Saturday, April 13, 2013

Garden Hopping Over The Hills And Through The Canyons In Poway, California (Part Two)


One of the nice things about garden tours
 is the opportunity to see communities I haven't seen before. Poway, north and inland from San Diego, was the location for the San Diego Horticultural Society's annual garden tour last weekend and it was the first time I had reason to visit--even though I've lived in San Diego for decades. I spent the day visiting six gorgeous gardens on the tour (see my favorite one here), but I learned Poway is beautiful from one side of town to the other.


Poway feels a little bit city and a little bit country. Most of the gardens on this tour have beautiful views of hills, mountains and canyons. This one, in a front yard with a stunning hedge of red bougainvillea and a rock rose plant,


can be seen from this bench, surrounded by a sea of purple statice and white alyssum.


The backyard continues to border the hilltop lookout
with an inviting flagstone path lined with California poppies, statice,
agave and a beautiful native shrub, 


 Ceanothus,"Yankee Point."


There are lots of reasons to stop and linger in this garden,
 but I still had more gardens to tour.


In this native garden, a tall glass of icy lemonade under the olive tree would be welcomed. This is a garden bent on activity as well as beauty. It features a trampoline, swimming pool and an indoor room with pool table, ping pong and exercise machines.


Oh, and a bocce ball court and hiking trail.


Amongst all the Cleveland sage, it is a garden with an untamed and adventurous feel. It was chosen in 2011 as Garden of the Year by the San Diego Home and Garden magazine.


It is where I met and fell in love with this large shrub in bloom, Fremontodendron 
'California Glory,' also known as Flannel Bush. Spring flowers bloom in yellow but turn orange as they fade; together with green leaves set against the blue sky, this California native commanded attention.


Beyond this gate (moving on to the next garden)


is a breathtaking wildflower garden that I did not see coming as I walked through a neatly trimmed and grass covered side yard.


 But then I found myself standing in an unstructured field of flowers blooming everywhere I looked. Red and yellow nasturtiums clamor freely over a bench and chair. As much as I do love manicured and formal gardens of clipped boxwood and topiary, I enjoy this feeling of being surrounded by a riot of bright colors and plants, sprawling vines, hearing the birds chirp and bees buzz. Now this is a great place to spend a morning with a cup of coffee, strolling in your pjs and slippers, just to see what's blooming in the garden!


There are hundreds of California poppies


and a flowering tree that compelled everybody who saw it to snap a photo and ask, "What is that tree?"  Answer: Tabebuia impetiginosa, or Pink Trumpet tree because that describes the shape and color of the bloom. 


Next up I hiked up a long, steep hill for yet one more garden. I was becoming hungry and thirsty and I was hoping this would be worth the climb. It was, because on the way, I saw this yucca, several of them, in bloom with orchid-like flowers. (I didn't even know that yuccas bloom! Hmm, at least I think it is a yucca--if you know please tell me!)


The views and plants were gorgeous on the way up,


 especially the pincushion proteas blooming close to the property.


The interesting thing about this home is that it sits on a mountain and the owner incorporated the boulders that were present into the design,


both in the front 


and back of the home.


Finally, the rose garden (above) and the plant conservatory (below) was my favorite in the last garden of the day for me, where I also purchased three sterile hybrid alstromerias and one Cape Sweet Pea vine from the plant vendor on site.


So for the rose lovers, I present:



the Playboy Floribunda 


and Rugosa Alba, which were both in bloom and looking perfect!

And this is GardenEnvy.



Copyright 2013 by Jeannine.  All Rights Reserved.