“You’ll love John’s place!” says a neighbor. “His yard is like a park. You can’t even see the house from the street.”

John Collom calls himself an “average boy, growing up in Ocean beach in the 1940s.” Fast forward 25 years, and he says, “One can’t imagine how excited I was when I bought a house in 1973, in the same neighborhood in which I grew up!”

The bank wouldn’t make a loan on the “run-down house (shack)”, but they did grant one on the property. Since that day, John has used that property – 7,000 square feet – to garden and create.

His approach was, “plant anything familiar and everything with no knowledge.”

Collect and create is part of the theme. This is the grotto, hand decorated by John and friends, old and young.

A main theme of the property is palm trees. “He has attractive Hedycscepe, Roystonea, Pritchardias and a very nice Livistona saribus.  And, there's lots of cycads, some mature and in cone.”

That’s not us talking. It’s a quote from the Palm Society of California. They presented him an award while meeting at John’s garden in 2013.

Here is John (in the middle) with some of his Peninsula buddies celebrating summer and rockin’ short shorts.

 In 1984, John took a year’s leave from teaching at Coronado Middle School. He and friends finished building a small house, and a big garage with a sundeck. 

There’s also an artist’s studio where John’s companion creates her popular paintings. 

The sunny, calm day we visited, light classical music wafted from the studio across the garden.

Patty Adams, past PLA Chair and head of our Garden Awards program, presented this month’s award to Mr. Collom. Considering the accolades he’s received from prestigious groups we are pleased he accepted and displayed our humble token.

In addition to green growing things of all description, other treasures are tucked in the landscape.  

These are the greeters. Yes. They are real.