master gardener class

48 hour countdown to members tour

June 7, 2016

As I sit here typing and drinking lots of very strong, delicious coffee, it is Tuesday morning. Not the discount home store but a mark on the calendar. On Thursday morning, just 48 hours from now, we will open the farm to almost 90 local Master Gardeners. The Lazy W was invited to participate in this year’s members’ tour, the theme being countryside homes and eclectic or offbeat styles. **PERFECT** right? So I am pretty excited. Quite. I love gardening and I love having people here. The morning will pass quickly with two separate tour buses loaded with about 44 people each, and I am having fun deciding what refreshments to serve.

Handsome and I try to keep things spiffy around here just for our own pleasure, and to entertain friends and family, but welcoming accomplished gardeners with cameras means that we are kicking it up a notch or two. We will be pretty busy between now and Thursday morning, getting beds cleaned and weeds pulled. Trees trimmed and lawns watered. Etcetera, etcetera. Maybe one or two extra flower pots?

flower bed work may 2016 — My husband snapped this photo of me in early May. You would not believe how much this flower bed has exploded with color and foliage since then! All our rain and easy temps in Oklahoma have been wonderful.

Please send your good, happy vibes! Send your spare energy and mental high fives, too. We love them all.

I’ll be posting updates on Instagram and Snapchat, so feel free to join the conversations there. I would love that. Until next time, happy gardening!

“Won’t you come into my garden?
I would like my roses to see you.”
~Richard Sheridan
18th century Irish playwright
XOXOXOXO

extra curricular activities, lately

November 10, 2015

My life and schedule seem to be undergoing as much change lately as the leaves and temperatures outside. The changes are gradual, for the most part, but certainly noticeable. I thought I’d fill you guys in a tiny bit and see what feels like a story worth telling.

The Oklahoma Master Gardeners, which you heard so much about last year as I attended classes, is now a more permanent part of my life. If you follow along on Instagram then you might have noticed that a few weeks ago we graduated from student-interns to certified. I think. I mean, are we yet? Who knows? haha We might be at least certifiable. But the ceremony was fun and satisfying after so much reading and so many hours of phone duty. Now my ongoing responsibilities are mostly with the group’s Social Media Committee. This is great for me, because I like to stay home as much as possible but still contribute and keep in touch with folks. As the momentum with this fledgling project builds, I will have the opportunity to share really good, useful gardening information with anyone who feels like listening. A week or so ago was our monthly meeting, and afterwards I went to a brainstorming lunch with Elizabeth, one of the other two ladies on our committee, in fact the chair. She is one of the friendliest people you will ever meet. Do you remember our garden tour stop at her Mesta Park home? Same sweet lady. She is very encouraging and direct when it comes to brainstorming sessions, and she has excellent taste in lunch fare. We tried a place in midtown OKC that was completely new to me. She also took me to a nearby community garden filled with foods and herbs, but I will show you more of that another day.

This was a "haus salad" topped with feta and fresh falafel. Delicious to the max. — This was a “haus salad” topped with feta and fresh falafel. Delicious to the max.

Another big slice of my time is being devoted to the Oklahoma Beekeepers’ Association. Perhaps you already knew that our Lazy W Honeymakers went the way of the dinosaurs, so I have been lax in giving pollinator updates around here. But I never gave up hope. My great-grandfather was so accomplished, and I am so surrounded by knowledgeable, generous people, how could I ever give up? So anyway, at the recent statewide conference for the Oklahoma Beekeepers’ Association, I was elected Secretary. I had already agreed to write the state newsletter whenever needed (I am a dork and love pretending to be a reporter), so this is a great fit. The fact that my new role will give me even more exposure to successful beekeepers is just icing on the honey cake. haha Below I am posing happily with Maribeth, my mentor and friend who you have met several times here on my blog. She is serving as President for the organization in the coming year, probably the coming decade. I am super exited about this new undertaking. (If you got the bee joke there in that last sentence, bonus points to you.)

