tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72333133471490260182024-03-13T22:45:22.710-07:00A Year In The GardenAndrew Grossmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743855288653813486noreply@blogger.comBlogger60125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7233313347149026018.post-62833538003986394892014-09-18T10:10:00.001-07:002014-09-18T11:07:45.675-07:00Ground Down<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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September is usually one of my favorite months in the garden. Here in southern New England, Labor Day marks the end of summer's heat and humidity as the dog days give way to bright sunshine and cool nights. Japanese beetles and snails miraculously disappear and chores consist of little more than deadheading and staking top heavy asters and dahlias. This year, however, my blissful complacency has been marred by a family of groundhogs ravenously eating their way across my property. With the exception of deer, groundhogs (also known as woodchucks) are probably the most destructive mammalian pests a gardener can face. In short order a ground hog can reduce lush clumps of campanulas, echinaceas, asters and phlox to little more than a tangle of broken, leafless stems.<br />
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Luckily they don't seem to have a taste for the blue ageratum-like flowers of Eupatorium Coelestinum that blanket much of my Blue and White garden this time of year. Sadly though, the varmints devastated another section of this garden, leaving a an unsightly mess in their wake.<br />
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On the bright side, if their can be a bright side to this type of destruction, it was a section of the garden that has needed a facelift for a few years. This depressing sight was all the impetus I needed to get out my shovel and revamp the area. I redesigned the bed with plants that I hope will be unpalatable to groundhogs, including the Blue Mist Shrub (Caryopteris Clandonensis) pictured below.<br />
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There are a number of different varieties of Caryopteris available today all of which sport masses of petite pale to dark blue flowers. These small bushes bloom in late summer when most shrubs are past their prime and are prized for their airy display. They can be a bit temperamental and are known to succumb to harsh winters. Caryopteris prefer full sun and dry sandy soil. Like Butterfly bushes I don't prune them until their leaves begin to unfurl in late spring.<br />
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Luckily groundhogs eschew most tropical plants and they haven't touched the large clumps of coleus and cannas in my hot colored garden. I can't say the same for my Hot Papaya Echinaceas. I sorely miss their double, bright orange flowers, which in past years have added a sizzling pop of color to this garden.<br />
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Most of all I'm grateful that the groundhogs haven't touched my beloved dahlias. My late summer gardens wouldn't be the same without them.<br />
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And without their abundant blooms my vases would remain sadly empty this time of year.<br />
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The groundhogs have also ignored my clumps of Anemone Robustissima.<br />
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There are many different autumn flowering anemones for sale today, but most have failed to perform well in my garden. Unlike its finicky cousins, Robustissima always puts on a terrific late summer show. Its tall flower laden stems require a bit of staking to keep them off the ground, but they're well worth the effort.<br />
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Sometimes I allow the stems to flop over, letting the flowers hide plants that have passed their prime. Try combining Anemone Robustissima with fall blooming Asters and Boltonias for a terrific late season display.<br />
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As for the groundhogs, no sprays or chemical deterrents have slowed their destructive rampage. In mid-August members of the Northeast Heather Society visited my gardens. They seemed to enjoy the tour despite the fact that my property is noticeably lacking in heaths and heathers. As we strolled my property, a few of us shared groundhog war stories. A seemingly mild-mannered women claimed that her husband had killed one by throwing an axe at its head.<br />
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I only wish my own knife throwing skills were equal to the task. Andrew Grossmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743855288653813486noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7233313347149026018.post-29820004058284966452014-07-31T13:12:00.001-07:002014-08-02T06:55:35.160-07:00Statuesque <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A couple of weeks ago my good friend, Joseph Pari, asked if he could stage a photo shoot in my garden. Joe and his business partner Eric Auger, run the performance art group,TEN31 Productions (ten31productions.com). TEN31 travels the world presenting their living statues at events attended by pop stars, foreign dignitaries and even the Obama's.<br />
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For the early morning shoot in my garden Joe brought some of his botanical creations. The day was not too hot and the sky was overcast, perfect for taking pictures. The photographer, Josh Edenbaum (joshedenbaum.com), will present an exhibit of the photos at a local art gallery this fall and I'm looking forward to seeing the final results. Of course I couldn't resist getting into the act. Although I'm sure the picture below will be conspicuously absent from the gallery walls.<br />
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Nevertheless, it was thrilling to see Joe's fantastic creations in my garden and the shoot was a lot of fun.<br />
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Sadly, my property seemed rather empty and somewhat less magical after the performers wiped off their make up, stripped off their costumes and piled back into their van. July has, however, been a good month for the garden. The temperature has been unexpectedly benign and despite a spike in my snail population most plants are flourishing especially my oriental and orienpet lilies.<br />
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Oriental lilies and their cousins the Orienpets ( a sturdy cross between oriental and trumpet lilies) are exquisitely fragrant. Day and night their blossoms fill the air with a heady, tropical perfume that is undoubtedly one of summer's delights. Perhaps more importantly, they are resistant to the pesky, red lily beetle, whose grubs have ruined many of my more delicate asiatic lilies. All lilies (with the exception of day lilies), grow from bulbs that are best planted in the fall, though it is possible to buy potted lilies in bloom at most garden centers. Lilies prosper in full sun but will tolerate light shade. As with most plants I think they look best in groups of five or more. I always remove the spent flowers to prevent the bulbs from setting seed. It's important, however, to leave a good deal of stem and foliage to energize the bulbs for the following year.<br />
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The small blue flowers tumbling into the walkway in the photo above belong to Ruellia Caroliniensis. I stumbled across a few pots of it at a garden center some years ago under the name wild petunia. It isn't a petunia at all, but it is rather invasive, setting seeds that sprout all over the place. I never intended to use it as an edging plant. But since it performs remarkably well in that capacity, I've kept the seedlings that germinated against the cobblestones that line my gravel pathway<br />
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During Josh Edenbaum's photo shoot, he took some pictures while standing on a ladder. I liked the effect so thought I'd try it myself and am pleased with the result. From this height I can't see the snails or the browned foliage or the flowers marred by Japanese beetles.<br />
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It seems that distance does make the heart grow fonder. Andrew Grossmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743855288653813486noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7233313347149026018.post-64012356826670218682014-07-07T20:23:00.000-07:002014-07-07T20:23:04.235-07:00Riveting Roses<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The summer solstice marks the peak of the rose season here in Southern New England. Of course, most of my rose bushes will continue to bloom until frost. Their flowers, however, will be smaller and less abundant as the season progresses and inevitably their aging foliage will lose its glossy sheen.<br />
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Last year I neglected to feed my rose bushes. This spring, however, I spent an afternoon working a granular rose fertilizer into the soil around the base of each plant and was rewarded with an abundance of bloom.<br />
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Roses are notoriously heavy feeders and an application of fertilizer just as the first leaves are unfurling can make a huge difference in their growth and subsequent flowering. Many rosarians recommend a feeding once a month, but with all my other chores I never seem to find the time. It's also much easier to apply granular fertilizer in the spring before the garden has filled in. Still, there are many liquid fertilizers on the market today, so I really have no excuse for not following a more stringent regiment of fertilization.<br />
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Truth be told I usually turn a blind eye to my rose bushes once the Japanese beetles arrive in mid-July. It's simply too disheartening to watch the rose buds being devoured by hordes of hungry beetles. Thankfully their feeding frenzy subsides in early September along with the oppressive heat and humidity and I always look forward to a crop of fresh flower's in autumn.<br />
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Although I've had no luck with Hybrid Tea Roses, I've had great success with David Austin's English Roses. Othello, the variety pictured above, has thrived in my garden for almost twelve years and it seems almost indestructible. For a satisfying display I generally plant shrub roses in groups of three or five and space them about three feet apart.<br />
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Fifteen years ago I planted eight Sea Foam roses on the slope in my Blue and White garden. The cascading bushes are smothered in clusters of small, white blooms for more than a month each year and throw a few additional sprays when the weather cools in the fall.<br />
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I realize that roses have a reputation for being fussy, troublesome plants. It's true that pruning and feeding them in the spring, not to mention dead-heading the spent blooms later in the season, can be time consuming. Never the less I've found that many varieties are quite easy to grow. For the most part the effort expended is well rewarded. After all, very few shrubs fill the garden with color and perfume for weeks at a time. I for one wouldn't be without their luxurious blossoms or the beauty and fragrance of a vase filled with roses and sweet peas.<br />
