Daily Dose Blogger Bios

Check Out One of YOUR Beautiful Gardens!

I couldn't be more thrilled! Loyal reader Sumcool sent in images of her lovely garden, which is on the seaside hills in California's Central Valley, and ... WOW. Breathtaking. The setting is amazing, and it takes a sensitive eye and careful hand not to overwhelm it. At the same time, a garden needs to be strong to compete with that view. Sumcool has done wondeful work here, so please join me in giving her a big, happy, 'Green Thumbs Up'! (okay, that's a little corny, I know - but excited gardeners must be forgiven. By the way, click on the images to enlarge and drink in the details...)
I've picked her brain a little, so join me in gleaning some valuable gardening tips from our friend...

When and how did you start gardening?
When the children were young, Steve and I had a vegetable garden, orchard, chickens and ducks, goats for milk, and the children had horses and ponies. As we all became older, all that went by the wayside as Steve and I pursued our careers and the kids grew up and left home.Then one day a friend invited me to the garden club. A new world opened! Started spending time in, and thinking about, the garden more, and I realized that not only is there more to life than work, but that there are many interests out there, and I don't have to identify myself through my job. So now I don't have one.

Follow the link below for more with sumcool...

How would you describe your garden?
Naturalistic, nativeish, low water use, easy care, and not competing with the view. And definitely unfinished.
You have an incredible view of the agricultural checkerboard of the central valley - how did this backdrop figure into your design?
I love trees amd vines, but have limited them.
What is your most used part of the garden?
All of it, we follow the sun and shade, have places to sit or lounge all over.
Do you have a favorite plant or plant combination?
My favorites this week are lavender and oak trees. Love roses, but they need babying here, with the coastal fog. When we go on vacation, they die.
Any advice for people starting on their backyard horticultural adventures?
Take a class. Develop a plan. What's the style of your house? Your life? Are you formal? Informal? Can you live with a few weeds and bugs? What about water use? Weather? Florida's different from Arizona. What color scheme? I like to choose a couple of dominant colors and one on the other side of the color wheel. And, if you can, get professional help from a professional designer (that's for you, Ivette...)

Thank you, sumcool, for being my first guest gardener! Your garden photos are always welcome...
and I want to encourage all of you to send in images whenever the mood strikes you - it is great fun to see what everyone is up to... be it a big, sumcool style garden or a beautiful pot on your patio!