Inspirational signage and Italian Fortunata ceramic pottery combine to bring the outdoors in.

Story and photos by Lana Johnson

White and green botanicals create a nature-inspired look.Gardenology, offering an alternative vision for garden-style living, recently opened its doors in the Westcliff area, inspiring harmony between interior and exterior spaces. The store offers unique furnishings for the home and garden, as well as interior design services. Owner Lili McIntire has operated a second store in Encinitas for the past eight years. Because a percentage of her customers came from Orange County, it made sense to find a location here in Newport.

"We took over the space that Les Interieurs occupied for years," McIntire said. "The space just spoke to me with the layout, courtyards and big windows. It was perfect for our purpose. We have made significant changes to the space to tailor it to our specific needs and it is wonderful."

Neutral-hued organic pillowsIn addition to their custom line of interior upholstered and slipcovered furnishings and organic bedding, linens & pillows, they offer fine European outdoor furnishings from Dedon, Weishaupl and Vincent Sheppard, as well as quality American brands such as Brown Jordan, Summer Classics and Century Leisure.

When McIntire couldn't find furniture she wanted, she decided to design her own custom line. "I found a great furniture craftsman who brings my ideas to life and handcrafts pieces one at a time," she said. "It allows us to offer our clients a one-of-a-kind, high-quality product in our signature Gardenology style.

"I hunt long and hard to find the beautiful items for my stores," McIntire continued. "I buy what I love, it is just a natural instinct that I can’t describe."

A dining table crafted from reclaimed wood.To give you an idea of how pieces can be mixed and matched in your home, the store is set up in vignettes, ranging from table top to the dining room, bedroom and outdoor pottery shed. Among the many unique treasures are repurposed wood dining tables with coffee sack upholstered chairs, 100-year-old grain sack pillows, vase-like glass lamps & oversized chandeliers, Fortunata (Italian for "luck") ceramic pottery abletop and servingware, original botanical prints circa 1880, reclaimed wooden shutters and an original bricklayer's table.

There are also handmade French soaps, inspirational decor and garden  books, French music CDs and a customized fragrance bar. West Third Brand candles are made by an artist who crafts his own candles.

Rare garden objects include inspired accents such as antique garden gates, statuary, metal-crafted pieces, hand-thrown pots and entertainment accoutrements. The potting area features earthy Campo De Fiori pots that grow moss on the outside. A metal table with bins would work well in the kitchen or used outdoors as a potting table. Behind the store, they grow plants, which blend well with natural earthenware pieces displayed on hand-waxed demi tables.

A zinc-topped table blends with any style.McIntire shared some tips on how to bring the outdoors in … seamlessly. "One of the easiest ways to bring the outdoors inside is with the liberal use of the color green. I use a lot of white and green botanicals," she said. "Green is nature’s neutral palette. Another great idea is to bring garden items indoors, like French jardinière. I love our zinc-topped tables. They are so durable and blend with any style. Use architectural elements like antique iron garden gates, statuary and window frames as a backdrop in your space."

In the back of the store is a design studio. "We welcomed our new interior designer Vicki Jansma last summer," McIntire explained. "She can help clients with one room or an entire house. She has designed homes from Aspen to Anguilla and will fit seamlessly in Newport Beach. She describes her style as eclectic, cozy, European ... edging toward modern."

Soon, Gardenology will have its own customized paint line.
 
The potting area of the store beckons creativity."Your outdoor rooms should feel as good as your indoor rooms," McIntire shared. "You won’t regret purchasing quality furniture that lasts a lifetime. You’ll regret buying cheap, disposable 'stuff' that falls apart after one season."

Gardenology, located at 1701 Westcliff Drive, Newport Beach will have a grand opening in the near future for the general public. For more information, call 949.650.9900. It is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visit www.gardenology.com.


By Lana Johnson

Aloe

It's the perfect time for summer plantings to brighten your landscape, and why not opt for California Friendly flowers and shrubs to better the environment.

California Friendly plants use less water and require less pesticides and fertilizers to thrive (reducing run-off), and there are many beautiful varieties from which to choose.

I spent some time over at Roger's Gardens in Corona del Mar – most of the plantings on the perimeter are low-watering varieties, which they put in five years ago. They irrigate about every seven days in the summer and every two to three weeks during the winter. They also recently mulched the entire garden to help retain water and suppress weed growth.