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<span id="goog_643684068"></span><span id="goog_643684069"></span> Andrew Grossmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743855288653813486noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7233313347149026018.post-92178361551752071092014-06-05T19:31:00.000-07:002014-06-05T19:31:18.807-07:00White on White<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The blossoming of the azaleas in my Blue and White garden is one of the highlights of spring here in Seekonk. This year the long awaited event miraculously coincided with the flowering of the dogwoods, my white redbud tree (Cercis Canadensis Alba) and my white tree peony (Paeonia Suffruticosa). <br />
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Redbuds usually have pinkish purple flowers, but I am particularly fond of the white cultivar pictured in the upper left corner of the photo above. Redbuds are medium sized understory trees that thrive in partial shade and don't object to be being planted beneath larger hardwoods. As with our native dogwoods, their flowers emerge along graceful branches before the leaves unfurl. The tree peony (pictured in the lower left corner) is a relative of the more frequently grown herbaceous, garden peony. Despite it's exotic beauty this small shrub is of relatively easy culture. There are a host of different varieties available today, many with breathtaking, enormous double blooms that come in almost any color imaginable.Tree peonies may be grown in light shade or full sun in fertile soil. Although they're pricey they are quite long-lived, producing more blooms each year. Sadly, the delicate blossoms last only briefly in the spring garden and are easily ruined by heavy rain. To hedge my bets I usually cut a few of the flowers and enjoy them indoors.<br />
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The two splashes of white in the center of the photo above are produced by the foliage of Salix Integra Hakuro Nishiki. A member of the willow family, this fast growing almost indestructible shrub has become quite popular and is often bought as either a bush or a small topiaried tree. I keep mine in bounds with a hard pruning in the spring and at least one additional shearing in mid-summer. The white leaves take on a pinkish cast as the weather warms and may brown in hot dry weather, but for a consistent burst of white, they're hard to beat.<br />
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The charming, small vine pictured above is Clematis Maidwell Hall. Its sky-blue flowers open in mid-spring and last for a few weeks. I'm training this one up one of the arches in my cottage garden. This cultivar is rather hard to find and I wish I had bought a few more when I stumbled across it at a garden center a couple years ago. Sadly, after many years my beloved Clematis Montana Rubens has succumbed to some blight or other.<br />
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I sorely miss its cascade of pink flowers tumbling across my roof.<br />
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Last year I planted it again on the steel gazebo behind my farm pond, but the blight seems to have followed it there. A few weeks ago I watched the bud-laden stems wither just as the flowers were about to open. I must confess that it's heartbreaking when long-time favorites unexpectedly die or a new pest or disease strikes out of the blue.<br />
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Still, as I'm fond of saying, gardening isn't for the faint of heart. It's best to roll with punches and focus on the big picture. Andrew Grossmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743855288653813486noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7233313347149026018.post-34026049500977430832014-05-01T15:31:00.001-07:002014-05-01T15:31:34.463-07:00Better Late Than Never<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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For those of us who live in New England, spring has certainly been slow in coming this year. On the bright side we've had more than ample rainfall and although the cool weather has delayed flowering, it has also extended the bloom time of many early season favorites like the Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia Virginica) pictured below.<br />
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I first encountered this delightful shade lover in Bennington, Vermont, where I discovered the nodding bells under a stand of sugar maples on a client's property. In my garden they flourish beneath the deciduous branches of a large oak leaf hydrangea in the corner of my Blue and White garden. Over the past decade three small plants have multiplied rapidly and now cover a substantial area. Sadly, Virginia Bluebells go dormant quite early in the summer, but by then their browning foliage is hidden by the hydrangea's dense canopy. Pulmonaria Highdown (pictured below) is another spring bloomer featuring pink buds that open to reveal much coveted blue flowers.<br />
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Pulmonarias or Lungworts, as they're more commonly known, are also shade lovers that thrive in moist, acidic, woodland conditions. Unlike Virginia Bluebells, however, their leaves remain attractive until autumn. Highdown has spotted leaves, but there are newer varieties with even showier, silver foliage that veritably glows in the shade. As the leaves are covered in a rather prickly fur the plants aren't bothered by snail or slugs, a huge plus as far as I'm concerned. In my garden I've combined pulmonarias with hostas, ferns and astilbes to good effect.<br />
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Erythronium Pagoda (pictured above) sports some of the largest flowers in the Trout Lily clan. When grown in part shade, this bulb spreads to produce a dense mat and shows to great advantage when planted at the base of tulips. Like many other spring bulbs it goes dormant in the heat of the summer. Still, I wouldn't be without the cheerful yellow flowers that dangle above it's lovely mottled basal leaves.<br />
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I love the smell of hyacinths, but find the common varieties better suited to pot culture. Out of doors their heavy, flower stems look clunky and tend to break easily. A few years ago, I discovered multi-flowering Festival Hyacinths and I've quickly become a fan. Each bulb produces a number of flower stems, with fewer more delicate flowers but the same wonderful fragrance. The pink, white or blue blossoms are also wonderful in bouquets and since they are produced in abundance, I don't feel guilty about cutting them.<br />
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Of course if I could only plant one type of spring bulb it would be the narcissus or daffodil. There are countless varieties with a tremendous range of colors, sizes, and flower forms.<br />
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And unlike tulips which must be replanted every few years, daffodils seem to last forever, producing more flowers each spring.<br />
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My only regret is that I'm almost at full capacity and am quickly running out of places to plant them. Never the less, I'll probably order a few more this fall. After all, even my self control has its limits.<br />
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Andrew Grossmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743855288653813486noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7233313347149026018.post-12511604510976429182014-01-03T08:42:00.000-08:002014-01-03T08:42:05.029-08:00WINTER'S BLOOM<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As I compose this post the wind is howling outside my windows and a drift of snow is piling up against my front door. In my sunroom, however, pots of Hibiscus, Colocasias, Hedychiums and Oleanders await warmer weather and a return to the garden. I don't have enough room to winter over all of the tropical plants that add color to my summer landscape, but each fall before frost sets in, I dig and pot some of my favorites or at least the ones that haven't grown too large to move.<br />
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On a table near my breakfast nook a large terrarium has much the same affect as the sunroom albeit on a much smaller scale.<br />
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Requiring little more than a pretty, glass container, potting soil and a few small plants, terrariums are miniature gardens that need very little care once established. As with any garden if a particular plant fails to thrive or outgrows it's tiny world, I simply replace it with a smaller counterpart. In my sunroom I have an enormous Maiden Hair fern that I bought as a tiny specimen and grew for a few years in this terrarium. When inevitably the soil gets tired or the composition begins to look a bit stale, I simply start over with a new group of plants. Terrariums do best when situated in bright indirect light and are the perfect home for small leaved ivies, ferns or other diminutive tropicals. For a splash of color I'll often include a miniature African Violet in bloom, though I know the flowers will be short lived.<br />
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As many of my readers know, from early spring until late fall I regularly cut blossoms from the garden and arrange them in vases indoors. In the winter I rely on the cheering affect of flowering plants like the Paperwhite Narcissus pictured above. A tender cousin of the common daffodil, Paperwhites are one of the easiest bulbs to force into bloom in the house. All that is needed is a container and some water. The bulbs, which can be purchased online or from local garden centers, can be planted in soil or simply placed in a pot on layer of pebbles. I prefer to rest them on a layer of moss in a container with high sides that help to support the foliage and flower stems.<br />
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I add just enough water to reach the bottom of the bulbs and in a matter of days roots sprout and weave their way into the moss. With consistent watering, in as little as a month the fragrant white flowers open and last for few weeks. There is no point in keeping the bulbs once they've finished blooming since it is unlikely that they'll ever flower again. Instead I toss them out and plant another batch. In the fall I usually order fifty or more from a supplier like the John Scheepers bulb company (johnscheepers.com) and store them in my refrigerator's crisper until I'm ready to plant them.<br />
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As with Paperwhites, Amaryllis like the ones pictured above can be grown in water and pebbles. But I prefer to grow them in groups of three in pots with soil, which I dress with moss that I collect in the woods. Another tropical bulb, Amaryllis are literally foolproof and will produce dramatic flowers in about eight weeks with a modicum of care. Unlike Paperwhites, it is possible to get the bulbs to rebloom every year if a few cultural requirements are followed. These include rich soil, water, fertilizer and full sun from the time they sprout until late fall at which point the foliage should be cut off and the bulbs given a rest for at least six weeks in a cool, dark room. Following this period of dormancy the bulbs can be repotted and returned to a sunny room. Unfortunately Amaryllis foliage isn't particularly attractive and so I rarely grow them on once they finish flowering. Besides there are so many lovely varieties on the market that I look forward to trying new ones each winter. In addition to the large flowered varieties their are also smaller flowered types like the ones pictured below.<br />
