Judy's Gardens & Design - Fine Landscape Design & Care

Ahhhh… Autumn!

Love this Boston Ivy turning Fall Color

Meanwhile, a magical moment in this garden. We are doing so much work to improve health in this Los Altos Hills Garden. Later some design work. 💚🧡💚

Apple Tree Blossom with Lichen... as seen recently in Mendocino, CA
I've always loved the beauty and texture of Lichen on trees...and here is a wonderful fact:
"since lichens are often found growing on the bark of trees that are in poor health, it is often assumed that they are to blame. However, the relationship between the lichens and the tree is largely benign, and the decline of the tree is the result of some other stressor. Even though a lichen can absorb some mineral nutrients from the surface it is growing on, it is primarily self-sufficient." The University of New Hampshire

Artificial turf potentially linked to cancer deaths of six Phillies ball players – report — Guardian US The lawn replacement – largely fallen out of favor in professional sports these days – contains large amounts of toxic chemicals

I am not surprised in any way to see this article, but I feel important to post this.

I have never suggested artificial turf to my clients and always recommend against it … it is not good for the environment, and it follows that it is not good for us.

Artificial turf potentially linked to cancer deaths of six Phillies ball players – report — Guardian US The lawn replacement – largely fallen out of favor in professional sports these days – contains large amounts of toxic chemicals

Friendly reminder to “leave the leaves”…

This monarch butterfly was spotted while someone was cleaning up dead iris leaves in her yard near some milkweed plants.

The butterfly had recently eclosed (came out of it’s chrysalis) and will pump the fluid from its engorged abdomen into its wings and then let its wings dry before it is able to fly.

See photo comments for the same butterfly when it had pumped all the fluid into its wings and was ready to fly.

The old iris leaves can wait until springtime to be removed. Many insects overwinter in the leaves. Some kinds of butterfly caterpillars look like leaves for camouflage.

Daphne odora ‘marginata’

I would look forward to the day that cameras allow us to smell … well, actually, let me think about that one …

heavenly scents like this one anyway 💗

I wish you could smell it. At this time of year, a few of these can scent an entire garden….
(Otherwise it is a gorgeous variegated foundational plant)

Love incorporating beautiful scents into garden designs. It gives them even more depth and whimsy… an added layer of delight for the senses. 🌸

Daphne’s odora ‘marginata’

💛 bee in pollen.
Invite pollinators into your garden :)

When your Japanese Maples lose their beautiful Fall color, it’s time to call us for Winter pruning… using Aesthetic Pruning techniques we train your Maples to reach their ultimate states of beauty... Japanese maples come in many shapes and sizes. Do you have some ? P.S. We do this for all types of trees.

Lush, textural, shades of green. A serene pathway in a dry shade garden. We love to bring your dreams to life. Atherton, Ca

Designing with seasonal interest in mind, your garden could have this kind of color and texture in the Fall… even in the SF Bay Area. Atherton, Ca.

Lush container garden brightens up a bare wall in Palo Alto, Ca.

Before (left)
and After (right)
example of what we can do using
Aesthetic Pruning techniques.
We made the chaotic, no direction bushy clump, into this darling delicate tree.

See more explanation below:

Judy's Gardens & Design - Fine Landscape Design & Care updated their business hours.

Custom Designed Stone Furniture and seating nook in a corner of this newly designed Palo Alto, CA front garden.

Low water, drought tolerant yet lush gardens!

Here, container gardens adding color, texture and interest to an otherwise empty wall, and adding beauty to an entire space!

Palo Alto, CA

Japanese style mixed Edible and ornamental garden.

Design, Install and Maintain.
Gardens to match your style.

San Jose, CA

Oakleaf Hydrangea. One of my very favorite plants to use in my designs. It has seasonal interest almost all year, with gorgeous fall color that can hang on sometimes til late in the season... then a deciduous period in the winter.

A mostly shady garden...
Rich and varying textures, layering with different heights, shades of green. Very soothing and refreshing in the hot summer,. During other seasons, amazing pops of color...

Atherton, CA

Besides amazing form, texture and color, succulents are also wonderful for firescaping your home.

We have a wonderful selection of succulents available to us here in the Bay Area, but if you are ever travelling towards Santa Barbara, this nursery sounds like it has wonderful display gardens, and lots of layering of mature plants and trees.

Visit Seaside Gardens Near Santa Barbara Santa Barbara's mild, maritime climate has long made it a garden haven with numerous nurseries, and plants from the world over. Did you know there's a 3-1/2-...

For some types of garden spaces and people, the perfect garden is right on the edge of being chaotic or wild... controlled messes can add lots of texture, interest, whimsy and delight!