paisley garden (more from open days)

I have always wanted to visit Helen's Haven, and the Thompson Garden, but I think my favorite was Paisley Garden. Paisley had the design asthetic I tend to go for: a generous mix of (hardy and not hardy) tropical plants, herbaceous perennials, flowering shrubs and trees, and annuals to bridge the gaps between peak blooming periods. The layout of the beds were relaxed and unpretentious, so you could just meander through from one to the next without feeling like there was a severe transition among them.

In the Thompsons' garden I like how Kathleen and Walt planted Naked Ladies among flowering annuals so they just pop up unexpectedly! Their teacup fountain reminds me of the one at Chanticleer.

My favorite part of Helen’s Haven was the bed of HUGE castor bean plants in her front yard. See more from Open Days http://picasaweb.google.com/sandrazazzara/OpenDaysGardenTours#

open days garden tours

This weekend was the Garden Conservancy's Open Days Garden Tours. I volunteered to sit in one of the gardens, and had a chance to visit a few too. It's always a treat when this happens in our area. People open up their gardens (and sometimes homes) to folks and I think it's a great way to see how other people enjoy their garden space. This picture here is Rose Cottage, the garden where I volunteered.

Rose Cottage was a garden of surprises; there were many unexpected delights to be seen in this city garden in Oakwood. From the front yard you couldn't really tell what awaited behind the house. Once you were back there, you were charmed by plants of all kinds from annuals to perennials, shrubs such as Edgeworthia and blooming Camellias; and there was a gorgeous Clematis armandii at the back door. Behind, and off to the right of the building you see in this picture, sits the vegetable garden; a composting area and secret garden were back behind there as well.

I was invited to come back to see Rose Cottage in spring by homeowners Jim and Sharon. You could tell by seeing the other plants in the garden that it would be worth the visit, knowing that this is a garden of at least 3 season interest.

busy bees

I just had a great dinner with some of my fellow volunteers from JCRA. We went to Busy Bee Cafe, then to Hillsborough St near campus for Loco Pops. Yummy! What a fabulous way to take a break from working in the garden to socialize with friends!

The evening was not without plants, mind you, as we were graced with plant gifts! Sandy brought not only variegated Solomon's Seal, but columbine seeds too. And, of course we talked about plants. My favorite subject!!!

I'm frequently quizzed by Vanette, whose questions about plants range from mundane to mysterious. She keeps me on my toes, testing my knowledge, which is great for my brain. I can't wait to hear all about the removal of some privet at her home garden; she and her husband are getting ready to replace some awful, and old, privet to make way for beautyberry instead. What a great choice!

I'm looking forward to planting my Solomon's Seal, and spreading some columbine seeds. I just emptied a container I have on my front porch; I think I'll put some of the Solomon's Seal in it. The variegation in the leaf will look great against the creamy white color of the container. Then, I'll plant some white tulips in October or November to come up next spring. It's an awesome combo in a garden setting, I think I'll enjoy it in a container too. It's a combo I used several years ago in my aunt's garden, so I can't wait to recreate it on my front porch for next spring. I'll plant the rest under the trees along my drive, plenty of shade there.

I had so much fun tonight, I hope we do this again real soon.

30 days

I just visited NC's state fair website, the official countdown is now 30 days left 'til opening day. 30 days.

That's 30 days to get my garden finished up. 30 days to finish the final rendering of the plot plan (design). 30 days to complete my garden concept statement. 30 days. Am I getting a little nervous? Just a little.

I worked a lot in the garden this past weekend: Saturday almost all day, Sunday for at least a couple of hours. The coleus cuttings I rooted haven't really done much (No kidding dummy! Did I really think that they would produce much in 2 months? C'mon!). I planted them anyway, as if by some chance they might produce some size.

So, I planted some more, fertilized, agonized, and weeded. And came to the realization that there are about 4 weeks left to show time, and sure enough it's 30 days. 30 days. Did I mention it was 30 days left?

My first lesson learned this particular year was that I didn't start early enough. In the past I've started as early as June and I wished that I'd started later. So, this year I waited until August. That was just a bit too late.

