Sunday morning, I got up early - had some eggs & coffee and ran out the door to get to Berkeley! I stopped to pick-up Ivan & Sophia and back in the car to head over to David's house for the first house on the open garden tour.
The house across the street (not a through street, a sweet little cul de sac) was for sale. I'm dreaming of buying the house & spacious .79 acre lot and becoming David's very best friend! If you enjoy looking at real estate and have a million+ dollars getting dusty, here's a link.
Kensington (Tracy's) house 
With a stern reminder to myself to not go too close in for photos - back up girl! Hopefully to show off the overall feel of the space. My first photo, I can only laugh at myself. But come on, that's gorgeous! Agave ovatifolia.
My apologies are in order, the first few photos are "foggy" - it was a gorgeous morning, but my camera/phone was dirty. Thankfully Sophia noticed within the first 10 minutes and cleaned it. You park up top, and walk down the driveway to his cool house.
The front porch is enrobed with beautiful things!
There were delicious donuts & hot coffee inside.
But first, I had to turn around and check out the slope. The sun was just starting to touch this, ahhhh.
This clump of Dyckia was spectacular.
Before you head round the corner, this pretty Salvia was showing off *I believe Salvia puberula 'El Butano'. My apologies for the photos- like a vaseline smeared filter for an older Soap Opera actress.
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So inviting! There should be a special word for that feeling when you've entered a garden space - and you can't take it all in, wanting to look at every single plant/planting. Yearning doesn't quite cover it.
Gorgeous.
Gorgeous C
eratostema zamorana *Thanks David for ID!A peek from the inside, looking out - the windows are everything and extend further than I captured.
A cute moment when Ivan reached up to this fern and said to Sophia "remember when this was in our apartment?!" He gave it to David when it started to outgrow their space.
Ok, a few close-ups.
Fist sized Tillandsia rudolfii bloom.
So many different neotropical blueberries, I can't guess ID's. If I understand correctly, they have a few that are not ID'd as of yet. *from Ivan, Semiramisia speciosa.
Hoya somesuch. Triple handhold.
They moved some of the Ceratostemas to a spot with some sun- just to try it. In Ivan's hand, Ceratostema gualaquizensis
Headed around the back, and down some steps
to a beautiful setting, a pond David dug himself and is now full of fish.
this frond so shiny, looks like it's made from plastic
Manihot ? T
revesia palmata ‘micholitzii’Gorgeous hanging planter - this is bending the tree branch currently! When well watered, I imagine it's 60 lbs., at least.
Because we were with Ivan, we got to peek into the greenhouse real quickly. Ssssshhh.
Ok, I'm realizing I cannot post all 3 gardens. Photo overload!. On our way out, the largest Gasteria I've ever seen! G
asteria acinacifoliaI loved this draping Aloe mendesii, a cliff dweller.
and a sweet spot to the other side of the driveway. What a garden! David is so intelligent and warm, he must have answered a thousand questions on Sunday (at each garden). He was so patient and spent time with everyone - he is a true gem of a human being, and then some 💗💗💗
Wow, that is a lot. Looks like you had a good time taking it all in.
ReplyDeleteI did, it's truly an amazing garden.
DeleteWhat a packed garden! All the trees in the background give a nice sense of enclosure too. I was really impressed by the Manihot - I planted one here years ago and it promptly died. I laughed out loud in response to your comment about a vaseline smeared filter! I've always wanted a pond like that but I can only imagine what the raccoons would do to it.
ReplyDeleteHe does battle raccoons, he also has several container "ponds" David said he covers them at night -he set up automatic sprayers which were working so far. Also foraging deer, he has a fence to keep them off a good portion but they walk through the back property. He's right next to Tilden Regional Park so no shortage of wildlife. It's an amazing garden, so much variety! I could've posted smeary photos for days :).
DeleteWas it a little bit like going to heaven?
ReplyDeleteIt was and is! So very special and masterfully done by a great young man.
DeleteHow fun! Thanks for taking us along on the tour. All the little spaces and plants and water features...and that blooming Hoya! NIfty!
ReplyDeleteit's a completely unique and wonderful place!
DeleteWhat a wonderful, deck, although it isn't quite a deck, more like a boardwalk! Looks so cool for a hot day, if it gets hot enough to call it "hot" in Kensington! The house across the street is actually a great price for what it is. Way out of my budget though! If I lived there I'd be in Tilden more often than at home I think. One of the only things I miss in the Bay Area since moving to OR.
ReplyDeleteBoardwalk, I like that! You're right - it was much cooler there. I love that house across the street, only 2 owners as well. It looks well kept.
DeleteWhat a day you had! I love David's garden for many reasons, but most of all because so many plants are completely foreign to me. A hands-on learning opportunity!
ReplyDeleteIt's really fabulous, all the variety! Ivan said he met people the night before from Filoli Gardens and SF Conservatory of Flowers, they were collecting seeds.
DeleteWOW, I would love to have a tour. I feel like I would be smiling and smiling at all the beauty in every turn.
ReplyDeleteI love the pond.... dreaming about putting one in here.
Carla
That's precisely how I felt Carla, I think everyone was oohing and aahing!
DeleteYour kind words about David at the end are so very true! It was great to see the garden again, what a beautiful place. I love that shot (and story) of Ivan with the fern. Now about our house... why don't we go in and buy it together? I can use it as a refuge in our winters and you can escape the summer heat in Livermore, deal?
ReplyDeleteHe's just a darling! YES to house sharing, can you imagine what we could do to the 3 EMPTY LOTS next to it? It's a great spot.
DeleteThat Hoya *%^$#! OMG. I had no idea this was even possible.
ReplyDeleteHa ha, I feel that way throughout the garden!
DeleteThe commenter Lisa named it perfectly: The Boardwalk! I LOVE it... amazing.
ReplyDeleteAnd since I developed a little crush on Hoyas, I appreciate both photos of those very cool blooms.
Chavli
I liked that comment, too. The Boardwalk, it marks the significance. I love Hoyas, too - he had so many varieties hanging around everywhere.
DeleteI’m so glad the three of you could make it to the tour! This was the first official tour my garden has been on. It was a great group of people and it was reassuring to have some familiar faces.
ReplyDeleteSome plant ID’s!
The pink flowered Hoya thing is actually ceratostema zamorana— a blueberry!
Manihot looking plant is trevesia palmata ‘micholitzii’
Large gasteria is gasteria acinacifolia
Cliff dwelling aloe is aloe
Let me know if you want any more IDs
Thanks David! Updating ID's now :)
Delete