Patricia Garrett , a friend and fellow warrior wrote this wonderful piece to me regarding the makeover of the patio/garden connected to her home in LA. I was so impressed that I wanted you to read it.
Enjoy and learn!
Hi Denny!
The neglect began the day the apricot tree, which had been the source Enjoy and learn!
Hi Denny!
of so many delicious apricot daqueris died. I didn't even want to see
where it had once stood, shading a corner of our patio. The potted
plants that I had lovingly placed around the patio had also either died
or just managed to survive with no attention. This sorry state of affairs
or just managed to survive with no attention. This sorry state of affairs
continued for over 2 years aided by the fact we were never home for
more than 8 or 10 days at a time during the past few summers. I'd
just have the opportunity to catch up with things inside, when it was
time to pack up and leave again. Ahhh, but then THIS summer came
along. We had arranged to travel less and spend almost the entire
summer at home. I walked outside one day in May and was shocked at
the state of disrepair. I had simply stopped seeing. This was the
summer to open my eyes. (Love this, Pat!)
Since I had read What Color Is Your Slipcover, I had a file with pictures
of gardens and patios that called to me. It was time to use it!
The next step was a call to a woman who had been featured in the
LA Times garden section. After "Hello.", I simply blurted out," I have
a back yard in Brentwood that needs your help!" She laughed and
turned out to be just the right person. As I was doing this without
the enthusiastic agreement of Dave it was necessary to keep the
$$$$ to a minimum and the impact tothe maximum. Every decorator's
nightmare! But we did it. Instead of removing all the cracked concrete,
we had the cracks jackhammered and inserted black stones into the
now wider spaces. We removed a wall, added a water fountain, a fire
cauldron and replanted the pots, most with succulents. Before the work
was begun I thought about what I wanted most from the space. My
answer was tranquility and romance. Once the major work was
completed, I quickly set about seeing to those aspects. I found lanterns
to hang, mirrors which reflect the sun and make "fireflies" dance all
patio, amber lights to swag and even a chandelier with real candles
over the dining table.
After viewing Momma Mia with some friends I decided I had the perfect
LA Times garden section. After "Hello.", I simply blurted out," I have
a back yard in Brentwood that needs your help!" She laughed and
turned out to be just the right person. As I was doing this without
the enthusiastic agreement of Dave it was necessary to keep the
$$$$ to a minimum and the impact tothe maximum. Every decorator's
nightmare! But we did it. Instead of removing all the cracked concrete,
we had the cracks jackhammered and inserted black stones into the
now wider spaces. We removed a wall, added a water fountain, a fire
cauldron and replanted the pots, most with succulents. Before the work
was begun I thought about what I wanted most from the space. My
answer was tranquility and romance. Once the major work was
completed, I quickly set about seeing to those aspects. I found lanterns
to hang, mirrors which reflect the sun and make "fireflies" dance all
patio, amber lights to swag and even a chandelier with real candles
over the dining table.
After viewing Momma Mia with some friends I decided I had the perfect
setting for a party ala the film. I ordered Greek food, set up one
long table laid out for 24 guests and the fun began. Each guest was
charmed by the setting and my patio was officially reborn. It is now a
major effort to drag myself out of my hammock and into the real world.
I make it a priority to spend part of each day there, either reading,
working with the plants or blowing bubbles for my grandkids. I am
once again so very happy to have a back patio that has become a
place of peace in my life.
Love, Pat
place of peace in my life.
Love, Pat
