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virginiapaca · 5 years

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virginiapaca · 5 years

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virginiapaca · 8 years

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virginiapaca · 8 years

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Mediterranean Spring 2015 I spent several weeks on the south coast of France exactly one year ago, just before Easter. Although the trip was not focused on touring gardens, it was impossible not to draw inspiration and delight from the surrounding beauty. I love the vibrancy and the variety of this landscape where plants thrive in the most unexpected places.

A room with a view of Monaco from Rocquebrune. Vines of roses and grapes ready to pop.

Private garden in Rocquebrune

Cold Frames opened up in the Florence Botanical garden

Succulents in pots on old brick pavers

Aloe

Dramatic terrace plantings that needs minimal maintenance, and no irrigation.

Flowering vines finding a foothold on a stubble wall.

Parre terre garden waking up and ready for spring planting. Rocquebrune

Serre de al Madone Garden, Menton

Bits of color at the edges of a pool, Menton

Greenhouse and reflecting pool in Menton.

A garden in shades of green, contrasted with light gravel walkways and a canopy of citrus, oleander and olives provide a cool respite on a hot summer day.

Shrimp plants adapt well to the dappled light.

Beautiful touch of magenta in a mixed bed. I think this is a bromeliad, not sure.

Study in white

Magnolia

Simple way to direct and capture rainwater in the garden.

Loropetalum tucked in a mix of plantings in dappled light.

Clemetis trellis

Simple and beautiful design

Study in green. Rocquebrune

Market anemones...impossible to resist!

Succulents tucked into a stone wall

Drought tolerant plants, stone walls, and drainage along the bottom

Iris perched on the top of a retaining wall

Succulents bursting from a crack in a rock face

Serra de la Madone, Menton

Wisteria blooms just beginning in Hanbury Botanical Garden, Ventimiglia, Italy on the French border.

Cypress and the sea. Classic view at Hanbury gardens

Ceanothus in the Hanbury Botanical Garden.

I love mass plantings like this, it reminds me of fields of red poppies along the coast of Cornwall

Imagine this vine in another month...simple and personal.

Burst of color in the foothills of the French Alps

Flowering vines on stucco walls. Interesting clay tile detail at roofline.

Vines bring color and soften the glare off the wall in summer.

The iridescent lime green of new growth against the clear blue mediterranean sky

Shaded walkway in the Hanbury Garden

Sunset above the garden in Rocquebrune.

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virginiapaca · 9 years

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There is a garden tucked away in the hills above the Mediterranean Sea in the south of France where I found this tribute to Mario Lavagna. I was touched to know that his efforts to build and care for this exquisite garden were held in such high regard by the owners.

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virginiapaca · 10 years

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Step-by-step guide to making succulent planters for Southern California

Step 1. Containers - For this installation, I purposely looked for planters that had a deep and a wide interior dimension so there would have a buffer against the soil drying out completely in the intense afternoon heat. These planters are 5-6” long and about 12” high and 10” wide inside.

Step 2. Soil Mix - It is very important that the container drain properly since they will receive drip irrigation. Start with about an inch of medium-sized gravel in the bottom and fill around the plants with a sandy soil mix suitable for cactus or succulents. EB Stone makes one called Cactus Mix. Keep them slightly above the ground.

Step 3. Planter Layout - Measure the interior size of each planter, and create a space the exact same size on a table at the nursery.

Step 4. Plant Selection - Find a nursery with a large selection of plants in 2-4” plastic containers. Use a plastic open tray and select individual plant types, always in multiples of the number of planters you have, in this case two. Make sure you pick a variety of plants that are different in color and texture, then check with the nurseryman to make sure that your selections are varieties that will stay relatively small. Pick out about a third more plants than you think you will need so you can pick and choose.

Step 5. Arrangement - Set up a row of empty plastic containers and start arranging each planter using the same type and number of plants in each one. Don’t worry if it looks like too many plants, and bring home a few 'extras'. You will probably need them.

Step 6. Transport - Number each one of the planter containers in order. A1, A2, etc. so when you get them home it is easy to put them in the same order. Don’t let the nursery put them in different containers.

Step 7. Planting -Try to keep as much of the original plant soil as possible, you will find that other than below, you don’t need much additional soil in the planter. Don’t be afraid to cram them in. It will take more plants than you think.

Step 8. Fertilizer - None, ever.

Step 9. Irrigation - These planters have two plastic, micro-tube Netafim lines tucked in under the plants on each side of the planter which as you can see were not visible even right after planting. Make sure that the other plants on the same irrigation zone have similar watering needs. Observe the plants in the first year, especially summer, and adjust the flow as necessary.

Step 5. Maintenance - Minimal. Remove unattractive dead leaves and flower spikes. Some succulents will produce ‘pups’ around the main plant, especially after flowering. Remove the original plant and some of the pups so they don’t take over. Feel free to trim back any plants that are more vigorous than the rest to maintain the mix. If some of the more delicate plants don’t survive, replace them with new ones by making a space and cramming them in.

I did not touch these planters for the first three years, and this is how they looked for Open Days 2014 after about 20 minutes of clipping and pruning.

