With overcast conditions, this was the perfect weekend to work on the new garden, in front of the greenhouse. My design has taken three years to get to this point, but slowly, it is coming together. This weekends’ project includes removal of more bamboo, and excavating the sod, to extend the garden around the cirlce of gravel which marks the centerpiece of the garden. We also added three beds for vegetables, as well as more boxwood, which was transplanted from the back vegetable garden, were I wintered it over after buying it all on sale last autumn. The boxwood transplants very easily, and now, it should enjoy the deep rich loam, that this part of our property provides, since it all used to be part of my grandparents, ( and parents’) vegetable garden. My goal is to have more growing space, attractive design, and relatively easy care ( i.e. less lawn to mow). ORganized beds, with hedges that are neat and tidy year round, makes for a more manageable garden. I don’t look at hedge trimming as a chore, since it is down once or twice a season.
Margaret helped, or bossed me around. Something about Irish Terriers, they need to be near you at all times, and inspecting everything that you do.
Of course, in the heat of the day, Margaret and Fergus discovered that newly turned soil, was much cooler.
A view of the new walk leading to the Martin house circle, from the entrance of the greenhouse. This section now includes the vegetable garden raised beds, and the blue and gold garden, mostly perennials, and lots of boxwood hedging.
Another view of the newly designed walk, awaiting to be surfaced with granite gravel, which arrives later this week.
Last year, the Stewartia pseudocamelia had only a few blossoms, I wonder if the fact that now that the this precious chinese native tree can get more intense sunshine, since the 16 foot hemlock hedge was removed, has anything to do with the massive bud count. The flowers really do look like Camellia’s, and I love it when the start to fall, intact, and line the ground with their camellianess. There just are not many trees that have the 4 season charm and character that this species has. I encourage anyone to add one to their collection. Smooth, muscular branches, which have attractive mottling, and we use them to fill urns and window boxes at the holidays, brilliant autumn foliage, and these amazing white camellia-like blossoms in late June and July.
Digitalis obscura
An unusual Digitalis from the Sierra Nevada mountains of Spain, which I received from plantsman and nurseryman, Harvey Wrightman ( of Wrightman Alpines), graces the rock garden with it’s brown-apricot trumpets in a color which is very un-foxglove like. I must get more of this plant, it virtually glows in the evening sun. I havn’t been to the Sierra Nevada’s since high school ( ugh like 1978), but this plant reminds me that there are other mountain ranges worth exploring beyond the alps, and besides….now that I collect winter-blooming Narcissus…….this would be the perfect place to visit.
Inspiring! Beautiful greenhouse and garden design.
What an outstanding garden you have accomplished! I found you on Blotanical and came over to read awhile. So glad that I did. I started at the newest post and have read down to here. Your sweetpeas drew me in; they are one of my favorite flowers. Your photographs are super; sorry you lost the screw to your tripod, hope you have found it by now. However, that slightly blurred photo, I thought it was lovely, a bit impressionistic. Now, I will continue reading. Just wanted you to know I have been here and am enjoying my visit very much.