When I make time for it, I am running again. I’ll post more about that probably next Monday, but the short version is that I have set a goal for November of 100 miles, just to get back in the groove of things. When I don’t have a race or a “little back dress” event coming up, it is scary easy to make excuses about my nutrition and put running at the bottom of my priorities list. I always pay for that mistake with a bad attitude, low energy, and more, so this month I am happy to be back in some healthy habits. I am already seeing improvements.

The west field loop is just perfection right now. Wedding Meadow is crunchy but colorful.

Something else old that is new again? Sewing! My embroidery machine is finally home from the repair shop, long story, and then Handsome surprised me with a second brand new sewing machine. So on the days that I seclude myself in the Apartment to drum up a cottony, scrappy storm, both machines plus the iron are going pretty non stop. It’s a very soothing sound, often shadowed by some Sting or Carla Bruni music. I am having lots of fun filling orders for friends and hope this trend continues.

The farm is doing pretty great, all distractions considered. Yes, I could spend a little more time scooping manure or raking leaves or maybe learning to ride our lazy horses, who have no real duties besides snuffling me. I could also spend more time in the gardens before winter hits, because I know in a matter of weeks I will be sad for sunshine. But the days and weeks are in balance with my priorities right now. I truly feel settled. The season for other things will roll around eventually.

Can you tell from this distance how much Klaus has grown? When he runs between my legs I can just about sit on him.

So all this is what has been keeping me too busy to blog much, all the stuff I’ve been doing between feeding and cooking and cleaning up after said feeding and cooking. And laundry-ing and ironing. And driving my cute car.

Taking stock of my gratitude is pretty easy these days. I am more protective over our domestic bliss and private joys than I have been in a long time, for reasons that are so lame I will not even give them air time here. Suffice it to say that no attack from the outside, whether professional or personal, social or downright spiritual, really matters so long as the home is healthy and strong. Kind of like the beehive, you know? So let’s tend our lives and our homes well. Stay healthy and strong, friends, and be happy.

Until we meet again, will you please give this idea some thought? Who are the women who have changed your life, really? I feel a big, juicy post coming on exactly this.

“How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.”
~Annie Dillard
XOXOXOXO

karen filley’s verdant zen retreat

October 12, 2015

Did you think maybe I forgot about finishing the garden tour? Not by a long shot, friends. It’s just that life has been wonderfully full this past month, and I did not want to rush through any of the remaining five featured gardens. Each of them deserves our full attention.

Today I want to share with you the fourth stop, the home of Karen Filley, which is also where we enjoyed a nice boxed lunch in the shade. But before I invite you into Karen’s garden, I have to pause to offer this embarrassing disclaimer: By midday on September 9th, my cell phone was dead. Totally dead. I had taken so many photos already and was on social media so much, sharing the excitement, that it just wore out, haha. Karen was nice enough to let me charge it indoors while we nibbled lunch and sipped iced tea, but by the very tail end of our stay it was only halfway charged again. So I had to literally sprint around her gorgeous property snapping photos here and there, desperately scribbling down corresponding phrases in my notebook. Rumor has it she is an open-hearted hostess who would welcome me back for a more lingering tour some day, and if that happens I will be sure to include you, fair reader, in the fun.

Okay. Let’s talk about lovely things.

Before we even stepped off the tour bus onto her property, Karen had grabbed a microphone and prepped us with some information about the gardens here. She explained how her husband sees “impossible” and “difficult for this climate” as challenges, not boundaries. How they propagate much of their planting material right here in their own greenhouse. And how, yes, they would be happy to share starts and seedlings. Just let her know what you want. You will have to dig it yourself, but you can have stuff. She welcomed us to eat anywhere in the expansive back yard, saving the one table bearing potted orchids, which was reserved for our beloved organizer Pat Chivers (my mentor!). Our hostess made us feel so welcome. I was really excited to get outside, and I was also anxious to charge my phone. Thank you for this favor, Karen!

The curving concrete walk from the bus to the garden gate was stunning enough. Ruffles and ruffles of color. Shade trees as thick and luxurious as the ones you see in the deep south but maybe more casual. And then you walk beneath a magnificent Magnolia around the corner bend, the biggest one I have ever seen outside of New Orleans. Breathtaking.

