Jeanette Wolff has always loved to play in the dirt. At her previous home in Ohio, she had 2 acres on which to do so. So imagine her disappointment when she discovered the yard of her new Cambria home offered a mere 3 feet.

That was in 1986. After more than five years of making do with a few trellised vines, Jeanette and husband Peter had the opportunity to purchase two adjoining 25-foot lots. Suddenly, Jeanette had a garden again.

The couple immediately went to work. “They were just vacant, sloping lots with pine trees and weeds,” she said. “We put in all of the bones of the garden first.”

Their first task was creating some sense of enclosure to the space. On one end, they planted coffeeberry shrubs that would become a lush hedge. On the other, they installed a retaining wall of local boulders. “It’s a striking backdrop for the yard,” said Jeanette.

The rest of the garden layout evolved naturally. “We let the lay of the land determine the plan. We did everything by feel,” she said. They put down railroad ties to create a winding path and steps to help navigate sloped areas. They used cottage blocks and stones to build retaining walls. At the base of the slope, the Wolffs had an area graded for a flagstone patio. All of it was accomplished without removing any of the existing trees.

For the most part, the Wolffs did not enlist the help of professionals. Pete, who ran a mediation firm before retirement, put his carpentry skills to use by building a potting shed and fence for the yard. Jeanette, an artist, designed most of the space.

Of course, Jeanette couldn’t wait to get her hands in the soil. It wasn’t long before she began putting in plants that would do well in their cool, coast climate such as ferns, cala lilies, iris, agapanthus, hydrangea, succulents and roses. The feel is informal and natural.

Over the years, Jeanette has added and swapped out plants, yet the garden has the mature look that most gardeners covet. A native redwood they planted in 1989 as an 8-inch seedling now stands at more than 20 feet. Vines planted years ago ramble up every fencepost and trellis in the yard including morning glory, wisteria and clematis.

As a seasoned gardener, Jeanette knows that a garden is always in a state of flux. A tree dies and suddenly a shady spot is laid open to full sun. Or a colderthan- usual winter claims the life of more

tender varieties. Her philosophy is to make the best of each circumstance. For instance, when two large, diseased pine trees needed to be removed, she had the arborists leave the stumps extra high. On them, she and Peter built miniature decorative houses, one of which evolved into a whimsical structure they call their “gnome home.”

Their garden has evolved in other ways. A piece of stained glass that didn’t fit in their home’s interior went outside and became a focal point in their sitting area. Just last year, they installed a charming pond and waterfall.

Fifteen years after starting with a nearly-bare lot, the Wolff’s garden flourishes, and they use it every day “for recreation, meditation and exercise,” according to Jeanette. There will always be more work to be done, but that suits the couple just fine. “My garden will never be finished,” said Jeanette. “It’s always in progress, just like I am.”

source : www.sanluisobispo.com