The Bad Tempered Gardener: Anne Wareham

A special day.

My review copy of Anne Wareham's new book, The Bad Tempered Gardener arrived and I'm immersed in reading her chronicle of creating the brilliant garden at Veddw, on the Welsh borders.

Anne's unmistakable voice had me in its grip from the Introduction. And after reading one chapter, I'm impressed by the way Anne turns a critical eye on the act of making gardens.

Her insights on design, and advocacy for thinking about gardens as a distinctive art form are qualities I expected from her writing.

Visiting Veddw on Alice's Garden Travel Buzz

Meet me at Cottage Gardens! Wine Country Landscape Design

 Should you be in Northern California on Sunday, April 10th around 11 a.m., Cottage Gardens in Petaluma I hope you'll drop by and say hello!  I'm pleased to be a part of the Springtime schedule of events taking place at this wonderful plant nursery. 

Photographed at Darioush Winery

My presentation will feature my favorite destination wineries, along with aspects of landscape design, and...

I'll be giving away a limited number of complimentary wine tasting cards.

Matanzas Creek Winery Dry Stream Bed

Cottage Gardens is located at 3995 Emerald Drive, Petaluma. 
Photos © Alice Joyce

Chateau St. Jean's romantic setting.

Benziger Winery's Biodynamic Flow Form Water Feature in the 'Discovery Trail'

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Hope to see you at Cottage Gardens!

White on White Wednesday: Desert, Mountains, Wildflowers

Anza-Borrego Desert Vista  --  Clark Dry Lake

All Rights Reserved: 
PHOTOS & TEXT Copyright Alice Joyce

Snow-capped San Jacinto Mountains - Wind Farm in Foreground:

Palm Springs

Photos © Alice Joyce

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

Among the White Wildflowers: Chicory - Rafinesquia neomexicana

Photo © COPYRIGHT Alice Joyce

A Desert Spectacle in Borrego Springs

Dozens of these fascinating sculptures arise from the desert floor as you drive through

the town of Borrego Springs.

Owner of the 'Galleta Meadows Estate,' Dennis Avery is the person to thank for the spectacle.

Brittlebush: Encelia farinosa (Photo: Alice Joyce)

Outstanding arrays of golden, daisy-like flowers covered myriad brittlebush during my mid-March desert journey. The plant's form is an interesting dome-shape, with mounded silver-gray foliage below the abundant flowers. A member of the Asteraceae family, the brittlebush boasts new, white foliage with a texture like velvet in summer.

Avery commissioned Ricardo Breceda to work his magic with welded steel. In the past few years, Breceda has created giant sloths and baby camels, mammoths and raptors, elephants and tortoises, and to the delight of all who unknowingly come upon them, extinct prehistoric species: Gomphotheriums and Sabertooths that once roamed the land. Historical figure, Juan Bautista de Anza has joined the open-air exhibition.

All text and photos: Copyright © Alice Joyce

Fouqueria splendens bloom (Photo © Alice Joyce) Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

Common names: Ocotillo .. Desert Coral

Among the desert's flora, I found the sculptural form of the plant's linear stems entrancing, not to mention the springtime display of fiery flower heads -- countless ocotillos were in-bloom!

Visit www.galletameadows.com

In Search of Wildflowers .. Anza-Borrego Desert Journey

Blooming Beavertail Cactus - Opuntia Basilaris
Photos ©  Alice Joyce

Dune Evening Primrose

The Anza-Borrego Desert has long been on my bucket list! This State Park has a reputation for spectacular wildflower displays when all the conditions of water, rain, wind and sun play out in harmony. I've begun to write about my recent sojourn on Alice's Garden Travel Buzz, where views of the spectacular landscape and canyons where I hiked are featured.

2011 is proving to be a good bloom year in Anza-Borrego. The timing of my trip was fine, if too early for most cacti.

All text and photos: Copyright Alice Joyce

Funastrum hirtellum   Photo © Alice Joyce

I came upon it only once in 8 days. A twining plant with tiny, star-shaped flower clusters.

(Many thanks, James of LostLandscape: plant indeed appears to be Funastrum hirtellum - hairy milkweed.)

The native California Fan Palm is the star here!

Justicia californica blooms in front of the stately tree.

Sandy expanses of the desert floor were covered with Sand Verbena: Abronia villosa

You may recognize Datura wrightii Regel: the poisonous Jimson Weed has quite a reputation. This member of the Solanaceae family is also known as Sacred Datura.