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I admire the delicacy of the smaller blooms, which are more ethereal than their larger cousins. There are also double flowered forms but I find them rather stiff and ungainly. To extend the life of the individual flowers I remove the pollen the moment the buds open. This is a trick that works with lilies as well and has the added advantage of keeping the bright yellow pollen from staining one's clothes.<br />
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When I worked as a floral designer in New York City in the late eighties, orchids were an expensive, specialty item purchased from select wholesalers. Now it's possible to buy Phalaenopsis Orchids like the one pictured above for ten dollars at Home Depot. It's true that as orchids go they have become common place. Still, they remain one of my favorite flowering house plants because a single plant can bloom for literally months on end. I always search for plants with at least two flower stems and check to make sure that the unopened flower buds are healthy and that the foliage is firm and unblemished.<br />
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Phalaenopsis Orchids are generally grown in a porous medium like bark chips. Recently they've been marketed as "Ice Orchids" because it's possible to water them by letting ice cubes melt onto their roots. However, I prefer to place the pots under the tap in a sink for a few minutes every five days or so. Although I've read that it's easy to get the plants to rebloom every year, I haven't had much luck in that regard. Since the plants themselves aren't particularly showy, I generally relegate them to the compost heap once they've finished blooming. Perhaps that's callous of me, but after all, if I kept every orchid I bought, I wouldn't have room in my house for anything else.<br />
Andrew Grossmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743855288653813486noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7233313347149026018.post-43612341355247117422013-12-04T12:20:00.001-08:002013-12-04T14:46:11.412-08:00FERNTASTIC!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Earlier this year I met with a home owner who pointed balefully at her shady backyard. "Nothing grows here," she remarked with a look of frustration. After quickly taking stock of what she had installed beneath the tall oak trees, I realized that almost all of the plants were sun-lovers. In my experience most casual gardeners are more familiar with species that flourish in full sun. There are, however, a number of plants that prosper in the shade. Most ferns fall into this category and while they don't produce showy flowers, their lacy fronds come in a delightful variety of heights, colors and textures. </div>
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In addition to creating swathes of beautiful foliage, ferns are virtually pest free. Deer and groundhogs find them unpalatable and even snails avoid them. Some, like the Hay Scented Ferns (Dennstaedtia punctilobula) pictured above, rapidly create a weed defying mat that is remarkably tolerant of dry conditions. </div>
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Most ferns, however, prefer an evenly moist or even damp soil. I've planted the Cinnamon Ferns (Osmunda cinnamomea) pictured above in shady backyards and along stream banks, where their dense fibrous root systems deter erosion. The stiff upright fronds are delightfully architectural and are complemented in the spring by the cinnamon colored wands that give the plant its name. Produced throughout the growing season, the young coppery fronds of the Autumn fern (Dryopteris erythrosora) pictured below will also add a touch color to the shady garden. </div>
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Like most woodland plants, ferns prefer a soil high in organic matter like leaf mold, peat moss or compost. I spread a few inches of shredded oak leaves over my fern beds every fall and let the leaves rot down during the growing season. <br />
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For sheer size (three to six feet) and almost tropical impact, I'm particularly fond of the Ostrich Ferns (Matteuccia struthiopteris) pictured above. Years ago, while working in Vermont, I dug some Ostrich Ferns, named for their tall plumage-like fronds, from the woods on a client's property and planted them in her shade garden. I'd heard that ferns were difficult to transplant. But despite the fact that it was mid-summer, the plants flourished. After I purchased my house in Seekonk, my client gave me a few of the ferns for my shade garden. Here they have prospered almost to the point of invasiveness and I in turn have given many away to friends. <br />
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The Painted Fern (Athyrium Pictum) shown above is one of the showiest in the genus and is undoubtedly one of my favorites. New varieties with ever more tempting colorations regularly appear on the market. Despite its delicate beauty this plant is practically indestructible and seeds itself about my garden with great abandon. For winter interest I rely on the Christmas Fern (Polystichum acrostichoides) pictured below. It's stiff waxy fronds are evergreen and show to wonderful advantage under a dusting of snow. I've also used Christmas Ferns in outdoor urns, where the foliage stays green for most of the winter.<br />
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Ferns make wonderful companions for other shade lovers like the Carex Ice Dance pictured below. Ice Dance has lovely cream edged foliage and makes a dense mat that is impervious to weeds.<br />
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With their lacy foliage and airy flowers Astilbes show to great advantage when backed by tall ferns. The ones pictured below are pink, but Astilbes come in a range of shades including red, white and purple.<br />
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And of course hostas like the one below with its broad, puckered leaves provide a striking textural counterpoint to a fern's lacy fronds.<br />
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Ferns also combine beautifully with shade loving shrubs like the Hydrangea Incrediball pictured here backed by the green and white leaves of Cornus Ivory Halo.<br />
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The next time you find yourself staring in dismay at a bare patch of shady ground, instead of cursing the darkness, plant some ferns and enjoy their lacy beauty.Andrew Grossmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743855288653813486noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7233313347149026018.post-23083655383312821492013-09-29T08:45:00.001-07:002013-09-29T15:01:19.705-07:00D IS FOR DAHLIA<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>D </i>is for Dahlias that never cease to amaze!<br />
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<i> D </i>is for Dahlias that fill every vase!<br />
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It's hard not to wax poetic when the air is dry, the sky is a clear, crystalline blue and the sun outlines every leaf and petal with tracings of gold. In case you hadn't guessed, this is my favorite time of year. Not simply because of the weather, but because my dahlias, autumn's greatest gift, are in full bloom. Never has a homely potato-like tuber required so little and given so much. Sun, a little bone meal and well-draining soil are all that is needed to produce towering giants with enormous flowers or more diminutive blossoms better suited to the mixed border. I scatter groupings of dahlias throughout my gardens. Like the pink blooms pictured below, I think they show to best advantage when planted in groups of five or more.<br />
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After a killing frost when the stems are blackened, I cut them down and dig up the tubers, storing them in the cool, dry crawl space beneath my office. The twenty or so yellow dahlia plants that tumble over the nepeta that frames my cottage garden came from three tubers I purchased years ago. In May, after dividing and planting all that I can use, I share the wealth and give the rest away to friends.<br />
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Dahlias combine wonderfully in the garden with late season perennials like Asters ( the pink flowers pictured to the right of the photo above), Perovskia, Sedums, Grasses, and a host of other annuals. Below I used them in a vase with Zinnias, Hydrangea, white Mandevilla, trumpet vine and roses.<br />
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Some varieties like Bishop of Llandaff sport striking, reddish foliage that is a welcome addition to the palette of my hot colored garden. In addition to shades of pink and white there are an abundance of dahlia varieties with orange, yellow or red petals. There are even some that exhibit a combination of all three colors on each flower.<br />
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Unfortunately dahlias struggle in my Blue and White garden, where they flounder in the shade or succumb to the predations of snails.<br />
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Despite all my efforts I haven't been able to rid my garden of the hard-shelled pests. Thankfully the creatures, which I refer to as the crawling plague, didn't wreak havoc with the begonias that I planted in my urn.<br />
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The tall white flowers to the right of the urn belong to Cimicifuga Brunette, a late blooming perennial with burgundy foliage and an exquisite fragrance that perfumes the early autumn garden. I like the look of its white wands, but it's worth growing in part shade for the fragrance alone.<br />
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The ageratum-like blue blossoms pictured above belong to Eupatorium Coelestinum, a relative of the more well-known Joe Pye Weed. I was a bit startled to discover that E. Coelestinum self-seeds with nuisance-like abandon. Still it's fairly easy to rip out and it fills the garden with hazy blue flowers when little else is in bloom.<br />
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The rate at which some plants seed themselves about my beds makes me feel more like an editor than a designer. In recent years the look of my gardens is determined as much by what I pull out as by what I plant. Not that I'm complaining. I always look forward to the Nicotiana Sylvestris seedlings that appear in mid-summer. Their fragrant, white trumpets, pictured by the arch above, are a welcome addition to my autumn garden.<br />
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I'm hoping for a late frost this year. In fact I'd like nothing more than to be out in the garden cutting flowers until the end of October. I know, however, that despite global warming and other climactic vagaries winter's bite is inevitable. Perhaps that's why I'm so fond of my dahlias. Their glorious blossoms are a reminder that the growing season is almost over and that I should treasure each remaining day.<br />
