What ever she plants, especially in containers will require frequent water, daily in most container plantings. Such watering can easily be managed with a drip system on a timer. In California the rain is generally over in May and does not start the next rainy season again until November. Your sister should take advantage of the local county extension service to help,with advice,(it is a free service!). She can have a beautiful English Garden in her location, all in containers. Al

Actually, one of the plants that comes to mind is lavender. She could grow a smaller variety in a container.

You could try checking out the garden collections at High Country Gardens. They have water-wise plants, but some of their collections have a colorful, airy feel like an English Country Garden so it might be the look you are going for.

Carla in Sac

Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.highcountrygardens.com/catalog/product/99503/

Can she have wooden planters? I have a wooden "trough" style planter that is about two feet tall and deep and ten feet long. I built it out of scrap lumber and lined it with cheap plastic with holes in the bottom. The wood keeps roots cooler than most pots. She could have trellises attached to the back of the planter and grow small climbing roses in it, underplanted with geraniums.

The planter also helps keep my patio from looking crowded and messy- I got rid of many pots when I built it. It's easier to clean the patio now too.

My dad's girlfriend has a similar situation as your sister, but she has a foot of dirt around the perimeter of her patio. She has a number of shepherd's hooks with hanging baskets of ivy geraniums, verbena, ivies, fuchsias and impatiens.

Your sister can create the feel of an English garden with an arbor. I attach my arbors to half whiskey barrels on each end and grow things in the barrels over the arbor.

Renee

Renee, if I may hijack a bit, what do you grow out of the winebarrels that will climb an arbor? I have been thinking of doing just that but have been stumped for the right climber.

Thanks!

Hi heddarosa- I did grow passion vine in one, but I have pulled it out. I now have clematis in one, but I think it might be a challenge to keep it cool and moist enough. One has a white potato vine that broke through the bottom and rooted in the dirt below, and the rest just have ivy geraniums and variegated ivies in them. The ivy geraniums do not grow up the sides very far.

I have also grown annual vines in them, which was their original purpose. I had good luck with flame vine, thunbergia, and morning glories. I may try some bean vines next year.

Have you considered climbing mini roses? My mini roses do really well in the barrels, and I just found out there are climbing varieties.

Renee

Hi,

I had a talk with my sister again. What she wants is a place where she can relax after work, block out the neighbors, and grow herbs. Actually, she like to grow herbs that are in thai food like thai basil, lime, etc. Because of the sun, she would also like some sort of foldable roof or umbrella that she can adjust to shelter her from the sun. The garden should incorporate a grill. We went out to a garden when she visited and was interested in a lot of the vertical gardening stuff. An irrigation system is already in place apparently to water the existing citrus trees.

I am thinking may be some wooden planter as Renee suggested and combine it with some sort of hanging vines to block out the neighbors. The issue is to find a selection of plants that will bloom may at different times of the year so that it's colorful all the time and is also low in maintenance.

I'll start checking out the catalog suggested by Carla and also talked to the extension services.

Has anyone grown thai basil in California near the Bay area?

Thanks!

Paul

Thai basil grows fine in CA, but it's a summer or warm-season crop. Winter, even our mild ones, is too cold for it.

After looking around, I am thinking of suggesting a movable vertical walls. The reasoning is that she can't connect Trellis to her existing wall because it's against HOA rules. The HOA wants to be able to access the fence and wall for maintenance.

Has anyone try something like something like this.

Paul

Here is a link that might be useful: Movable vertical wall.

Generally not a fan of vertical gardening walls like that. Unless you have a gardener full time to take care of it they are going to be a mess in no time. I think they are just another gardening fad or gimmick.

I would be concerned that the bags of soil would dry out too fast.
Renee

Nutz to HOA's!