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virginiapaca · 10 years

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Succulent Planters for California Cottage Gardens

Succulent planters provide beauty, color and complexity in drought tolerant gardens. These planters have full exposure to the western sun, yet thrive after three years with minimal drip irrigation. They have a character not unlike an aquarium, and are constantly changing with the seasons.

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virginiapaca · 10 years

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Garden Conservancy Open Days in Pasadena 2014

Sunday, April 26th was sunny and int he 70's, the perfect weather for a garden tour in southern California. There was even a light sprinkle the day before that washed the dust off the trees, making the garden sparkle. Over 400 people enjoyed the garden tour, raising money for national Garden Conservancy projects. More photos available on my facebook page, virginia paca architecture and gardens.

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virginiapaca · 10 years

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MID-CENTURY MODERN LIVING

This classic ranch-style house was designed by architect Harold Zook in 1950 for the parents of the current owners. Virtually untouched, it is a snapshot from an era of shuffleboard courts and hidden cabinets for the latest 'hifi' equipment. The original kitchen, however, was small and closed-off from the rest of the house, making it difficult to entertain guests while cooking. The new design creates an open flow between the kitchen and family room, encouraging friends to have a glass of wine and mingle while drinks and meals are being prepared.

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virginiapaca · 10 years

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GATEWAYS

A beautiful gateway stirs our imagination. It serves a simple function, yet can become a mysterious portal sparking the viewer’s curiosity as to what lies beyond.

This gateway is one of two entrances to an enchanting, tropical pool garden, complete with waterfalls and a spa....it needed to be special.

It provides the required pool separation, while allowing the viewer glimpses of the lush garden on the other side. The gateways are tucked in among a landscape of semi-tropical plants enhancing pool garden vistas. The heavy beams of the trellis reflect the architecture of the house, while the smooth finish and stained fretwork add delicacy and a human scale. The iron handle turns with the crisp precision of perfectly crafted carpentry as the gate silently opens, allowing entry into a private Shangri La.

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virginiapaca · 10 years

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Home for the Holidays

No matter how small or cramped, family and guests always gravitate to the heart of the house, and this is especially true during the holidays.

This residential remodel was designed with a large, extended family in mind. The new kitchen flows into an informal dining area and family room, and on to outdoor dining and barbecue areas. The full-height refrigerator and freezer and the microwave are located at the ends of the kitchen where they are easy to access by children and guests without disturbing the cook. A spacious island allows everyone to participate in holiday cooking projects.

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virginiapaca · 11 years

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The Art of Life

The house and gardens of author, Elizabeth Forsythe Hailey are filled with generations of artifacts that reflect a rich family history. Her book, "A Woman of Independent Means', is a modern classic that follows the life of her exceptional grandmother through several generations. This statue, made by Betsy's mother, Janet Kendall Forsythe, greets new generations of friends and family at the front entry.

This is a home where the stories of new generations are nurtured and celebrated, and as Betsy often says,

"To be Continued....."

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virginiapaca · 11 years

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The Family Room

It's the place where life's precious moments are shared with loved ones. This cozy room with views to the outside patios and gardens flows into a spacious informal kitchen. It also has convenient access to an office area and cubby storage for school and sports activities. A wide bay window with skylights above bathe the room in sunlight. Decorative bookcases display family photos and mementos with lots of storage for games and projects.

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virginiapaca · 11 years

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Fall Harvest

My city vegetable garden produces hundreds of pounds of heirloom, NonGMO organic produce each year. I purposely grow enough so I can share fresh and healthy produce with a variety of people including my friends and family, and the local food pantry, Friends in Deed. I select the best quality vegetables for my gift baskets and have come to realize that no matter how much I give away there is always plenty left for me. My freezer is already packed with blocks of tomato sauce, tomatillo sauce and pesto, and garlic is drying in the garage along with onions, shallots and winter squash.

The vegetables in this photo are Cherokee Purple, Brandywine, Brazilian Beauty, Amish Paste, San Marzano, Green Zebra, Evergreen, yellow grape(volunteer), Carbon , Seaman and Candy Cane cherry tomatoes, Romanesco summer and Delicata winter squash, Japanese cucumber, Genovese basil, Jalapeno and Hatch Sandia chili peppers, purple and verde tomatillos, and Black Beauty, eggplant. The flowers are Russian Sage and a flower from the pumpkin vine.

I'm patiently waiting for Bantam corn, pumpkins and butternut squash to ripen, but this is certainly keeping me occupied in the meantime.

The Heirloom Expo in Santa Rosa is happening from September 9-11th. Highly recommended.

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virginiapaca · 11 years

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"The Doctor is in..........the Kitchen!"

Retirement has offered this once busy physician the opportunity to rediscover the joys of cooking and

leisurely dining with friends and family

Photography - Virginia Paca

Virginia Paca - Licensed Architect

Residential Architecture and Garden Design

www.virginiapaca.com

626 441 3340

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#architecture #landscape #virginiapaca gardendesign

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virginiapaca · 11 years

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" I will make a palace for for you and me of green days in forests and blue days at sea" Robert Louis Stevenson

Photography - Public Works Productions Virginia Paca - Licensed Architect Residential Architecture and Garden Design www.virginiapaca.com 626 441 3340

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#residential architecture #garden design #virginiapaca gardendesign

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