Just a note on the slate at the walls, this is not all the same size, and was cut from irregular sized and formed pieces to form an ashlar pattern. The plantings may seem rather boring, but also have to compete with complete lack of winter sun,(a neighboring towering Melaleuca tree), combined with a short burst of late afternoon summer sun. So plants had to tolerate both complete winter shade and short bursts of hot afternoon sun in late summer. The two Cussonias are intended to be tall narrow vertical elements to scale down the 3 story tall street elevation with time. The plantings use several orange colored foliage plants for complementary colors; Libbertia peregrinans, Uncinia uncinata, a Carex with bright orange seeds, Aechmea caudata variegata and various Neoregelias of orange, purple and green foliage, and Hebe ochroleacea. Yellow and orange highlights are added by the flowering Oxalis spiralis var volcanicola,(always in bloom year round even in deep shade), Epidendron 'Orange', Pachystachya lutea and Begonia sutherlandii. Purple, blue and orange bracts are combined in one accent bromeliad at the entry, Portea petropoliteana. On the sunnier side of the driveway, orange flowered succulents and proteacea plants were combined such as more Libbertia, Grevillea 'Superb', Anigozanthus 'Harmony', Cotyledon macrantha, Ursinia anethoides, Glumicalyx, and red blooming Aloe retzii and red foliaged Sedum rubrotinctum. Backing another stone faced wall is the hybrid Madrone 'Marina', and the native Trumpet vine from the deep south, a deep orange red smaller trumpet than the common Phaedranthus buccinatorius. Bulbine frutescens 'Hallmark' and the yellow Bulbine are also part of the mix. Cool green accents for contrast include the Cussonia spicata, Asparagus retrofractus, Cotyledon macrantha, Aeonium canariensis subplanum and the chartreuse foliage of Sedum makinoi. I've left out a few other plants also packed into these small planters, but the plants are massed to provide the visual continuity that would seem to be denied by the variety of species packed into such a tight space. The orientation of the front door was set by building height limitations to get maximum daylighting of the second floor, as well as providing a two car wide driveway and independent access to the ground floor potential inlaw unit. The client's first pass at entry steps was to project out to street with one single uninterrupted flight of stairs. I suggested that providing intermediary landings in combination with retaining walls and planters would allow it to become part of the garden. The railing design was the client's, and is repeated in wood at the second floor stairs at the entry hall. I saw the stone veneer as a grounding mechanism to root the walls into the landscape and contrast with the stucco, and feel all stucco walls at the front would not have been as interesting. The photograph must be illusionary, because not everyone is Anglo, nor is...

And now you will have to buy the "rubra" form as well! I agree it is a cool plant, and surprising in that it seems to do as well in California as it does back east. One of those accent flowering winter bloomers that has interesting form, and almost a tropical look to it when in leaf. I find I have to do a lot of thinning on it to keep it in bounds, and can't say that it has a fragrance that carries, but it is nice. I can relate to the shopping bug, plants were the only thing I shopped for this Christmas season, and got some beauties, like a really full Sticks on Fire Euphorbia in firey color for the back deck, to chase away those winter blahs. I also went for a couple of apricot flowering Grevillea 'Superb' in full bloom, also for the winter color and to attract the Anna hummingbirds. Last were some really beautiful and rare Restios with gorgeous stems, Cannamois virgata, which I rationalized might not be available for purchase next spring, better nab them now! Magnolia stellata and M. soulangeana and M. denudata are also great temptations this time of year, but...I...Must...Resist...

If you get any Santa Ana winds you want the biggest heaviest pot you can handle or else you will be listening to your pots klonk klonk falling over and rolling around and the potting mix falling out and the plant getting close to death from dessication. Even with a big heavy pot you might have to tie it to something. (Been there, done that) Perhaps this does not apply in your area, but for anyone else with strong Santa Anas, trees in pots are difficult when the Santa Anas blow. One of my neighbors actually has wrought-iron strapping attaching her pots to her house to keep her potted trees from blowing away. She has 20' Italian Cypress in pots about the height of trash cans, but with about 50% more diameter. You have a nice big deck. You could fill it not just with plants but by making a specific sitting area and a dining area with different pieces of furniture and pergolas, lanterns, etc. Furniture looks a little scattered about. If you or a family member is a skilled shopper see what you can find for outdoor seating and dining at garage sales, flea markets. A well designed seating area and a dining area would draw you and your family outside more often as well. Long term I would figure out which tree really works for you in a pot and then get multiples of that tree for a more unified appearance.

Yeah not looking too good Pal, Aussie natives, and I reckon even South Africans, (leucadendrons) can be difficult outside of their native habitat. Having said that both of those like similar conditions; neutral to slightly acidic soil, excellent drainage, and they hate root disturbance. In fact you can easily over care for them - both are very tolerant of dry conditions. Many also are not happy in humid conditions. Lime, by the way, will yellow the leaves and eventually kill them so I reckon the first thing Id do is check the ph. in the soil. Oh, and if you feed them use only fertilisers suitable for Aussie natives, and use it sparingly. Other than that good luck with 'em B.