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Andrew Grossmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743855288653813486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7233313347149026018.post-74321335413949321322013-07-25T13:31:00.001-07:002013-07-25T19:10:51.770-07:00Mulch Ado About Nothing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Last month I met with a woman who stated emphatically that she loved the look of mulch. To emphasize her point she showed me a number of pictures that she had gathered on line. Invariably, each photograph contained an image of a newly planted garden much like the one pictured below, which I took after completing an installation a few years ago.<br />
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While I admit that a freshly mulched garden has a certain tidy appeal, I have always considered mulch a means not an end. In my mind there is no aesthetic comparison between the picture above and the one below, which I took of the same property a few weeks ago.<br />
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Comparing the first picture to the second is like comparing bare studs and sub-flooring to a finished room. Don't misunderstand me. Mulch serves two very important purposes. It inhibits the growth of weeds and reduces moisture loss. In the winter a thick layer of mulch keeps the soil temperature relatively consistent and protects plants from frost heaves or premature sprouting due to unseasonable warmth. I spend a good deal of time mulching my gardens here in Seekonk every fall.<br />
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Given the size of my property, using pine bark would be prohibitively expensive. Instead I use leaves and other garden debris that I run through a chipper. During the summer I re-mulch some of my beds with grass clippings, which effectively smother even the toughest weeds. I've also used well-rotted horse manure shoveled into my truck from a local stable. Recently, I've begun to wonder if the salt in dried seaweed might discourage the snails that continue to plague my gardens. An experiment might be in order this autumn. Undoubtedly, these materials are not as pretty as a dark brown bark mulch. Their look, however, doesn't much matter since as the the growing season progresses the soil is barely visible. And that is as it should be! Ground leaves also break down quickly making it easy to plant bulbs in the fall without having to move a coarser mulch out of the way.<br />
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Recent confusion about the proper use of mulch may be attributed to the cheap, colored mulches now available at many garden centers. Personally, I dislike the look of these products, which are made from chipped lumber. Call me old school, but I don't think mulch should be red or black. A landscape's color palette should come from plants or other natural elements, not from a vat of dye!<br />
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As for the garden pictured earlier in this post, here are a few more photographs of the property.<br />
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Originally the yard was a steeply sloped area of lawn bounded by a fence. Now it has two sitting areas, a fireplace and colorful plantings.<br />
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I installed a timber retaining wall to level the yard and removed the lawn completely.<br />
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Although there are neighbors nearby, the yard feels quite private. My clients take meticulous care of their property and except for the spaces between the stepping stones, there's hardly any mulch in sight.<br />
Andrew Grossmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743855288653813486noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7233313347149026018.post-72178215060833819252013-06-17T08:21:00.000-07:002013-06-17T10:23:54.355-07:00A Road Less Graveled <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Last fall I was contacted by a home owner, who had decided that it was finally time to renovate his family's back yard. He mentioned that the parcel of land was quite small. Never the less, when I arrived for our initial consultation, I was more than a little surprised to find nothing but a rotted timber wall and a chain link fence framing a narrow piece of land completely covered by driveway gravel.<br />
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Even more surprising was the fact that this sadly neglected piece of property had a spectacular view of the the bay.<br />
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During out initial meeting the client and his wife explained that they needed a place to socialize and wanted to break the sloped piece of property into three or four different levels. It took a bit of negotiating, but I finally convinced them that the space was too small to accommodate more than one main level. Once we were in agreement, I measured out the property and returned to my drafting table. After playing with a number of different options, I decided that a circular patio would compliment the view of the bay and make the best use of the narrow space.<br />
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Initially I was a bit torn as to the size of patio. Ideally I would have left a bit more room for plantings, but the client wanted as much space as possible for socializing. I often remark that no one ever complains that their patio is too big. Heeding my own advice, I finally decided on a twenty-seven foot diameter circle.<br />
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Both the patio and retaining walls were constructed out of prefabricated cement products. I'll admit that I wasn't a big fan of faux stone walls and pavers when they first appeared on the market. Recent improvements, however, have resulted in some pleasing options. Cement products are also much less expensive and easier to install than natural stone.<br />
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Certainly this wall and walkway is a vast improvement over the original gravel and timber construction. Since the client wanted predominantly summer color, I planted the beds with a mixture of some easily grown favorites; potentilla, grasses, daylilies, nepeta and fairy roses all of which should fill in nicely by the end of the summer.<br />
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As you can see from the first photo in this post and the one above, it's rose season here in Seekonk. While many of my roses bloom repeatedly throughout the summer, this first display is undoubtedly the best. Unfortunately, a week of drenching rain browned some of the blooms. Today, however, the sky is clear and I'm looking forward to a week of sunshine and temperatures in the 70's.<br />
If roses could smile, they'd be grinning right now. Andrew Grossmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743855288653813486noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7233313347149026018.post-17938468973829298912013-05-09T15:28:00.000-07:002013-05-10T10:46:20.907-07:00Monet Moment<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It should come as no surprise that I've been greatly influenced by a visit I made some years ago to Monet's famous gardens. Giverny's iconic wisteria covered bridge inspired the pair of wisterias that flank my farm pond. I dug the plants up in the woods behind my house where they were languishing in the shade and have been training them as small trees or "standards". When grown in this manner their rampant twining habit is more manageable and they're quite easy to maintain. Last spring a late frost damaged their blossoms. This year, however, they are literally dripping with flowers and I'm quite pleased with the effect<br />
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The upright, dark blue flowers of Camassia Coerulea, a moisture loving hardy bulb, complement the wisterias drooping racemes. Camassias come in shades of blue and white and range in height from fifteen to thirty inches. I find them pest free and nearly indestructible. They bloom with the last of the tulips and daffodils, which makes them a great addition to the late-spring garden.<br />
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During a recent spate of consulting work, I've visited a number of properties plagued by the same problem, too much variety. This common mistake invariably creates an unsatisfactory, visual jumble. It bears repeating that when it comes to landscape design, bold groups of a single species are preferable to a hodgepodge a different plants. While I realize that it can be hard to edit one's desires, restraint and repetition are the keys to a successful landscape.<br />
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Unless I want to frame a view, as with the Arborvitae balls and Wisterias pictured above, I almost never plant just two of something and a single specimen is best used as an accent or focal point. The misuse of pairs or singles invariably creates visual clutter. The same might be said of rows. Whether tall or short, straight or curved, rows of plants act like a frame,separating areas within the landscape.Unless they serve a purpose such as framing a walkway or a particular garden area, random stripes are best avoided. <br />
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We're finally getting some much needed rain here in Seekonk. The precipitation is quite a relief as I've been running my irrigation for the past two weeks and a dry, dusty spring doesn't bode well for the garden. On a celebratory note this is my 50th post, a milestone on sorts, and I want to thank my readers for their comments and support!<br />
Andrew Grossmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743855288653813486noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7233313347149026018.post-64024974444368141192013-03-19T17:07:00.000-07:002013-03-20T07:25:21.214-07:00CUTTING EDGE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's currently snowing here in Seekonk, but despite the spate of un-springlike temperatures I've been hard at work for the past few weeks pruning shrubs, cleaning out debris and re-edging my beds. Although it's a bit of a chore,nothing makes a garden look better at the start of the season than beds with nice crisp edges. Whether curved or straight, however, I find it nearly impossible to create a clean edge by simply eyeballing the beds, so instead I use a length of rope.<br />
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<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Some years ago I purchased a large spool of three-ply rope at a box store. For ease of movement and tangle-free storage I transferred the rope to a hose reel. The rope I selected has a bit of weight to it and is better for shaping new beds than a length of hose. I find it the perfect tool for creating both straight lines and sinuous curves. </span></div>
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For a straight line I anchor the rope to the ground by pushing the point of a large flathead screwdriver through one end. I then pull the rope taut and anchor the far end in the same manner. It often takes a few tries to get the rope perfectly straight or in case of curves to achieve the desired shape. <br />
