MY NEIGHBORS GARDEN

I usually have a style of garden I feature each month.  This one was difficult to identify until I realized  that it was a wonderful  example of a “personal expression” in a garden!

Cheryl von Tress and her husband Fred bought their 1960’s home on Welcum Lane in 2000 and in 2004 began working on the gardens. Cheryl, who is a professional designer, has applied her knowledge and love of the elements in every piece of the garden. It is a unified effort, as Fred not only does much of the hardscape and tough labor, but throws in his own creations such as a bulb garden.

My evening tour with Cheryl began in the front yard of their home which is nestled at a dead end, tucked against a madrone-covered hillside.  I was overjoyed how the front beckons to “come visit” before you even think of the front door!  It offers a soothing art-scape of color and texture. Crossing over a stone-lined creek on a simple wooden bridge, you step onto their gravel path. The use of gravel has a defined purpose in the von Tress garden, creating a soothing zen feel with its’ texture and color that connects beautifully with the lighted paths.  As your feet step along the gravel, a trio of rock pillars, 2 ft. high, direct pathway choices. Straight ahead is a path leading up the earth-stained cement steps to the home’s entry.  To the left, a meandering path guides you around rock-edged island beds of low Nandina, Spirea, and bright lime planting.  One lone, bright yellow Adirondack chair set in the gravel at the end of the path, ties the brilliance of the planting and  plays with your head, adding unexpected fun, color, and welcome.  A large boulder hand-picked by Cheryl, partners with the chair and offers its’ own seating!  As the path turns, a beautiful long low stone on it’s side, creates a bench that’s set in front of three dynamic art metal privacy panels that beckon you to stop and enjoy.

Two small oval grass patches, providing a deep green “punch” to the overall pallet, separate the paths from the retaining walls that step the levels up to the entry of the home.  The unique walls were created using a variety of stones laid on edge or straight up, enhancing texture and color.  I love the use of rocks throughout.  The beds use some of the same slate type stone, but are on edge to create a narrow, taller, trim.

A waft of sweet summer, from a row of Mexican Orange, divides the path and lawn from the upper entry, welcoming you to the entry area. Black pots filled with chartreuse potato vine dot the entry stairs, and the brightening affect is dynamic, continuing the theme throughout the garden.  Cheryl’s  use of that color is amazingly affective and “showcases” color with the black background.  I  fell in love with her use of chartreuse hits.  Dark  bamboo hanging panel dividers hang on the upstairs porch, softening and providing a feel that changes the “age” of the home.

Cheryl and I walked into the back yard and her “other side” showed!  The only similar theme in the back was the love of chartreuse and her artistic flare.  The rest was a fun testament to a not-so-polished, but creative side.  I had a blast in the back yard thinking of all the fun they must be having, as the garden beds evolve.  Much is done, and so much more is in their heads and hearts.  On the sloped back woodland hillside, Fred has build 3, eye-level raised beds with the same great use of rock. Filled with azaleas, columbine, oreganos, grasses, ferns, pieris and heuchera, (Cheryls’ favorite!) and woodland bulbs, the feel is joyous. Fred’s “bulb bed” had a song of brilliant red and yellow tulips towering center stage. Throughout  the hillside, I found whimsical iron plant stakes, a bird bath, and one of Cheryl’s great sculpture designs.  Around the top fence edge of the hill, they set Japanese maples, rhododendrons, and gladiola newcomers in bright orange, yellow and red.  Another totally separate adventure about to happen is their side yard, evolving as an island of Shasta’s, Sweet William and dogwood!

As we sat on the refinished open back deck overlooking three amazing 3 ft. high bleeding hearts, my favorite feature of the garden  played with my senses as we chatted.  An old, non- working, tiered terra cotta Italian fountain, sits on the deck corner. Cascading with deep green ivy, it is iced with bright green creeping Jenny. Above, large, deep Tuscan orange pansies offer a pallet to reflect the sun!  The colors created a true garden escape.

Sipping my wine, I could have stayed and come up with a ton of fun ideas just like Cheryl seems to continue to do!  We commented on our ideas and our husbands “putting in the work” to carry it out!   Cheryl loves to garden because “she has to!,” adding “I can’t not garden!”  She loves to continually create beauty, color, texture, and light!  Fred, in turn, loves to garden for the therapy and the personal space it provides.

Their only garden regret is there’s just not enough time to share it with their kids and grandkids!  Both admit they have “too many ideas,”  and there’s frustration in trying to keep up with all of them. Yet, both make sure to take time out to sit and enjoy their efforts!   Cheryl has learned to not have to have her garden “coiffed” all the time, and Fred has learned to take time to sit and enjoy it before starting another project. It is a sanctuary for both of them.

Their favorite time in the garden is anytime they can get into it!  May through October provides morning sun and evening shade they love. Cheryl noted that when they moved in, the land and home were never “married” to each other.  As she works with it, she knows it is “perfectly imperfect” and she is learning to be more comfortable with that feeling.  After my experience in their garden this evening, I know they have succeeded in joyously marrying the land with the home and taking the imperfect perfection of color, texture, and beauty to a most beautiful level.   I am anxious to return to the finished back yard BBQ area (another idea!)  and view the “perfected imperfection!”  Personally, I think it is pretty perfect already!

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 product.