Hi GPODers!
I get a thrill out of every new submission we get at Garden Photo of the Day, but I have to be honest and say that I do get an extra jolt of excitement when I see a garden from a location we see less frequently. That rang true again when I saw this submission from Jeff Sisil in Cypress, California in our inbox. Southern California is an area we visit infrequently on the blog, and Jeff’s vibrant and diverse garden—despite a limited space—is a gem to encounter. We’ve visited his patio garden once before (Jeff’s Flower-Filled Patio Garden), and today he’s back with an update.
I am Jeff Sisil. My wife and I live in Cypress, California. We have a small patio garden that I enjoy filling with flowers and plants. I submitted for Garden of the Day about four years ago so I thought it was time to update and resend. I’m growing hydrangeas, tillandsias, bromeliads, orchids, and a variety of succulents, along with black eyed Susan climbing vines (Thunbergia alata, Zones 9–10 or as an annual) along with other various plants and ferns.
I also grow Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides, Zones 8–12) and I have several staghorn ferns (Platycerium bifurcatum, Zones 9–13) for which I’ve recently started building mounts. Having enough space for the plants is my biggest issue, but I love my little patio garden all the same!
Jeff has a wonderful assortment of moth orchids (Phalaenopsis spp. and cvs., Zones 10–12). These are often the easiest orchids to find, so collecting them in a range of colors is a fun way to build a more exiting display.
While Jeff has to rely on containers for much of his patio garden, there is a little space for some colorful, in-ground additions. This bigleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla, Zones 6–9) is vibrant burst of color.
Some of Jeff’s succulents spilling out of this gorgeous container. I absolutely love how he has planted the ruby necklace succulent (Othonna capensis, Zones 5–10) inside a shell to add more height and interest on top of the waterfall of ‘Little Missy’ sedum (Sedum ‘Little Missy’, Zones 8–10).
One of Jeff’s airplants in a terracotta pot. These unique plants are fascinating and low-maintenance, making them easy to get hooked on collecting.
Jeff’s orchid collection obviously expands beyond Phalaenopsis. This Dendrobium hybrid (Dendrobium Yukidaruma ‘King’, Zones 10–12) has really bold blooms and striking thick stems, which are actually pseudobulbs that store water and nutrients.
Another dendrobium orchid, the pink rock orchid (Dendrobium kingianum, Zones 9–11) is a delightful flurry of smaller blooms.
One of Jeff’s incredible staghorn ferns. The creative ways that gardeners are able to mount these explosions of other-worldly fronds adds to their appeal.
Another specimen in Jeff’s succulent collection is a beautiful echeveria sporting a stunning stalk of flowers coming into bloom.
Jeff’s garden also glows at night! This hydrangea’s mix of pink, purple, and blue is stunning during the day, but just as eye-catching in low light.
Thank you so much for sharing your small but mighty gorgeous garden with us again, Jeff! Small spaces might be some of the most inspiring gardens with see on the blog—there are no limitations to the plant beauty you can create with a bit of creativity.
No matter the size of your garden, there is space for it on Garden Photo of the Day! Follow the directions below to submit photos via email, or send me a DM on Instagram: @agirlherdogandtheroad.
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