Under
The
Los
Angeles
Sun

Deer Corner

WHEN CRITTERS
COME TO DINE

Though deer have been known to eat golf balls when they are hungry, this garden was planted to repel them during their average year. None are full proof, but consider plants that have pungent odors, such as Salvias or Rosemary, textured or fuzzy leaves, such as Lamb's Ear, and wonderfully enough, many of the herbs.

A Garden for Friends

These days gardens can come equipped with a fully functioning kitchen. This garden made entertaining easy with a grill, refrigerator and sink, as well as comfortable chairs and even a swing. Around the perimeter we planted the fences with climbing Joseph Coat Roses and jasmine, and the beds with combinations of Mediterranean type plantings. One of my favorite combos was the pink carpet rose and the silver of the Lamb's Ear against the background of creeping fig—giving a modern garage an old-world look.

Secret Garden

There is nothing more delicious than a secret garden getaway. Given the heavy shade in this garden we worked mostly with varieties of greens and whites, added a Guatemalan fountain, and finally splashes of pastel annuals.

Layers of Color

Color comes not only through blossoms but also through varieties in foliage. In this garden we layered various shades of green with the rich bronzes of Loropetalum and splashes of Jack Sprat phormium. The icing on the cake came in the form of white roses, blue scabiosa, and deep pink trailing geraniums. added a Guatemalan fountain, and finally splashes of pastel annuals.

"Marianne's vision and transformation of our overgrown front garden has given us a very special space of light and color. Her intuition about what we might enjoy was so accurate and she gently steered us to consider design elements and plants that incorporated perfectly with our needs and lifestyle. Marianne's artistic attention to detail, communication, commitment and caring made our project a wonderful experience, and we can't wait to have her design the rest of our backyard!"

—J.A.
Sr. V.P.,
MGM Studios

"You should have seen her face when she came home today. She was so happy. She kept commenting on how beautiful all of the plants looked... The smile on her face was priceless."

—Client's Happy Spouse