When Tom Cruise needs some landscaping done, Jon Goldstein’s number is on speed dial. Then again it is the same story for Cruise’s ex- wife, Mimi Rogers, Sheryl Crow, Avatar Producer, Jon Landau, Kyle MacLachlan of Desperate Housewives fame, and Emmy Award Winning Star, Bryan Cranston of Breaking Bad. The list goes on.

But as Jon tells it, in his very humble manner, his celebrity client list is all by accident!  Jon started in landscaping and created his Jonny Appleseed Company as a summer job, with a different dream -- to buy a new keyboard, and support his love for playing music. And the rest is history.

And while for most of us that celebrity landscape project where money is no object is but a dream, funny thing is Jon who is used to being frugal and only what he has, says we can create that lush and celebrity oasis starting with just 20 bucks and a weekend~!

His advice to begin your inspiration? Go to a yard sale or a discount store and find a great large urn or ceramic pot in a color you love!~ Think of that as becoming a new focal point in a hidden spot in your garden and now you can plant around it.  Buy some plastic liner and a pump inside and now you have a fountain, and a centerpiece to add more life around.

And if you prefer the Asian fusion vibe, get a Buddha head and make that the beginnings of your new garden to build and add creations around. Bottom line the dream making starts with one thing.

Perfect example is Tom Cruise’s garden with then wife, Mimi Rogers. It was during the making of The Fourth of July when they had traveled to Thailand and fell in love with a piece of tile with 20 some colors.  They went to Jon with that tile and it became the center of a garden concept, for them it surrounded a fireplace, and the colors in the tile were repeated as a theme.

More recently Jon has worked on the gardens of Bryan Cranston and his wife Robin, featured in the new Garden Design magazine.  Their garden is more traditional and so Jon tired to make it match their style while appealing to their passion for conserving water and energy.

At the home of Kyle MacClaughlin the issue was invasive bamboo in the Hollywood Hills that actually create a beautiful living wall of privacy. Jon added more this tropical oasis picking from Kyle’s collection of art and pieces from his journeys, including a Buddha head, old lights in the shape of stars hanging from a tree and a fence panel.  The pool was resurfaced and stone edging added from a private quarry that sells rock from Yosemite~!

Here’s another tip to create that rich look without spending anything or very little. Find a home that is in the process of renovation and chances are there is a dumpster outside with dug up concrete that has been trashed!  Ask to use that dumped concrete as your own recycled stone for a lovely walkway that leads to a seating area.  Jon suggests this easy and inexpensive mixture – to color the concrete:  Concrete glue, water and earth – let the concrete turn slightly brown, and lay it in the raked dirt about three inches apart. Now plant creeping thyme or mint for a fragrant and magical pathway!

Think of one thing, and create a vignette and then suddenly regardless of your budget you have your own “celebrity” garden!

www.jonnyappleseed.net

Enjoy

Cindy

cindy@cindydole.com