Drake Design Associates
Leah Drake
51 University Avenue, Suite i
, Los Gatos
, California
, 95030
Additional Information
Expertise:
Contemporary Cottage Desert / Mediterranean / Water-efficient Garden Edible for humans or wildlife Estate - 5 acres or larger Streetscapes / Medians Sustainable / Permaculture / Native Urban / Small Space / Containers Water Garden / Pond / Coastal Woodland / Rustic / Natural
Services:
Design
Specialty:
Residential and Commercial
Membership Affiliation:
ASLA
Favorite Plant:
Beschorneria septentrionalis
Why It's My Favorite:
Favorite plant for NOW!!! There are so many amazing plants at Monrovia, it is impossible to have a single favorite for more than 5 seconds. The reason I love Beschorneria is that it accidentally was over-ordered for a client and I took it home with me to my garden that sits in very harsh conditions in the Santa Cruz mountains: lots of shade and very wet conditions, and even snow sometimes, in the winter, harsh strong sun for 6 hours in the summers, very little summer water, and terrible, nutrient poor soil! After several years, it is one of the happiest plants in the garden- and it makes a beautiful statement with purple foliaged Cotinus and blue Penstemon "Margarita BOP'. It even out- performs the native Salvias indigenous to the area! It's strappy leaves remind me of a small scale Furcrea, or an Astelia 'Silver Spear', which I dare not try in my climate and coniditions. I have put another one in a large pot, with rich potting soil, along with some Aeoniums, and it is looking great as well. It has performed well in my clients' gardens in the Bay Area also. Can't wait to see it flower!