As I mentioned earlier, I’ve been working with an about-to-open restaurant to create a kitchen herb garden. Opening a restaurant of this size and scope, I have learned, is c-r-a-z-y (and I only was concerned with my tiny part!). But it has also been fascinating to get a behind-the-scenes view into how a successful restaurant is created.
And of course, it has been exhilarating to be out there planting and talking to the people who live and work in the area. I’m on a first name basis with a lot of the locals now, some of them even helped me with various parts of the process (if you’re reading this James, thanks for all the help with the gravel!). I love how gardens seem to provide a conversation starter that allows people to stop and chit chat.
Anyway, enough of my blathering and on to the photos…
Here is what the beds looked like before I got started:
Pretty ugly eh?
Here is what the herb garden looks like now:
Sorry, I was a little obsessed with the lavender and ended up getting it into almost every shot. But can you blame me?!
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I was so excited when I saw the title but then I realized it’s the new location in Santa Monica. I’ll be in Phoenix in a couple of weeks and La Grande Orange is one of my ‘must-go’ restaurants on the list.
What a transformation! I love the modern sleekness of the pails as planters, yet they’re eclectic and earthy, too! Congrats on designing and bringing such a beautiful project to life.
Next time Ryan and I are in LA, we’re going to have to go for pastries (and then a walk over to Anthropologie)!
Fern, Congratulations!!!! It looks beautiful! Do you have more pic?
Such a huge improvement, it looks great!
That’s absolutely gorgeeoouus. I love herb gardens. I need to get started on mine!
This is so sleek & stylish, and sweet at the same time. Can you list your source for the pails?
Thanks!
Very cool! Good work!
Are those Ikea pots? And, don’t they worry about theft?
KS — Yep, they’re actually trash bins from Ikea. I punched holes in the bottom for drainage. They are installing a glass wall around the planter, it just hasn’t been installed yet. Theft isn’t a problem at the moment because there is someone at the restaurant 24 hours a day getting it ready to be opened.
Congratulations Fern! This is a simple yet very stylish garden! I am wondering what kind of herbs did you put between the pillar and the window where there it is all shady.
Sandy — There aren’t herbs in the back corners because it is too shaded even for herbs that can tolerate something less than full-sun. Back there I planted shade plants like coleus, abutilon, fuchsia, lamium, etc.
Abutilon actually likes shade huh… Great! Now I have another option for my balcony
Sandy–They like filtered light or bright shade. I love the variety I found for the restaurant, it has variegated leaves and apricot flowers.
Great containers. I love the plant tags! Great job!
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