Visit Palos Verdes Villa

The gardens of the remarkable Villa Narcissa at Portuguese Bend, pictured in the “Los Angeles Times Magazine,� “House and Garden,� and in the French publication “Point du Vue,� will be open for tours by groups this April.

The gardens, planted to a Mediterranean palette befitting the seaside site, are expansive and formal, a series of far-reaching allees and terraces, including the “hortensia terrace� filled with potted hydrangeas and a grand allee of old cypress.

Groups may call Friends of French Art to make reservations at (310) 377-4444, or write to them at 100 Vanderlip Drive, Palos Verdes, CA 90274. The cost is $7 per person and the proceeds benefit Friends of French Art, which finances restoration work in France and the United States.

Portable Water Meter

When we reported on a new metering device that can tell how much water is being used (in good old gallons) in the garden or house, we were unaware of another similar device called the WaterMate. There are three different models, one that attaches to hoses or outdoor spigots, one for interior pipe fittings, and one that attaches to standard 3/4-inch threaded pipe (this one can go on the water main).

The WaterMate flow meter can store water use information using a built-in calendar clock to keep track of weekly or monthly use and it can display use in gallons, liters or the standard city method that tabulates in 748 gallon “water units.� Various models cost between $50 and $60. To find out where one is available, call (800) 769-2837.

Drought Garden Video

My wife says that “Drought Tolerant Gardens� is the only gardening videotape we’ve watched that’s any good. I can think of one or two others, but this independent production, done in Ojai, is certainly the most useful, and amusing.

It’s made for those who have heard the words “drought tolerant� but have little idea what a drought tolerant garden really is, or how to go about putting one in. With generous dashes of humor, the tape takes you through the whole process, including installing a drip system, and a look at 54 drought tolerant plants.

Producer James Lashly is the hapless homeowner who needs help, and Alasdair Coyne the expert who bails him out. The tape is available only from Organic Television Workshop, P.O. Box 964, Ojai, CA 93024. The cost of $25.65 includes tax and shipping.

Computer in Garden

“Spout!� is a CAD (computer aided design) program that helps you plan a vegetable garden on an IBM PC or Macintosh. It will tell you the proper seasons to plant (in seven different climate zones) and help you draw a plan with the correct row and plant spacing, plus you can print out the plan, a garden calendar, shopping list and estimates of yield (so the cook is forewarned). The program works best with a mouse, but can be keyboarded. From Abracadata, it costs about $60 for the IBM or compatibles; $80 for Macintosh.