KF white shady edge — Regarding the ruffles of color, Karen and her husband have clearly learned that lesson of repetition like I had just noticed at Will Rogers a few minutes earlier.

KF sunny edge — Isn’t this fun? It’s like growing confetti and streamers all summer. You should see it in person!

How best to describe the mood of Karen’s back yard? It emits this very Zen-like vibration, but it also has a lot of artistic energy. The predominant color is jungle green, loaded with texture, but with a spectrum of pinks and purples and other pops of bright, juicy color, more than what you might imagine with just the word Zen in mind. Tropical. Lots of tropical vibes, evidence of her husband’s penchant for a good growing challenge. She has arranged several comfortable places to sit and linger and has added lots of artwork, both expensive looking and quirky, happy, interesting. I found myself thinking she and I could be good friends based solely on her taste in garden accessories.

The back yard is a curving, meandering, kinetic space that begs you to move deeper, deeper, deeper still. It has a flow that leads you calmly and is not the kind of place that wants to be rushed, so I felt so weird running through to snap photos before the bus left me.

The experience here is the most wonderful mix of Louisiana and Oklahoma, but forced into submission, disciplined and held to quite a high standard of performance. It’s like if Oklahoma and Louisiana gardens had a baby and sent it to boarding school in England but it dropped out to pursue an art career in Japan, but then the parents love it so much they can’t stop sending money. Really exciting. I grooved the atmosphere so much.

KF ajuga hydrangea path — I lingered here too long, fully expecting to see a mythical creature cross my path. Maybe a faun?

The meandering paths are so seductive. Then right when your eye needs it you are washed in sunshine with these expansive lawns, all dotted by more seating areas and graceful little tree vistas.

Something I really grooved about Karen’s space was her use of foal points and inviting passageways and landing spots.

Lessons and Takeaways

The tropical leanings of Karen’s garden oasis is really an encouragement to those of us who only grow, for example, a couple of sweet potato vines or a patch of begonias here and there. The takeaway? Max it out! Grow more of those things. Grow it with other unexpected stuff. Find some banana trees, pair hydrangeas with ajuga, dive right in and grow a tropical party.
Do not shy away from a challenge. Think about micro climates. Build up your soil. Focus on the plants’ needs and find ways to meet them.
Plan pathways and design landing spots and focal points throughout. Let your garden become its own tour guide.
Think about structure and bones and how the gardens will look outside of peak bloom time. (I have a secret wish to tour this property during a snowstorm! The trees, shrubs, pathways, hills, ironwork and pathways are so interesting.)
One more comment about soil: Karen’s garden is perfumed with peat. The raised beds are built up and thick and almost black. She has grown a crepe myrtle as massive an an oak tree, and the featured banana tree is just stunning. Mammoth. The lesson is feed your soil and go big or go home! This also applies to your container gardens.
In addition to micro climates, consider micro themes within your garden. Plant Japanese Maples and add Japanese artwork and a bamboo fountain, for example. Grow roses and add English style rose arbors. Use the power of collections to create visual impact and that cohesive feeling that well designed rooms give you.
Especially challenging plants can be grown in pots that are sunken halfway underground in good weather, then brought indoors to overwinter. Karen did this with a palm tree and I will definitely be stealing the idea.
Shun emptiness. Where you are not growing plants or flowers or mammoth trees, cultivate an emerald green golf course lawn. The luxurious feeling will make it worth the effort and expense.
Think about mood and what affect your garden has on people. Karen’s spell is tranquil and seductive. There is a strong feminine energy here that pulses out of every bed, every curve and color. It seems orchestrated and then let loose, an aesthetic well worth pursuing.
Garden joyfully! Be generous and embracing.

Whew! Friends, looking back through these desperately snapped photos made my mouth water all over again. And reading back through my notes made me want to call Karen and beg for a little Q & A with her and her husband. I feel like they have a lot of knowledge to offer us, with advice ranging from design to science and everything in between. I bet their art pieces each has a cool story, too. I would be very happy to massage my own gardens here at the farm into some semblance of her Zen-like retreat. It’s all just so gorgeous.

