Friday, December 26, 2014

Kelly's Way: a point and shoot garden. BANG!

Kelly Griffin,surveying his "Way"

I'd spent much of the day at Steve Hammer's Sphaeroid institute (see last blog)--and honestly didn't expect a comeuppance!  Where else besides Southern California can you go garden touring Christmas week and not be disappointed? OK, Hawaii. Florida. Other countries...Kelly and Denise had invited me to stay, and I remembered they lived in a condo when I first met them--I was vaguely aware they'd bought a house. But no one warned me of what to expect there. In four years, almost entirely by himself, Kelly has filled this expansive garden with a positive treasure trove of succulents. Thousands. Each one seems to be perfect. I apologize for not labeling them:  It would take me a month to label them: Kelly would know them all by heart (and their parentage) but this is my blog, not his. This is really about the extraordinary form of plants, and the astonishing way they combine. Just relax and enjoy! (by the way, I noticed Denise Huntsman-Griffin filled a large pail with weeds during my visit--so he does get help from her! This garden is about as weed free as any I've ever seen. I can't wait to see it in a few years when it fills in (Denise will have to weed in a hot air balloon by then, I fear)...enjoy!

















































I will finally interject that the following four pictures show the same corner of the garden in different lights (evening and morning)--showing the almost shocking transformations this garden goes through.








                                                                    Kelly's way rocks!







8 comments:

  1. Per me che non sono abituato vedere questo giardino è come sognare! Non è una cosa che si vede tutti i giorni! Complimenti al creatore :)

    Un saluto :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You continue to amaze us with these Triple Wow gardens, Panayoti … absolutely stunning.

      Delete
  2. Heart-poundingly beautiful plants. Truly. Between that extra cup of coffee and this post, thump...thump...thump. That chartreusy guiengola, if that's what it is, with the red margins, really brings home the god-like power of the hybridizer. Thanks so much for this post.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thank you, Denise (and Cliff and Pontos): I feel like a lucky mortal indeed to visit the likes of Kelly and HIS Denise! What a wonderful world this is for us plant lovers!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Amazing, amazing, amazing! Every single plant seems to be grown to perfection.

    ReplyDelete
  5. It seems to me Kelly has made himself a Fortress of Succulentude. I pity the fool that tries to jump his fence. Maybe our own government should take notes from Kelly’s garden for planting the White House perimeter.

    Fortress of Succulentude is a pun on the Fortress of Solitude from Superman Returns
    “I pity the fool” is a quote from Mr. T who incidentally has a house around here

    ReplyDelete
  6. Photo #41...! Photo #48...! ALL the photos...[swoons] Thank you so much -- what an inspiration this post is!

    ReplyDelete

Featured Post

A garden near lake Tekapo

The crevice garden of Michael Midgley Just a few years old, this crevice garden was designed and built by Michael Midgley, a delightful ...

Blog Archive