It may seem to some that read my blogs (and previously my emailings) that my primary occupation is observing plants in the wild; this unfortunately is not the truth. Designing landscapes and gardens with my partner, David McCrory, is my actual profession. There are a number of common threads in the two activities based on perception and the implications of a given site. But one is concerned with observing what is there and the other is about creating what someone will observe.
We recently completed a project in the Napa Valley just N of St. Helena, located at a historical stone building now housing a micro-brewery and restaurant. The restaurant has a outdoor eating and drinking area in front of the building but separated from busy Rt. 29 by an old, low stone wall. The outdoor space is dominated by a huge valley oak (Quercus lobata).
One of the problems with the site is that the brewery building is connected to a whole series of other buildings that form a complex, with multiple parking lots and many different entrances, thus it is confusing where one should go if one wants a beer or meal.
The entry we first encountered was a wide gravel road off of the parking lot. Although the outdoor picnic tables were evident, it was unclear if this was the main entrance or a service entry.
To improve the perception of this as the main entrance the proprietor had a wide, yet narrower concrete walkway poured to lead to the front door (in the center of the facade). Another improvement was removing a strip of asphalt to separate the parking area from the building, which while creating some strange-shaped gaps, did make it clear that one should not drive up the walkway.
We took his concrete walk several steps further. First the concrete was stained with iron sulphate to give a warm rust color that picked up on the brownish red of the stone facade. A ranch-style gate frame was built to give the parking area an obvious entrance directing traffic to the front door. A sign saying Silverado Brewery will hang from the top piece, re-affirming that this is indeed the path to the brewery. We also extended the planting along the walkway to make the first part of the passage more of garden experience.
(above) Entry walk and beer garden tables before.
Same view after new planting.
A view inside the gate. The plantings along the entry walk were part previous plantings, but edited and supplemented with many new items. We used a number of edible shrub/trees such as black mission fig (on left), Santa Rosa weeping plum, two citrus and many herbs that could be harvested for the restaurant. Golden leafed hops were used repeatedly as vines.
One plant we featured, although it is currently not conspicuous in the pictures are 8 golden leafed Robinia 'Frisia', a type of black locust. These were used outside the skirt of the large valley oak, to provide summer shade for the outdoor tables, as sitting in the sun when the temperature is 85 degrees (F) or greater - a common occurrence in the summer here - is unbearable.
I first became enamoured with the Frisia golden locust nearly 3 decades ago when I saw them at Western Hills Nursery in Occidental CA in Sonoma Co. The golden-hued light that streamed through the lacy foliage reminded me of autumn under a Norway maple "back East" where I grew up. However with Frisia, you have that golden light from leaf break in early May through October when the leaflets fall. Unlike many golden-leafed trees, this one does not turn green a month after leafing out, nor does one have to wait until fall, as with some trees. Other pluses this tree has is it is deciduous, thus the welcome winter sun will not be blocked, it is quite drought tolerant, it grows quickly, takes pruning well, and does not sucker from the roots as do some locust, and rarely sets seeds. But it is the radiant glowing golden light that really sets this tree apart. Some diners and/or drinkers, will probably feel like they are reaching that pleasant euphoric glow that good food and beer can create.
While nearly all the plantings have flowers, we did not want to create a flowery effect, as the owner wanted the beer garden to have a masculine feel. Thus the plantings are meant more for foliar effects and to create separation and shade. We also emphasized the edible potential by using many vegetables - at least as temporary fillers as the more permanent elements grow in. Corn, squash, tomatoes, etc., along with the herbs and fruit trees, should give the garden a practical, casual, grounded feel quite different from the fluffy yet stiff formal landscapes you see everywhere else in the valley around wineries.
On axis with the main walk we placed a large beer barrel made into a recirculating fountain, both as a focal point while walking to the main door, and to provide visual and audible pleasure of water. The main door is to the right of this picture and not seen. The doorway behind the fountain is not used by the public but allows a view into the beer making section of the building.
A view from the N end of the building before showing the recent concrete walkway to the front doors, and the parking lot in the distance. In this picture the nearer door (where the concrete walk meets the asphalt walk) is used primarily as a service entrance and as a view into the brewery section of the building, and is not used by the public as an entrance.
Same view afterward. The odd asphalt section was removed and turned into a foundation planting bed, as is the next strip against the building. The half wine barrels were removed. Most of the beer garden space is to the right of this view, and is not substantially changed except for the over-story golden locust trees added to provide shade. After all, the primary need of a beer garden/outdoor eating space is space and flexibility for good food and good beer. Though it is also nice to find the front door.
