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Regional Gardening

Thankyou Susan George:
	For your well reasoned discussion concerning the making of a garden
while fitting it to its site. You may have been thinking about
Australia, but everything you said could be translated to us in
California, or indeed, anywhere in the world. And, I agree completely
that plants should not be ruled out just because they are not "native".
	
	We in Southern California are also a relatively "new" culture, so have
nothing in the way of tradition for garden design, or for architectural
design either. Some wag recently pronounced that the only "style"
Southern California has is none at all! We certainly do have houses of
every kind, shape and style ever invented by man.
	
	On top of that, the over-riding precedent that "everyone should have
grass lawns", mowed, edged and watered regularly, even though water is
often in short supply and always precious. The current garden fashion is
to copy the "English Flower Border" complete with pastel colors which
die away in our harsh sunlight, plants like delphinium, iceland poppies,
foxglove, columbine, which die away in the dry heat of our summers.
	
	Having said that, I am seeing some few new innovative gardens made by
those showing some sensitivity to our area and our climate. I, myself,
have tried to make a garden which would teach by example. Some neighbors
have responded positively, some not. But that's another story.

	I have printed out Susan's discussion, garden description and plant
list to share in class this fall. I teach gardening at Los Angeles
County Arboretum. It will be a great source of inspiration for many of
us who have just begun to use our own native plants in our gardens. The
idea of clipping and training them into more formal shapes is a brand
new concept for us, one that will lead to much experimentation. It will
be fun to try it on Myrica californica, some of the Rhamnus or Rhus;
what about on a Mahonia? Does anyone have any other suggestions? We
don't have to stick to Cal. natives. What other Mediterranean climate
plants do you see as "clipp-able" outside of the usual box, bay and
myrtle?
Thanks, Jan
Upland, CA
Sunset zone 19
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