Shirley Bovshow "EdenMaker"'s Profile

Display Name: Shirley Bovshow "EdenMaker"
Personal URL: http://EdenMakersBlog.com
Member Since: 9/2/11

Latest Comments...

For those of you interested in growing your own "Cocktail Garden" herbs, here's a short and fun video to get you started- even includes a cocktail recipe!

http://youtu.be/TCUnYdqwj3U

Shirley Bovshow


Recipe Roundup: 20 Summer Cocktails with Fresh Herbs
Straight Up Cocktails and Spirits
9/18/12 1:07 AM

@TheHillsAreAlive- You are right! The right paint color can sway the style from Country to Modern! Thnks.
Shirley Bovshow


Before & After: Shirley's Country Garden The Gardenist
3/1/12 5:36 PM

Hi Laloo- Thanks for reading the post and for saying that the garden plants look "Lush!" I agree and the good news is that they are all drought tolerant, Mediterranean plants that need little water.

Please take a look at the plant list on the blog post!
Shirley Bovshow


Before & After: Shirley's Country Garden The Gardenist
2/29/12 1:45 PM

Hi All,
This yard makeover was actually authorized by the owner of the rental home because she was tired of paying for water utilities for a lawn that no one took care of!

My design partner and I proposed the lawn removal and replaced with interesting plants that have year round interest.

We seemed to have started a trend on the block as a few other homes adopted the "no lawn" design style. In this area of Los Angeles, the sun is relentless and the water restricted by the utilities department to watering 2x per week!

The yard is in compliance and the home is a "renter's dream, no vacancy!

Shirley Bovshow


Before & After: A Xeriscaped Front Yard
Eden Makers Blog
9/3/11 8:47 PM

Hi Allison,
Thanks for sharing my landscape project with your readers.

It looks like the makeover has mixed reactions and I appreciate them both, especially for the issues that they bring up.

@JBerickson & Queen of the Fall- Your observations about the tree placement:

The Tolleson's Weeping Juniper (penudulous tree) is a very slow growing tree and grows deep roots (as most Junipers do) that does not pose a problem by it's proximity to the house foundation. In many landscape applications, it can be used as a foundation plant depending on the design intention and can be planted in large containers! It behaves like a large shrub, rather than a tree.

What is fantastic about these trees is that they have a dramatic, twisting trunk that is meant to be revealed by stem pruning.

This tree is being used as a "living sculpture" and the bottom 6-8 foot branches will be "laced" and pruned when the tree grows taller. As the trees grow, the two trees higher branches will then be "trained" to cascade over the entrance for a weeping arbor effect. This is why we planted them in close proximity to the steps.

The cypresses are "Monshel" a dwarf cypress that grow 3 feet wide and about 10 feet tall.

The house bakes in the sun all day with the southern exposure so a little sun filtering is called for.

Due to the very small yard, all of the plants were selected for their compact growth, year-round interest and low water needs.

FYI- I don't like the front door screen, but the homeowner wanted to keep it. You can't tell by the photo, but the door is the same color as the shutters!

Allison, thanks again for sharing. Let me know if you have a special garden story in mind, I have hundreds of projects that fall under the green-sustainable category.

Shirley Bovshow "EdenMaker"


Before & After: A Xeriscaped Front Yard
Eden Makers Blog
9/2/11 4:55 PM