Late garden party at Kris Peterson’s ocean-view oasis
Kris Peterson, Los Angeles blogger at Late to the Garden Party, saw her blog title unexpectedly come true last week. Or rather, my friend Diana and I did. With flight complications, we arrived in L.A. four hours later than planned and were indeed late to the garden party that Kris had generously planned for us: lunch on her patio with two other L.A. garden-blogging friends, Denise of A Growing Obsession and Hoover Boo of Piece of Eden. By the time we got our rental car and fought our way through traffic, it was closer to dinnertime and Denise and HB had naturally had to go home.
Luckily, this story has a happy ending! Kris was still at home and welcomed us into her garden, which enjoys a spectacular view of the Port of Los Angeles, dotted with cruise and container ships.
The view is enjoyed from the rear garden, and Kris has managed the difficult trick of making an interesting and lovely garden that complements rather than competes with the view. A paver terrace juts into the center of the garden, capitalizing on the view and offering a pleasant place to take it in. A low clipped hedge serenely repeats the line of the horizon and protects visitors from the hillside drop just beyond. In front, low-growing perennials, grasses, and succulents enliven the curving border. An echoing bed runs alongside the house, with turf functioning as a path in-between. Hard hit by the drought, the lawn was scheduled for removal on the day after our visit, and I’ll be reading Kris’s blog to see what she does with the space instead.
Kris has a knack for combining structural yuccas and agaves with softer plants. Here, ‘Bright Star’ yucca makes a surprising contrast with frilly Eustoma grandiflorum ‘Echo Pink’.
She also has a number of pots filled with low-water succulents, like this cute frog planter.
A delicate vine climbs an animal-motif trellis on the back porch.
The back garden may have the most arresting view, but the front garden is lovely as well, especially in the glowing light of late afternoon. A curvy stepping-stone path leads through the lawnless garden…
…past flowering grevillea and gaillardia…
…and a strawberry tree (Arbutus) with its flaky, cinnamon-colored bark.
There were even a few orange fruits hanging from the strawberry tree. Do they resemble strawberries to you? Only in the bumpy skin, I think.
A wide circle of mulch around a large magnolia tree not only protects and cools the roots but makes a casual patio. A bench around the tree provides occasional seating and a place to display potted plants.
Here’s the pretty entry garden, with an arbor-shaded bench by the door and a welcoming garden on either side of the walk.
Lavender looks especially purple against golden foliage.
Aeonium (I think) glows purple too.
In the baking hot strip that slopes to the street, Kris has planted agaves, aloes, and other succulents to take advantage of the good drainage and dry conditions.
I love the crisp white margins and teeth on this agave.
Hummingbird magnet — an aloe in bloom
Kris has so many nice succulent planters in her garden beds, and this one may be my favorite. Notice how the blue-gray and rose-hued pebbles match the plant colors.
As the sun set behind the hills, it was time to say goodbye to Kris and her garden. Despite our late arrival, and though we were sad to miss Denise and Hoover Boo, it was a wonderful start to our L.A. visit. Thanks so much for the late but lovely garden party, Kris!
Up next: Designer Dustin Gimbel’s experimental and artistic Long Beach garden. For a look back at the colorful bungalow garden of Annette Gutierrez, click here.
All material © 2006-2015 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
How much fun to see this beautifully well documented blogger’s garden through your “visitor’s” eyes. While it is a shame you missed lunch and meeting up with the locals, you certainly took good advantage of the easier late afternoon light to show Kris’ spaces at their best. Looking forward to seeing more!
I’ll keep the posts coming, Deb. Glad you enjoyed seeing a new view of Kris’s garden. —Pam
So much lushness, layer upon layer! Kris surely has a knack for artistic containers, also. What a delight to visit these gardens on your blog. I will be enjoying these photos many more times. Thanks!
I’m so glad to know you enjoyed the tour, June. —Pam
I met Kris and saw her garden back in May. It was a treat to see, and it’s hard to believe, but it looks even better after such a long, hot, dry California summer, a testament to her ability to garden with drought restrictions. Kris is a delightful person too! Great shot of the pink Eustoma with the Yucca.
How fun that you got to visit her garden too, Alison. —Pam
Thank you for the tour, Pam. I follow Kris and her blog so it’s nice to see her garden from your keen eyes. Lovely garden, lovely woman, too! Glad you got to meet up with her. Yes, I’m interested to see what she replaces the grass with, too…something fabulous, of course!
Yes, I’m sure it will be! —Pam
It isn’t surprising that each of us find different aspects of a garden to photograph. Of course everyone is going to home in on that amazing view but I was trying to recall whether, when I read Diana’s posting, she had shown the tree-ring bench. Maybe my eye just went over it to the trellis. And that metal animal trellis. These are the things that make a garden over and above the plants. Oh and how sad for you to miss the luncheon and the other garden visitors. Gardeners are so welcoming. I’m glad you weren’t so late that you missed the tour all together.
Me too, Jenny. We were worried we would be. But Kris was very gracious about welcoming us despite the late hour. —Pam
My thanks to you and Diana for making that difficult slog through LA’s traffic! It was a delight to finally meet you in person. I enjoy the opportunity to see my own garden through someone else’s photo lens – I tend to wear blinders when viewing my own garden and a change in perspective is helpful. The Arbutus fruit will turn a strawberry red in time but personally I prefer it in its orange pumpkin phase – the mature fruit, which even the hungry critters won’t eat, creates a mushy mess.
How strange that nothing eats the fruit. But it does sound like ultimately it bears a better resemblance to strawberries. Thanks again for your hospitality, Kris! —Pam
Lovely garden, thanks for the photo tour, so many beautiful plants & ideas.
It was my pleasure, Ellen. —Pam
Sorry to have missed you and Diana, but you experienced first-hand what our traffic is like (unfortunately).
Anyway, you did get to see a beautiful garden and meet a talented gardener in person. 🙂
Hoov, we were so bummed to miss seeing you and Denise. Ai-yi-yi, the traffic! But really it was the airline delay that did us in. We were feeling relieved to have even gotten on another flight, rather than being stuck in Austin. —Pam
Beautiful garden. It reflects the gardeners generous spirit.
Yes, indeed. —Pam
I love Kris’s blog so how exciting to have been at her garden. Lucky you!
I did feel lucky! It was wonderful to meet Kris and see her garden in person. —Pam
I echo what others have said. It’s fascinating seeing a garden I know from the owner’s blog through somebody else’s eyes.
Yes, and it’s fun to see in person a garden you know through a blog. It’s a whole new perspective. Plus, you get to meet the garden blogger, and there’s usually an instant connection. —Pam
Nice shots in spite of the sun challenge. I didn’t see the fruit, but I did have some of the same photos that I didn’t include. I especially loved her paths and grasses.
Me too. She’s made such an inviting garden all around her home. —Pam
You and Diana both have shown me new (and beautiful) sides to the lovely garden Kris has created. Thank you!
My pleasure, Loree! —Pam
It’s fascinating to get a different perspective on Kris’ garden, perhaps more wide shots or the garden accessories more than the plants? It is so liveable and comfortable-looking. I like the paths too.
I’m glad you enjoyed the new perspective, Hannah. Kris has a lot of fans! —Pam
How cool that you got to see Kris’s garden in person! I so enjoy her blog but it’s always a treat to see a blogger’s garden through someone else’s lens. Loved your tour! Bummer that you missed Hoov and Denise!
I know, it was. However, it gives me a handy excuse to return to L.A. soon. 🙂 —Pam