Roger's Gardens recommends satellite irrigation timers, such as Weather Trak ETplus and NP rotator heads. This controller monitors the weather and delivers only the water your garden needs. It even shuts itself off when it rains, in case you forget to.

Here are some less-than-thirsty varieties you can plant right now.

(1) ZinnasYellow and orange zinnas (1) provide a beautiful bed of color, and require moderate watering.

(2) Lotus ground coverLotus ground cover (2) produces yellow and orange blooms; it's a good choice for flowers with a low-height level.

Sanvitalia (3) produces yellow flowers and requires moderate watering.

(4) Leucadendron 'Jester'(3) Sanvitalia

Leucadendron 'Jester' (4) is a relative of the Protea. It produces variegated foliage and requires zero irrigation.

(5) BidensBidens (5) produce small yellow flowers. A four-inch plant can cover a two-foot area, blooms all summer and requires low irrigation.

Agaves add height to any garden, require little water and come in a variety of colors. The Agave 'Joe Hoak' (6) measures 3 ft. X 3 ft. and is variegated. The Agave Blue Flame (7) is another popular choice. Both work well in rock gardens.

(6) Agave 'Joe Hoak' and (7) Blue Agave

(8) Denonium 'Kiwi'Deonium 'Kiwi' (8) is green tinged with a pink edge. It requires little to no water, and as the weather gets cooler, its colored foliage intensifies.

(9) RusseliaIf you have walls or banks, Russelia (9), also known as the firecracker plant, is a nice choice and produces pinkish-orange flowers that cascade down.

(10) NeoregeliaLooking for a punch of color against your ground cover? Neoregelia or Lambert's Pride (10) is a red bromeliad that needs very little irrigation.

(11) DymondiaIf you're looking for an alternative to planting lawn, Dymondia (11) is the perfect solution. This ground cover produces yellow flowers, chokes out weeds and it can be walked on.

Tonight at Roger's Gardens from 6-7 p.m., they will be announcing the winners of the 2010 California Friendly Garden Contest. You can meet the contestants and enjoy a relaxed evening of good wine, light refreshments and garden inspiration, including a keynote address and presentation about California friendly landscaping, followed by the awards announcements. The contest rewards gardeners who practice smart and sustainable landscaping, in harmony with our environment.

Roger's Gardens is located at 2301 San Joaquin Hills Road, Corona del Mar. They are open daily from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. For more information, call 949.640.5800. www.rogersgardens.com.

For additional information and tutorials on starting and maintaining a California Friendly garden, visit www.bewaterwise.com.

Photos by Lana Johnson

Zov Karamardian of Zov's Bistro will perform a cooking demonstration at Bloomingdale's Home Store in Fashion Island on Saturday, June 12, beginning at 1 p.m.

Zov is a contributor to "Orange County Fare: A Culinary Journey Through the California Riviera," a cookbook created by the Junior League of Orange County. She will prepare zucchini fritters with smoked salmon, Asian noodle chicken salad and caramelized apples with Cognac and vanilla ice cream.

Reservations are required, and can be made by calling (949) 729-6854. The cookbook, made from 100 percent recycled paper, can be purchased at orangecountyfare.com for $29.95, plus tax.

On June 4-6, a sustainable home and garden event will take place, featuring one-of-a-kind found, repurposed and artistic items for the home and garden; free gardening and green living workshops; and special events. It is presented by A Harvest of Hope.com, dedicated to bringing opportunities for creating sustainability and well-being to local and global communities.

Special evening events include: A preview sale/wine and cheese tasting on June 3 and a tasting showcasing locally grown produce and California wines on June 5.

Workshops include: Preserving Food – The Art of Canning; Gardening in Small Spaces; Growing Succulents; Attracting Wildlife to Your Garden; Natural Pest and Disease Control; and Gardening with Kids.

Attendees are invited to participate in any of the free public workshops.

The event will take place at 2201 Santiago Drive, Newport Beach. It is open on Friday, June 4 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. and on Saturday, June 5 and Sunday, June 6 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. A $5 donation is requested to attend the event.

Proceeds will benefit Savannah's Organic Ranch, ASAP and Boys Hope Girls Hope.

