Flora Grubb’s New Home Garden

The canopy of the Giant Fishtail Palm, Caryota obtusa, crowns the garden and covers the ground below with lacy shadows. Casuarina ‘Cousin It’ creates the foundation with its low, flowing form, softening edges and filling the spaces between larger plants.The wonderful large-leafed Tetrapanax comes and goes seasonally. The acacia iteaphylla must be pruned regularly to maintain this petite size. The grass--like plant is Rhodocoma and the large Aloe is ‘tangarine’.

About twelve years ago, Flora moved from her Berkeley bungalow and began working on a new garden. This East bay garden had some established plants, but much of what is seen here is about six years old.

There is a hedge of Cryptomeria japonica ‘Sekkan Sugi’ that brings height, structure, and privacy. The stately trunk of the Giant Fishtail palm grounds the garden.

A vessel by California artist Ted Fullwood holds water for birds, butterflies, and for Dana, Flora’s Siberian Husky.

A garden arch supports a Banksia speciosa. The footed fern Polypodium pseudoareum is on the left, with Dichondra ‘silver falls’ beneath as a groundcover. The red Nicotiana on the right was a volunteer, and even though Flora doesn’t like red very much, the scent and elegance of this plant has earned it a permanent spot in the garden.

The Meditation house build by Jeff Bearce at 3 Sticks Design has sliding doors that open in to the garden.

Casaurina ‘Cousin It’ is a spectacular drought-tolerant ground cover. In a more recently planted bed, a young Brahea ‘Clara’ rises above Gaura, Bouteloua gracilis 'Blonde Ambition' and Eriogonum fasciculatum 'Warriner Lytle'.

The Cherry tree that hangs over the dining area is as old as the house. The bamboo is Otatea acuminata ssp aztecorum. A covered outdoor bed is a staple of any garden Flora designs. It is the center of family life in all seasons, used for basking in the evening sun, serving as a home office, or even as a guest bed for outdoorsy visitors.