Garden Tours–What does this Garden Say?

Gardens have long been a destination for gardeners, plant lovers, and those who just want to see behind the fence. Tours are conducted through groups on local as well as international venues.

But what can the visitor take away from such a tour?  Let’s visit a couple of local gardens and see what these gardens have to say about the site, about the host, about the commitment to gardening, and the style or feeling the garden evokes.



The first garden tour was the home of the Elaine and Robert Middlestetter.  As Miami Valley Hosta Society featured this garden on a lovely Saturday in July, 2013. Visitors could meander this garden and the homeowners offered explanations, descriptions, and information on the garden and plants.

 

This stand of sedum is the tallest I have ever seen.  Just imagine when this is in full bloom!



This welcoming bench invites a visitor to ‘linger – don’t rush away.’






Shady areas had bright spots with the Brunnera, Jack Frost, and variegated Solomon’s seal, gold hosta, and iris that had bloomed earlier in the season.  The garden has taken this current form after several trees were lost, and the 30+ years have tenderly evolved into this garden as it is seen today.
 





Color was evident in this garden, as Elaine played with red and gold in the Blood Grass and the Heuchera. Quite stunning!







An Asian feel to the garden is appealing in this courtyard.  The wooden walkway, the rockery, and the pottery all set the atmosphere with the red door as the exclamation point to this lovely, peaceful garden.



Across the street from the Middlestetter’s garden is another Miami Valley Hosta Society member’s garden of Tina and Richard Fox.



Gates into a garden speak volumes to the openness or the secretiveness of the space behind it.  This double wide gate with the wood spindles at the top allows a visitor to feel welcome, and ‘take a peek’. Quite an inviting greeting!

Richard seems to have an artistic talent, and he let’s Tina cultivate and maintain the plant material.  However, I can see some artistic elements in the miniature gardens Tina has sitting around her garden. 









This shaded pergola invites one to set awhile.



This shade structure  was built by the homeowner Richard  when they lost a couple of large trees.  It offers shade without blocking the expanse of the area on either side.





Water lilies were blooming on a koi pond and the fish went on a feeding frenzy when Richard offered a snack.



Perennial borders and accents of color with annuals helps this garden feel like a warm and happy place to spend some time.

Miami Valley Hosta society offered four gardens to visit, but due to time constraints I regret I only could visit these two lovely garden.

Two gardens, two styles, two very welcoming gardens.  Thanks to Elaine and Robert Middlestetter, and Richard and Tina Fox for all of their efforts.  Kudos.

Perennials Work Beyond the Blooms

May flowers are getting all of the attention right now.  And in the next few weeks this explosion of color will be spectacular!  As you see bright purples, pinks, and yellows pop up, if you are like me, you will head to the garden center to obtain the 'perennial of the week'.  Just be aware that in a few weeks, perennials blossoms will fade and you will just have the foliage to view in the landscape.

Beyond the blooms will be months of what can be a landscape full of interest, textures, contrasts, and soothing colors.  As the progression of flowers comes and goes, think about the setting, not as a Monet, but as a sunrise or sunset. The swirls and blends of soothing shades of leaves will be a delight. And who doesn't like to view a sunset?

Bright

 leaves of heuchera are brilliant examples of color available in foliage plants. I've grouped these closely so the shading will play off of its neighbor.  A mass planting , say five or seven plants, of just one of these would be an eye catching element in the garden, too. 

 

Ferns and Hosta (this hosta is H. Gin and Tonic) work in the shady garden.  The broad leaves of the hosta and the light, airy fern compliment each other well. 

This combination of Catmint (Nepeta), with its small  leaves, and open clump, sits next to Hosta, and a large Sycamore Tree. The tree trunk bark has alot of texture and adds to the tapestry .   The Sunny spot behind the tree is a Gold Thread Juniper. Don't forget to consider year-round interest when placing plants in the garden.  Our winters can be long and cold here in Zone 5b, and the evergreens and tree trunks put on a show all year long! 