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Once the rope is secured, I use a can of paint and spray a wide band directly over the top of the rope, making sure that the paint spreads to each side of the rope.</div>
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Any cheap paint will do. I like white, but after a few weeks or a mowing the paint disappears so color isn't that important. Dusting the top of the rope with powdered lyme also works and quickly vanishes. However, I find paint more convenient and easier to handle. </div>
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After waiting a moment or two I flick the rope away. The resulting parallel bands of white provide the perfect guide for my edger.</div>
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Inserting the blade between the white lines I work my way easily down the bed.<br />
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The result is a crisp, straight edge that makes the beds look clean and sharp.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">after edging</td></tr>
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The result is a vast improvement.<br />
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If it ever stops snowing, the crisp edges will create the perfect frame for flower-filled beds.<br />
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On a completely unrelated matter, I'm excited to announce that I've recently redesigned my website, andrewgrossman.com. There are more pictures and visitors can watch my cable series, IN THE GARDEN, simply by logging onto the site. I hope you're as pleased with the improvements as I am.</div>
Andrew Grossmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743855288653813486noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7233313347149026018.post-5056627258261257802012-12-27T17:06:00.000-08:002012-12-27T19:03:29.158-08:00YEAR END FAVORITES<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Some of my readers may recall that last winter I shared a few of my favorite garden plants in a post entitled "Top Ten". Continuing the tradition, I'm including another group of indispensable selections. They may not be the most exotic subjects, but they have all proven their mettle. This year's list includes perennials, shrubs and vines all of which I have used both in my garden and in designs for my clients. Without exception they have performed superbly with a minimum of care.<br />
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1) Deutzia Nikko</div>
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This small, spring blooming bush covers itself with pure white flowers in late May or early June. I often use it in in large groups or as an edging plant in full sun. It also mixes quite well with perennials. There is a larger version as well, but I prefer this petite selection.<br />
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2) Clematis Montana Rubens<br />
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Although I'm embarrassed to admit that I haven't had much luck with large-flowered clematis, Montana Rubens never disappoints. Here I'm growing it over my roof, where its pink blooms put on a wonderful display that compliments the last of the daffodils. This is a sturdy vine that requires some space in either part shade or full sun. At my mother's house it covers a large arbor beneath a old, sugar maple, which is a testament to it's tenacity. The new foliage and stems have a lovely reddish caste and the flowers smell faintly of vanilla.<br />
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3) Echinacea Hot Papaya<br />
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Not that long ago Echinaceas came only in pink or white single flowers like large daisies. Recently,however, new colors and flower forms have become available. I've tried a number of these introductions only to be disappointed by their performance and longevity. Hot Papaya is an exception. If planted in full sun the plants bloom for months. I use this variety in my hot colored garden where its bright reddish-orange flowers make a dramatic display that is anything but demure. Unfortunately groundhogs find the flowers as irresistible as I do. </div>
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4) Digitalis Ambigua</div>
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Most foxgloves are biennials that form a roseate of leaves their first year and flower spikes the second. After blooming the plants set seed and die. The yellow flowered Digitalis Ambigua is a relatively long-lived exception. In full sun or part shade the plants, which have few pests and are ignored by deer, flower heavily in early summer and often bloom repeatedly until frost. They are also prolific self-seeders, increasing their numbers at a bountiful rate. They make a wonderful addition to the perennial garden or more naturalized plantings like the one pictured below, which I created for a client a few years ago. </div>
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5) Hydrangea Coerulea Lace</div>
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Many wonderful new hydrangea varieties have appeared in recent years but this old-fashioned beauty is still one of my favorites. It blooms abundantly in full to part shade and makes a terrific companion for ferns, hostas and astilbes. Unlike other hydrangeas it never fails to bloom and the flower color isn't affected by soil acidity. In the picture below I've paired it with Hydrangea Quercifolia (another old-time favorite) and hostas in my Blue and White garden. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TpLN93OoSl0/UNy4ygjDtbI/AAAAAAAABBo/BZW8LZL5XT8/s1600/DSCN0505.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TpLN93OoSl0/UNy4ygjDtbI/AAAAAAAABBo/BZW8LZL5XT8/s400/DSCN0505.JPG" width="355" /></a></div>
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6) Ligularia The Rocket</div>
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Ligularias form a wonderful group of shade loving plants and at almost four feet tall, The Rocket, makes a bold statement in the garden. Without ample moisture the leaves wilt when struck by the sun, but soon recover when shade is reestablished.</div>
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7) Hosta Sum and Substance</div>
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The large, crinkled, chartreuse leaves pictured above belong to Hosta Sum and Substance. While there are countless wonderful hosta varieties available today, this variety remains one of my favorites. Over time it takes on almost shrub-like proportions and the foliage becomes increasingly textured as the plants mature. Tall stems sporting blue flowers crown the plants in late summer, but this variety is grown primarily for its dramatic leaves, which are impervious to snails and slugs. As shown here, If given ample moisture this hosta will tolerate full sun, but it prefers a sheltered position and makes a superb addition to the shade garden.</div>
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8) Cornus Ivory Halo</div>
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A smaller version of the more common variegated red twig dogwood, Ivory Halo makes a nice compact addition to the shrub border. Its leaves retain their silver edging all summer and in winter its brilliant red stems make a bold statement against the snow. It seems equally happy in sun or part shade and thrives in damp soil. As pictured below I have used it to great effect en masse in wetland gardens, where it flourishes even when subjected to periodic flooding.</div>
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9) Clematis Maximowicziana (Sweet Autumn Clematis)</div>
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The mass of small white flowers completely covering the arbor above belong to the Sweet Autumn Clematis. This somewhat rampant vine is a late-season workhorse and though its flowering is brief, the blossoms come at time when little else is in bloom. Equally at home in sun or part shade it will scramble over walls, along fences, up trees or across a pergola. Some pruning might be required to keep it in bounds, but the wealth of fragrant flowers is well worth the effort. </div>
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10) Rosa Peach Drift</div>
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The Drift series of roses form a relatively new addition to the landscape rose category. In addition to peach they come in pale pink, white and red. They are virtually trouble free and at barely two feet tall and wide can be planted in small spaces where larger rose bushes would be problematic. Because they bloom from early summer until frost and are incredibly sturdy they have quickly become one of my favorite landscape roses. Planted en masse they make an unbeatable addition to the garden or shrub border. </div>
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Well there you have it, ten more of my favorites, both new and old. Perhaps you'll find a home for one or more in your garden this spring.</div>
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Happy New Year! </div>
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Andrew Grossmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743855288653813486noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7233313347149026018.post-51532477557508946162012-09-19T16:42:00.000-07:002012-09-23T08:23:38.975-07:00Home Grown<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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2012 has certainly been a banner year for dahlias. From the enormous blooms pictured above to the smaller blossoms that give my late summer gardens a much needed boost of color, my dahlias have never been more prolific. I'm not certain what confluence of events has produced such an abundance of flowers. Perhaps it can be attributed to the summer's heat and humidity combined with periods of dryness followed by heavy rain. Whatever the reason, I'm enjoying the bounty. For weeks now my house has been filled with bouquets.<br />
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As many of my readers may know, Dahlias are one of my favorite annuals. The tubers that produce these sumptuous flowers are inexpensive and require minimal care. Full sun, good soil, adequate moisture and sturdy stakes for the taller varieties are all that is needed to ensure success. Although marauding snails may nibble on young shoots and leaves, they don't seem to cause any permanent damage. This of course is an added bonus in my garden.<br />
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Like tulips, the number of dahlia varieties available on-line through reputable growers is almost infinite. As one may well imagine, the countless choices are both a blessing and curse.This spring, after deciding that it was easier to buy tomatoes and basil, I converted my small vegetable garden into a dahlia bed. The dahlias I planted there have grown so tall that I need a step ladder to cut the flowers. For every dahlia I plant in the spring I'm rewarded with as many as ten additional tubers in the fall. Since I dig and store my dahlia's in a cool dry place each winter, I've literally run out of space to plant them all. Not that I'm complaining, these are problems that a gardener can only wish for.<br />
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Some of you may have noticed that I generally photograph my farm pond from the uphill side with a view toward my house.<br />
