I don’t really sit down in my roof garden except to have a bowl of cereal or perhaps soup. Last night I had a great group of friends round for a bring-a-dish night, and we did take the Indian chairs out then.
All my houseplants go outside for summer: my jade plant, schefflera, rubber plant and peace lily. They join the pots of hydrangea and busy lizzies. This year I grew tomatoes, rhubarb, lettuce and parsley. I never do well with roses. I am encouraging them with artificial flowers.
The bright tones for the walls were chosen by the late Ricardo Legorreta, a great Mexican architect. We flew him over, charmed him, and he agreed to design the Fashion and Textile Museum, which is downstairs. Recently, I was asked to help redesign the Greenwood Theatre in London, and I have used the same colour palette of blue, orange and pink.
Since reading Peter Tompkins and Christopher Bird’s The Secret Life Of Plants, I talk to my flowers. I rescued the sago palm from the museum and said to it, “Look, if you grow, you stay…” That plant has taken off. Isn’t it gorgeous? I’ve always enjoyed drawing plants, and wish I had more time for it.
My students, who live here, help in the garden. They’re just kids and not quite as observant as me, so I give a lot of instructions. Sunday morning is compulsory plant-feeding time.
I store the tools and bubble-wrap used as winter protection under some fake rocks that I brought back from America. I have two cattle troughs that act as water butts, and a large compost bin. I had a wormery in San Diego, my other home, but someone complained about flies and I got rid of it. I’ll never forgive that person. People assume you desire all sorts of things, but the one thing I wanted was my wormery out the back.
My favourite spot…
The shady courtyard by my Chacmool, a Mexican statue. It is gold-painted polystyrene and I love it. Nearby is the double white camellia I brought from France years ago. It began my camellia collection. They are the best potted plant you can buy.
• How does your garden grow? Email space@theguardian.com
