January 4, 2012 by Sandra Jonas
Well, it really turned cold …. for middle Georgia. The temperatures were in the teens last night, according to my thermometer. The predicted 20 degrees was 18 here in my micro-climate.
While I dread the camellias that are open, turning to brown mush, above. I am thrilled that the peonies will have the required chill hours to put on a show. See what I mean about mixed emotions?
Still, it is better to look at the bright side, I cannot control Mother Nature, (much as I try) and the closed buds for future blooms look perfect….so far.
I will be out-of-pocket till the end of this month with little or no access to the internet (YIKES ?!!) So, have a fun January and keep warm.
Posted in Camellias, Shade Gardening, winter garden | Tagged Camellia, chill hours, frost-kissed, micro climate, peonies | 4 Comments »
December 26, 2011 by Sandra Jonas
Although it has been a bit dreary and raining I couldn’t resist taking a walk in the garden today. I could see the Japanese Flowering Apricot (Prunus mume) from the kitchen window but to experience the fragrance I needed to venture outdoors.
Plenty of eye candy wherever one looks. 
Here at Hamilton House, the scale is so vast that a plant had virtually no impact unless it was large and from a landscape point of view, there needed to be several of the same plant to form a balanced composition.
There was, initially the temptation to plant several plants close together so it would in a very little time have more impact; but I opted not to do that. I had seen that done in several gardens in Atlanta and always wondered which plants would have to be sacrificed when they outgrew their space. Instead I went with the tried and true technique, where, no matter the size plant I started with, it was planted with plenty of space to allow it to mature to its ultimate size.
Needless to say the first several years everything looked silly as the plants were small and one could see clear across the entire garden.
Today, 15 years later, I know it was the right choice.With a little pruning here and there, everything (well, almost) can be kept within bounds.
Still to come (above) Daphne odora ‘Aureomarginata’
The bees are happy too!
Posted in Camellias, Flowering Trees, Garden Design, Shade Gardening, winter garden | Tagged balanced composition, Camellia, Camellia Herme, camellia magnoliaeflora, camellia Rutledge Minix, Daphne odora, Prunus mume, winter garden | 2 Comments »
December 24, 2011 by Sandra Jonas
Dear Readers,
I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks for your gift of support throughout the year.
Warmest wishes for a wonderful holiday season and may you enjoy a happy healthy new year filled with love, light, joy and great gardening!
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged heartfelt thanks, holiday season, new year | 3 Comments »
December 15, 2011 by Sandra Jonas
Posted in best friends, Camellias, Cats, Focal Point, Garden Design, Outdoor Living Spaces, Shade Gardening, Small trees, winter garden | Tagged Camellia 'Daikagura, Camellia Ava Maria, Camellia Cotton Candy, Camellia Martha's Dream, camellia Yultide, Focal Point, Ginkgo biloba, Margaret Moseley, Prunus 'Kwanzan', Prunus mume, Seating area | 5 Comments »
December 9, 2011 by Sandra Jonas
Posted in Shrubs, Viburnums, winter garden | Tagged berries, heavenly bamboo, hollies, Ilex Bufordii, Ilex Emily Bruner, viburnum, winter berries, Yellow berries | 3 Comments »
December 5, 2011 by Sandra Jonas
If you don’t like the weather “Wait a minute” I was told when I first moved to Georgia; so it’s no big surprise that while last week was cold & rainy and even frosty some mornings, this week we are in the high 60′s.
I have no idea when the Fragrant Wintersweet (Chimonanthus praecox) started to bloom but here it is Dec 3rd.
Wonderfully fragrant, not overly sweet but a clean rather fresh scent, usually starting in mid to late November in my garden.(I usually look for it around Thanksgiving)
Not the best looking shrub in the border, rather a bit course and ragged so I camouflage it with a clematis during the summer.
Winter blooming shrubs or perennials are worth their weight in gold…even at today’s prices.
Posted in Shrubs, winter garden | Tagged Cimonanthus praecox, fragrant shrubs, Fragrant Wintersweet, winter flowering shrubs | 6 Comments »
November 23, 2011 by Sandra Jonas
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged American Tree Farms, antique shops, Artisan roasted coffee, Born Again Antiques, Copeland-Spode china, Grand Hotel, Hogansville Coffee Company, Hogansville Georgia, holiday shopping, Live Christmas Tree, Thanksgiving bouquet | 6 Comments »
November 11, 2011 by Sandra Jonas
Zinnias, not what I would expect either. Saved from being Frost-Kissed last night.
These were planted in the vegetable garden where the soil is good & rich. I have NEVER seen Zinnias do so well. They grew to 4 feet and had at least a dozen flower stalks on each plant.
Posted in Cutting flowers | Tagged bouquet, frost-kissed, Zinnia | 3 Comments »
October 25, 2011 by Sandra Jonas
Perhaps what I appreciate most about gardening in the south is the fact that it is year round.
While many of the deciduous hydrangeas are loosing their foliage, the Arum groundcover is coming into its own and will soon blanket the ground.
Then there are the shrubs that bloom a second time. Above, the Chinese Witchhazel (Lorapetalum chinensis) in its second flowering.
For the rest, far from looking bare the camellia sasanqua are putting on quite a show. From a distance they could be mistaken for cascading roses ….
Close up, just as enchanting with as much diversity in form.
The potager is done with the summer crop and we are now planting garlic (late), seeding lettuce and arugula, planting kale, cabbage and broccoli. Believe it or not the summer peppers are still going strong, I just harvested these….
When the summer wildflowers die down I can see the bee hives…. wish you could taste the honey….
No, we don’t do that, we have a beekeeper in fact the bees are his, we just supply the nectar and then share the honey, good deal!
Posted in autumn colour, Camellias, Companion Planting, Hydrangeas, Shrubs, Vegetable Garden, Wildflowers | Tagged Beekeeper, Camellia 'Daydream', camellia sasanqua, Camellia sasanqua 'Winter's Charm, Camellia sasanqua Jean May, Chinese Witchhazel, fall gardening, Hanna Jiman, honey, Loropetalum chinense, Non-stop gardening, peppers, Vegetable Garden | 1 Comment »
October 18, 2011 by Sandra Jonas
I have been saving these photos of a brick walkway for years.
Although it is a walk, there are benches on both sides so one can really appreciate the pattern.
Details like this keep a garden interesting in all seasons.
I want it here!
Ahh …. the difference between the imagination and the reality.
Posted in Garden Design, Outdoor Living Spaces | Tagged brick details, brick walkway, imagination, pattern with brick | 7 Comments »
October 13, 2011 by Sandra Jonas
It has taken a few years but I finally have a purple Clematis blooming with the yellow berries of the Viburnum Michael Dodge…..sort of.. She is Elsa Spath and she is usually all purple.
I have no idea why she presented this way but….. a gardener’s hope springs eternal… maybe next year…
Posted in Clematis, Companion Planting, Garden Design, Viburnums | Tagged Clematis Elsa Spath, companion plants, garden design, viburnum Michael Dodge | Leave a Comment »
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