Comments on: Garden Magic, Germinator Style

By: Wendee

Wendee — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 17:39:41 +0000

Nick and Laura’s place is indeed magical. I took Laura’s class on the History of Gardens and was sooo fortunate to have visted so many of these gems in So Cal, including their own garden. Thank you for sharing these fantastic photos!

By: The Germinatrix » Blog Archive » An Ode to the Land of the Lotus

The Germinatrix » Blog Archive » An Ode to the Land of the Lotus — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 22:55:17 +0000

[...] fist visited Lotusland in 1996 – Nick and Laura arranged a Germinator meeting there. I was still a baby gardener back then, and this place made a [...]

By: germinatrix

germinatrix — Sat, 16 May 2009 21:03:00 +0000

I’m telling you, ChuckB – you never know how much you needed one until you have one!
Do you think one can be shoehorned into your 40 feet?

By: chuck b.

chuck b. — Sat, 16 May 2009 01:51:17 +0000

I can see an amphitheater being just the thing.

By: germinatrix

germinatrix — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 03:43:33 +0000

Of COURSE you need an amphitheatre, Susa!

By: Suasoria

Suasoria — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 00:27:03 +0000

I have some of those plants around here…but I think I need an amphitheater!

By: germinatrix

germinatrix — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 20:09:21 +0000

ESP – you must KNOW this chicken. It was definitely a sociopath. The other chickens were innocently pecking around, but this one seemed to really have it in for me. I was nervous.
I am thinking of chickens, too! I finally got Jan to agree, so I want to get a move on before he changes his mind. But I know nothing about them, and they intimidate me! You are a leg up on me, having been raised by chickens.

I’m so glad this garden struck a chord, because I think it is a very special place. And there is so much more to see…

I don’t know the Hoja Santa! I’m going to look it up – I’m sure it will become my new favorite plant (as if I need one!)

And we all know the secret of every cool garden – there are always rats. Somewhere…
ssshhhhh…

Julesschroom!!! Old pal! I remember when you first started commenting on the Domino blog you said that you remembered me from Garden Design and the Germinators … we are all still around, but we only get together about once a year. Everybody is so busy, and I am the only one who didn’t have kids, so busy really isn’t the word. I don’t know how they do it, because most of them have kids, dogs, AND beautiful gardens. I feel like such a slacker in comparison!
Yes, this is the garden with the outdoor tub! Maybe I can get a shot of the three of us in it next time I visit … FUN!!!

By: Jules

Jules — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 03:32:42 +0000

The Germinators article in Garden Design was also where I first discovered you. I think I still have the magazine, too. (I’m a total magpie, and the only difference between me and Little Edie is that I am missing a few raccoons. I had these rogue morning glories that had grown through some cracks in my plaster and my ancient wall heater. I thought it looked kind of cool, but I cut them anyway.) What happened to the Germinators club? Was this the garden with the outdoor tub?

By: ESP

ESP — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 03:14:29 +0000

Hi.
That chicken WAS giving you the stink eye! without a doubt… If looks could kill, that bird would be a feathered Ted Bundy. We are toying with the idea of a few urban chickens ourselves for the patch, figure it will buy a little more time before we are pressured to getting another dog, (we used to have two springers). I grew up around chickens, and occasionally my parents!

What a great place and garden! I really enjoyed your tour through it, look forward to more. The Floss Silk tree is amazing! I now wonder what it looks like above the trunk? A trunk, that I must say, looks very Jurassic Park! It reminds me of the stalk on a Hoja Santa plant, (on a much larger scale naturally).

The playhouse makes me want to convert my shed into something kid friendly, oh wait, the dead rats from last year! What am I thinking! I shudder to think what would crawl over you sleeping in my Texas shed, situated near my brush pile and compost bins! Brrrr (feels the slightest of knee twitches).

ESP.

By: germinatrix

germinatrix — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 01:40:16 +0000

Willi, I knew you’d be into Nick and Laura’s garden! This place is SO up your alley … I told Laura about you and sent her your link so that she can know the wonder. You guys are going to start a mutual admiration society, I can feel it!

Hey Theory! I must admit, I DO have some pretty incredible people in my life. Most of my friends are dead set on creating worlds of one kind or another, and I love that. This place IS a fairytale – it really has that energy when you step inside the gate. I’m so pleased you feel it, too!

Pam, it’s okay to weep! Weep like an Otatea! Isn’t that image wonderful? I wish you could be in this garden, because your photos would REALLY capture the sense of wonder in it. Someday, yes? Oh and seeing your first Ceiba – that is a big moment… it was for me! Some of them have thorns growing on their thorns! Another one of the Original Germinators has two of them in her garden, and I have never seen a more frightening (yet somehow alluring) sight. We’ll visit her later in the summer.
I can’t WAIT to visit Big Red Sun! I love them…

CoCo! (yes, I guess I’ve settled on it!) This is a very mature garden; Nick started it when he bought the house about 20 years ago – he was just a whippersnapper. He put in many of the structural details and specimen succulents/cactus – and then when Laura came into his life, well, she brought the magic. And the AMPHITHEATRE! I was around to see it built, and it fit into the landscape like it was always there. Children LOVE it. If you have any extra room at all – go for it!
Your last sentence gave me shivers, because that is my overarching mission here at The Germinatrix – to show my online friends that their ARE NO BORDERS, not really. We can make out outdoor spaces into our own visions of paradise – so I know your exceptional yard is right around the corner!