Eclectic San Jose Garden: Roman Columns, Indonesian Furniture, and a Philippine Fire Bowl

Eclectic San Jose Garden: Roman Columns, Indonesian Furniture, and a Philippine Fire Bowl

Bob and Linda Shelby's backyard celebrates adventure, not one place. Roman columns, Indonesian furniture, Asian lanterns, Philippine fire bowl. Plants: Italian cypress, Australian kangaroo paws, Asian timber bamboo, tropical bananas, angel's trumpet (Brugmansia) mingling with existing English walnuts. "Exuberant clash of cultures—noisy but wonderful."

• Cast-concrete columns throughout: short for seating, medium for drinks, tall support heavy arbor.
• Ideal for entertaining. After dark: shellacked paper lanterns (amber glow), white Christmas lights in Chinese baskets (sparkle).
• "Hard to remember you're in San Jose. You could be anywhere. Feels like a journey."

DESIGN: Cevan Forristt, Cevan Forristt Landscape Design, San Jose (408/297-8538)