Ann Nichol’s home and garden in Oakland, CA, is impossible to miss. Fortunately, there is ample street parking on her block to pull over and gawk and be inspired by the colorful waves of plants on her property.
When Ann and her husband moved into their home in 1983, the property was filled with agapanthus, a few camellia bushes and “tons and tons of crabgrass,” she says. After two years of clearing and amending the tired soil, Ann was ready to make the garden her own. The only plant that survived the purge: a stately Canary date palm that has since quadrupled in height. “I hemmed and hawed over it for quite a while, as I wasn’t keen on having a tropical garden. However, having decided to let it stay, I felt obliged to keep it company with other tropical plants.” Ann eventually brought in landscape architect Bob Clark, who suggested she divide the garden into different levels and rooms. Unfortunately, Bob left the Bay Area before he was able to add any plants. No worries, Ann was more than up for the challenge and, in the beginning, did the planting herself.
Ann’s entry into gardening started when she was in her early thirties and living in a different house. Her neighbor across the street was a gardener and had a tiny plot filled with plants. Ann spent time with her friend in her garden and according to Ann, this turned into “a pastime, which became an addiction.” Still pruning, curating, and appreciating, Ann, at 81 years old, knows a thing or two about the power of gardening.
Here are her lessons learned from decades of working the soil.
Photography by Kier Holmes.
It’s about the journey, not the destination.
Above: Neighbors and people passing by get a free and inspiring view of her lush and well-loved oasis.
What gardener doesn’t get impatient and want immediate gratification from time to time, but deep down we know that we need to slow down, pause, and not rush ourselves so terribly. Ann knows this mantra well as some of her chosen plants don’t bloom overnight or fill in the nooks and crannies with a blink. “Being patient positively affects both plants and well-being,” she shares. “Once you and your plants get to know each other, the plants will tell you what they need if you listen.” Do they need more water or a shadier spot, perhaps?
Trust your gut.
Above: Even the steps leading to Ann’s front door are decorated with specimen potted plants, creating another plant-filled experience.
Not trained as a garden designer, Ann eschews planning out her garden with pencil and paper. Instead, her gardening style is full of spontaneity and intuition. Ann evaluates a space and realizes that maybe this area needs some height and so she finds a plant to solve the issue. She does this one plant at a time. Of course, she researches the plant before purchasing it to see what it needs and whether it will be happy in its intended spot.
Make gardening a daily habit.
Above: Ann tells me that the plant most visitors comment on is the Aloe polyphylla (spiral aloe) in the front garden. The celebrity aloe is even featured on the Monrovia website.
Gardening will keep you young in body and spirit. Beyond all the bending, digging, and lifting, gardening is a great workout for the mind. “Getting in the dirt provides good exercise and a beautiful connection to nature. It offers endless opportunities, both physically and mentally, to create a thing of beauty and then have the pleasure of enjoying being there,” she says. Luckily Ann has a weekly gardener who helps her with the strenuous chores and also offers plant suggestions. Ann adds, “Gardening for me is a must-do every day.”
Visit other gardens for inspiration.
Above: A favorite and relaxing element for Ann is the water feature in the side garden with its two ponds and connecting zigzag rill.
Ann enjoys visiting other gardens, both public and private. “They are always inspiring and provide new ideas to incorporate in my own garden.” Plus she shops frequently at local East Bay Nurseries such as Westbrae, Flowerland, Berkeley Hort and Ace Nursery on Grand Avenue, which according to her, “is dangerously close to home, making it very convenient to overspend my plant budget.”
Keep learning from others.
Above: Ann shares, “I always feel that asking what is my favorite plant is like asking which is your favorite child!” Of course she likes them all but she really enjoys the many varieties of brightly colored bromeliads that glow like stained glass in the light.
Ann also relies on and truly appreciates the help and guidance of fellow and longtime gardening friends such as Kiamara Ludwig (a highly respected gardener and grower of specialized plants) and David Neumaier (a skilled maintenance gardener and designer). “They are both incredibly knowledgeable horticulturists and can answer every garden question I’ve ever had. It is also a real pleasure to share ideas with them on how to beautify the garden,” says Ann. Kiamara adds: “I started working with Ann closing in on 25 years. I view what I do with her as collaborative gardening. We will stand and throw ideas into the air as we stare at a space that we both feel needs improving. We bounce ideas back and forth. When they meld, there is an amazing sense of joy at the synergy of creating art together.”
Above: When Ann bought the house, the palm was only 6 feet tall. Now it towers, decorated with tilandsias and bright bromeliads for a lush vertical garden.
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