Thank you Karen! Thank you so much for the garden tour, for hosting lunch, for offering us baby Redbuds and more, and for letting me charge my phone. You are a generous soul and a talented designer and garden artist.

“A garden without its statue
is like a sentence without its verb.”
~Joseph W. Beach
XOXOXOXO

okc will rogers park gardens

September 23, 2015

Welcome to the third installment of the Oklahoma County Master Gardeners’ 2015 Members’ Tour!
If you are just joining the eye candy parade, please feel free to explore stop #1 here and stop #2 here.
Our tour bus’ third stop that fine late summer day was at a local public landmark, Will Rogers Park.
Hope you enjoy!

The gardens at Will Rogers Park have for many decades been popular for weddings, social gatherings, civic receptions, and all sorts of special photography sessions. I think most locals have good childhood memories wrapped up in these 116 acres. The grounds have recently undergone a perfectly stunning transformation, and exploring in early September was the perfect way to take it all in. I am so glad this place was included in the Members’ Tour. My photos, as usual, will not do any of it justice, so I hope my Oklahoma friends will find time to venture to N.W. 36th & Hefner Parkway and feast your own eyes. We all know that the gorgeous Myriad gardens in downtown OKC get lots of fanfare and tourist attention, but this mainstay is enjoying a new season of youth and beauty. Totally worth the drive.

First, some interesting history, courtesy of our tour guide John, a 28-year veteran horticulturist for the park:

WRP was founded in 1912, one of four parks around the city, all connected at that time by the OKC speedway known as “Grand Boulevard.”
The 116 acres started as a dairy farm, and the original farm house stands on the property to this day.
The WPA and the CCC did the construction work and hardscaping early on, though every decade since has brought new redesign and updates. Truly a fun work in progress.
The public gardens finally opened in 1936.
The existing Conservatory was once our State Fair Grounds.
The Conservatory has been remodeled at least twice; once in 1970 by Ed Lychon and again in recent years, to the tune of about $2 million. Today the gorgeous, modern, light filled building is used as a special event center.
Another fairly new expansion at WRP is the one-mile walking trail, which is used daily by all sorts of happy gartden guests.
Over the years, WRP has been maintained mostly by volunteers from both the Master Gardener group and the Oklahoma Horticulture Society, also sometimes a women’s recovery group. The park has a limited budget and only three full time employees. Even so, virtually all of their plant material is propagated on grounds. All the color and texture you see here is grown from seed, and they focus on plants that the average homeowner could obtain locally. Kind of amazing.

Now, a glimpse of the grounds. We visited mid-morning on an early September day. The sky was nearly cloudless, and the air was already hot and humid. Thick, like always. Oklahoma had just enjoyed a nice, wet summer, so anything that could bloom was really putting on a show; and anything that had something to offer the pollinators, well, they drew a fluttering, buzzing crowd for us to walk through. It was really magical. Our group did seek the cool of shady corners now and then, but the gleaming beauty of each new area was just so thrilling. So bursting with life, like maybe we were in Oz.

Every vista here offers a new reason to gasp.

These gardens prove that Oklahoma offers a fantastic show of color in early September.

Purple and red together. Again, en masse. The gardeners at Will Rogers simply do not operate in small quantities. haha

This simple expression of strong growers speaks straightto my own heart. Big, fluffy irnamental grass in a sea of black sweet poato vine. My gohs!! And frineds, this photo shows just a fraction of the long, long, long bed filled with this plant combo. Stunning! — This simple expression of strong Oklahoma growers speaks straight to my own heart. Big, fluffy ornamental grass in a sea of black sweet potato vine. My gosh!! And friends, this photo shows just a fraction of the long, long, long, wide bed filled with this plant combo. Stunning!

Speaking of bold statements using reliable growers, what do you think of this white vitex growing against he tropical backdrop of a non-hardy banana tree? — Speaking of bold statements using reliable growers, what do you think of this white vitex growing against the tropical backdrop of a non-hardy banana tree? I vote yes.

The ancient roses may be gone, but this landmark fountain and round concrete pool are still here, almost in the center of the acreage. Talk about childhood memories!

