Count Your Blessings

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.

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.

   

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

Lobelia Siphilitica

Eupatorium Coelestinum 

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.

Ruella Humilis

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.

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.

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.  

Everything Is Coming Up Roses

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.
 

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.

 


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.

 

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.

 

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.

  

Still, I try to take pleasure in the garden's successes, like the vase of sweet peas and Eden roses pictured above.

Rip Van Winkled

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Drive By

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.

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.

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.

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.

I'm sad to say that daffodil season is drawing to a close. It sure was fun while it lasted.

All Bets Are Off!

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.

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.

I picked this bouquet yesterday and gave it to a friend's mother as thank you for a batch of delicious Easter cookies.

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".

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.

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.

Hocus Crocus

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

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

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

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

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

Top Ten

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


1) Nepeta Walkers Low

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

2) Alchemilla Mollis (Ladies Mantle)

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

3) Buddleia Pink Delight

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

4) Stachys Helen Von Stein

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

5) Pennisetum Maudry

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

6) Anthyrium Niponicum Pictum (Painted Fern)

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

7) Fairy Rose

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

8) Kerria Japonica Pleniflora

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

9) Hydrangea Annabelle

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

10) Geranium Rozanne

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

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

Happy New Year!