This Tropical California Garden Is a Playground of Discovery
In an art collector’s garden, objects are as pivotal as the plantings. So proved in this wild wonderland carved into a Los Feliz hillside, where a curved faux-bois bench (shown above) became the project’s starting point. “The owners were all in on incorporating playful, one-of-a-kind pieces,” says landscape designer Stephen Block, who reimagined the grounds of this Los Angeles–area property with senior designer Kimberlee Keswick.
Their local studio, Inner Gardens, is full of rare outdoor furnishings and art, much of it antique and vintage fromEurope, including that coveted bench. “They saw it as one of the centerpieces and inspirations, an invitation to sit and hang out,” says Block, who added a firepit and two amoeba-like Willy Guhl chairs, “and the rest of the garden evolved from there.”
A Florida native, Block relished incorporating more unexpected, tropical flora—exotic palms, dramatic Australian tree ferns, big leafy Evansii—than he usually works with in Southern California gardens, but then again, there’s nothing “typical” about this whimsical oasis. “It’s all the stuff I particularly love,” he says. Starting with a canopy of 15-foot Australian tree ferns, they then layered in other sizes and species, including Kentia palms.
“It’s really a sunken garden, with the trees rising like art. They allowed us to play with scale,” Keswick says. To amp up the verdure around the existing swimming pool, they replanted it with philodendrons, monstera, schefflera, African jasmine, and areca and other palms, “to really tuck you in so you’re not visible from the house,” she adds.
In another sitting area, a huge folk art flower and a big mushroom from Belgium give the nook an Alice-in-Wonderland feel. “When that came in we knew it was a home run,” says Block of the mushroom. “These clients have a great sense of humor.”
Wisteria and stephanotis add flowering fragrance, while wild orchids and staghorn ferns nestled in trees enhance the jungly wildness. “Sometimes a concept begins with plants, but here the objects really informed the design,” says Block. “We incorporated oddball pieces and this garden responded with great beauty.”
Pool
A California home’s existing pool area was enlarged, edited, and replanted with Evansii and Kentia palms.
Firepit Nook
Australian tree ferns drape a hidden firepit nook.
Dining Area
An intimate dining area is shaded by Kentia palms.
Angel’s-Trumpet
The property’s 1940s stair rails, herecradled by angel’s trumpet and glossy leopard plant, inspired other faux-bois elements.
Fountain
A circa 1820s Italian lion’s head fountain and vintage French limestone trough, embraced by climbing fig.
Toadstool
A giant Belgian toadstool adds fungi whim.
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Featured in the May/June 2024 issue of VERANDA.
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