Santa Monica poolside garden plays up textures, color and fun
Whitney Greens garden in Santa Monica, designed by Stephen Gabor of Gabor + Allen Inc., is made up of a series of colorful and playful vignettes that artfully mix low-water cactuses and succulents with fruit trees, roses and other blooming plants. Lemons drip over the backyard swimming pool, which reflects the patios and the outdoor showers blue tile. Under the arch is a shaded living room. The staircase to the terrace is dotted with potted plants. (Annie Wells / Los Angeles Times)
Flowering perennials and fruit trees surround the solar-heated pool. Three varieties of citrus grow, including the lesser-known Page and Murcott tangerines plus a full-sized Eureka lemon tree. Flanking the rear cottage on the left, designer Gabor has espaliered Fuji and Anna apple trees interspersed with roses and succulents. He says, I think its crucial in the composition of the garden to have fruits mixed together. Let them be elements of surprise and speckle the fruits and roses throughout the garden. (Annie Wells / Los Angeles Times)
The low ceramic bowl perched on the edge of the swimming pool is filled with so-called hen and chicken Echeveria succulents. (Annie Wells / Los Angeles Times)
Landscape designer Stephen Gabor and homeowner Whitney Green relax in the outdoor patio. Between them, a ceramic pot from Vietnam features the tall foliage Spear Lily surrounded by yellow flowering Aeonium Kiwi. Such bold foliage adds texture to the garden. Furniture pieces are antique finds from flea markets. (Annie Wells / Los Angeles Times)
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The shady side-yard garden is buzzing with hummingbird favorites such as the graceful red and yellow blossoms of Abutilon megapotamicum Little Imp. In the background are two of Greens flea market finds hand-carved wooden posts that are topped with posts of store-bought lumber. (Annie Wells / Los Angeles Times)
The kitchen opens into the garden and catches the first light of day. The small pots of pink rose blossoms mixed with the vibrant yellow flowers of kangaroo paw and Coulter bush accentuate the powerful textures of the dramatic kentia palms. (Annie Wells / Los Angeles Times)
Green retires ailing plants to her side yard plant hospital, where they get a chance to recuperate. The rejuvenated plants are then used to create new succulent combinations that she pots and places into the garden to be enjoyed a second and third time around. (Annie Wells / Los Angeles Times)
In every part of the garden, designer Gabor has carefully placed intriguing vignettes. Eclectic pots enhance the diverse family of silver-gray cactus and succulents. Green says: Succulents re-create themselves. You take them out and put them into new pots. Succulents are so forgiving. You take them out and freshen them up when they get leggy. (Annie Wells / Los Angeles Times)
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The irregular silhouettes of the large Euphorbia trigona and its smaller companion Euphorbia echinus mirror the squiggles of the handrail. The sculptural shapes of the cactus add structure to this colorful playful garden. (Annie Wells / Los Angeles Times)