Not far from the fountain you can explore the herb garden, divided into tidy sections by a smooth sidewalk. Our tour guide described some experiments they are trying here (no more Swiss chard, he said) and showed where the stout Oklahoma winds have done some damage to taller plants. Nevertheless this area is gorgeous. Well kept, thriving, interesting. Just like the rest of the place. And friends, my herb garden at the farm looks EXACTLY this perfect. (not) : ) — Not far from the fountain you can explore the herb garden, divided into tidy sections by a smooth sidewalk. Our tour guide described some experiments they are trying here (no more Swiss chard, he said) and showed where the stout Oklahoma winds have done some damage to taller plants. Nevertheless this area is gorgeous. Well kept, thriving, interesting. Just like the rest of the place. And friends, my herb garden at the farm looks EXACTLY this perfect. (not) haha

So peaceful. In addition to zen-seeking people, this pond attracts lots of birds and wildlife. Evidently the Canadian geese eat everything except yellow tulips.

Loofah! Seems like everyone is growing loofah these days except me. True to form, though, Will Rogers gardens is boasting a long, deep row of loofah, like so many green-draped sentinels. — Loofah! Seems like everyone is growing loofah these days except me. True to form, though, Will Rogers gardens is boasting not one but many loofah vines, a long, deep row of these beauties, like so many green-draped sentinels.

WR pollinator kit — Believe it or not, this plush, full-sun garden was grown from seed using a mail order pollinator kit. Color me tempted!

WR kit closeup — This photo is a little blurry, but I couldn’t resist a closeup of some of the flowers in that pollinator garden.

I remember visiting Will Rogers gardens as a little girl, all of us girls wearing our long cotton pastel Easter dresses, bangs twisted back in barrettes, having our photos taken in the sun, near the pond. We ran up and around the sidewalks, falling in love with the shady concrete paths and running across the green lawns. I remember thinking even then how dangerous and delicate rose bushes were. How temporary and unfeeling they seemed. I threw lots of coins in the fountain pool and conducted my fair share of make believe stories in the cobblestone shelters. Wonderful memories that were probably very formative for me.

You know what, let’s double back to those roses. Locals know and love this place for the dozens upon dozens of thriving rose bushes that once grew, making WRP home to the fourth largest rose garden in the world; but just like at almost every other property in the region the plants were stricken by Rose Rosette’s disease. The horticulturists here made the angsty decision to rip all of them out and start fresh with new garden designs. Brand new plant material, all propagated on site in the spacious, drool-worthy grow houses. In fact, Master Gardeners were some of the volunteers to install all of that glorious color you see above.

So, it’s too bad about the roses. For sure. But my gosh. How true to the Oklahoma spirit that they found a way to extract this kind of beauty from such a loss. It just makes me happy.

Here are some of my personal takeaways from the WRP tour, lessons I’d like to apply at the farm:

Make plant selections suitable for the vacancies you are filling. Consider light exposure, wind, trees, etc. Be experimental but also deliberate about it. (This seems more obvious than it is when I am traipsing through the nursery…)
Learn more about drought-tolerant plants and Oklahoma Proven.
Plant single flower types in extra large quantities. “En masse’ is super impactful! John said halfway ashamedly that they “kinda overdid it,” here and there, haha but I disagree. It is all so gorgeous!!
Spend some energy on repetition and exciting combinations of color and texture. More planning, less dice rolling.
Consider keeping replacement plants growing in a spare location, especially for those beauties done En Masse.
Plan to reevaluate the garden each fall, taking stock of what grew well, what struggled, what could be improved. Work on soils, clean things up, and spend the winter preparing for spring.

Something I appreciate about WRP is that, though they operate on such a large scale, they have found ways to overcome many of the same problems we face as homeowners and small scale gardeners. For example, they have a limited budget. They have little irrigation, relying almost entirely on rainfall. They strive to grow Oklahoma natives as well as plants that are either sourced locally or can be propagated on site. And they have lots of work to do with very little time to do it, haha! Sound familiar? They do not even own their own wood chipper! I mean, it is humbling in the sense that what they have accomplished here obliterates all my excuses. And it is inspiring for exactly that same reason.

