Terrain

Have you all seen this new online gardening store Terrain? I love it. If Anthropolgie had a garden center, this would be it.

I have been trying to envision a front yard landscape for some time now and I think because I am full of contradictions and can’t commit to anything the front yard is the way it is… a mess.

Let me just first say our yard is in no way typical. It is divided  into two different levels by a retaining wall with one level sloping horizontally down the hill. The second and main level has three sections, one side filled with gravel, a walkway to the front door in the middle and the other side with dying grass. It’s pretty ugly to look at and I am embarrassed that it is ours…

This photo was when we just laid the gravel and sod… Say hi to my mom!

I want a garden that is lush and green.

But, California is in a drought and because I stay informed I can’t be a part of the problem. I am ok with succulent gardens but I just don’t like the desert look. How you can relax in a garden full of spikes?

I want an environmentally friendly yard that has succulents and roses. Saves me water but also feels like an overgrown secret garden. I thought I was asking for the impossible until I found this at Terrain.

The designer behind this beautiful arrangement says he got his inspiration from Tangier, Morocco… Chris and I met in Tangier, Morocco. I think his inspiration was made for our garden. It’s in a pot, but imagine it as the yard. I’m still wrapping my own head around it but I think the plants being used in this arrangement will give me everything I am looking for.

Here are the plants he used in the pot.

Eucalyptus – My Trees!
Blue Sedge – An ornamental grass that can be used as ground cover.
Talinum – Would plant this near and in the Blue Sedge
Blue Oat Grass – Would maybe plant this in the middle?
Apricot Abutilon – Love this flower.
Echeveria – The Succulents.

I had some time to spare so I looked up the plants I liked and dropped them into the raised level of our garden. The roses around the windows (and try not to make fun of my hand drawn window…) are too bushy. I would thin them out A LOT, but other than that I think this looks a lot like the Terrain planter inspiration image. Just still not sure what do do on the main level…