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This is because the view from the opposite direction isn't nearly as satisfactory. Recently, however, I purchased a gazebo that rectifies this situation.<br />
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It's made out of steel and although it looks old, it is actually not an antique. I believe it was made in China and I'll be forever grateful to the dear friend that spotted it at a local dealer. I'd been looking for just such a structure for sometime and think it suits this spot perfectly. Now all I need is some comfortable seating. The current bench is terribly uncomfortable. In fact my friends are fond of remarking that none of my outdoor furniture is conducive to relaxation. They're right, but then I never relax in the garden. There's simply too much work to do.<br />
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<br />Andrew Grossmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743855288653813486noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7233313347149026018.post-54893159014930298892012-08-09T13:18:00.000-07:002012-08-09T13:18:02.549-07:00Back To Front<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Some of my readers may recall that a year ago I received a commission from an English couple that had recently relocated to Scituate, MA via the Middle East. Their new property included a seasonally marshy area and a water feature that had fallen into disrepair.<br />
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During our initial consultation my clients expressed interest in replacing the broken pump system that had previously produced a waterfall. In addition I suggested that we redesign a large area of lawn, brambles and weeds surrounding the pond. Sharing their countrymen's famed fondness for gardens, they readily agreed.<br />
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It has been a little more than a year since we embarked on the transformation and the new plantings are flourishing.</div>
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For this large new garden area I selected plant material that can tolerate consistently damp to marshy conditions as well as periods of dryness. Due to one or two miscalculations involving seasonal moisture some of the plants had to be rearranged following the initial planting and my clients subsequently revamped a drainage system to accommodate the heavy downpours that often flooded the low-lying areas. For the most part, however, the plants have settled in quite nicely.<br />
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Beginning with Japanese Irises in the spring, the garden is in bloom until frost and the red stems of Cornus Ivory Halo along with the berries of Ilex Verticillata provide winter color.<br />
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Additional plantings include hydrangeas, clethra, swamp azalea, viburnums and a host of perennials such as astilbes, hostas, foxgloves, grasses, daylilies, physostegia and chelone.</div>
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I installed the various species in large drifts to give the final composition a naturalistic appearance that complements the pond and a dramatic twenty-foot waterfall. One might assume that having completed such an extensive project, my clients would take a moment to rest on their laurels. This summer, however, they decided to revamp the front of their house as well.<br />
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My clients had their hearts set on a flower-filled front yard reminiscent of a classic English garden, a choice that I thought perfect for their lovely Tudor home. My first challenge, however, involved coaxing them to remove the narrow strip of lawn that bisected the front yard.<br />
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To keep the overall maintenance to a minimum I suggested that we choose primarily flowering shrubs and roses rather than more labor intensive perennials. I also swapped out the rectangular bluestone steppers and installed a path of rustic, irregular field stone.<br />
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For a touch of formality I lined the front walkway with Ilex Crenata ( a boxwood look alike) underplanted with silvery lambs ears, which should fill in nicely over time.</div>
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Although newly installed and recently battered by torrential rain when these photographs were taken, I'm looking forward to seeing the plantings mature. In a year or two I'm confident that the soil will no longer be visible. Instead the front walk will be awash in dark green, silver, pink and white.</div>
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On the home front, my gardens here in Seekonk are muddling through the dog days of summer and I have embarked on a new project. I am currently hosting a television show for a local cable station. The series entitled "In The Garden" is taped at my home and currently airs in southern MA. If you live outside of my area and would like to watch an episode or two google Seekonk Channel 9 and select schedule. You should be directed to the station's website. Select ON DEMAND and type in "In The Garden". You will be able to watch current and future episodes on your computer.<br />
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So far I have shot four episodes and plan on filming at least two more before the end of the season. It's a fun and challenging endeavor and I welcome your comments and feedback. Who knows, perhaps my series will be picked up by a larger network.<br />
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In the meantime, I'm honing the skills I cultivated in my twenties while pursuing a career as a dancer/performer in New York City. I guess that like the seasons, things have a way of coming around again.<br />
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<br />Andrew Grossmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743855288653813486noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7233313347149026018.post-25140371782379942372012-07-11T13:28:00.000-07:002012-07-11T13:28:42.625-07:00Count Your Blessings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The other day I was bemoaning the fact that my garden never seems to live up to my expectations. Despite careful planning and conscientious care nature conspires against me. Whether it's disfiguring snails or woodchucks that mow entire plants to the ground or unforeseen blights or too much rain or too little rain, there always seems to be something that mars the perfection I had envisioned.<br />
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Last weekend, however, I had a sudden epiphany. Two dear friends from college had visited from Vermont and we were spending a lazy afternoon relaxing in the shade beneath my Tupelo tree. Through its branches we marveled at the sunlight glinting on a patch of black-eyed susans growing in the field. I hadn't planted them, they had simply appeared, a gift from nature.<br />
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Later it occurred to me that I had never planned many of the most cherished elements in my garden. Some, like the cattails that grow by my farm pond or the white woodland asters that bloom each autumn in my Blue & White garden, simply appeared one day, growing from seeds carried on the wind. Others like the masses of Lobelia Siphilitica<br />
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and Eupatorium Coelestinum that provide late summer color are the offspring of a few plants that have self-seeded with great abandon. Each spring the seedlings pop up in unexpected places, filling bare spots and creating surprisingly artistic combinations.<br />
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Even the Ruella Humilis that edges the walkways of my front garden was a welcome surprise. I had never intended to use the plant as an edging. But when its seedlings sprouted against the cobbles, I liked the effect so much that I left them there.<br />
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In light of these revelations I've decided to curtail my litany of complaints and give credit where credit is due. While it's true that nature's hand can be harsh at times, her input has greatly improved the look of my gardens.<br />
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And in the spirit of giving credit, I should thank my gardening chum, Tish Hopkins, for suggesting that I grow sweet peas up the teepees that support my dinner plate dahlias. For the past six weeks I've enjoyed filling vases with their delightfully fragrant flowers. Andrew Grossmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743855288653813486noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7233313347149026018.post-46364425820485410962012-06-13T16:04:00.000-07:002012-06-13T17:25:42.962-07:00Everything Is Coming Up Roses<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lYRR9c90wJA/T9ka05kYBPI/AAAAAAAAAzg/dm6LngC-o-Q/s1600/DSCN0311.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lYRR9c90wJA/T9ka05kYBPI/AAAAAAAAAzg/dm6LngC-o-Q/s400/DSCN0311.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
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In previous posts I've included photographs of my entire property. For this installment, however, I thought I'd focus on the front garden, which has been awash in roses for the past few weeks. I have more than twenty different varieties of roses planted on my property and this time of year their impact is undeniable. Many people shy away from planting roses because they have a reputation for being difficult. I admit that my foray into growing tea roses has produced less than stellar results. Still, perhaps more than any other shrub, I rely on my roses for color and fragrance throughout the growing season. I consider varieties like "The Fairy", "Betty Prior" and " the David Austin Series of shrub roses" to be indispensable landscape plants.<br />
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In addition I highly recommend the "Knock Out" and "Flower Carpet" series of roses, which are tough nearly indestructible landscape plants. I've also had great luck with the new "Drift" roses which are suitable for smaller gardens. Granted these varieties may lack the charm and fragrance of their fussier counterparts. It's also possible that their recent appearance in strip mall parking lots may eventually consign them to the same category as stella d'oro daylilies. Nevertheless, if one is searching for a low maintenance plant that will provide months of color, they simply can't be bettered. I rely heavily on these varieties in my design work and clients are invariably happy with the results.<br />
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This spring as an experiment, I decided not to fertilize any of my roses and the lack of additional nutrients hasn't impacted their flowering. Perhaps my soil is already rich enough.<br />
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I would be remiss if I didn't mention that even the easiest roses benefit from a good pruning in the spring and dead-heading throughout the summer. Dead-heading encourages repeat bloom and keeps the shrubs looking fresh and healthy. With a few exceptions I make a habit of removing all of the spent flowers in my garden and find it a relaxing pastime. Last week a local cable television show shot an episode on my garden and this week I will shoot another on the correct way to dead-head roses and peonies.
