hardscape

Dry Stream Beds in the Garden

– Posted in: Succulents

The desire to get rid of water-thirsty, high-maintenance lawns has led to the rise (no pun intended) of dry creek beds. After all, you have to replace all that garden space with something. Rocks and boulders are fairly inexpensive and create a natural setting. A dry stream bed can add a sense of motion (rushing water) [...]

Hardscape in garden photos

– Posted in: Garden Photography

To get a good garden photo, look for hardscape to help define your composition and tell the story, a story about the structure of the garden, how it is put together, what elements, besides the plants, make it work. In this lesson of the PhotoBotanic Garden Photography Workshop, we continue the assignment theme “Think Like [...]

The Flora of Rancho La Puerta

– Posted in: Garden Adventures, Garden Design

Kudos to designer Sara Livia Brightwood for her work at Rancho La Puerta fitness resort and spa in Tecate, Baja California (just across the border from San Diego). The  world-class resort, in a drought-prone region, is a model for low-water landscape-design. For example, fields seeded with poppies and lupines. I was there when the aloes were in bloom. Massing them really makes an impact. [...]