Right now the Bay Area is experiencing an unseasonably warm, dry winter. Some of us are suffering from spring fever, but we’ve still got a ways to go. Now is the perfect time to dream, plan, and set goals for the changes you want to make to your garden this year.

The crisp and sunny days keep making me think of arid landscapes and desert plants, and this months issue of Garden Design just happened to feature one of the most enchanting botanical gardens I’ve ever seen, the Jardin Etnobotanico de Oaxaca in Mexico. 

Organ pipe cactus make the most fabulous border, and their mirrored reflection in the water is breathtaking!

I love the contrast of clean, geometric Hechtia against the rustic beauty of the Santo Domingo monastery. Hopefully someday I can visit it. For a more practical application, the following photos are from an older Garden Design issue featuring a serene cactus garden in Los Angeles...

Love it! Even if arid desert isn't your thing, the simple, sculptural beauty and contrasting shapes and colors can certainly be applied to other garden styles. 

What kind of garden are you dreaming of this winter?

Texas has never really been a place I dreamt of going. Don't get me wrong- I have nothing against Texas. I’ve probably just been ill-informed by too many stereotypical cowboy movies, leading me to imagine myself geared up in a cowboy hat, riding horses and toting a shotgun. I hate riding horses and I’ve never discharged a firearm.

However, when the opportunity arose to tag along on my best friend Stacy Rhodes’ annual Texas buying trip, I let go of my horse-riding, firearm-wielding fears and jumped at the chance. Stacy owns Dream, a shop in San Mateo that has unique vintage and French decor, garden ornaments, gifts, and  much more. She travels to Texas (among other places) twice a year to hunt for amazing treasures for the shop. If you haven't been to Dream, GO. This store is a true labor of love, offering one of a kind decor from around the world that Stacy expertly curates with her unique style and skill.

How was the buying trip? Well, Texas turned out to be hot, sweaty, and dirty, but it also turned out to be quite a dream. We made it back with plenty of bug bites, but more importantly, plenty of incredible goodies. Here are a few postcards from our trip...