I'll keep you posted on show times in case you'd like to tune in.<br />
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Unfortunately, not everything in my garden is coming up roses. While driving about last year, I noticed that one of my favorite spring blooming shrubs, Kerria Japonica, was looking surprisingly ratty. Smugly I attributed the condition to poor horticultural practices on the part of the home owner. This year, however, the two plants in my garden have succumbed to the same condition. After a bit of research I discovered the cause,which turns out to be a mold, Blumeriella Kerriae. The mold produces brown spots on the leaves, which soon wither and fall. If untreated, eventually, the entire plant may die. I'm still waiting for my arborist to spray my bushes with a fungicide, but the rain has made his work difficult. And of course, the snail onslaught continues unabated, despite the hours I spend collecting and crushing them underfoot.<br />
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Still, I try to take pleasure in the garden's successes, like the vase of sweet peas and Eden roses pictured above.Andrew Grossmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743855288653813486noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7233313347149026018.post-81666100517654893682012-05-23T12:05:00.000-07:002012-05-23T14:10:27.249-07:00Rip Van Winkled<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Last week I stepped outside and for a moment I wasn't sure what month it was. As I huddled beneath my umbrella in the rain, the cool, damp air certainly felt like spring, but strangely the garden told a different story. Roses and Alliums blooming in mid-May? Peonies already shedding their petals? As I write this post, I can smell the vase of freshly cut tea roses on my kitchen table yet it isn't even Memorial Day. Perhaps I should re-write an old adage. "Better early than never" seems a more fitting commentary on the state of my garden this year.
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After a frighteningly dry start to the growing season, I have welcomed the recent rainfall. While last month I resorted to running my sprinklers in an effort to stave off what seemed like an impending disaster, the truth is that no amount of irrigation can replace a week of steady rain.
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The only downside to all the rain is the proliferation of snails that continue to chew their way through my garden. Not to beat a dead horse, but yes the snail infestation continues unabated. In an effort to slow their rampage I purchased three Guinea hens, which promptly flew away, and a group of adorable white ducks. Sadly, along with my two roosters, the ducks fell victim to a marauding predator. I try not to become emotionally attached to my barnyard fowl, but it's a bit demoralizing to be left with nothing but a trail of white feathers.
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I've yet to discover what local carnivore feasted on my feathered friends, but it seems to have also dispatched the groundhog that was living in my field, which is at least some small consolation. Given the choice, I guess I'd rather wage war on snails than groundhogs. And so despite my efforts and various home remedies, including a mixture of ammonia and water, the battle continues with no sign of a ceasefire in sight. I've finally resigned myself to spending a good half-hour twice a day plucking snails by hand and crushing them underfoot.
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On a brighter note, it seems to be a good year for clematis. The double white variety that I'm training into one of my yew columns is loaded with flowers.
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And I must say that despite the snails and the vagaries of the weather the garden is looking lovely...if I do say so myself.
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As my regular readers may know, I'm not in the habit of photographing my driveway. This year, however, the crabapples, Malus Transitoria Schmidcutleaf, are so beautiful that I couldn't resist. I must confess that their unexpected display is something of a relief. This spring marks the first time since I planted them almost a decade ago that they've bloomed profusely. In fact for the past five years I've considered replacing them with another variety, a daunting prospect given how large they've grown and the expense involved. In the fall they should produce an abundance of small golden berry-sized fruit hence their common name, Golden Raindrops. The flowering tree at the very end of the driveway is not a crabapple. It's an old apple tree that was here when I bought the property. It's fruit, though never pretty, is quite tasty.
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Many of the buds on the wisterias that flank the farm pond fell victim to the cold snap that followed the spell of freakishly warm days in March. They should be absolutely covered with flowers, but they're lovely nonetheless. My current mantra when it comes to gardens is "you win some you lose some". It seems that no matter what the weather brings some plants flourish while others flounder.
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And this year the dogwoods and (white) redbud in the Blue & White garden are certainly flourishing as are the lilacs. I hoping they'll hold their blossoms another week until the azaleas burst into bloom.
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The yellow flowered Kerria Japonica in the Hot Colored garden never fails to put on a stunning display. As it spreads by suckering it can be a bit invasive. The one closest to the checkerboard patio is a division from the original plant that grows at the corner of the house.
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I'm sad to say that daffodil season is drawing to a close. It sure was fun while it lasted.
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tmIzdj8IC-c/T5_rKlaTMCI/AAAAAAAAAwA/Y8UqS4t-S2s/s1600/DSCN0129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="368" width="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tmIzdj8IC-c/T5_rKlaTMCI/AAAAAAAAAwA/Y8UqS4t-S2s/s400/DSCN0129.JPG" /></a></div>Andrew Grossmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743855288653813486noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7233313347149026018.post-19577879494779795912012-04-09T09:35:00.001-07:002012-04-09T09:39:07.048-07:00All Bets Are Off!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VF-TKcXl0iI/T4L-nzo-a5I/AAAAAAAAAts/w4sTfj_j2Mo/s1600/DSCN0091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VF-TKcXl0iI/T4L-nzo-a5I/AAAAAAAAAts/w4sTfj_j2Mo/s400/DSCN0091.JPG" /></a></div><br />
It seems that rainy spring days are thing of the past. Here in Seekonk, March felt more like July and April, though cooler, has been pitifully dry. In a fit of exasperation I turned on my irrigation this past weekend to dampen the dust devils swirling across my lawn. While most of my friends were happily parading about in shorts last month, I was gripped by anxiety as buds swelled weeks ahead of schedule. Though sun worshipers scoffed at my concern, as I had feared the temperatures plummeted. The leaves on the Actinidia that covers the arbor in the Blue & White garden fell victim to frost as did the nascent buds on the wisteria trees that flank the farm pond.<br />
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Despite the peculiar weather the daffodils have proved indomitable. Though not as exceptional as last year's display, the bulbs don't appear to mind the dryness and the recent spate of cool days and cold nights has kept the flowers from fading.<br />
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I picked this bouquet yesterday and gave it to a friend's mother as thank you for a batch of delicious Easter cookies.<br />
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I'm beginning to regret that I decided not to plant tulips last fall. With a few exceptions most varieties only flower for a couple years in my garden. To guarantee a bountiful display I had been replanting them each year. To remedy the situation I'm already making note of how many to order this coming fall. To ensure that I don't forget where to plant them, I'm marking the ground with popsicle sticks inscribed with a big "T". <br />
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I love the reddish tinge of the rose foliage this time of year especially in the hot colored garden, where it compliments the yellow and orange daffodils. Luckily, the delicate leaves seem to be impervious to the cold.<br />
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On a completely unrelated note. My first novel, LOST SKY, was recently published and is available on Amazon and Barnesandnoble.com. I think garden lovers in particular will find it an enjoyable read, perfect for relaxing in a deck chair or hammock.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F5OBaCOEU6U/T4MNuZsuzVI/AAAAAAAAAu0/CjGH5KzRt5M/s1600/LostSky_full.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="290" width="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F5OBaCOEU6U/T4MNuZsuzVI/AAAAAAAAAu0/CjGH5KzRt5M/s400/LostSky_full.jpg" /></a></div>Andrew Grossmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743855288653813486noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7233313347149026018.post-80425813380860640862012-02-20T14:45:00.000-08:002012-02-20T16:12:09.734-08:00Hocus Crocus<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--Q75s9QDf7w/T0KkwTapFBI/AAAAAAAAAsw/RenCN0y_DVs/s1600/DSCN0002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--Q75s9QDf7w/T0KkwTapFBI/AAAAAAAAAsw/RenCN0y_DVs/s400/DSCN0002.JPG" /></a></div><br />
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.<br />
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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. <br />
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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.<br />
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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. <br />
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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.Andrew Grossmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743855288653813486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7233313347149026018.post-65886926510839306462012-01-02T16:26:00.000-08:002012-01-02T16:26:01.654-08:00Top TenAt 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).<br />
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1) Nepeta Walkers Low<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BAVc6Rk9pXY/TwIrGmUvYOI/AAAAAAAAAq4/KEThrZXl_xo/s1600/images-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="224" width="224" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BAVc6Rk9pXY/TwIrGmUvYOI/AAAAAAAAAq4/KEThrZXl_xo/s400/images-1.jpeg" /></a></div>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.<br />
