" To sit in the shade on a fine day and look across to the verdure is the most perfect refreshment." Jane Austen For a change of pace, I thought that I would show you two gardens a world away from the garden I last profiled. Though it seems to hail from a bygone era, this ivy covered house in the heart of Toronto actually dates from the late 1930's. A grand set of stone steps lead down to a long, narrow terrace, and at either end of the terrace a further set of stairs drop down to a sunken garden. The steps at one end of the long, narrow terrace. An eagle watches over the sunken garden. Located near the centre of the city, the garden's high walls just barely keep out the bustle of traffic on Avenue Road and the somewhat disconcerting noises of the car park next door. In sharp contrast to its urban surroundings, the sunken garden feels magically leafy and green. Though it isn't exactly my cup of tea, I think that the introduction of a piece of contemporary art (the twiggy bronze in the foreground) into such a traditional setting makes the space feel more edgy and current. I thought that this Bottlebrush Buckeye had the most marvellous foliage. Most of us will never be able to afford house or a garden like this, but the good news is, creating a quiet refuge of one's own is something that calls more for imagination than it does for money. This is the view from the cobblestone driveway. The next garden seems to have stepped from the pages of a novel by Jane Austen. A short stroll across an impeccable lawn brings us to the wrought iron gate at the entrance to a large, walled garden. Opposite the main house, is the elegant entrance to a guest house. The flowering vine is a climbing hydrangea. Just inside the gate of the walled garden. For some reason this garden puts me in mind of a summer party. I can imagine ripe strawberries and champagne as part of an elegant, but casual afternoon tea or perhaps a more grand affair with a big tent erected on the lawn, tables laid with crisp, white linen and fresh flowers, women in flirty summer dresses and men in light summer suits. The falls of these irises look like rich, purple velvet. Behind the irises are the tall, blue spikes of a Salvia and the soft, pink petals of a peony. Aren't these deep purple lupins stunning? As in the first garden we visited, a step of stairs lead from the terrace down to a sunken garden. A wide view of the sunken garden. There is something so restrained about this carefully clipped and manicured garden that it seems to provoke an opposite, slightly-out-of-control emotional response. Perhaps I have read to many Jane Austen novels or watched too many episodes of Downton Abbey, because I can easily envision the slightly inebriated guests at my imagined summer party might begin to feel a bit giddy or perhaps even a bit reckless as the party extends into the twilight hours of early evening. Here in the garden is the perfect backdrop for a stolen kiss or the less-than-proper rendezvous of two star-crossed lovers. Have a wonderful weekend!
Are you interested in starting a container garden, but don't know where to begin? Check out these beautiful inspirational ideas!
This reader shares photos of his low-maintenance coral bells and hybrids featuring their fresh expanding foliage, lush colors and silvering.
" To sit in the shade on a fine day and look across to the verdure is the most perfect refreshment." Jane Austen For a change of pace, I thought that I would show you two gardens a world away from the garden I last profiled. Though it seems to hail from a bygone era, this ivy covered house in the heart of Toronto actually dates from the late 1930's. A grand set of stone steps lead down to a long, narrow terrace, and at either end of the terrace a further set of stairs drop down to a sunken garden. The steps at one end of the long, narrow terrace. An eagle watches over the sunken garden. Located near the centre of the city, the garden's high walls just barely keep out the bustle of traffic on Avenue Road and the somewhat disconcerting noises of the car park next door. In sharp contrast to its urban surroundings, the sunken garden feels magically leafy and green. Though it isn't exactly my cup of tea, I think that the introduction of a piece of contemporary art (the twiggy bronze in the foreground) into such a traditional setting makes the space feel more edgy and current. I thought that this Bottlebrush Buckeye had the most marvellous foliage. Most of us will never be able to afford house or a garden like this, but the good news is, creating a quiet refuge of one's own is something that calls more for imagination than it does for money. This is the view from the cobblestone driveway. The next garden seems to have stepped from the pages of a novel by Jane Austen. A short stroll across an impeccable lawn brings us to the