The Daily Dig

The Garden Geek Garden Tours begin with a visit to the garden of a self confessed Serialplantfetishist :—,)*
I met Mark last month at the 11th annual Garden Fair at the San Francisco Strybing Arboretum and since then we have had some great plant discussions, and recently he invited me over to chat and tour his garden.
Mark’s garden is what I like to call a man’s garden – a rambling jungle habitat complete with watering hole and with 3/10th's of acre there is plenty of room for an array of plants and features. There’s an old aviary, which is now home to begonias and other shade dwellers, and a circular lawn surrounded by an large selection of curious plants, I get the sense that something is always in bloom here.

Just above the lawn is a wooden deck that over looks a bend in Berkeley's Strawberry Creek and the sound of the water mixed with Louie Armstrong playing in the background transports me to another time.
Connecting paths traverse the space provoking exploration, the journey leads me to a small pond, with comfortable garden chairs placed on either side to enjoy the reflection of the sky in the water’s surface. Black caned bamboo explodes from one side of the pond, and an amazing specimen of Aeonium a. 'Zwartkop' on the other. A refreshing place to escape. (click the main image to see the photo tour)

At the end of my visit I asked him a few questions about his garden. 

Where do you garden?
In Berkeley, Ca.

How long have you gardened here?
Almost 20 years. 

Describe your gardening style?
For me style is secondary, just following my own creative impulses is what I wanted to do. Now my garden is an extensive collection of plants that are natural looking, drought tolerant, and create a space that I find interesting to move through and be in.

What's your favorite garden element?
Water features and paths that create a sense of exploration. 
 

What's your biggest gardening challenge?
Black berry, ivy and escaped bamboo. 

What's your favorite part of  your garden?
The pond has an amphitheater feel to it, and it is a wonderful place to sit and reflect.

Give us a cleaning and organizing tip.
Brooming pathways  makes me and my garden feel spiffy!  Organizing still needs a little work, just lost another pair of shears. 
 

What's your proudest DIY?
Installing my pond and then fixing what I could have done differently. 

 
What’s your biggest indulgence?
Telanthophora grandifolia from San Francisco Botanical Garden plant sale. 

Can you give us any gardening advice?
Don't let the garden be a place to follow rules, play, experiment and develop your own aesthetic. 
 

What’s your favorite gardening resource?
San Francisco Botanical Garden & Strybing Arboretum. 
 

Who or what inspires you?
The Four Seasons Garden in England, Taking walks, & the Harlan Hand Garden 
 

What is in your CD player right now?
Louis Armstrong. 

Mark is a member of The Garden Geek and you can find him as serialplantfetishist. 

Bay Area Gardeners, interested in sharing your garden with The Garden Geek? Contact us at tours@thegardengeek.com