Savannah SachenAbout Savannah's Organic Ranch
Savannah Sachen's dream to become an organic rancher began while she battled an extremely rare and aggressive cancer of her heart. It was her desire to educate other children on how eating healthy, organic foods and growing them in a sustainable, environmentally friendly manner benefits our bodies as well as the earth we share. Savannah did not live to fulfill her dream. She passed away in 2007 at the age of 8. It was her parents’ intent to keep that dream alive. They, along with loving volunteers, started Savannah’s Organic Ranch, a non-profit organization aimed at educating the community about organic foods and products, and how consuming these products, can make the world a better place, just as Savannah had dreamed. One of the many ways they outreach is by building organic farms at schools. Visit www.savannahsorganicranch.org

Editor's Note: The fifth and most recent organic farm was built at Lincoln Elementary School in Corona del Mar and dedicated on March 5, 2010. To view a video on the construction of the farm, click here.

About ASAP (A Self-Help Assistance Program)
Operating in Zimbabwe and Malawi, ASAP helps create sustainability through micro-finance of viable businesses and through providing people with the training and tools to grow food where people are struggling and even starving. Each of ASAP's agriculture training programs results in more sustainable, improved farming practices, often with higher yields throughout the year. Visit www.asapafrica.org

About Boys Hope Girls Hope
Boys Hope Girls Hope homes provide children with long-term care in a family-like atmosphere while concentrating on the development of the whole person – intellectual, spiritual, emotional and physical. Ensuring that parent(s) remain a central and committed part of the child's life is also an important factor to the program's strong record of success. Visit www.bhghsocal.org

For additional information, visit www.aharvestofhope.com

The award-winning design in this Eastside Costa Mesa residence, was designed by homeowner Melissa Palazzo of the design and interior achitecure firm of Pal + Smith, who loves mixing Art Deco and Asian styles./photo by John EllisSave the Date! Next year's Newport Harbor High Home & Garden Tour, its 14th annual, is scheduled for Thursday, May 12, 2011.

The year's “sold out” Home & Garden Tour proved to be a spectacular day for all of its guests. Presented by HOM Real Estate Group, the May 13 event raised nearly $100,000 for the Newport Harbor Educational Foundation, which funds a wide variety of programs for all 2,400 students at Newport Harbor High School.

The private dock at the Hodgkinson home on Via Lido Nord./photo, courtesy of Newport Harbor Educational FoundationGuests were treated to six incredibly designed and uniquely decorated homes and the Whyte/Nataupsky’s ‘full lot’ sized garden designed by Christopher Taylor Architectural Landscape Design. Nancy and Rich Hodgkinson’s elegant bayfront home also included a tour of their yacht. With a goal of keeping as much open space as possible, the kitchen, dining room and living room seamlessly blended together with white woodwork, a muted palette and unique coffered ceiling skylights. Designed by owner Nancy Hodgkinson and Designer Jodi Fleming, it was truly a highlight of the day.

(left) Jodi Fleming and Nancy Hodgkinson with Barclay Butera, who offered another comfortable setting with his signature interiors and furniture designs to the home tour’s guests./photo, courtesy of Newport Harbor Educational FoundationFollowing the tour, Barclay Butera hosted a champagne reception at his store on Westcliff Drive. Molly Wood Garden Design also offered guests garden ideas, drinks and snacks during the day at its studio on Orange Avenue in Costa Mesa.

Local stores were invited to design tabletops in each home, including Bloomingdale’s in Fashion Island, Valerie Schnieders, Crate & Barrel and Villeroy & Bosch in South Coast Plaza, Gatehouse, Studio Chameleon and Barclay Butera.

Featured homes also included those of Claire Schnieders, the Palazzos, the Harden and Simpson families.

StoneFire Grill served lunch to all the home tour guests at Newport Theatre Arts Center overlooking Newport Harbor./photo, courtesy of Newport Harbor Educational FoundationOnce again, the gracious and delicious StoneFire Grill served lunch to every guest, demonstrating their superior catering services from their Huntington Beach and Irvine restaurants. The Newport Harbor Educational Foundation thanks the hundreds of volunteers, guests, home stores, the homeowners and all the sponsors who helped make this event so successful.