Everything I ever learned about gardening came from a book...

- PART 1 -

Sunset Western Garden Book
2001 Edition

I am a reformed "black thumb" gardener.  I used to overwater and plant inappropriately (too many plants, too close together, not the right soil, and many other sins).  I always thought gardening was a talent that you either were born with or not...and I was clearly in the NOT category.  That was before I happened across the Sunset Western Garden Book (SWGB) at a yard sale one sunny weekend in 1998.  We were starting to think about what we would do with our landscaping, and I wasn't getting very far with my occasional gardening experiments.  The first thing that I learned was that certain plants thrive in coastal areas that would not grow as successfully inland.  This was a complete surprise to me, as I was under the mistaken impression that as long as you planted things that worked with your soil type, they would grow (this was a lesson I learned earlier when I tried to grow hydrangeas, rhododendrons and azaleas).

My plant consciousness started percolating around 1997, when I started noticing a shrubby plant growing around my office in the Old Town section of San Diego.  I learned that it was called Pride of Madiera (echium fastuosum) and that it was supposed to grow well in dry conditions in coastal areas (even standing up to wind, even though it's fairly tall).  I loved the plant's purple flowering spikes and gray/green foliage.  I had some trouble growing it, however, until I actually read about it in the SWGB.  I was watering too much throughout the year and didn't have it in a sunny enough spot! 

Once I moved the plants to the Evergreen side of the house

(the southeast side, which gets the most sun) they thrived.  I learned that these plants are butterfly magnets, as shown in these photos...     

In 1999 I took a trip to Mendocino County with my Mom and sisters.  As I was quickly becoming a "plant person," I lobbied for a visit to the  Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens.  The setting and the plantings were just lovely.  I was particularly struck by another flowering shrub, with huge yellow-centered white flowers that looked like fried eggs.  I found out the plant was called Matilija Poppy (romneya coulteri).  I learned a lot of patience from this plant, as it is notoriously hard to get started (and lived up to that reputation).  Once it got going, however, it grew like gangbusters and I learned about reading the ENTIRE description of a plant.  One other feature of the Matilija Poppy is that it spreads!  Luckily I planted it in an area where it's mostly contained by the garden and retaining walls.  This plant is very beautiful when it is in full bloom.  Neighbors would often stop me when I was working in the garden to ask about this plant.  

My husband, Joe, grew up in the Syracuse area of upstate New York. When I asked him what he would like to plant, he immediately responded with roses. Roses! I tried to tell him that roses were difficult and required too much water...and that they were susceptible to disease in coastal areas...but he would not be deterred. Thank goodness I found the San Diego Rose Society. Through their web site (and by reading a great rose article updated annually in the San Diego Union Tribune) I found the perfect rose for our site, the St. Patrick hybrid tea rose. These rose bushes cause a bit of a commotion, because they bloom profusely and over a long season. They are great cutting roses and (happily) have a rose scent (I have found that not all modern roses smell like roses). The bushes are all on drip irrigation, so they can coexist happily with the drought tolerant lavender that's not far away. The drip system also helps them to remain disease free. (...TO BE CONTINUED)