Re: Re. smaller Lavenders
- Subject: Re: Re. smaller Lavenders
- From: &* G* <p*@gmail.com>
- Date: Wed, 2 Jul 2008 13:34:27 -0700
On 6/30/08, Ben Wiswall <benwiswall@pacbell.net> wrote:
> I don't know why Mediterranean style gardens aren't more popular in
> California. The climate is mediterranean, and Spanish architecture is
> ubiquitous, but a garden arranged around linear axes, defined by hedge,
> pergola, and parterre, is very rare.
However, if you look at paintings fo gardens during the colonial era
of California, these were gardens for utility, rather than decoration.
Even the great ranches didn't have huge formal gardens. Mediterranean
gardens of course span everything from formal Italianate gardens to
kitchen gardens full of Mediterranean herbs. I think these formal
gardens with hedge, pergola and parterre are rare simply because
they're a lot of work to keep it all neat, and from what I see, most
people simply don't want to spend the time to keep their gardens that
neatly manicured. Of course, our neighbors across the street have a
hedge with sculpted "uprights" and half dome finials on top. I on the
other hand have included a few natives, our neighbors' rosemary has
crept into our garden, and I've also planted common sage in our rather
naturalistic looking garden.