wrought iron gate at the entrance to a large, walled garden. Opposite the main house, is the elegant entrance to a guest house. The flowering vine is a climbing hydrangea. Just inside the gate of the walled garden. For some reason this garden puts me in mind of a summer party. I can imagine ripe strawberries and champagne as part of an elegant, but casual afternoon tea or perhaps a more grand affair with a big tent erected on the lawn, tables laid with crisp, white linen and fresh flowers, women in flirty summer dresses and men in light summer suits. The falls of these irises look like rich, purple velvet. Behind the irises are the tall, blue spikes of a Salvia and the soft, pink petals of a peony. Aren't these deep purple lupins stunning? As in the first garden we visited, a step of stairs lead from the terrace down to a sunken garden. A wide view of the sunken garden. There is something so restrained about this carefully clipped and manicured garden that it seems to provoke an opposite, slightly-out-of-control emotional response. Perhaps I have read to many Jane Austen novels or watched too many episodes of Downton Abbey, because I can easily envision the slightly inebriated guests at my imagined summer party might begin to feel a bit giddy or perhaps even a bit reckless as the party extends into the twilight hours of early evening. Here in the garden is the perfect backdrop for a stolen kiss or the less-than-proper rendezvous of two star-crossed lovers. Have a wonderful weekend!
Brighten a moist and shady area of your garden with this striking plant combination pairing the remarkable flower plumes of Astilbes with the intriguing blossoms of Great masterwort (Astrantia major), the colorful umbels of Yarrow (Achillea), the fragrant golden blooms of Giant Cowslip (Primula florindae) and the purple vertical flower spikes of Big Betony (Stachys macrantha). An easy and remarkable late spring - early summer border to enjoy!
Beleef de mooiste tuinen!
Maine's rocky coast is known for its natural beauty and weather-worn charm. From rosa rugosa to Adirondacks, here are a few classic garden ideas to steal.
Тенистые сады.В которых притаились тенистые жители: купена с белой каймой по листьям, разноо... Смотрите полностью ВКонтакте.
Create a beautiful yard with these creative landscape ideas with big impact.
This reader shares photos of his low-maintenance coral bells and hybrids featuring their fresh expanding foliage, lush colors and silvering.
Who's with me on converting ordinary backyard into a romantic garden of your dreams? In this post I'm sharing my favorite backyard garden design and ideas that are just too beautiful to pass on. A
From rural cottage to grand estate, country gardens should be tailored to the house and landscape they occupy. Clare Foster talks to three garden designers about the elements that give a garden that all-important sense of place and we've included loads of inspiration to help you design your English country garden to perfection
Permaculture has been challenging to succinctly define, so let’s explore it a bit. What is permaculture? And why is it so important?
HGTV shares some of the best shrubs for shade gardens, including shade shrubs such as oakleaf hydrangeas, euonymus, viburnum and elderberries that will add color to your garden with their flowers and foliage.
Relocating to a house and farm buildings in rural Hampshire six years ago, the antique dealer and decorator Max Rollitt and his wife, movement therapist Jane Watson, have created a relaxed base for their family and their work
Precision gardening is a modern and creative method of gardening. Here are my 7 tips for a successful precision garden!
Some of the grandest gardens on the East Coast are the work of landscape architects Edmund Hollander and Maryanne Connelly, who specialize in projects that
From rural cottage to grand estate, country gardens should be tailored to the house and landscape they occupy. Clare Foster talks to three garden designers about the elements that give a garden that all-important sense of place and we've included loads of inspiration to help you design your English country garden to perfection
Susan Strong's Northwest Arkansas garden enjoyed ideal summer weather in 2015, and the proof's in the photos!
Curved garden designs, paths, borders and arches. Whether you prefer contemporary or traditional gardens, curves make it look bigger.
We love our container gardens, but they're not just for annuals anymore. Discover 7 unexpected plants that can grow in containers, you won't be disappointed!
photo by Didier Willery What is evergeen, deer resistant, thrives in shade, has flowers and comes back every year? You could answ...
The gravel garden has never been more popular, thanks to the pressures of climate change—and the strange misconception that it is somehow low-maintenance.
