Emerson loves picking Mexican marigold; perfect for drought tolerant santa barbara garden
With all the talk about water and drought it’s easy to lose sight of why have a garden in the first place. Whether it is filled with succulents, native plants, vegetables, flowers or anything else you can dream up, we have gardens because they give us beauty and pleasure.
Santa Ynez Valley glory after a very rainy winter in 2008
“To lie sometimes on the grass on a summer day listening to the murmur of water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is hardly a waste of time." ~John Lubbock~
The value of beauty and pleasure can’t be over-estimated. There have been numerous studies about the healing effects of nature and gardening. As gardens and gardening reduces stress and anxiety, gardeners seem to live longer and have healthier, happier lives. Beauty and pleasure win again!
Cottage garden planted around a potting shed in this Santa Barbara drought tolerant garden design
"All gardeners live in beautiful places because they make them so."
~Joseph Joubert~
In summer that pleasure is intensified. Imagine if after a long, hard (or not so hard) day you stroll leisurely through a garden filled with colorful blooms, fragrant herbs, fruit trees and soft, healing shade. Pluck a tomato off the vine and savor its enticing perfume, sweet juice explodes with flavor when you take your first bite. That’s summer in a mouthful. And that’s why we plant gardens, to enjoy and celebrate the spectacle of summer and all of the seasons.
Is there such a thing as too many flowers? I don’t think so this cutting garden is the perfect example with sunflowers, citrus trees, dahlias, ivy geranium bordering a vegetable garden
Too Many Flowers?
“I must have flowers, always, and always.” ~Claude Monet~
I’m not sure who was quoted as saying; “You can’t be too thin or too rich”, but having never been either, you can quote me as saying; “You can’t have too many flowers”. Imagine someone walking into your garden and saying, “Oh my, you have too many flowers!” Inconceivable!
Much joy and pleasure can be derived from a summer flower garden. Summer-blooming flowers are more numerous than can be listed. Cosmos, Sunflower, Calendula, Poppy, Ginger, Geranium, Bearded Iris, Penstemon, Zinnia, Delphinium, Shasta Daisy, Yarrow, Statice, and Alstroemeria all love our coastal summers and if you have good, living soil and lots of mulch, a flower garden doesn’t need much water.
“Shall I compare thee with a summer’s day?” Shakespeare
Shakespeare compared his love to a summer’s day but you don’t have to be as poetic. Get out and enjoy the best the season has to offer. Run through a meadow of wildflowers, take a walk through an oak woodland, hike the mountains, amble along the sea or stroll the streets of your town.
Visit public gardens for inspiration Lotusland, Rose Story Farm. Summer’s here; splurge on it! And, whether you have an acre or an apartment terrace, be sure to create your garden of dreams.
If you need help, schedule a Free Home Garden Consultation.
Until next time, fill your garden with joy and lots of flowers! xo Lisa