WREN Gardens & Botanicals

09/11/2026

Datura wrightii - Sacred Datura 

This is one of my favorite California Native plants. It is a night-bloomer that can bloom from April to October, making it perfect for a moon garden and beneficial for nighttime pollinators. It will also stay in bloom on cloudy days. Any sort of surprise or oddity in a landscape can really move your yard from ordinary to alive and this plant does that.

An important plant to Indigenous people such as the Chumash, the Hopi, Tongva, and the Kumeyaay. This plant adds visual interest to slopes and groundcover areas. I love tucking them in between rocks and tree stumps and letting them organically fill the gaps. Grows in part shade to full sun.

Best part: this plant supports up to 25 local wildlife species. Many different moths, native bees, and bats rely on it as a food source, while caterpillars and birds use it as a nesting site. 

⚠️This plant is toxic; use with caution in areas with high traffic, pets, or children.

09/09/2026

It was 103 yesterday, is currently 95, and is always hot in September. This is your annual reminder to invest in your house and build that pool you’ve always wanted! And if you can’t build it (because there are also a million reasons not to 🤣), make friends with a neighbor willing to share! 

This yard was designed for a neighbor just around the corner from me, so it was near and dear to my heart. They wanted Mediterranean meets food forest. Resort meets functional hang out, and somehow we delivered almost everything they wanted in this petite backyard. It started with this perfect-sized cocktail pool and morphed into the best neighborhood spot to hang.

Here in our little San Diego pocket neighborhood, we have tons of friends that let us use their pool. We use their pool, and I drop off fresh greens and veggies from the garden. Create a community where everyone has something to contribute!

09/05/2026

08/29/2026

Locals Summer still going strong here in SD. Hope your weekend is filled with fun, sun and a matching pool floaty.

08/28/2026

Silver Spoon is a San Diego secret weapon.

Thriving in our dry heat and low humidity, this drought-tolerant succulent from Madagascar barely notices our SoCal summers. 

~ Silvery blue foliage adds year-round color and texture; it’s basically made for poolside landscaping 
~ Drought-tolerant and low water once established
~ Handles full sun and reflected heat without stress, making it great for hot patios, driveways, and pool areas

Want a low-maintenance plant? This one is for you. 

08/27/2026

I know it’s only Thursday, but who is ready for the weekend?

08/25/2026

Plants have always been my passion. Some might say that’s a weird passion, but I’ve always been a little “weird”. I’ve always been able to recall plant names, when things bloom or when they go to rest. When I take hikes I don’t just see plants, I see palettes of color and inspiration all around us. If you don’t like stopping and photographing plants, I might not be the best hiking partner for you. I want life to be more about slowing down and seeing the beauty around us, rather than racing to the next mile marker.

07/17/2026

Just imagining being here today. Floating on a raft, enjoying a cold beverage, surrounded by friends and family.

Here’s a little sneak peak of a recent project, because this pool is too beautiful not to post on a weekend like this.

07/14/2026

I have a few new projects kicking off, and after I go over logistics, I like to go into nature to find inspiration. In design, there is more computer work than I would like to admit. Getting up from the desk and immersing yourself in a beautiful environment is one of the best ways I gain inspiration.

Seeing how the light hits the leaves, hearing the sounds plants make when the wind rustles them, and noticing the organic movement and structure of the plant really matters in person. This weekend I had a friend in town, so we grabbed some coffees and took a stroll through the Botanical Building in Balboa Park. It’s one of my happy places in San Diego and was perfect for brainstorming some shade plants because there are a lot in one of my new projects. If you haven’t been yet, check it out. Bonus - it’s free!

06/26/2026

My daughter really wanted to be a part of the garden this year and be more than just a helper. She wanted to own a whole section (proud mama, here). She decided on a butterfly garden which was a natural fit for a 7 year old. I pulled her out of school one day for an offsite educational event put on by . She learned about the lifecycle of the monarch, what they need to eat (milkweed + nectar plants), how to spot eggs and how to nurture the monarchs. We also made bracelets and played some fun games with a small, but fantastic group of people.

We took those tools home and she crafted a great butterfly garden and this morning we woke up to a healthy monarch butterfly caterpillar. She was over the moon! Teaching kids about nature, teaches them to be kind to the people and animals/insects around them. One of the most important lessons we can teach the next generation. She’s a