Prunus mume
HYDRANGEA SOCIETY GARDEN TOUR 1
This weekend I attended American Hydrangea Society’s Annual Garden Tour with Julieta of the outstanding food blog LINDARAXA. This was the very first time we met in person, what a warm, delightful, accomplished and charming lady she is. We connected immediately.
Check her blog for a recipe of the most delicious banana muffins she baked for our mid morning snack, I have to admit eating more than one on the drive home!
On with the tour, the first garden is that of Michele and Alan Browne….
From the moment I saw the yatsuhashi bridge spanning the dry creek bed, I knew this garden was going to be special, and it was, on so many levels.
Michele, did her homework, the garden perfectly compliments the architecture of her magnificent Arts & Crafts style house.
The Japanese influence was evident throughout.
The lantern (below) on the side of the path indicates that you are welcome to enter the garden, if it was placed ON the path, it would mean they are not receiving.
Along this path is a connoisseurs collection of hydrangeas, all young and recently planted, Michele had to wait till the trees she planted grew enough to create the dappled shade the hydrangeas require. (this garden is only 6 years old)
Designed as a stroll garden it has the requisite water features or representaions thereof …
As one comes round the back of the house one discovers an outdoor room adjacent to the house…..
a courtyard with pergola (notice the repetition of the elephant leg columns, that make it one with the house) From this vantage point one can enjoy a dry landscape or meditation garden creating the illusion of water, promontory and rocky shore.
While typically raked sand, crushed slate is used here for ease of maintenance.
All in all, the clever use of conifers, japanese maples , and the Three Friends of Winter ( Black Pine Pinus thunbergii, Flowering Apricot Prunus mume & Bamboo) …..
the gardener has successfully created a garden of great beauty, serenity and harmony. BRAVA Michele!!
Thank you for the wonderful stroll.
WINTER GARDEN WALK
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!
A GARDEN VISIT
Yesterday I visited with Margaret Moseley. As usual I came home with a list of ‘must have’ plants.
Margaret has been an inspiration for many gardeners. Every season her garden is filled beauty wherever one looks.
Above, a welcoming entrance… the large tree to the right is a Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba), straight ahead is a Japanese Flowering Apricot (Prunus mume).
Margaret laid those stones when she was in her 70’s!
Below, a seating area beneath a flowering cherry tree (Prunus serrulata ‘Kwanzan’) surrounded by azaleas, camellias and underplanted with a variety of textured & fragrant groundcovers… 
Well thought out focal points….
Her philosophy…
Camellias in bloom…. my new plant list…
Some of these Camellias are heirlooms, rare in the trade. While they may be a challenge to locate, don’t give up, they are out there.
One of my personal favorites is Camellia japonica ‘Ava Maria’ (above). When I first saw it in Margret’s garden the hunt to acquire one was on! Her very generous daughter Jane located it for me. It is a gift I treasure, as is Margaret’s friendship.
Note: plant names are visible if cursor is on photo. To read more on Margaret & her garden visit GARDEN PHOTO OF THE DAY. She is often featured.
MEANWHILE, IN THE GARDEN..
On a tour of the garden today, signs of spring …
The Meadow is coming alive..
Soon I’ll post the results of 13 years of rescuing daffs and trying to achieve the ‘English Thing’.
Meanwhile the Winter garden is doing what it is supposed to and is at its peak….The “peak” lasts a few months… Above, Prunus mume & Helleborus, below, a camellia…
Below, evergreen shrubs make this is a very satisfactory garden area.
Notice, below, the variegated Boxwood, the berries on the Heavenly Bamboo (Nandina domestica ‘Alba’) and the groundcover Sweet Flag (Acorus gramineus ‘Ogon’ )…
This is usually the time of year projects get started &/ or continued to be worked on, some, for many seasons. There are so many projects…..
When we started this garden, we did not consider, EVER, declining physical stamina.
© All photos & text 2011
SIGNS OF SPRING
Last day in January and there are signs of spring everywhere.
The daffodils (Narcissus) are coming up in the meadow…
and the Prunus mume (Japanese Apricot ) is blooming!
Recreating Eden Landscape Blog 