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2) Alchemilla Mollis (Ladies Mantle)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-abyEHC0oHDc/TwIsoXNlxzI/AAAAAAAAArE/bkg-mIZ7l4I/s1600/images-2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="194" width="260" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-abyEHC0oHDc/TwIsoXNlxzI/AAAAAAAAArE/bkg-mIZ7l4I/s400/images-2.jpeg" /></a></div>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.<br />
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3) Buddleia Pink Delight<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ooRHVJp_3Dk/TwIvBmhdkaI/AAAAAAAAArQ/o6WBOtNfdTI/s1600/images-3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="202" width="205" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ooRHVJp_3Dk/TwIvBmhdkaI/AAAAAAAAArQ/o6WBOtNfdTI/s400/images-3.jpeg" /></a></div>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.<br />
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4) Stachys Helen Von Stein<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f5wBriYfbCo/TwIxoNuU91I/AAAAAAAAArc/Hcx8NFZ_gRw/s1600/images-4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="195" width="258" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f5wBriYfbCo/TwIxoNuU91I/AAAAAAAAArc/Hcx8NFZ_gRw/s400/images-4.jpeg" /></a></div>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.<br />
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5) Pennisetum Maudry<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8V-kl_o4SvQ/TwI1bY3vR3I/AAAAAAAAAro/cxQkzvuxxbg/s1600/images-5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="194" width="259" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8V-kl_o4SvQ/TwI1bY3vR3I/AAAAAAAAAro/cxQkzvuxxbg/s400/images-5.jpeg" /></a></div>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.<br />
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6) Anthyrium Niponicum Pictum (Painted Fern)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AGm6Qe4WA-4/TwI3DQNIvwI/AAAAAAAAAr0/ZzU8OIf1fCI/s1600/images-6.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="259" width="194" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AGm6Qe4WA-4/TwI3DQNIvwI/AAAAAAAAAr0/ZzU8OIf1fCI/s400/images-6.jpeg" /></a></div>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.<br />
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7) Fairy Rose<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I3KgzKxQQPg/TwI4bIvJRUI/AAAAAAAAAsE/s7DyUTmTIP8/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="194" width="259" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I3KgzKxQQPg/TwI4bIvJRUI/AAAAAAAAAsE/s7DyUTmTIP8/s400/images.jpeg" /></a></div>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.<br />
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8) Kerria Japonica Pleniflora<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O6fEa0sus5w/TwI6rVkFeII/AAAAAAAAAsM/kDMGfpeDUBs/s1600/DownloadedFile-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="194" width="259" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O6fEa0sus5w/TwI6rVkFeII/AAAAAAAAAsM/kDMGfpeDUBs/s400/DownloadedFile-1.jpeg" /></a></div>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. <br />
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9) Hydrangea Annabelle<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-olnI-HBp31o/TwI8Z1lXEkI/AAAAAAAAAsY/_SYWfPvyPCE/s1600/DownloadedFile-2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="225" width="225" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-olnI-HBp31o/TwI8Z1lXEkI/AAAAAAAAAsY/_SYWfPvyPCE/s400/DownloadedFile-2.jpeg" /></a></div>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.<br />
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10) Geranium Rozanne<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tl2-rTtE2Gk/TwI955YdAhI/AAAAAAAAAsk/gEVPpVK3mr4/s1600/DownloadedFile.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="194" width="259" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tl2-rTtE2Gk/TwI955YdAhI/AAAAAAAAAsk/gEVPpVK3mr4/s400/DownloadedFile.jpeg" /></a></div>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. <br />
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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.<br />
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Happy New Year!Andrew Grossmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743855288653813486noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7233313347149026018.post-25841909640654756152011-09-29T14:09:00.000-07:002011-09-29T14:09:56.748-07:00Self Awareness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RtjLKG9a0us/ToSNb6D_rbI/AAAAAAAAApI/9t_ymv9ZL5s/s1600/DSCN0037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RtjLKG9a0us/ToSNb6D_rbI/AAAAAAAAApI/9t_ymv9ZL5s/s400/DSCN0037.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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. <br />
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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;<br />
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Columbines (these were a gift from a friend who had seedlings to spare)<br />
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Digitalis Ambigua<br />
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Verbena Bonariensis<br />
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And the tall pink Cleome pictured below.<br />
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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.<br />
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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.<br />
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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.<br />
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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. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pvYrJdCpZUQ/ToSeXv02NTI/AAAAAAAAAqg/b2rQ_Xdd23A/s1600/DSCN0015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pvYrJdCpZUQ/ToSeXv02NTI/AAAAAAAAAqg/b2rQ_Xdd23A/s400/DSCN0015.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Andrew Grossmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743855288653813486noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7233313347149026018.post-39711979675301060422011-08-26T11:37:00.000-07:002011-08-27T11:10:45.825-07:00Good Night Irene<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OKG_-xjSOGo/TlePxjw2BeI/AAAAAAAAAnA/whe3KPUhSus/s1600/DSCN1891.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OKG_-xjSOGo/TlePxjw2BeI/AAAAAAAAAnA/whe3KPUhSus/s400/DSCN1891.JPG" /></a></div><br />
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.<br />
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And armloads of flowers for arrangements. I gave this one to friend for her birthday.<br />
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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.<br />
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The yellow flowers blooming around the pond are Ligularia Desdemona, prized for it's burgundy foliage and bountiful late-summer blossoms. <br />
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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. <br />
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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. <br />
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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.<br />
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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.<br />
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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. <br />
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So there you have it, the garden pre-Irene. Hopefully it will look much the same post-Irene, but one never knows.<br />
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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/<br />
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And the pool garden that I featured in my last post is filling in quite nicely. <br />
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But now it's time to batten down the hatches and hope that Irene drifts farther out to sea.<br />
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Andrew Grossmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743855288653813486noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7233313347149026018.post-42689823815882144992011-07-30T06:35:00.000-07:002011-07-30T09:28:33.804-07:00POOL PARTY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IPtgBRR0HcM/TjL23kwD3mI/AAAAAAAAAkg/EX2D_Wxq9a0/s1600/DSCN1661.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IPtgBRR0HcM/TjL23kwD3mI/AAAAAAAAAkg/EX2D_Wxq9a0/s400/DSCN1661.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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.<br />
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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.<br />
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To minimize the need for additional walls I set large boulders into the slope to create a rockery.<br />
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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.<br />
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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. <br />
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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.<br />
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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.<br />
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I've been spending a good deal of time dead-heading and weeding.<br />
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The Japanese beetles appeared right on schedule but haven't been terribly destructive so far.<br />
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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.<br />
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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. <br />
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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.<br />
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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.<br />
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With the onset of summer weather the hot colored garden is really heating up.<br />
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Meanwhile the Blue and White garden is cooling down.<br />
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I've decided that dusk is my favorite time to view the garden. The shadows mask<br />
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.Andrew Grossmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743855288653813486noreply@blogger.com7