The Link garden in Cambria: A neglected yard is transformed

Tucked away in the majestic Monterey pines of Cambria is a beautiful garden that was created only three years ago.

The owner, Doug Link, has had Parkinson’s disease for 30 years, but he has never let this stop him from his love of gardening or obsession, as his wife Pat has said. The Links bought their home because of the views from the windows, but the outside of the home had been neglected for many years. The front yard had a few plants with pine trees.

The Links added a dry creek bed, pride of Madeira bushes, a rose of Sharon bush, daisies and hanging flowering baskets from trees along the driveway. However, the backyard needed a lot more work and imagination. After clearing out the overgrown vegetation and garbage left by the previous owner, they were left with a barren hillside underneath Cambria’s swaying pine trees.

So the Links had a friend Shawn Bickell create a wandering stone pathway to the bottom of the hillside. Three landings were created along the way, with a spa on the top deck, a sitting area on the middle deck and a raised bed vegetable garden on the bottom landing. All of the landings were designed to have ocean views through the pine trees.

The pathway started at an existing deck off the back door, and Doug Link felt the space underneath the main deck was a little bare so he created a fern grotto, full of lush, shade-loving plants.

Jesus Mora, the Links’ gardener, does most of the heavy lifting, but Link still does all the day-to-day watering and most of the planting of new flowers, plants and vegetables. Alyssum, Calla lilies, daffodils, gladiolas, marigolds and impatiens are sprinkled throughout the yard.

Next to the spa is a perennial bed full of Penstemons, yellow yarrow, cornflowers, pansies, and geraniums. Above the perennial bed is a pathway alongside the house with a row of blooming purple Agapanthus.

Walking down the winding path to the bottom of the yard, there is a bench tucked among the groundcover and flowering bushes. Beautiful red Asiatic lilies are planted within the variegated green and white ground cover, adding a bright contrast to the rich brown mulch.

Link has used a variety of bright lime and variegated, rich dark and dusty grey greens to add depth and variety to the landscape. The path ends at a small sitting deck, just big enough for coffee in the morning or watching the sun set over the ocean at night. Next to the deck is a small rose garden leading to Link’s several raised vegetable beds. Just a few of the plants growing are artichokes, mint, cantaloupe, lettuce, tomatoes and sweet peppers.

Also planted in this sunnier part of the yard are blackberries, a Meyer lemon tree and a lime tree. Strawberries and an orange tree are planted in pots on the decks. Drip irrigation is in place, but Link is always finding something new to plant.

Two 250-gallon water storage tanks are filled by rainwater in the winter and a truck by summer. An attached pump helps Link to water the newer plants by garden hose. Bark mulch, pine needles and shade from the trees help to keep needed watering to a minimum. Planted alongside the sunnier side of the house are apricot, peach and cherry trees.

The Links have said they do have problems with gophers, so they use gopher cages or planting pots directly in the ground as needed, but their biggest complaint is all the pine needles dropped by the pine trees.

From every window inside the Links’ home is a view of the beautiful garden. The window with the Bailey Acacia tree swaying gently in the ocean breezes is Link’s favorite. He says his garden is an eclectic garden with no real theme. He buys plants almost weekly and plants where he can find space.

The Links have created an ever-blooming garden full of interest and color. With the ocean views and beautiful pine trees, this truly is an inspiring garden.

This story was originally published August 31, 2016 at 5:46 AM with the headline "The Link garden in Cambria: A neglected yard is transformed."