Visit to Ojai Enchants the Fellows

Jeanne contacted her friend, Carolyn Bennett, who moved from the mid-Wilshire neighborhood of Los Angeles to a farm in Ojai 12 years ago, to help her find special private gardens in this popular town. Carolyn has been active in the Garden Club of America, worked for Nancy Goslee Power, served on the Boards of the LA County Arboretum, California Garden and Landscape History Society, the Garden School Foundation and the Cultural Landscape Foundation. She currently lectures on garden related subjects and knows some great folks in her new hometown, so she was the perfect "booker.”

A few days before our Ojai adventure, torrential rains were predicted, so we moved our Tuesday events indoors. Our first visit was to the most charming home covered by Boston ivy. Stonehouse was designed and built by Austin Pierpont as his honeymoon cottage between 1918-1920. The property was bordered by his family home designed by Julia Morgan which is still owned by the Pierponts.

The current owners of Stonehouse, Kathan and Tony Glassman, purchased the home in 1984 and made extensive renovations. The work has continued by turning the old garage into an office/studio and the construction of a new carport. As the owners say, “Maintaining a 100-year-old house is like painting the Bay Bridge…when you get to the end, it’s time to start over!”

The landscaping has evolved and changed over 38 years. Especially with the lack of water, the lawns, the cutting garden, and the David Austin roses are history. Brother’s Landscaping has done most of the rock moving and maintenance. The owners now have the added benefit of the generous donation of the 25 acres north of their property by Eric Goode (Turtle Conservancy) to the Ojai Land Conservancy. They have removed all non-native plants and continue to plant oaks, etc.

We had an outstanding talk by Scott Daigre of Tomatomania. Scott shared his wealth of knowledge and experience about what it's like to garden in Ojai and what the unique challenges are facing gardeners in this community -- the soil, the climate, the water, and, of course, the critters! He also shared his take on the best plants to grow and how to design successful vegetable beds.

Following the talk, we headed for the Ojai Valley Inn for a lunch with incredible views of the rainstorm sweeping over the valley. During our free time, many shopped at the charming stores recommended by Carolyn along Ojai’s main streets.

That night we dined at The Dutchess, a Burmese-Californian restaurant that Harry and Megan had just enjoyed.

NAAN – tandoori oven bread, garlic herb butter

DUNCAN’S SPICY PICKLES – seasonal local vegetables

CRISPY WEISER POTATOES – scallion aioli, masala spice

Salads

TEA LEAF SALAD – fermented tea leaves, napa cabbage, salanova lettuce, Tutti Frutti

tomatoes, sesame seeds, peanuts, fried shallots, fried garlic

Burma Classics

COCONUT CHICKPEA CURRY – braised greens, chili oil

Mains

ORGANIC HALF TANDOORI CHICKEN – fermented peppers, pickled shallots, green

onions, cumin rice

ERIC’S WEEKLY CATCH – whole fried fish 2.5lb/3lb

Sides

KODA FARMS RICE – steamed jasmine rice

CUCUMBER RAITA – yogurt, mint, cilantro

Dessert

SEASONAL DESSERT – semolina cake - spiced whip, toasted coconut, grated nutmeg

The sun and clouds were glorious as we started our Wednesday by visiting a stunning garden by Pamela Burton & Company. Pamela states, “The landscape design creates a Sycamore oasis amongst the existing old-growth oak grove with a 55’ pool at its center. The property utilizes the existing ‘Ojai Potato’ boulders to create a series of garden terraces gracefully stepping down from the house to the pool. Planting and seating areas occur at each terrace level, providing a variety of vantage points from which to view and experience the garden. A gravel path around the garden connects various seating areas including the moon-gazing terrace, breakfast patio, specimen succulent gardens, and a yurt camp with fire pit areas.

The plant palette builds on the strong presence of existing mature Agave Americana and Matilija Poppies. California native and non-native white flowering shrubs were incorporated to extend the bloom-time of the Matilija Poppies throughout the landscape. A blend of lavender and evergreen feather grass flow down the boulder terrace. A golden garden of grasses and yellow-blooming shrubs surrounds the fire pit area.”

The Fellows were then treated to lunch in Jill and Gerben Hoeksma’s garden. In 2003, they purchased 34 acres of avocados and oranges in the east end of Ojai in an area known as Hermitage Ranch. The property was overrun with families of deer, along with other wildlife, so they had to plan the garden accordingly. At first, many of their plants were gobbled up, despite them being “deer proof!” Finally, they were able to fine tune it in time for their daughter’s wedding brunch in the summer of 2009.

In 2015, they hired Steve Giannetti to build their home. The siting of the house took time since the land was not level. Truckloads of fill were brought in over many months.

The homesite construction and plant scheme were created through a collaboration by architect Steve Giannetti, general contractor Scott Lowen, Chet Hilgers of Hilgers Earth Movers, landscape architect Bill Mellett, and Jeff Jenkins of Orion Landscapes.

Our final visit was to noted Southern California landscape designer Carla Melson’s home. She turned a portion of an Ojai citrus grove into a lovely and constantly changing personal landscape around her house. Her entry drive between rows of mature citrus trees is a perfect tease for what you are about to experience. Designed to take advantage of the incredible views from every point in the garden, her garden is also a very walkable space filled with espaliered persimmons, pomegranate hedges, swathes of wonderful grasses, and raised vegetable beds. For fun, there’s an oyster shell bocce court, a horseshoe pitch, and, if you get tired, even an octagonal aviary which has been turned into a perfect napping room. Don’t miss the cork oak trees she’s planted and is now selling as specimens to other gardeners!

Bernice Balson added, “Revisiting these unique properties in Ojai, as seen through Jeanne and Carolyn, was enlightening and historical. As a lovely and thoughtful touch, Jeanne had fresh cut flower arrangements for each of us in our rooms at the Lavender Inn!”