My name is Claire and I’m a gardener and writer living in Oakland, California. I started container gardening in 2018 when I moved into an apartment that had a balcony. My mom, an experienced home gardener, set me up with a few pots of succulents and kitchen herbs. Classic gateway plants!
I was enchanted by the creative process of arranging the plants and, as the months passed, the joy of watching them grow. Of course, not everything thrived, but I found a certain satisfaction in learning from what didn’t work.
Once I started gardening on my little balcony, something amazing happened to me, and I’m sure all novice gardeners can relate: all of a sudden, I noticed plants everywhere! I realized I had lived my whole life considering plants as little more than a pleasant backdrop. Now, each individual plant caught my eye and piqued my curiosity. I observed them closely, wondering about their names, origins, and preferences. Caring about their wellbeing.
By simply paying attention to the flora around me, my heart filled with a love for nature and all her processes that has enriched my life beyond measure.
What to Expect from this Blog
You do not need a big yard, a lot of money, or horticultural expertise to have a garden. Your garden does not need to look perfect all year round. You do not need to produce enough food to feed your whole family or enough flowers for a wedding.
I am here to encourage you in the pursuit of joy through gardening, however small and limited your space may be.
Although gardening is my passion, I have a full-time job, limited funds, and a space of roughly 4.5 x 13.5 feet. I studied art history instead of horticulture, botany, or landscape design, and am therefore regrettably not an expert. I humbly invite you to learn along with me as I share projects that have worked, experiments that have failed, and inspiration that has moved me or changed the way I garden.
Gardening in the East Bay
The distinctive Mediterranean climate that the Bay Area shares with Italy, my husband’s homeland and a part of the world that’s played a very important role in my life, serves as a rich source of inspiration for me and impacts many of my planting decisions.
However, a lot of the best gardening advice out there comes from the U.K. and other four-season places that don’t deal with the unique growing conditions we have here. I hope to address this niche, while still providing useful content for gardeners from any geographic region.
Though I too often succumb to plants that remind me of Puglia, I’ve become more familiar with California’s native plants over the years. I’m always looking for indigenous species that enjoy container life and benefit local wildlife, such as California fuchsia and native heucheras.
Get Gardening!
I hope that here you find the practical advice and moral support you need to get gardening in your small space. Don’t let anything discourage you — not a beautiful garden you see on Instagram, an overwhelming DIY demo you find on YouTube, or a squirrel who eats all your succulents. Any gardening is better than no gardening!
Love, Claire
