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GARDENS
 Kay
Thorp began the renewal and expansion of the Locke House
gardens in the 1960s. Her goal was to preserve the
heirloom flowers, trees and shrubbery, while
incorporating plants that caught her fancy. She grew
vegetables, fruit and herbs and shared many seedlings
with fellow gardeners. Kay lived with us during the
first five years of the restoration. During that time
she gifted us with her passion for gardening and vast
horticultural knowledge.
The most
vivid memory of my first visit to the Locke House is of
the gardens. I could not believe the beauty and variety
of the flowers, shrubs and trees that surrounded the
grand old house.
Now for us,
every season in the gardens is a revelation. Papery
white Matilija poppies, magenta and delicate pink
peonies, rose campion, geraniums of many hues and
scents, calla lilies, dahlias, four o’clocks, feverfew,
English daisies, gladiolas, iris and roses of all hues
are only a few of the flower treasures that delight the
eye during the unfolding of the year.
An
assortment of evergreens, native and ornamental trees
such as Canary Island pine, Fremontia, Italian cypress,
blue oaks, valley oaks, locust and dogwood provide shady
spots to sit and view the changing landscape.
Exotic,
flowering, fragrant trees and shrubbery evoke images of
19th century girls cutting branches to weave
flower crowns for their hair.
In addition
to vegetables, we cultivate edible flowers and herbs,
walnuts, almonds, figs, persimmons, oranges, lemons,
Meyer lemons, grapefruit, apples and grapes for use in
our recipes.
The gardens
are undergoing a slow renovation as we create eco-zones,
incorporate more native plants and conserve water.
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