It’s amazing how a garden can turn a house into a home! I rarely feature a “commercial” garden, but Kathleen and Raul Cardenas have made an amazing difference sprucing-up our downtown core with their garden surrounding their home-business.

Raul and Kathleen’s fairy tale journey to Jacksonville began two years ago, but that’s a story for another column! On a road trip through Oregon, they found our small town with friendly people and deer wandering through front yards, and immediately fell in love with Jacksonville. It reminded them of their early days in their hometown of Santa Barbara. In no time, the couple had leased a perfect location for Raul’s business – Renaissance Upholstery at the corner of California & 5th Street. Soon, they moved lock, stock, and upholstery tools in. What was intended as a temporary living space became a full time home. Today, they can’t imagine moving, especially after completely turning around the gardens!

Their first garden project was cleaning up the front areas facing 5th and California Streets. Most of the work included watering and nurturing ignored plants, adding color annuals, a Japanese maple, filling planter boxes and converting the neglected front to a welcoming eye-catching corner of town. In no time, the lavender edging along the sidewalk was trimmed-up, overgrown pavers were cleared and annuals were planted in urns by the azaleas on the front porch. Two wicker chairs and a table tucked under a tree by the front corner has changed the front into a welcoming garden for those who stroll by.

With the front of the home and front garden areas predominantly business-oriented, the only place Kathleen and Raul found to enjoy morning coffee was the back dining room with a window overlooking the back yard. Unfortunately, the back yard was a pile of dirt and rocks with a lone butterfly bush in the corner. The window only allowed a bit of sunshine in, so French doors were added to flood the room in sunlight – the addition served to draw their attention outside which led to the creation of a back-of-the-house garden escape!

Raul brought in sod and installed a rustic brick patio off the French doors. An area that had been a sloping dirt pile toward the side of the garage was then defined and edged with added brick and unearthed granite stones. Then, three brick steps down the side of the slope were added, creating a beautifully-sloped planting bed! A gravel walkway along the new slope was added that showed-off the sloping bed and created another garden bed at the base of the garage wall. Kathleen placed twin trellises of honeysuckle up the side of the garage and the rest of the garage wall became the backdrop to antique shelves and an old lantern. Some other items in their garden collection became wall art, as well. One bed is planted with a happy mix of bright zinnias, lilies, and marigolds. There is no “plan” both say, they just plant what makes them happy. A love of Mexican colors is evident throughout the back yard with oranges, yellows, and pinks that pop-out among a huge blanket of soft, deep thyme. Miniature evergreens “stabilize” the bed to add continuity and a solid backdrop.
Kathleen and Raul missed fruit trees so added 12 of them along the creek. Raul mentioned that after planting fruit trees, there was a “deer party” that night… forcing him to immediately fence the new trees! Raul and Kathleen love rocks so when an entire pile of old millstones was discovered after they moved in, Raul began integrating them into his garden design. When viewing their garden, you will see interesting puzzle-like structures that change with his whims – personal and artistic touches to the Cardenas garden. The millstones offer a chance to create “puzzles” from stone which Raul changes often to form new, abstract designs.

The couple expressed only one gardening frustration: learning the hard way about the weather and what could make it through the winter here… notably tomatillos and peppers! One household joke is the hydrangea that was moved three times before finding the right spot!

Back in Santa Barbara, Raul had professional gardeners maintain their yard. But here, gardening and yard work is a new past-time for Raul and one Kathleen is enjoying, as well. Although they are slowly creating privacy by strategically planting, both enjoy the interaction with people who walk by their home and say hello and stop to talk over the fence. Their favorite time to unwind and enjoy their back yard garden is after work hours when they can enjoy the peace and tranquility of small town life with a glass of wine on the back patio. I am so glad they are part of it all!

Kay is the owner of Blue Door Garden Store, located at 155 N Third St. Specializing in paraphernalia for the home gardener; she carries garden gifts, decor, and a wide variety of pots, tools, gloves, and organic products.

Contact Raul & Kathleen Cardenas’ Renaissance Upholstery at 541-899-9178.