Découvrez comment économiser beaucoup d'eau sur votre consommation d'eau de jardin, en utilisant des pots en terre cuite non émaillée. Tuto fabriquer Olla
Dangar Barin Smith design an incredible Australian country garden in the Hunter Valley, complete with nearly 40 crepe myrtle trees and TWO man-made lakes!
Love plants and gardening? Whether you're an expert or beginner, find tips, tricks, DIYs, tutorials, and more to help grow your green thumb!
From rural cottage to grand estate, country gardens should be tailored to the house and landscape they occupy. Clare Foster talks to three garden designers about the elements that give a garden that all-important sense of place and we've included loads of inspiration to help you design your English country garden to perfection
Recently when I judged The 68th Chronicle Garden Competition, preceding Toowoomba’s Carnival of Flowers, I chose ‘Terrara’, a garden growing mainly Australian native plants as Gra…
Fross, who runs Native Sons Nursery in Arroyo Grande (San Luis Obispo County), recently...
Looking to start a container garden? If you are new to container gardening, here is what you need to know to make your project a blooming success.
Flowers Teresa from Meadowbrook Farm knows her zinnias! Her favorite varieties are Magellan and State Fair. Another variety she like is Cactus. Click here to see her other must have annuals. photos from Meadowbrook Farm Year Round Lettuce and Spinach in Containers How to Grow Lettuce - Easy Methods For Success Indoor Vegetable Gardening - Virginia Cooperative Extension - scroll down for section about growing indoors A Winter Container Garden - great article from Mother Earth News I'm dreaming of: I'm dreaming of... defined, non-muddy, weed-free, spacious pathways like the ones shown here from My Everyday Graces. Her post tells how she got the mulch for free. I'm dreaming of... raised beds, arranged with a plan in mind, in an enclosed area to keep out deer - and it should be pretty. I can't remember my source for this picture, but I'll keep looking Here's another good wonderful example found on Home Design Decorating. ... and another found on Sunset. Also see Sunset's Perfect Raised Bed. I'm dreaming of... a garden the deer can't get to. Here's an interesting idea from The Tucson Gardener. I think a high fence would be more practical for us. Beekman 1802 has a ton of ideas about Raised Bed Covers. I am really enjoying browsing their site... lots of good ideas! Also from Beekman 1802 - a post on trellises I'm dreaming of... fun, interesting, pretty trellises. Here's a good one found on Garden in a Minute's Flickr page. Lots of people sink PVC pipe in 2 or 4 spots in their raised beds to use as trellis supports. I found this example from lantanascape on Garden Web. Her trellis is made from electrical conduit. I'm dreaming of... a neat and tidy composting system from Clifford Country B&B Gardens - their raised bed garden is pretty, too. I'm dreaming of... a welcoming entrance to the garden. This one is at the Ash Lawn home of our 5th president, James Monroe. We may need two entrances. Of course Martha Stewart has gardens suitable for anyone's dreams! Her fence would certainly deter the deer . Raised Bed / No Till Gardening: "Soil compaction can reduce crop yields up to 50 percent. Water, air and roots all have difficulty moving through soil compressed by tractors, tillers or human feet. Plows, tillers or spades are the usual answers to this problem. But gardeners can avoid the problem by creating beds narrow enough to work from the sides. Organic matter can be increased greatly without getting bogged down, because raised beds drain better." Planting a Garden the No Till Way - from Jami at An Oregon Cottage "...I have very few weeds the entire remainder of the season. Honest! I don't need to cultivate, I never have any problem finding the seedlings because of weeds, and I can leave for a week and not come back to chaos." Raised Bed Vegetable Garden Design and Planning - Vegetable Gardening Online No Till Gardening - Oregon State University "...the no-dig method... Not only does it use less water, she says, it discourages weeds, improves the soil, and reduces labor for tilling and weeding." Build Your Own Raised Bed Garden - from The Pioneer Woman "...I have raised vegetable beds around my house, and I love them so much I add a couple every year." A Simple Raised Garden Plan - from Raised Bed Gardeing Blog "...Raised