Catherine’s San Diego Garden in Summer

Hi GPODers!

We spent the last couple days in PA, but today we’re heading out west to check out Catherine Dickerson’s flower-filled SoCal garden.

After moving every 2 years my entire life, we finally settled in San Diego 22 years ago. We live in a gardener’s dream climate, and have been making the most of it.

It’s such a delight to see everyone’s garden photos, and I’ve been wanting to share mine again. Here is our backyard in summer, formerly a basketball court and lawn with 5′ weeds.

My husband is known as “the fuchsia man” by one of the grand dames of gardening here in San Diego. He has 30 hanging baskets, more in pots and the ground, that he tends daily, repotting the hanging baskets every November.

The oldest is about 25 years old, several are in their early 20s. He designed the watering system so they get a little spray as often as the weather requires.

More fuchsia hanging from a pine tree, complemented by impatiens. The vine along the top of the fence is a trumpet vine (Campsis radicans, Zones 4–9) that grows vigorously but never flowers. Not enough sun.

My parents made this sun together in 1971. It was fun seeing them have such a good time together! My husband repaired it and my sister and I repainted it last summer. Good for another 50 years! The edge of our rose garden, ringed by volunteer lobelia, is on the right. The bright pink flower in the front left is an in-ground fuchsia that gets about 8′ tall. I grew it from a single sprig. Plants are amazing!

Another in-ground fuchsia. We planted one small plant, and it has spread with enthusiasm!

These tall cineraria (Senecio stellata ‘Giovanna’s Select’, Zones 9–10) from northern California are special treasures. They reseed every year, expanding their beauty. The orange clivia along the fence are transplants from overgrowth in the front.

We bought this jacaranda tree (Jacaranda mimosifolia, Zones 9–11) in San Diego when we lived in the LA area, and kept it in a pot. When my husband got transferred to San Diego 22 years ago, we brought it with us. Not the ideal tree over a pond, but we enjoy it (the tree was there first)!

Bill put the pond and two streams in about 16 years ago. It’s a treat to watch assorted birds drinking and splashing in the waterfall. The strappy leaves on the right are dark blue agapanthus that bloom late in the summer. The little blue birdhouse was made by a 5-year-old friend, and has been a happy home.

Here is our back slope, with the dark blue agapanthus in bloom. It’s my favorite! A little hydrangea is in the back left, a broken pot of impatiens is tucked into the wall in the front, and a lot of succulents are in the front right.

The polka dot plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya, Zones 10–11 or as an annual), bergenia and ajuga were absolutely smashed to smithereens last October when we had the pine tree trimmed. Almost obliterated. I feared they were goners. Now when I am discouraged, or a bit down, just say “Be like a plant!”

It’s a joy to share my garden with people who are as passionate about gardening as I am! Happy growing, everyone!

Thanks so much for sharing your beautiful garden with us, Catherine! With a garden us lush and flower-filled as this one, I’m sure it was worth the wait.

Have a garden you’d like to share?

Have photos to share? We’d love to see your garden, a particular collection of plants you love, or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit!

To submit, send 5-10 photos to [email protected] along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the photos. We’d love to hear where you are located, how long you’ve been gardening, successes you are proud of, failures you learned from, hopes for the future, favorite plants, or funny stories from your garden.

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