My herb bed looks better than this now but also much crazier! Nothing at all like the tidy sections at WRP. I had to clear my conscience.

Okay friends, thanks a million for stopping here again! I hope you enjoyed this slice of the Members’ Tour. We still have five more properties to explore, so stay tuned!

“The worst thing that happens to you
may be the best thing for you
if you don’t let it get the best of you.”
~Will Rogers
XOXOXOXO

elizabeth’s exquisite shady retreat in heritage hills

September 17, 2015

Friends, before we embark on the second of eight garden tours, I need to explain an intense physical reaction I had to Elizabeth’s gorgeous (exquisite!) property. It happened to me in two parts: First, as the tour bus pulled into her Heritage Hills neighborhood, I immediately recognized the streets and front yards as the shady neighborhood toward the end of the marathon route, I am guessing around mile 24? It’s where I was really crying hard last April, all sad and hungry and pathetic. So I sat there on the tour bus, sort of paralyzed in my plush seat and nauseous for a moment. I had to actively remind myself that I was wearing a long dress and sandals and no one could make me run today, haha! The second part of all this was the overwhelming relief I felt as soon as said sandals hit the cool, sheltered sidewalk leading up to her house. Elizabeth and Pat were standing there to welcome us, too, so my heart was pretty much dissolving into happiness. Whew!

These lovely women!! Pat Chivers in the red tee shirt organized our tour, and you may remember she was my mentor last autumn at Master Gardener class! This is Elizabeth with her, welcoming the big group. I am so glad to know them both. xoxo — These lovely women!! Pat Chivers in the red tee organized our tour, and you may remember she was my mentor last autumn at Master Gardener class! This is Elizabeth with her, welcoming the big group. I am so glad to know them both. xoxo

The overall mood of Elizabeth’s garden was tranquil. Cooling. Soothing. Truly elegant and inviting, maybe even in the Be careful ma’am you might soon find a bunch of us having coffee on your back patio kinda of way. I mean, you walk up to her front steps, beneath this stunning blue spruce, then around the side of her home past a pergola dressed in ancient grape vines, and finally to the back, and feel like you have entered a true Southern estate touched by a bit of Japanese Zen.

Before we chat much more, here is the write up of Elizabeth’s garden provided on our tour sheet:

After three years in her Heritage Hills home, Elizabeth continues to benefit from an existing landscape design. She says her garden is definitely a work in progress. She likes to experiment with shade-loving perennials and enjoys dabbling with annuals for color and to benefit the butterflies. She likes to give different vines a try and has them in pots so she can move them to capture sun and shade. A lovely, old pergola supports a very old grapevine, and be sure to check out the mature sycamores and American Elm here. These trees have had a long life on this small property and provide much needed shade throughout the hot summer. This garden is eclectic and a work in progress which brings the gardener much joy and lots of shade. Spots of sun host pots of flowers and vines and maybe a small fountain in the future.

I love this description and have to repeat that all of it together, but maybe especially the big, old trees on a smallish lot give it the feel of the Deep South. Luxurious closeness and calm. Elizabeth has incorporated some pops of bright color here and there, mostly the cheerful pink of begonias, but the ruling color scheme is blue-green-grey and all things cool. Lots of white edges. I just loved it. This is something I have craved but not had had the nerve to attempt, and she did it. She did it very well. The design is sound, of course, but then there is all the scrupulous attention to detail, the impeccable grooming, the perfect borders and rinsed off surfaces.

Even with its cool color palette, Elizabeth's front porch offers such a warm welcome. — Even with its cool color palette, Elizabeth’s front porch offers such a warm welcome.

Is her clematis not downright bridal? I have big dreams for my little baby clematis, in case we ever host another wedding. ; ) — Isn’t her clematis not downright bridal? I have big dreams for my little baby clematis, in case we ever host another wedding. ; )

In addition to the deep, wonderful front porch, her home boasts an expansive concrete patio out back, raised almost to a second story level and plushly furnished for outdoor living and cooking. We also spotted several sweet little seating areas throughout the shaded backlawn. I saw a patio with a chiminea (which was capped with a colorful glass gazing ball, so fun!) and a darling painted iron bench, for starters.