beds produce a variety of benefits: they extend the planting season; they reduce the need to use poor native soil; and they can reduce weeds if designed properly. Since the gardener does not walk on the raised beds, the soil is not compacted and the roots have an easier time growing. The close plant spacing and the use of compost generally result in higher yields with raised beds in comparison to conventional row gardening." Block Style Layout in Raised Bed Vegetable Gardens - Colorado State University Raised Bed Vegetable Gardens - Squidoo "...it is relatively easy to attach a framework of flexible PVC tubing to a raised garden bed over which you can place either clear plastic to create a greenhouse effect to extend your growing season even more, or some netting to prevent pests from getting to your vegetables..." How to Build a Raised Bed - interesting plan from Erin Covert Planting Guides and Charts: Central Alabama Planting Guide - a great guide for zone 7b, which is the same as Atlanta. Southeast Planting Zones Crop Rotation Chart - The Yankee Gardener Crop Rotation - Garden Organic Crop Rotation - Your Organic Gardening Blog Typical Harvest Dates in Georgia - good chart How to Plant Just about Everything - from Kitchen Stewardship Seed Starter Containers: Make Seed Starter Pots From Newspapers, Method 1 - Slide Tutorial Make Seed Starter Pots From Newspapers, Method 2 - Get the newspaper moist, using two containers that are the same size, line one with the newspaper and press in with the other container. Remove the second container and let the newspaper dry. Use this to plant your seeds, and when your plants come up and are ready to plant in the garden, you can plant the newspaper pot and all. The newspaper will decompose over time. Save eggshell halves for starting seeds. Use a tack to poke a drainage hole in each half then place the eggshell halves into an egg carton. Fill each shell with potting soil then add seeds and water.When it is time to plant seedlings, squeeze the eggshells to crush them then put the whole thing into the ground. Cardboard or Styrofoam egg cartons can be used to start seeds. Fill each cup with soil then plant seeds. If you use a Styrofoam carton poke a hole in the bottom of each cup for drainage. Yogurt Containers Cardboard coffee takeout trays are perfect and work well as seed starter pots. Source 1 Reminders for Next Year: Hang the trellis fences higher so it will be easier to weed. Dad wants to try Romano beans. Try at least two no-till raised beds. Space the rows further apart!!! Space the plants further apart. Mulch when planting. Plant less. Do something about the deer. Garden Markers: Fun Idea from Scraps and Scribbles Worm Farms (Vermiculture) Vermiculture Blog - I found lots of info on this blog including many of the videos below Setting Up the Worm Factory - YouTube video Cheap and Easy Worm Farming Worm Bin Temperature - lots more info on this site Temperature Extremes Have Their Challenges - another good info site Wood Worm Farms - supposedly better for outside use... year round Setting Up a Simple Bed: Global WORMing - love this video Vermiculture - plywood bin at blog - Mesa Lane COW Unwrapped - picture set showing how to set up Can of Worms bin Composting With Worms, Earth 911 - Ordering Seeds: Southern Exposure Seed Exchange - Virginia Johnny's Selected Seed - Maine Heirloom Seeds - Pennsylvania - They only sell open pollinated seeds - no hybrids! :-D -special page for Southern Favorites Seeds of Change - New Mexico Seed Savers Exchange - Iowa - non-profit, heirloom seeds Renee's Garden - California -some heirloom & open-pollinated Bountiful Gardens - California - heirloom, open-pollinated Amazon - a variety of vegetable seeds, some heirloom, different brands MISC: Thrifty and Money Saving Gardening Ideas and Tricks Cheap Tricks for Seed Starting Winter sowing - in plastic jugs and bottles - click here for explanation Edging and Compost Talk - from Donna at Funky Junk Interiors Fabulous Tomato Cages - also see recommendation on blog, Four Hills of Squash - here and here When to Pick and How to Ripen Pears to Perfection - great article!
There’s no better way to make your house a home than improving the land that surrounds it. Having nothing but a flat patch of grass or dirt is rather wasteful considering you paid for that land, so make the most of it. A yard would naturally be the first choice for most homeowners, and for good reason.
