Make texture the main attraction.
Downsizing for Ruby and Frank Andrews meant moving from a 30-acre ranch with a 3-acre garden to their 1-acre property in Granite Bay, California, a suburb of Sacramento. There wasn’t much there when they moved in 13 years ago, but that was just fine with Ruby—she relished the challenge of bringing some life to this mostly empty yard. Drawing on her passion for textural plantings, Japanese maples and water features, Ruby created a peaceful retreat, which the couple enjoys daily and also shares when they open their garden for tours.
Initially Ruby thought it would take a year to get the garden figured out—after all, she gardened on 3 rocky acres in the country for 32 years, and this is a much smaller space. But after 12 years, Ruby is finding, much to her enjoyment, that there’s still a lot to learn about the yard, and she’s in no hurry. Let’s walk through the garden to see what she’s done so far.
