Laguna Garden Charm

I'm posting eye candy. Garden ideas from my yard, and neighbors. Come over it is summer. I'll make you homemade lemonade with mint sprigs. I have six varieties of heirloom tomatoes going wild. I even have okra and peppers in my front yard.

 

Mortgage rates are up a tick but everything in Orange County seems to be rosy.

Tourism is up 31% in Laguna Beach.

I am certain it might be more. I haven't seen traffic backed up this far in ten years. On my drive home from my W J Bradley Mortgage Capital LLs office in Newport Beach the traffic stops at Crystal Cove to enter north Laguna Beach. I'm not complaining. I can sit in my car and watch pilot whales pass me.

When I get home in an hour I look forward to the unusually cool weather in the mid sixty degrees in the evening. Last night my daughter and I went to Laguna Beach Art Walk and the streets were jammed and lively.

 

I love Dutch Doors-- this hand painted screen is amazing and wonderful

Picket fence with roses

Herbs, roses, old heritage annuals all from seed

Come sit and enjoy the music of hummingbirds

Hollyhocks

old fashioned door bell-better yet pick some weeds and the dogs will let me know you are here

outdoor art

California native begonias

Mortgage Job

 

 

 

Work in an office where no one has your back?

Processor has no time to review your file?

Company does nothing to promote YOUR brand?

 

 Have years of experience in the field?

Want to close more mortgage loans quickly?

Feel tangled in the mess you are in?

 

If you answered yes to these above, I would love to talk with you about how we can help you achieve your continuing goals and support your needs

We can make the transition smoothly. You’ll work in an office where your experience and knowledge is treated with respect. Feel passion for the loan business and have fun.

 

Caroline Gerardo

Branch Manager

Mortgage Banker

(949) 637-8190

NMLS #324982

23041 SW Birch Street. #330 Newport Beach California 92660

Upcycled Orange County Garden

galvanized trash can repurposed to succulent planter

Container from galvanized trash can planted with succulents. Fill the bottom with perlite and sand and poke holes  (if it doesn't already have some:) This will help the pot to drain.

 One pint of TRUST a dash of Caring ( I would say gallon of caring) understanding, shared secrets, mutual affection, respect, common interest, listening and fun. Sweet plaque for the patio

A fairy circle of pots?

fountain in the table

This fountain is an old cast iron shop table from a school that was throwing it away. The top is a door cut in unequal halves. (Cutting the one channel in a 1/3 proportion makes this fun. Old reused galvanized rain gutters for the water spout. A new pump, gravel and a variety of ferns

staghorn fern

At the end of this summer I need to divide some of my stag horns. I'm looking for new ways to use recycled barn wood or cast iron gate material to hang them. Any ideas? Recycled, upcycled materials that can hold weight?

wooden farm crate as planter

dahlias in my garden

Dahlia - love this color but - but - I planted white ones. Another summer surprise in my garden.

Bird houses in a neighbor's patio.

One of many  of my hardy begonias. Three years ago the tuberous fancy ones got a blight. I couldn't find good replacements at Plant Depot, or Green Thumb or Laguna Nursery. Instead of replanting the ones that disappeared I tried some new varieties I have a couple that are five feet tall. The best surprise is a few that did not bloom or shoot waxy leaves in the past three years somehow are back. Surprise they are smiling in my garden. Come on over I'll serve you tea and send you home with organic seeds.

Caroline Gerardo

Garden Gates

garden gate and trellis

This Arching Cottage gate with Trumpet Vines is "California Eclectic" - Succulents, geranium and front yard swing set in Newport Beach 

arching gate

Elegant brick walkway with rose arbor arching over the entry way in this Laguna Beach cottage.

simple white garden gate

This simple PVC gate is flanked by privet hedges. It needs some color or more white flowers in pots.

california modern or bungalow gate

Craftsman and California modern with Bower vine

beach cottage gate

This casual unpainted teak gate is fun and funky. It suits the tiny friendly clapboard cottage

brick posts for gate

The curved brick walk way add charm to this entry. There is no gate but a wooden triangle will hold the wisteria when it droops purple cascades of flowers next spring.

boho funky trellis and chain link gate

Even the most casual of gates can be charming. This is an old style chain link fence with a trellis holding stephanotis - the white flowers are intoxicating. They grow very slowly and only in part shade. This vine may be more than ten years old.

white picket fence gate

Picket fence gate- this is also pvc ( not my material of choice but popular because they advertise in California the advantage of never having to paint or worry about termites. The plastic does age, oxidize and get chalky looking in our moist weather of Orange County Coastal California

pretty wooden gate

Wooden craftsman somewhat Oriental feeling without any vines.