Back when
Gerhard and I were scheming on what to do during my visit, I suggested a stop at
Tracy's in Livermore, CA—even though I knew it was a bit of longshot (significant drive, slim chances she'd be free on a Friday just four days away). However, the garden gods were smiling on us and it all worked out... yay!
I met Tracy in person when she attended the
Garden Fling last July in the Puget Sound area, however I'd been following her blog
tz_garden long before that. On the drive down Gerhard and I referred to her as a "new" blogger, but couldn't decide when exactly was it that she started blogging. I thought it had been a little over a year. I was wrong. It was
February of 2023, over two years now.
Naturally we were snapping photos as soon as we arrived, even before we rang the doorbell. I was excited to see the work she'd recently done in the hellstrips, which looked fantastic.
Interesting plantings and a protective barrier set back, leaving room for car doors and feet, smart!
Walking up to the front door, I recognized the metal planter and Pseudopanax crassifolius planting.
As well as the happy pyrrosia. It's always fun to see the things in "real life" that you'd previously seen on your computer screen.
After Tracy came out to great us we hung out on the front porch for awhile, which gave me time to admire her collection of mounted ferns, like this aglaomorpha.
And the to-die-for platyceriums...
Most (if not all?) of these come from Tracy's daughter Sophia's partner Ivan. Lucky lady!
We eventually walked through Tracy's home and out into the back garden, where I my jaw dropped. I mean I've seen photos, but they do not compare to the reality.
Looking to the left and the new lath house (laugh house)...
And to the right and that fantastic covered lounge. Tracy had poured us each a glass of wine for garden touring and I was tempted to walk over and plop down, arrange the pillows and relax! But no, I did the "hard work" of carrying on, snapping photos, and reporting on this gorgeous garden...
This planted nook was to our left after stepping out into the garden.
Container goodness along the fence...
And looking back to the containers that had been on our right when we stepped out of the house (if I'd moved the camera just a little to the right you'd see the back door).
Via Tracy's blog I'd followed the building of the raised platform deck and lath house, but again the reality was much better then what I'd put together in my head.
Before we explore that though, a quick glance out over the rest of the garden as I begin to understand just how large the space is. According to
Gerhard's post her property is 12,000 sf (mine is just a smidge over 5,000).
Then to check out the lath house a little closer.
It's the perfect shady spot for plants that need protection from the nonstop summer sun.
Great detail! Love the chunky hook and the leather strapped plant pot.
I seriously wonder how Tracy gets any work done, I would be tempted to just stare at this beauty all day.
Aren't the Acacia cognata 'Cousin Itt' cascading like waterfalls over the pool's edge is a genius touch?
And the varied plantings on the slope draw your eye upwards.
Part of me was surprised there wasn't a pathway along this side of the pool, but of course the gardener in me loved that the plants had this area all to themselves.
As we walked around the pool to the other side of the garden we passed by Dr. Feelgood, who assessed our worthiness and, I fear, found us lacking. Thankfully Tracy didn't ask us to leave.
Looking towards the lathhouse, which you can't see because it's in the shade. Don't you just want to run your fingers through that acacia foliage?
How do you know when a garden is in a climate with mild winter temperatures? When there are multiple Agave attenuata in the ground.
Speaking of multiple, Tracy has the golden barrel cactus thing going on! I predict she'll have a field of barrels that rivals the Huntington Garden's display in no time.
Blooming Kumara plicatilis (Aloe plicatilis)!
Aloe 'Hercules' (Aloidendron ‘Hercules’) acts as a beefy punctuation mark.
A small (but lovely) crevice garden...
And a nice big Echium candicans 'Star of Madeira'.
This! I think it's Berzelia galpinii. I've bought stems at the flower market, it makes a great (if expensive) vase specimen and dries wonderfully. I cannot imagine having it growing in my own back garden.
Those of you who don't follow
Tracy's blog probably aren't aware that she used to live in Portland. I really should have asked her how long it took before the ability to grow these plants, in the ground, stopped feeling so freaky. Then again, she raised a family while settling in here and starting to garden so maybe she had the time to shake off the Portland garden vibe. Maybe I'm just projecting as I can't imagine!
Banksia blechnifolia...
Agave macroacantha
Lophocereus marginatus (aka Mexican fence post cactus), Opuntia robusta, and (maybe?) Agave 'Blue Glow' all look great against the dark fence. Tracy plants for the impact of repeated elements in the garden. The fence post cactus look great now, but will look even more impressive in a few years.
She also includes wide pathways through the plantings, like a professional would recommend.
We're coming to the end of the visit now.
I'm so grateful Tracy made the time for us, and Gerhard (power road-tripper that he is), was up for the drive.
Visiting gardens that belong to blogging friends is the best!
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