "papiary" |
We occasionally find birds that need help, so we built a place for them---
now we are watching nature in progress. We have three white Doves (Trixie, Dixie and Pixie).
Dixie and Pixie have started a family. That's Dixie (the papa looking at you!) We are so excited!
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![]() A stylish birdhouse, from the Redwood Forrest area. |
![]() We need the bees----no more chemicals in the garden! |
![]() Our first birdhouse... home to 3 generations of birds! |
![]() We love bird houses... this is one I made from a Gourd we grew. |
![]() A visitor in our garden |
![]() God takes care of the birds, what makes you think He won't take care of YOU! |
![]() Sweet Ellie |
![]() The Fish Pond |
![]() Even our Goldfish are having babies! |
![]() Meditation Garden; Color-Black Iron, this is one of our favorite colors in the garden for depth and elegance. |
![]() Meditation Garden; At our old place, we had a view of downtown Los Angeles, this is a mural of a global skyline. |
![]() Meditation Garden; In this garden, there is a feeling of seclusion, and the water fountain provides a restful sound. |
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![]() Small pond; a complete cycle of balanced life--recirculated water, plant life, and thriving gold fish. |
![]() We have a few surprises in our garden like this water feature that is hidden in a grove of bamboo. The frog recirculates the water, and makes a lovely peaceful sound. |
![]() Another view of our small pond |
![]() Garden sculpture adds character. This is St. Francis holding a bird, in honor of our love of birds. |
![]() Garden sculpture... Dragon, which symbolizes protection from |
![]() Garden sculpture... just a sweet moment in the garden. |
| Web Design and Maintenance by Stephen T. Swafford, Photography Courtesy Michael A. Rodriguez--both of Indah Bulan |
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