I'm pushing myself to post these while I still have the excitement from the visit(s) flowing through my veins. Sophia, Ivan and I stopped for a quick lunch after David's garden. David was texting Ivan "hurry up, this is the best garden in northern California!" Marcia Donahue's Garden.
Backing up a bit. Her signature clay beads hanging in the first photo - there was a similar "necklace" hanging on a large Eucalyptus tree in that empty spot below 👇. The area was cleared. I asked Marcia her plans, she smiled and said "oh, the possibilities!" but she wasn't sure yet. She did think she would keep the Agave.
Closer up to a magnificent Bromeliad.
And away we went into magic land.
Boxes of her ceramics were here & there. Thou shalt not steal.
I'll admit to having a few pieces of garden art, but it's usually not my thing. Her art is a completely different animal. Electrifying, earthy and alive -every bit as much as the green things growing.
A papaya tree to the left there, David mentioned he grew it from seed.
Gorgeously carved huge step-leaves.
Oh, I love these!!!
Even a bowl of old utensils was interesting... if I tried this No, it would be silly.
A view from up top, on a balcony outside the kitchen. Just to give an idea of how hidden away and FULL the garden is. If this 7,500 sq. ft. garden was a typical lawn + a tree + 2 bushes, it would feel so very small. Instead it is a glorious sanctuary.
Bowiea volubilis, climbing up a tree. I always want to call these "Bloomin' Onion"!
The pond, gorgeously planted round. This photo doesn't do it justice, it was 12:30 so the sun right overhead.
I walked to the veg garden, that I remember reading about the beginnings of at
Dangergarden blogOf course, by October we're down to zucchini & tomatoes in this climate. The scaffolding made it all so much cooler.
I think we walked all the pathways at least 3 times, each trip seeing something we hadn't noticed before.
It's all so totally unique. One of a kind, and Marcia herself was so kind - she opens her garden almost every Sunday afternoon!
Colletia ulicina was in vibrant bloom in the front yard. I hope to find one, I initially thought it was a funny Grevillea. I think it was David or Ivan who worked out the name with Marcia.
A 30' sculpture in the gorgeous side garden space.
An absolute in a class by itself garden!
As we were walking the street to Marcia's, BANANAS! I have an ongoing "3 banana project", never to get a flower or fruit. Oh, what a climate Berkeley has.
For once, I won't go back through this post to remove extra exclamation points. I think this garden deserves them. Next up... Ann Nichols' garden!
It's gardens like this that have me so wishing California had a bullet train! I think the larger SF Bay area really needs to hold another Garden Fling - the 2013 Fling was very early days in my blogging practice. It's hard for me to believe that Marcia Donahue's garden is only 7500 square feet in size - it makes me feel I'm wasting space ;)
ReplyDeleteI'd like a bullet train very much ! Every inch of her garden was filled, I think it's great you have room for wider paths. There are so many great gardens in Berkeley alone, hopefully less time in a bus?
DeleteIt seems the chatbots have abandoned my blog, or maybe blogger is blocking them. Have you noticed a change?
ReplyDeleteYeah, they are bored with me! :). August-September posts were inflated.
DeleteThanks for letting me know, Tracy. And hooray for Blogger!
DeleteI love your last few sentences, so true!!! Great to see the garden again, and thanks for the pics of the veggie garden. Was this a publicized tour event that others were also on? Or just your group?
ReplyDeleteI don't think it was publicized. From what I gathered some people were from an "aquarium club" and others from a San Jose garden group? Thankfully it wasn't overcrowded.
DeleteBowling balls are a rather unique choice. I like the papaya tree photo btw.
ReplyDeleteI've seen the bowling balls used in other gardens - now I think they were copying Marcia. She definitely made it work, when the idea could really go south in some hands. I've tried growing Papaya here before, it's just a little too cold. Even tho Berkeley is only 37 miles away, they are closer to the Bay and get milder winter temps.
DeleteA fantastic tribute to a one-of-a-kind garden!
ReplyDeleteThanks Gerhard!
DeleteThat is an amazing garden. No wonder you're so excited about it.
ReplyDeleteIt's a wonder!
DeleteDoing three rounds of walk-through sounds right, there's so much to look at. The ceramic shelf-mushrooms are my favorite, so natural looking and I love those huge step-leaves: gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteYou must be so pumped and full of inspiration at this point.
Chavli
Her work is fabulous, I liked those as well. Well, I didn't see a thing I wouldn't want in my own garden! I am, starting with Gerhard's garden and then these 3 gave me a BIG ol' boost.
DeleteWow, wow, wow! Her ceramics and designs are so creative and beautiful. I love the walkway lined with the carved ball shapes and the statues and the leaf forms. Thanks for taking us along!
ReplyDeleteShe's incredible!
DeleteThe kind of garden that makes me want to take up ceramics so I can make my own magical mushroom artwork. I'm glad I get to see Marcia's garden through several lenses this year between you, Gerhard, and Lori. What a place!
ReplyDeleteI think you should take up ceramics, and sell them to me at a discount!
DeleteHi Tracy, I am catching up on your posts.
ReplyDeleteI love the added art to the garden. It fits in so well.
The bananas are really a site to see to this Wisconsin gardener.