Beneath and within this grove of trees, you can smell the peat, the air is as cool as an indoor room, and I kept catching a vision of all of us sitting with coffee, talking for hours.

Elizabeth's flexible use of potted flowers made every little corner soft and fluffy. Again, so inviting. — Elizabeth’s generous use of potted flowers made every little corner soft and fluffy. Again, so inviting.

The mostly formal, estate-like feel of the gardens was made perfectly cheerful and personal with Elizabeth’s judicious use of garden art. What fun!

This penny-covered sphere nearly blended into the dark soil. I only saw it on close inspection of some perennials. What a fun surprise! And I think it's both fun and elegant. — This penny-covered sphere nearly blended into the dark soil. I only saw it on close inspection of some perennials. What a fun surprise! I think it’s both whimsical and elegant.

I have not yet mentioned her Japanese Maple collection. A nice variety of these gentle, feathery trees with their colors ranging from soft rust to quiet purple or mahogany lent the otherwise green paradise some blood. Just a little heat. They grew quietly in the shade or dappled shade and nearly blended in with the bark of their much larger counterparts, the sycamore and Elm; but then without warning they would take center stage. Just magnificent. At a quiet moment toward the end of our stay (I could have stayed here all day, really), I asked our hostess whether she has a favorite Japanese Maple among the collection. She looked around affectionately and answered no, she doesn’t really, though there is that one frilly one there she likes a lot. At this, she smiled and maybe she winked.

The maples at varying heights and fullness, the hostas, the mossy rock paths, so many layers and variations on the theme of soft and cool and quiet… All of it together was a symphony of summertime in the south. I was tempted to believe she had even designed the patterns for how the sun poured through the tree branches. It all worked together beautifully.

Someone should totally linger here and write a classic novel.

Details that made a big impression on me personally:

I fell in love with her use of different vines in containers. Big, tumbling, voluptuous plants climbing up elegant supports and spilling over the edges of pots… Loved it.
I loved the sense of symmetry and balance everywhere. Walking through her garden you feel connected to both the ground and the under story of those big trees. You can also feel the symmetry from left to right, front to back. Everywhere. It felt good. Safe.
I really liked how aggressively the small trees were pruned. Redbuds, maples, a white crab apple, and more boasted clean legs and spacious, reaching tops. It allowed tons of sunshine which created so many lacy shadows.
Always a sucker for contrast, I was smitten by the many casual blooms filling fancy pots, maybe dressed up with iron ornaments. It reminded me fondly of the French Quarter, where shopkeepers grow asparagus fern in ornate bowls, for example.

Lessons and Take aways:

Never underestimate the power of good grooming. Perfectly weeded beds, razor sharp edges, black-brown mulch and soil, and well pruned trees and shrubs… All the attention to health and cleanliness makes the visitor feel settled, safe, at rest.
Master the art of the vignette. A painted bench with a trio of potted flowers or vines, placed right where you need it, is the sweetest thing.
Honor your color scheme, if you have chosen one. The ruling palette of blue-green-grey, carried throughout her property, made everything feel cohesive and intentional. This doesn’t prevent you from playing with other little pops of color, but it proves how powerful a color scheme can be in the garden.
Don’t surrender to shade, but work with it. Improve the soil, expand the beds, love the trees. Collect shade loving plants like hostas and hydrangeas. Bless the cool and use it.
Connect different beds with wide, clean walkways.
Incorporate symmetry at garden gates or key vistas. Grow pairs of big shrubs, arrange pairs of potted flowers, etc.
Look hard at existing garden design and build on it as you incorporate your own personality. Especially a property with nearly ancient trees needs care with long term vision and a sense of respect for history.

Thank you so much, Elizabeth, for a truly wonderful slice of time in your paradise. I walked away inspired, calmed, challenged, and feeling very loved for some reason. Your garden exudes your sweet spirit, and I am so happy to have met both.

“Garden as though you will live forever.”
~William Kent
XOXOXOXO

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