The bright contrast of the euonymous is a year round event, too.  The chartreuse next to the deep green is stunning.  I've tucked a Hosta in the mix here.  The large leaf of the Hosta, and the smaller leaves of the euonymous have a nice effect.( And note:  no flowers!)

Some other elements that offers visual texture to the landscape are stones and boulders. 

The rocks have an edge, and the plant material tucked up close, softens the edges for a calming feeling.

When choosing plants the foliage and textural contrasts play an important role in the overall feeling of the garden.  Wide leaves next to light airy fronds or light colors beside dark shades all complement the eye.  The low round plant next to a tall, spikey one will go a long way to add interest to your yard.

Veriagated foliage, as in this Loriope, can bring a brightness to a group of plants and offer its own sublety.

It may not scream 'Look at me!' but the minds eye will quietly appreciate the effort.

I've presented an insight to my psyche.  I like the long term relationship of plants. I love the blooms when they are here, but the steadfastness of the full season soothes any loss I feel  beyond the blooms. Enjoy.

Herbaceous and Woody Perennials

Perennials - Plants That Return Year After Year

Herbaceous perennial plants are classed as such by their soft, green stems.  Typically this plant group dies back to the ground in the winter but the roots go dormant.

Woody perennial plants have a shrub structure and the woody stems remain in form in winter.  Woody perennials go dormant in winter and grow from the woody stems again in spring.

Here are a few herbaceous perennials I have in my garden. 
  White Bleeding Heart, Dicentra spectabilis

 Pulmonaria, Lungwort

Hardy Geranium, Cranesbill (unknown variety)

 

(Geranium 
“Big Root”, variety is an evergreen ground cover in my garden. This mound is still considered a hardy, herbaceous perennial.




 Dicentra eximia, “ Luxuriant “- Dwarf Bleeding Heart
.
Columbine is an herbaceous perennial.  It produces many seeds that I let fall into the garden as it is a short-lived perennial lasting only about 2-3 years.


    Iris, is yet another  herbaceous perennial that grows from rhizomes, the fleshy root section that sits near the soil surface.
   
Heuchera, 'Dolce Peach Melba'. is a semi-evergreen herbaceous perennial plant native to the United States.

 Heuchera, “Dolce Key Lime Pie”
  Heuchera, “Green Spice” This one has deep red veining and stays fresh looking all year.
 
Clematis, an herbaceous perennial, that vines upward with tendrils that cling to itself or a support.  Here I’ve used trellises and bird netting for their support.

Hosta, Variety Unknown

 
Hosta, are herbaceous plants that die to the ground each autumn. Mid-to-late March in my zone 6 garden, they start sending up their pointed heads.

Hosta, 'Great Expectations'

Astrantia, also known as Masterwort (unknown variety) was unknown to me a few years ago. This herbaceous plant is a charmer and I've seen several varieties in the catalogs. May have to expand my collection!
Fern - herbaceous

These are a few of the woody perennials I have.

Honeysuckle vine never did go dormant this past winter due to the mild temperatures. The early blooms are gorgeous, but I have yet to see the hummingbirds visit it. It’s is a favorite of the hummers due to the trumpet shaped flower.

Hydrangea Buds, “Annabelle”. This is the hydrangea we transplanted last summer when we lost the pine tree. I’m thrilled to see that they didn't stress too much from the move, and again, the mild winter probably helped.

‘Diablo’ Ninebark plants are deciduous flowering shrubs native to North America.
Nine Bark is a woody plant that has burgundy leaves and white flowers. 

Wiegilia,' Wine and Roses'(R)

  Wiegelia is a woody shrub also has the darker leaves and bright pink blossoms. 

 

Knockout Rose, 'Sunny'(R)

”
Roses are a hardy, woody plant.



Climbing Hydrangea –  a woody perennial plant.  The bark exfoliates into these really delicate looking patterns.

Exfoliating bark of Climbing Hydrangea

Japanese Maple 

Japanese Maple –  just had to show the brilliant color this spring!  It’s really doing it’s ‘happy dance’!

I hope you can get out and enjoy your Spring.  c