Designer Mat McGrath's garden at age 3½: back yard

This is part 2 of my post about visiting landscape designer Mat McGrath’s personal garden in Rodeo, California in May 2025. For part 1 (front yard), click here.

The slope you saw in the front continues in the back:


The terracing on the slope inside the fence was done by the previous homeowner. There are three levels, offering a lot of real estate for planting.


Take a look at these photos from October 2024...

October 2024

October 2024

....and compare them with this:

May 2025

The succulent tapestry is gone, replaced with Mat's collection of found metal objects. Mat says he was ready for a change and wanted to simplify the look of this area.


All of these metal objects were originally made for specific practical purposes, now they're appreciated as industrial art


The object in the center is barbed wire wrapped around a wooden post; this is done when removing an old barbed wire fence

The orange object is a ladder jack, according to Google “a bracket device that attaches to a ladder to create a safe working platform or scaffolding. It's used in various tasks like painting, siding, or roofing where a stable work surface is needed.”


The planter on top of the lower retaining wall is densely planted with succulents, shrubs, and some annuals (like love-in-a-mist, Nigella damascena)

Found objects, too

I love the reflection of the house in this glass bottle

Billbergia

Wider view

Aloe karasbergensis

The upper part of the garden, above the wooden steps, is noticeably more lush and tropical:


×Vriecantarea 'Julietta'

Side note: I always thought ×Vriecantarea 'Julietta' was a cultivar of Alcantarea imperialis, but it ain't so. According to the fantastic San Marcos Growers web site, this is “a complex hybrid that was result of the selection of self-pollinated seedlings of × Vriecantarea 'Volcano's Mist', itself the result of crossing between Alcantarea imperialis and Vriesea 'Poelmanii', which itself is actually a complex hybrid that was the result of crossing Vriesea 'Van Geertii' (V. incurvata × V. duvaliana) and Vriesea 'Gloriosa' (V. barilletii × V. incurvata). The final cross that created this plant was done by David Fell in 2009 with this resulting selection made in 2010. It was noted that 'Julietta' had more intensely colored leaves that were thicker with a waxier cuticle than the parent 'Volcano Mist'. This plant was introduced by Hawaiian Sunshine Nursery in Waimanalo, HI. A US Plant Patent was issued on this plant in 2015 and the plant was voted Tropical Plant Exhibition's Favorite New Foliage Plant for 2013.”

I'm sure this is way more than any of you wanted to know, but maybe this will be on a pop quiz one day.

×Vriecantarea 'Julietta'

Phylica pubescens, a floofy shrub from South Africa and one of my heartbreak plants. I've tried growing it several times, with no luck. It's so striking, I'm tempted to try again. Maybe I should give it more water than before.


The deck on top of the upper retaining wall is unique. For more photos, check out my post from October 2024.




The planting strips above the deck contain the usual suspects...

...but also several varieties of passionfruit vine

Intricate passionfruit flower

Upper deck, looking south

Plantings along the north side of the property:

Such a variety of plants – everything from prickly pears to bougainvilleas

Although technically the bougainvillea is the neighbor's

Plectranthus neochilus 'Mike's Fuzzy Wuzzy'

Opuntia robusta (likely) with huge pads and a ton of fruit

Curved metal pipes from what used to be a playground structure

Surprise, surprise: more aeoniums!

This orange object used to be a fountain

Another Aloidendron 'Hercules' on the right, a golden catalpa (Catalpa bignonioides 'Aurea') on the left

Looking northeast

More of that reddish-black aeonium with yellow centers

Not a combination you see every day: agave and pelargonium

Alstroemeria ‘Indian Summer’ in full bloom. Mat says it blooms from spring to fall and doesn’t spread aggressively like other types of alstroemerias.

Giant taro (Alocasia macrorrhizos), with Plectranthus ecklonii on the left

A couple of photos from the patio:

Variety of potted succulents

Rain chain and a peek at the tropical foliage against the east side of the house

Epiphyte wall, bromeliads, and a couple of palm trees

And finally the master himself:

Mat next to an Ensete 'Maurelii'

In addition to their home garden, Mat and his Thailand-born wife Mali are creating a botanical garden in northern Thailand, primarily focusing on tropical plants and palms. Maybe one day I'll get a chance to see it in person. I know that Thailand is a bit outside my usual territory, but never say never.


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Comments

  1. I still love the terrace. Some big changes in just a few months replacing the succulent tapestry. Will be interesting to see what they do next. Aloe karasbergensis. Aloe karasbergensis. Aloe karasbergensis. Aloe karasbergensis. Aloe karasbergensis. So good I had to repeat it. How is that plant even real?

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  2. Oh, to have a mass of Phylica like that! I love terraced spaces. Having a terraced space (and a greenhouse) is an unfulfilled dream of mine.

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  3. Beautiful, I'm glad you revisit this yearly - it's exciting to see the changes. The Phylica! I'm in love with the terracing, the way you can walk through and get up close to everything. Please plan your trip to Thailand soon, so we can see their tropical garden :).

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  4. I do like the change to a sculpture garden that replaces the succulent tapestry, a little "breathing" room, plus he can play around with his found objects. That incredible dark aeonium with the green-yellow eye, at least from the photos, almost looks like it has a matte finish, really unique. Astonishing garden!

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