Thank you everyone for your condolences the other day. I didn’t know how comforting your words would be until you wrote them! I so appreciate you!!
When MaryAnne White designed my major landscaping project last year (long distance from New York), I trusted her to specify almost everything. One of my requests was for Shasta Daisies because I just think they’re so happy!
I planted them in front of my design studio and in front of the house.
Some of you who have followed my blog from the beginning (I love you!) might remember that until I had my header designed, it was rotating pictures of daisies.
I was so amazed that they are 3-4 times bigger than they were last year. And just for fun, here’s a couple before photos again.
This is what my design studio looked like April 15, 2012 when we took possession of this house.
Here’s how it looked six weeks later after the renovation and before we removed the concrete the following Spring.
And here is what it looks like today (above)!
Here’s what it looked like last year. My daisies were just planted. See my evergreen clematis on the trellis (above)?
Well, after it climbed right up the trellis it obviously had no place to go.
So just two weeks ago, I had my handyman install white plastic trellis along the soffits so it could climb along the front of the studio. If you look closely, you can see that he screwed it in using plastic tubes as spacers so the ivy can twist around it.
After he finished, I patiently untwisted all the vines that had started twisting around themselves and stuck them on the trellis.
I can’t wait until it grows all the way along and I love that it’s an evergreen!
Here’s a close up of my daisies and you can see the rest of the trellis as well.
Hope you had a lovely weekend! xo Maria
PS. I’m going to Blogher this week in San Jose, who else will be there?
Related posts:
Cloverdale Paint Party on Elizabeth Avenue (When we took possession)
My Design Studio: Before, During & After
My Design Studio French Door Fiasco
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What an amazing transformation! It looks so inviting. I love it!
I was just talking about planting shasta daisies in our front lawn close to our patio (we live in a condo but a few years ago the board said plant if you want to, but we never got around to it)
After seeing yours I want them even more…
Your install of white plastic trellis along the soffits using plastic tubes as spacers is fab! Your back garden with the green chairs is so inviting, wish I lived closer, I’d come over for tea… x
oh yes a question… does a evergreen clematis mean it does not have flowers? I have never heard of one… x
They are white (of course) and they are the first to flower in the Spring.
oh my, for a fast second I thought you were being mean… then I thought… not Maria, the of course white was because all your flowers are white… lol
Next year when they come out take a pic, I would love to see them
One of the ladies I work with was talking about you today, she is coming to your class in Oct… my paint samples were at work so I showed them off, I use them often, they are wonderful.xxx
What a clever idea for the clematis. I would never have thought of that. Did you repaint the green chairs? The before and after pics are great.
I did not, in fact, they have faded badly and have not held up at all, they are about to be replaced. Because they are meant to be ‘folded’ to be put away, makes them even weaker.
please share the name of the clematis. It’s beautiful!
I don’t know the official name but I’m sure someone reading this will!
The transformation is amazing Maria, and daisies are my favourite flowers. They bring me happiness.
Maria, Your studio certainly is a happy studio!! I love the daisies. They are so full and beautiful. They totally represent your personality. We all need “happy” in our lives.
So sad to hear about the passing of your father but he gave you the strength that makes you who you are.
Take care and be happy every day.
The whole thing looks amazing. The daisies are wonderful!
I love the faith you had in MaryAnne White! You were able to take the vision in your mind, describe it to her, and then she was able to put it down on paper for it be planted. All by internet!!!! No wonder you are such a wonderful blogger, teacher, and internet consultant yourself. If I good only have faith…..
That is a phenomenal transformation, Maria! But isn’t that what your beautiful blog is all about? You’ve shared not only the transformation of so many homes and rooms that you have worked on, including your own extraordinary home’s transformation inside and out, but the transformation of you and your business in a very short period of time through the work you have done on yourself. Love stories of transformation and the exploding daisies is proof that it can be done! How glorious!
I clicked on the link to see your old header & as soon as I saw it I remembered. And I also remember leaving the comment that I left. WOW! I can’t believe how long you’ve been writing & how long I’ve been reading every word.
