Hocus Crocus

I recently returned from a vacation in Southern California where flowers are always in bloom. Late winter through early spring is Camellia season. From Balboa Park in San Diego to Hearst Castle perched high above the ocean in San Simeon the bushes were awash in blossoms.

I have always had a great fondness for camellias and envy our southern neighbors. Although breeding has done much to improve the shrub's hardiness, I have yet to find a cultivar that can survive our New England winters. I am beginning to wonder, however, if that is about to change. Imagine my surprise when, in what is normally the depths of winter, I returned home to find this lovely cluster of crocuses blooming outside my front door.

I did not plant these gems. Along with some old-fashioned daffodils they were a welcome surprise my first spring in Seekonk. They are growing in what is now part of my hot colored garden and though their amethyst petals doesn't suit my palette, I've coddled them ever since. This, however, is the first time that they have bloomed before mid-March. Oddly, the winter here has been so warm that the ground has never truly frozen. In fact the other day I was cutting back the plants around my farm pond and found that the Ermine cannas, which I had neglected to dig and store in the fall, seem to have wintered over.

I am beginning to wonder if I could have left all of my tender bulbs in the ground last fall. I admit that as much as I've been enjoying the weather, there is something unsettling about the unseasonable temperatures. It has also been an unusually dry winter and at this point a blast of frigid cold would devastate many of the swelling buds. Nevertheless, I'm taking advantage of the warmth. I've finished many of my spring chores and hope to have all my beds cleaned and edged by the end of the month, a task that I've never completed before April first. I've even pruned my roses and many other shrubs. If this weather proves to be more than a fluke, I'll soon be growing camellias beside the crocuses outside my door.

In addition to the crocuses I returned home and found the April addition of Fine Gardening Magazine in a stack of unopened mail. Some of you may recall that Fine Gardening's editor/photographer visited my home twice last year and subsequently asked me to write an article to accompany her photographs. I'm quite pleased with the results and hope you'll pick up a copy if you have a chance.

Top Ten

At a recent holiday party a fellow reveler inquired as to my favorite plant. I'm often asked this question when I mention that I'm a landscape designer and have yet to come up with a satisfactory answer. In truth I don't have a "favorite" plant. There are, however, certain cultivars that I consider indispensable. After giving the matter some thought, I've narrowed my selection to ten garden plants that I wouldn't be without and have listed them below. Although most flourish in full sun, a few are shade plants and all are hardy in zone 5. Of course, as with any Top Ten list, many terrific plants didn't make the cut. Perhaps, like the ubiquitous award shows that clutter the television listings this time of year, I will have to make my list of INDISPENSABLE GARDEN PLANTS an annual endeavor (no pun intended).


1) Nepeta Walkers Low

Nepetas are a wonderful group of garden plants and the variety, Walkers Low, blooms for most of the summer with the heaviest display during peony season. It makes a wonderful informal edging plant or front of the sunny border perennial. It seems to have no pest issues and isn't bothered by snails, rabbits or deer. I regularly use it as a substitute for lavender where that often fussy plant fails to thrive.

2) Alchemilla Mollis (Ladies Mantle)

This tried and true perennial flowers in full sun and all but the deepest shade. Its masses of foamy chartreuse flowers compliment almost any color, but look particularly lovely with pastels. Its leaves are a pleasing shade of green and their scalloped edges catch the early morning dew. I cut off the dead flower stems in late July, a time consuming task, but well worth the effort, as it encourages a flush of new foliage and new flowers.

3) Buddleia Pink Delight

Buddleias comprise a terrific group of predominantly summer flowering shrubs with blooms that come in a range of colors including purple, blue, white, yellow and even bi-colors. In my garden the bushes bloom from mid-July until frost although the panicles of flowers decrease in size as the season progresses. The plants can become rangy and benefit from a hard pruning in late spring. Following last winter's heavy snowfall many of my older bushes were badly damaged and required severe pruning. But even after being cut almost to the ground, they rebounded quickly and bloomed heavily over the summer.

4) Stachys Helen Von Stein

This sun-loving, low, spreading perennial is wonderful planted en masse or as a broad edging. The leaves are much larger than the straight species and it is more tolerant of humidity, though occasionally it is necessary to pluck off foliage that has turned to mush during the dog days of late summer. The furry, silver foliage is a wonderful foil for more colorful plants and begs to be touched. For that reason I often plant it along the top of sitting walls, where visitors can easily run their fingers through the velvety foliage.

5) Pennisetum Maudry

There are many terrific grasses available today and this is one of my favorites. Like all of its relatives it thrives in hot sun and tolerates drought. At 2-3' tall it creates a substantial presence in the landscape and isn't bothered by pests. The seed heads, which appear in early autumn are larger than the species and are a lovely burgundy color.