It'll be fine. I don't really play to win, I just play to have fun. And that's a spirit of the game I don't want to lose. There are so many things I learn each year in this process, and to me that's half of it right there.

alien v. predator

I hold Praying Mantises in high esteem as the kings and queens of the insect world. And, I've often likened them to be the most alien-like, with their unusually shaped triangular heads and large, compound eyes that seem to stare right back at you. In the garden they are among the most beloved insects to have due to their predatory nature since they feed, in part, on bad bugs. So, while it is true they're predators, this particular one got caught in a web, and lost the battle against a hungry spider. Can you see the spider at the end of its abdomen?

I was in complete shock and awe, in disbelief that this knight in my garden has been conquered by another beast of prey within its same pecking order (in my estimation anyway). So what else could I do but get my camera?!

When I was a young girl I was scared of Praying Mantises, not really understanding what was behind that praying-like stance. When I got into gardening and plants I realized there was no other insect that got my attention quite like Mantids. In college, entomology was my favorite class, and I felt bad for having to kill one to display in a case for a semester-long insect collecting project. I sort of felt that same sorrow, as it were, when I saw this one hanging in the web, barely alive as the spider sucked its life away.

textures and patterns

I'm extremely attracted to texture and pattern in plants; dare I say moreso than flowers. When I got home from work today I couldn't help but marvel at some of my plants. It rained this afternoon, so it was nice and cloudy. Water droplets were suspended on the leaves of many of my plants and it was so inspiring, I just couldn't help myself from taking pictures.

This is Begonia 'Fireworks', my absolute fave. I'm a big fan of fireworks and the pattern on this leaf is just so amazing. I love how the black centers radiate out to silver, then purple at the edge. It's an iridescent leaf, which I wish could be properly captured in the image, but I just couldn't get it.

I've found that my tastes in garden design have gravitated toward liking gardens with greater textural differences versus color. The Silver Garden at Longwood Gardens achieves just that, and has always been a source of inspiration for me with it's display of dessert and Mediterranean plants. Though of one common color pallette, it's the varying textures that make the design of the garden.

Another noteworthy texture garden at Longwood is the Fern Passage. It is so cool and green, and perfectly lustful and airy feeling. And there's that real earthy smell that evokes the perfect reaction of being in the tropics. I just love it!

Patterns play an important role for me too. One of the best caladiums I've grown is 'Red Flash', and it's more than just an elephant-ear shaped leaf with red color. There's a distinct edge of green and inside the red center are large freckles of silver.

Manihot esculenta 'Variegata' was such a great find for me many, many years ago. And the color patterns on this leaf are out of this world. The pattern of greens and yellows are more pronounced when grown in full sun. Using it in a container is best because I like to bring mine in the house for winter, and it doesn't transplant well, so I usually do pot in pot.

critters and coleus

2 things on my mind today in the garden: critters and coleus. I wish I had my camera; and it nevers fails that when I don't have it, I miss an opportunity. Back to that in a minute.

My sister and her husband gave me some coleus cuttings about 3 weeks ago, and they are growing really well. I started them in vases of water until they began to show root production, then, I potted them all up last week and they've been maturing nicely. I realize it seems late in the year to be starting coleus cuttings, but I have a competition to consider.

Most people know I'm a garden competitor in our state fair, and I've been competing every year since 2003. I haven't won a blue ribbon yet, but I'm trying! I do it mostly because I enjoy it, not for the blue.

Gardens need to be completed by the second week of October, which brings us back to the growing of late coleus cuttings. It's my hope that these cuttings will produce sizeable plants for display in my garden. We'll see.

On to critters. I went to the fairgrounds today to check on my garden display, see how things were doing, check water, groom plants. Plants are growing well, and I still have much work to do. To my delight I saw 3 tree frogs nestled in canna and banana plants! I love tree frogs, they're so cute. And there they were, minding their own business, relaxing among the flora, waiting for a meal. Too bad I didn't have my camera.