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| All of these metal objects were originally made for specific practical purposes, now they're appreciated as industrial art |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 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 |
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.
► RODEO GARDEN (from 2021 on)
► KENSINGTON GARDEN (until 2021)
© Gerhard Bock, 2025. All rights reserved. To receive all new posts by email, please subscribe here.
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?
ReplyDeleteOh, 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.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, 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 :).
ReplyDeleteI 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!
ReplyDelete