When homeowners, Morgan and Andrew approached me to redesign their property they had already begun lovingly restoring this mid century cabin nestled up high in Jane Village, Altadena - I immediately connected with their vision. We spoke of the nearby trails the local Chaparral and our desire to make the new garden feel like it had always been there Nestor and Poncho hand built river rock walls and entrance pilasters. Chris from Wulf Wood custom designed more than125 ft of Thermory wood fencing that intricately wrapped around the limbs an age-old avocado tree. We brought in close to 50 granite boulders to set close to the house with the idea of mimicking the trapper cabins of Millard Canyon just a mile north. My chosen planting palette included Manzanitas, Channel Island poppies, Buckwheats, Mountain Mahogany and Olives.
On the morning of January 7th 2025, Morgan sent a text that an Arbutus Unedo had blown over in the winds. Nestor, who happened to be close by, promptly drove up and staked it with two lodge poles. By 7:00 AM the next morning all was gone as the property was swallowed up by the Eaton fire that burned almost all of Altadena.
It’s hard to describe the grief of losing a garden after spending almost a year designing planning building and planting. The connection to the land and to this wonderful couple who lost more than just a home, also years of planning and creating and dreaming.
