Indonesia and beyond in San Jose
Combine eclectic elements to make an adventurous backyard
Bob and Linda Shelby’s backyard doesn’t evoke one particular place so much as it does a celebration of adventure. It boldly combines elements such as Roman columns, Indonesian furniture, Asian lanterns, and a fire bowl from the Philippines. The plants are an eclectic mix too: Italian cypress, kangaroo paws from Australia, timber bamboo from Asia, tropical bananas, and angel’s trumpet ( Brugmansia) mingle with existing English walnut trees. “It’s an exuberant clash of cultures,” Bob says. “Noisy but wonderful.”
Though the Shelbys enjoy the garden’s theatrical quality, they also admire its practicality. Cast-concrete columns throughout, for instance, aren’t just for show. Short ones provide seating. Medium-size ones are the right height for setting down cocktail glasses or hors d’oeuvres, and tall columns are strong enough to support the heavy arbor.
