Month: April 2011

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LESSONS FROM CHARLESTON S.C.

 No cameras in the gardens! The only photography allowed  was from the public sidewalk. Still there are many lessons to be learned.

                                                                                    

All the gardens are small, tiny in fact, some no larger than a postage stamp.

                                                                                    

In small gardens, design  is more important than it is in  larger landscapes; for here, there is a concentrated use of space. Also, because the space is limited and seen all at once, the details & planting must be faultless.

                                                                              

Consider the ground plane, it is significant in all seasons. Below, variety in materials & texture. This is a driveway.

                                                                                 

 With a little imagination —- garden by day, parking at night.

                                                                                

 There should always be a focal point to lead the eye.

                                                                                     

                                                                                            

Reinforce the design of beds with edging.

  

Keep the planting simple,

                                                                                    

       And finally.. co-ordinate…

                                                                               

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POTTING ON..

Another week has just slipped by!  So much garden…so many weeds…so little time.

                                                                               

All the plants started from seed have been ‘potted on’ i.e. planted into larger containers and watered with diluted fish emulsion.

                                                                                                       

I do love the names on some of these tomato plants. “Boxcar Willie”  was a favorite last year, new to us this year is  “One Time Charlie”.  Who makes up these names ?

                                                               

The garden continues to unfold. Below, Clematis‘Liberation’ and ‘Barbara Jackman’ mingle with Viburnum ‘Kern’s Pink’    ( It never was pink. )                                                                              

 Showing off now too, are the early blooming Buckeyes. In my garden I grow three of the species. The early blooming Red Buckeye (Aesculus pavia), below…

                                                                                    

  the Painted Buckeye (Aesculus sylvatica) …

                                                                                     

the third,the Bottle Brush Buckeye ( Aesculus parviflora)  is later blooming, end of june. Too bad these are such neglected & underused plants. They deserve a place in any garden with some dappled shade.

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MEANWHILE…IN THE GARDEN

Sorry for being away so long. Family health issues…..

Meanwhile, back in the garden… early spring ephemerals have given way to roses peonies mid-season viburnums and early clematis.

ENJOY

                                                                                            

                                                                                                

                                                                                         

                                                                                                 

                                                                                           

                                                                                           

More tomorrow.

© All photos 2011

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THIS ‘N’ THAT…

This is the busiest season in and about the garden.

                                                                                      

Seedlings must be nurtured in the house,

                                                                          

 the semi-finished Bothy is being organised… with a nod to its previous tenants.

                                                                                 

Weeds are rampant  and everything needs attention at once!

                                                                                       

Still, the garden is beautiful and feeds my soul.

                                                                               

The potager,is putting forth such succulent delights as ‘Gourmet  Lettuce  Mix’ ,’ Italian Kale’ &  ‘Red Mesclun Mix’.

                                                                                          Finally the arbor has found its home. Poor thing , one has moved her about so often…

                                                                                     

I like the way it ties into the Bothy. Evergreens will be planted on both sides of the arbor, forming a hedge. This will serve as the entrance to the Potager and the end of the ‘Pleasure Garden” (so Edwardian don’t you think?)

© all photos 2011

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THE MEADOW…YET AGAIN

                                                                                      The meadow is once more looksing like an impressionist painting. Swaths of blue native phlox (Phlox divericata) make their way between the daffodil foliage and the ‘Wake Robin’  ( Trillium cuneatum) .

                                                                                       

                                                          

                                                                   

The trees are now playing an important role, so the focus changes.

                                                                                                   

                                                                                                                                                                              

This is The Meadow viewed from the driveway on west side of the house looking east. (Above) 

                                                                                   

Soon the weeds & wild grasses will cover this all and it will look wild & wonderful. Then the hum of beneficial insects, bees and butterflies will fill the air. After the plants set their seed it will get the annual cut. This meadow gives me 12 months of joy!!

© all photos 2011

Note: WordPress noted that I published a draft & not the updated version of this post AFTER it was posted…why not BEFORE???

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WORDLESS WEDNSDAY

 

Stachyurus praecox… blooming now.

Well, almost wordless. No photography allowed in the gardens in Charleston. Only shots allowed are from the public sidewalk. There was an exception where we obtained permission from the owner who was present in her garden for questions. No matter, walking down Charleston streets  is  a lesson in gardening effectively on a postage stamp! More to follow.

© all photos