6) Anthyrium Niponicum Pictum (Painted Fern)

This is a fabulous foliage plant for full to part shade. Despite its delicate appearance it is actually quite tough and even self-seeds a bit (or whatever it is that ferns due to procreate). As with all ferns it isn't bothered by deer or rabbits although I have had a few issues with snails. As the fronds are late to unfurl, it is wonderful underplanted with spring bulbs.

7) Fairy Rose

Most people associate roses with fussy shrubs that are plagued by insect pests and a host of diseases. While there are many new shrub roses available today that refute those assumptions, this old time cultivar is still one of my favorites. The flowers, which are produced in waves from late spring until frost, are a delightful pale pink and the bush is a nice manageable size. A little pruning early in the season is all that's required to keep the plants tidy. Try pairing it with Alchemilla, Stachys and Nepeta for a terrific combination.

8) Kerria Japonica Pleniflora

In my estimation this overlooked shrub deserves more attention. The double yellow flowers are delightful in the spring and continue sporadically throughout the summer. Although it loses its leaves in the fall, the stems remain green throughout the winter and are lovely in the snow. It seems to thrive in full sun or part shade and spreads by underground suckers that will eventually create a dense almost impenetrable thicket. At five to six feet in height it's a wonderful addition to the shrub border or woodland garden.

9) Hydrangea Annabelle

I first came across this hydrangea while living in Vermont where, unlike many hydrangea varieties, this old fashioned cultivar flowered with great abandon. Perfect for woodland gardens or the shady side of a house, it produces large flower heads that turn from green to white and back to green again. I love it as a cut flower and the older green blossoms dry well. Incrediball, an improved variety, recently appeared on the market and I am giving that a try as well. This past fall I planted thirty beneath the crabapple trees that line my driveway.

10) Geranium Rozanne

While new plants arrive on the market every year, few live up to their hype. This perennial geranium is an exception and since it appeared five or so years ago, it has quickly become indispensable in my design work. In sun or shade it is covered with flowers from late spring until frost. I use it as a ground cover, as an edging, in pots, in rock gardens and in the front the perennial border. It is wonderful planted at the base of leggier plants and will even twine itself up their stems. Unfortunately deer seem to like munching on its leaves, but that appears to be its only downside. My only fear is that soon it will be used in mall parking lots and other municipal plantings making it as common as the severely overexposed Stella D'oro Daylily.

So there you have it. Ten plants that I highly recommend. I hope you try at least a few of them in your garden this spring.

Happy New Year!

Self Awareness

Certain annual and perennial plants exhibit a wonderful propensity for self-seeding. A number of years ago I purchased a six pack of the annual Nicotiana Sylvestris Alata, the tall white flower blooming beside the archway pictured above. Although the fragrant plants are not hardy they produce an abundance of seed, which in my garden usually begins to germinate by the middle of the summer.In early autumn these self-sown volunteers produce a dramatic display that perfumes the air.

Left to their own devices many common annuals and perennials will self-seed. Eupatorium Coelestinum, the ageratum look-alike growing beside my rectangular lily pond, is a wonderful late-season perennial that spreads itself throughout the garden with great abandon. The plants are very slow to break dormancy. I rarely see their first leaves before the fourth of July, but by late August they're happily filling holes left by early bloomers that have passed their prime. Other plants that regularly self-seed in my garden include;

Columbines (these were a gift from a friend who had seedlings to spare)

Digitalis Ambigua

Verbena Bonariensis

And the tall pink Cleome pictured below.

Although many plants will self-seed without any assistance, there are ways to encourage a steady supply of seedlings. With Nicotiana and Digitalis I allow the seed heads to mature until first frost. In late autumn I cut the stems and shake the seeds onto bare soil. As with weed, mulch can inhibit the germination of desirable plants. Therefore it is important to leave the loam uncovered. With other varieties like Verbena Bonariensis and Cleome, I often leave old flowering stems standing in the garden until early spring to ensure that the seeds have ripened sufficiently.

While many species will self-seed successfully without any assistance, there are two tricks for ensuring a bountiful crop of seedlings. First, do not disturb the soil with a claw or other weeding tool until the seeds have sprouted. Second,avoid mistakenly weeding out young seedlings by learning to identify their first pair of leaves. These "seed" leaves often don't resemble the plant's mature foliage. If too many seeds germinate in one spot, it is best to thin them out to avoid competition. It is easy to transplant young seedlings to a more desirable area, though a bit of coddling for a day or two maybe required.

Encouraging plants to self-seed is a wonderfully inexpensive way to increase stock. While some plants may prove overly prolific, unexpected additions often add charm to the garden. A few years ago a crop of Digitalis Ambigua grew up along my front walkway and the effect was absolutely lovely.

You may even discover a seedling with hybrid vigor or unusual colors as was the case with the Japanese iris seedling that appeared in my Blue and White garden last year. Its white flowers veined with blue stripes are unlike any other iris I've purchased.

