The Magical Land of Flora Grubb

a seating area with bright orange metal chairs next to

signature Flora Grubb pots and palms

On the prowl with one of my hippest young clients for cool, repurposed & floral items to anchor a wedding design, in the early morning mists and fogs south of San Francisco today, we found ourselves lost for hours in the magical land of Flora Grubb.

It's quite possible that I am hopelessly un-hip, or at least the very last person on the planet to discover Flora Grubb. But that's OK. It's still an experience of wonderment and awe, and worth blogging about!

You know you are somewhere very cool when you spot an old bicycle planted (somehow!) with air plants & succulents and suspended over an old reclaimed zinc-top table, looking for all the world like the Wicked Witch of the West had just hopped off of it and left it in mid-air when she stepped inside for her organic latte with The Mad Hatter. It's that kind of place.

succulents and old suguaro plants

accented with red ceramics create a

stunning entryway

cool planting table in front

of inviting green shutters

I love this blue orb set among the succulents!

a cool tile that could work for a cheese plate in

a rustic-chic setting

these plates have the look of

botanical etchings, wonderful!

inviting and colorful bistro set

on one of the garden pathways

another view down the garden path

a very cool blue chair with modern

lines invites a little respite in the garden

if you like the metal furniture, choose your favorite

from the wall and take it home today

blue chairs face the wonderful

coffee bar inside

sinuous concrete chaises for your

outdoors

concrete and redwood table is lovely

contrast to the lacy air plants

this rusty old Chevy Impala has an

ongoing life as a whimsical (not for everyone!)

planter in the quixotic garden

Lady Flora herself...a delightful

and charming creator of gardens!

When you get past the astonishing huge installations (that's really the only word for her artistic plant, artifact and salvage vignettes) and vertical green wall gardens (all the rage these days...and much easier to achieve than the green roof) scattered over the large, botanical-gardens-like outdoors, your eye will also find exquisite details and furniture. This is not your old Smith & Hawkins!

Wandering the pathways in her gardens you will see a vintage 60's Chevy Impala gently rusting away as one of (surely) the world's most unique planters. You can meander up to the coffee bar and request the barista make you one of the best espresso drinks around, then take in the scene sitting at the whimsical Caribbean pastel bistro chairs and tables while you admire every little detail. There's a lot to take in.

While we decided not every bride would choose this much drama and originality for her wedding, some elements would work beautifully for that rustic-chic wedding up in Sonoma or a wild Pacific coast setting.

This is the domain of the landscape artist and not to be missed by anyone with an eye for design and beautiful, exotic vignettes. Although the living green walls have a certain portability about them, most of these amazing plantings are well-suited for the long haul, enhancing a space on a permanent basis.

Flora Grubb Gardens

1634 Jerrold Avenue

San Francisco, CA 94124

415.648.2670

.........................................

in 2010, it's:

Kit Golson Design

for elegant, sustainable and pragmatic

Chic Provence Interior Design