The daisies are very happy. I need to see if they would survive in my zone. Believe me…my landscaping could use a little happy.
I’ve been thinking about you & your family. I hope your flowers bring you joy.
How very beautiful Maria! Nature does cheer us up at sad times doesn’t it?
That’s a Clematis armandii and it has spicy smelling white flowers in the spring. It’s very vigorous so don’t be shy about chopping back anything that grows where you don’t want it to.
I think your studio looks like a dream!
And there’s the name 🙂 Thanks Vicky! Maria
Please keep us updated next year on whether the trellis keeps the clematis out of the gutter.
Hi María! I like your garden. In Argentina we call this plant, Margarita (As the name in French: Margot, but a little Margot). A virtual huge hug for you!!!
Are Shasta Daisies an annual or a perennial? I have been thinking about planting some along our lane way… Are they aggressive? Your yard (and home) is so beautiful, I’m sure your neighbours are thrilled that you moved in! Well wishes and happy thoughts to you and your family this week.
Shasta daisies are perennial. They are not aggressive. They can look tatty after flowering, so you will need to trim them back.
I bought one shasta daisy about 8 years ago to use as part of a pot-scape. When the end of summer came and the annuals died, I put the daisy in the ground. This many years later I have daisies all around my home and can drive down my street and see all of the homes with shasta daisies from splitting that one plant. This year they are going to be used to fill landscape islands in our church parking lot!
With that being said, don’t be afraid to split them and give them away, throw them away, etc as they will take over. After they are finished with their first flourish of blooms, you can cut them back and they will rebloom again in the fall (not as big as flourish but it tidies them up and you will get some more blooms.)
Just wanted to add how incredible it looks! To me gardens are just outdoor decorating opportunities. A garden changes everyday and is different every year. When I help people plan their gardens I completely use your color principles. Thanks for all you do!
Absolutely stunning!!!! I LOVE it!!!
I’ll pick you a daisy a day. A fairy-tale!! franki
I love your daisies and your Clematis… but can I ask you where did you buy your curtains that I can see inside your studio, please?
Stunningly beautiful transformation. What an inspiration. And, I want to try the daisies!
Very clever – the lattice under the eaves – must steal that idea Maria. It looks so lovely I know you are enjoying every minute of your home’s amazing transformation. Thanks for sharing.
How utterly beautiful. We have Shasta daisys in the lot below us and the whole lot was covered in blooms, but the strata made the owner cut them down, I could have cried!
I would just guess that the front of your studio and the daisies make you smile as you go to work. What a way to start a day…
It’s so gorgeous and looks like it belongs in a storybook. I love what you did for your clematis.
It looks fabulous (just like its “guardian”! Just love the change.
Wow! I didn’t think Shasta’s got that tall! It’s good that you include before photos because one does forget how dramatic the transformation is!
I’ve never mentioned before that I, too, seek out white plants for my home’s landscaping (with a few exceptions). Is it because I’m a Gemini too? Who knows! Needless to say, I LOVE what you and Tee have done with your home. Oh, and I love the green Adirondack chairs because guess what my favorite color is? Yep, green!
Maria love your garden! I have the same clematis and it has grown clear across our porch, just wait until it blooms. The simple white flowers are intoxicatingly fragrant! Enjoy.
I too love Shasta’s, white just has a way of popping in the garden. I found a new love this year, an Echinacea purpurea “Pow Wow White”. A Brian Minter recommendation, so it HAS to be good. What do I love about them? They flower longer, stand straighter (I have no time for floppy) , are drought tolerant and butterflies and hummingbirds love them. They have 8-10″ stems, great for cutting. Win win win!
thanks for mentioning them, I love the purple ones, I will have to look for the white ones@ x
I love the first impression/outdoor space and wish I could have an evergreen clematis- too bad it is minimum zone 6…I live in zone 3 in the planting world.
It’s beautiful!
Beautiful! Love your garden. I have lots of daisies on display in antique bottles on my dining table…but had to buy them at the grocery store! Hope you can can some inside!
Amazing. Just amazing.