Container Plant Obsession - How it Began

I guess it all started when we moved into this condo. We had always had a patio at our previous address, but never really did much with it. So when we moved here and were told that the City needed to replace some underground piping and that unfortunately our patio would have to be completely dug up in the process, it started us thinking that it was a great opportunity to really change the whole layout and make something amazing of our new yard.

We always thought it had potential, but at that time it didn’t look much. Even though it was small, approx. 12 ft. x 12 ft., it had two large trees at the back that overshadowed everything and a patch of soil that was held in place by some old railway ties. Someone had planted some roses here, but they didn’t ever get enough light to grow properly. The only thing worth saving was a large bougainvillea which covered the entire back fence. I think if I consider carefully, this is when it all began. I went to the local Barnes & Noble and looked at all the books on small gardens, container gardening, patios and balconies, tiny gardens, etc., and finally purchased a book which was to become the foundation for my obsession.



The book had some great pictures of tiny little areas full of flowers and shrubs, and then detailed descriptions and pictures of how to grow them and look after them during the four seasons. I will add at this point, that I live in Southern California by the beach, so I don’t really get your typical four seasons, but felt I could adapt this information. The only other book I had on plants in pots was one I had bought when I lived in England, and this book dealt mainly with how to look after houseplants in a centrally heated living room, again making suggestions for the four seasons. When I looked through it I could see strong similarities between a centrally heated living room, and a California desert climate, so this was book was my other inspiration and now I was ready to begin.