The Salvadori’s Secret Garden – by Kay Faught

Darryll & Leigh Anne Salvadori

With blank ground and a slope of retaining walls, they transformed their small lot space into secret gardens… and I do mean plural. The front garden and porch face California Street and beckon you to the entry with a dynamic sloping driveway carpeted with stone pavers that become walkways through bowles mauve, yarrow, lavender, rock rose, and layers of color. A fire pit surrounded by Adirondack chairs sits center, while hidden in foliage in the corner is Darryll’s treasured swinging bench, a promise to his daughter. The front porch, lined with brimming tin planters, adds “country cottage” to their natural wood siding, and a relaxing garden world exists even before you cross a threshold!

The “secret garden” begins when you pass under the white arbor at the end of the drive. Working around and over retaining walls and elevation changes, they created hidden pockets of color, fragrance, and privacy. Curving paths lead to beautiful roses fanned around graceful corners. The roses are a variety of lush, deep-layered colors of carpet, bush, and climbing roses and each is perfectly placed, along a path, draping a wall or sheltering a secret. I lost touch with writing down plants, as I was held in the beauty and color, but specifically in the placement and balance of it all. The walkway is lined with layers including lilacs and trees that cover a hidden gazebo in the center. I am only 15 ft. into this garden! To the left is a scene from Darryll’s Italian roots… a long bocce ball court, tucked low along the fence line. Festooned with lattice pergolas and lighting at both ends, more roses cascade the sides. A bistro table and chairs offer a viewing spot and an Italian world of bocce, wine, and conversation is born! After a practice throw, I realized I had to get back on task…the gazebo! Their goal? Create a spot where, when sitting, you see beauty looking out, and when looking into the gazebo you see beauty all around it. Done!

At the back lowest area (again “tucked!”) is an above-ground pool surrounded by pines and seclusion. There is a lot going on here … walkways, a gazebo, a pool, bocce ball court, and seating and eating areas under a pergola – all perfected with symmetry, balance, and color!

As I head to the other side of the home, misguidedly thinking I was done, the walkway on the side of the home is lined with planters. Around a corner, it widens to 8 feet and reveals a retired playhouse turned garden shed. In front sits a small bistro table and chairs with a carpet of tiny violas. Next, along the fence walkway, potato vine drapes and shrouds a classy 6-foot tall cage, home to the family rabbit!

I could cover all the usual “favorite time in the garden,” “place,” “frustrations” etc. that I normally cover with each gardener, but let’s get serious, their favorite time is every day and every moment they are creating in the garden. They show the joy of it all and shared a common belief in “trying to make a place better than it was and leave something beautiful behind.”

Blue Door Garden Store owner, Kay Faught

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.