Good Night Irene

This is normally the beginning of my favorite time of the year. After weeks of heat and humidity the waning days of August bring cooler weather and once again it's a pleasure to work in the garden. Although the leaves have lost their freshness, the flowers sparkle in the late summer sunlight and then of course there are the dahlias.

And armloads of flowers for arrangements. I gave this one to friend for her birthday.

But now with hurricane Irene poised to strike New England, it seems that my thirteenth year cultivating this property may prove to be particularly unlucky. Of course I'm still hopeful that Irene's path will change. Nevertheless before the storm arrives, I thought I would take a few moments to document the garden as it looks today.

The yellow flowers blooming around the pond are Ligularia Desdemona, prized for it's burgundy foliage and bountiful late-summer blossoms.

I love Hibiscus Fantasia's enormous mauve blooms. In the spring I pinch the stems to encourage an even more abundant flowering. Unlike their tropical cousins, all of the perennial Hibiscus die to to the ground each winter. Exhibiting a shrub-like presence, the plants blossoms come in colors ranging from white to pink to red. Some have copper colored foliage and all make terrific garden plants unmatched for late summer impact.

Although I had to replace a number of the thyme plants with new divisions this spring, the checkerboard patio, a favorite with all my visitors, has filled in quite nicely this year. In fact I can't remember a time when it was this uniform.

Due to the impact of the tree-form Hydrangeas Paniculata and Tardiva, the Blue and White garden is perhaps a bit heavy on the white this time of year.

Although I'm particularly fond of the white water lilies, I wish there was a hardy blue variety that I could add to the pond. Unfortunately, all of the blue water lilies are tropical and won't survive New England's cold winters.

I've always thought that if in my old age I have to scale back on the gardening, I will keep the front garden because it's both self-contained and a manageable size.

So there you have it, the garden pre-Irene. Hopefully it will look much the same post-Irene, but one never knows.

On a lighter note, last month my dear friend, client and unfailing supporter, Dr. Patricia Allen,stopped in for a visit. She and her friend, Stacey Bewkes, were en route from NYC to Little Compton. Stacey, who writes the wonderful daily style blog, Quintenssence, recently posted a charming account of her visit to my property on her blog, http://quintessenceblog.com/2011/08/country-charm-in-the-garden/

And the pool garden that I featured in my last post is filling in quite nicely.

But now it's time to batten down the hatches and hope that Irene drifts farther out to sea.

POOL PARTY

Some of you may recall that more than a year ago I embarked on an extensive swimming pool project for a client in Wilton, CT. The house, which overlooks a reservoir,was built on a steep slope.

Accommodating the pool, spa, cabana, fireplace and patios required moving the existing leach field and terracing the hill. By placing a four foot high stone wall below the swimming pool patio I sidestepped the town's fence requirements and preserved an unobstructed view of the reservoir.

To minimize the need for additional walls I set large boulders into the slope to create a rockery.

The garden is planted with broad swaths of roses, nepeta, grasses, hydrangeas and other low maintenance summer blooming shrubs and perennials. In a few years the plantings will soften the hardscaping and create a lush, billowy effect.

The spa, which can be used year around, was purposely sited below the upper patio close to the house for easy access during the winter.

Although the installation of my design was delayed by town bureaucracy and red tape, construction was finally completed in June. To celebrate my client hosted a wonderful pool party at the beginning of July.

On the home front the gardens here in Seekonk are settling into the dog days of summer. Phlox, oriental lilies and hydrangeas predominate and the rose of sharons are in full bloom.

I've been spending a good deal of time dead-heading and weeding.

The Japanese beetles appeared right on schedule but haven't been terribly destructive so far.

I'm still waging a losing battle against snails. But after a conversation with a friend, whose garden had been mowed to the ground by rabbits, I decided to count my blessings.

After all, snails are easy to catch. And while It's true that their constant feeding disfigures leaves and flowers, it rarely results in mortality.

I'm thrilled with the mottled leafed Colocasia Mojito that I planted by the pond to replace the ornamental rhubarb that mysteriously died. Colocasia's enormous tropical leaves are quite dramatic and plan to dig up the tubers in the fall. Hopefully they'll winter over along with my dahlias in the crawl space below my office.

Although I'm fond of Campsis Radicans' orange and yellow trumpets, I'm growing tired of pulling up the countless seedlings that sprout all over the garden. Still, the hummingbirds would never forgive me if I tore the vines out.

With the onset of summer weather the hot colored garden is really heating up.

Meanwhile the Blue and White garden is cooling down.

I've decided that dusk is my favorite time to view the garden. The shadows mask
the imperfections; the brown leaves, the spent flowers, the crab grass, the stems that need staking, the bare spots that need filling. When the sun has set it's easier to enjoy the big picture and the sweet fragrances that perfume the air.