Spring Overture

Wisteria

Spring is still a day or two away from its official dawning but I figure we needn’t wait. Not while there are wisterias in spectacular bloom. Part of Bill & Hal’s beautiful garden in Riverside, these lilac-colored swags trail upward on decades-old muscular vines.

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The port cochere

The port cochere is an imposing structure on its own, but add in the wisteria’s filtered shade and writhing energy and it’s positively awe inspiring.

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Abstract underpinning

Looking up I’m taken with the design of the shade, a series of heavy timbers crossed by metal pipes. They would need to be quite sturdy to sustain the wisteria’s weight; I love the visual contrast of the linear elements against the snake-like vines. I imagine a gorgeous table set beneath this shade, piled high with all manner of food and drink. Or just a few comfortable chairs and some champagne … I’ll bring the champagne.

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Against red

The wisteria has not been content to stay in one place, it’s also crawled a sinuous path around a corner and onto the red wall of another structure. I wouldn’t ordinarily think to pair the colors red and lilac but I think they’re rather charming together.

There are other sights to engage the eye at B&H’s; it’s time for a refresher …

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Arboreal delights

Trees in B&H’s garden were either gifts or carefully chosen for their fruit, flowers or both. The fig tree at top has fruit on it, as does the key lime at center … it’s the blossoms that have overtaken the small tree at bottom that is the real eye-catcher.

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Reflections in a pool

Through a gate is the pool area. It’s quite serene, the water still; reflecting earth and sky. A symmetrical arrangement of potted plants — with an antique urn at the center — adds to the cool calmness of the scene.

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Succulent hardiness

A selection of succulents in a mix of pots features plants that have lived long lives. One could do worse than to live one’s life at the edge of this body of water.

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Climber

Steps from the pool, this climber has definitely made a run for it. I would love to see it in full nocturnal bloom, loaded with pale star-bursts.

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Cool greens

Of course there’s a greenhouse, a cool, shaded lathe structure sheltering specimens that might otherwise fail in Riverside’s summer swelter.

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Greenhouse scenery

Whether vibrant purple, barely-there yellow, or powder puff pink, these greenhouse blooms are pleased as punch. An enormous conglomeration of stag’s horns is misleading hanging from the main beam overhead; it’s got a huge gouge on its backside. At bottom, an explosion in green.

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Bright florals

Back outside the cloud cover is burning off and the sun’s beginning to warm up. These flowers caught my attention because of their unique structures and colors. The amazing orange and pink posies (at top) have a level of detail I might associate more with a crafter’s workshop or folk art decorative paintings; the pale yellow blooms of Turkish sage (center) have an interesting structure that circles their stems; old-fashioned sweet peas (at bottom) give off the scent of childhood memories. I had a teacher in grammar school (ask your mom, kids) who always seemed to have a bouquet on her desk.

—O–O—

I first visited Bill & Hal’s garden in April, 2010 (click here for that post). Since that visit I’ve gone through many changes … as have B&H. Wandering the grounds with Hal, now in his 80s, he lamented the state of certain plants and areas he could no longer address himself. He waved them off, saying that he just had to “let them go”. I heard him say this and knew his sadness. I’ve had to face the fact that I will never garden the way I used to; never be able to keep things the perfect way I was so proud of. For Hal  — botanist, horticulturalist, teacher, docent — this resignation cannot be easy. I’m honored he’s taken the time to show me his garden and shared his knowledge, then and now. I’m happy to have documented it here.