San Diego Home/Garden Lifestyles

A DREAMY GARDEN, & MORE

Early this year I couldn’t stop telling friends, colleagues and even a few strangers in my neighborhood Blockbuster store about one of the most refreshing and brilliantly written movies I’d seen in years. Written by an ex-stripper named Diablo Cody, Juno went on to win the plaudits of even the raspiest of film critics and, later, an Oscar for the screenplay.

Imagine my surprise, then, when on a sneak peek to see a garden on last summer’s La Jolla Secret Garden Tour (even editors get a few privileges), I met the parents of the literary agent, Sarah Self, who discovered the Juno manuscript and helped whip the screenplay into shape for the movie.

Ed and Linda Self own the magical garden I was scouting for possible publication in this magazine. Though the garden had been hit hard by winter storms, it took me all of a minute or two to determine that, yes, this was a garden you readers would want to see. Turn to page 94 and see if you agree. As a bonus, you’ll catch a glimpse of the Selfs’ historic home, designed by pioneering architect Lilian Rice. Images are by photographer Will Gullette; the story was written by columnist/author Debra Lee Baldwin.

The Selfs’ garden is only the beginning of what you’ll find inside this month’s knockout issue. On page 46, managing editor Eva Ditler and photographer James Brady bring you the story of a beautiful new Spanish Colonial family home in the North County. On page 57, senior editor Phyllis Van Doren unveils her annual Fall Interior Design Report. Phyllis predicts that many designers and homeowners this fall will go inward to discover a personal style. That doesn’t mean that they can’t venture outward (i.e. SDH/GL) for inspiration.

The vast majority of San Diego Home/Garden Lifestyles magazine’s editorial content is generated through assignments by editors. However, we do welcome manuscripts if they focus on San Diegans and the San Diego region.

E-mail stories or story ideas to Wayne Carlson, editor, or Eva Ditler, managing editor.