Mill Valley, California--the home of mountain biking and hot tubs. This is where a lot of active Californians come out and enjoy Mount Tamalpais. Host Rebecca Kolls found a local artist named Gloria Kaiser, who specializes in layering paint on walls, furniture and canvas, and who has taken that technique out into her garden. She tried to plant something that creates a border along the top of the rocks to soften them and create structure in her garden.
It's evident that one of Gloria's main obstacles was working with a steep incline. Her solution: build terraces and add lots of soil and nutrients. One thing that makes this garden so nice is that it doesn't end in the yard. She brings the color and the flowers right up on the terrace.
Gloria used Parahebe, a subtle groundcover, to create borders around her otherwise free-flowing flower beds. It thrives in sun and part shade and is hardy in just about any soil. For this reason it does very well in a rock garden. Ajuga is a great addition to any garden. It thrives in shady areas and moist soils. Although it grows quickly, it is easy to contain.
Gloria's perennials are a little small now. That's typical for perennials. The first year, perennials sleep; the second year, they creep; and the third, they leap. Perennials take more time and patience in the beginning, but in three short years, there will be year-round beauty. That ultimately takes less work than annuals. Gloria's patience with perennials will eventually pay off.
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