| Thursday, April 6, 2006 |   Loading ... |
 
|
| The Well, the Tree and the Hazel In the spot where the well now sits, stood an 80-foot tall Norway spruce tree. When it was removed it left a stump that was nearly four feet wide. After a lot of thinking and debating, this water feature developed — a well with a witch hazel bush behind it. The other plantings have changed from year-to-year. This year features daisies, asters and lobelia.After the water feature was created, I stumbled on an essay, The Tree of Life, by druid priestess, Mara Freeman in which she relates a tale of the linking of The Tree of Life to a Well and hazel trees. Granted, my witch hazel is not of the same species as the hazels she mentioned, however the similarities are uncanny. Read more about the Well Water Feature. |
 |
.
 |
The Lavender Allee Lavender is an obsessive favorite and growing it has been a trial. Before I grew my own, a friend asked if I wanted some one summer and literally showed up with buckets of fresh lavender ready for bunching. For the first time, with specially prepared beds and trying the French variety ‘Grosso’ instead of the more common English varieties, I have vigorously growing lavender. They are more like small shrubs nearing four feet wide and three feet high. Extremely fragrant, dried lavender stems can be burned as incense to create a sense of calm and protected peacefulness. Try freshening your sweeper by sprinkling some florets on the floor and sweeping them up. |
 |
.
| Patio Retreat Flanking the step to the patio are boxwoods. Many a Yuletide have been spent weaving sprigs of this evergreen into yards and yards of lush garland for decorating. Behind them are pots brimming with dahlias and mint. For a refreshing iced tea, put a gallon of water in a large glass jar along with four plain tea bags and four red zinger tea bags. Add a handful of mint and stir. Cover and place it in the sun for eight hours and then strain and refrigerate. Serve with lots of ice, a slice of orange, a sprig of mint and sweetner of your choice. |
|||||||
|
 |
||||||
.
 |
In Search of The Great Pumpkin I planted my first pumpkin patch when I was five and after 30 years I finally have one as glorious as I remember that one to be. ‘ On Samhain Eve (Halloween) the Celts would carve faces into turnips and place a candle inside  to light their way. Once in the new world, the native pumpkin proved to be easier to carve, becoming the jack-o-lantern. |
.
| Containers in the Garden Containers work well when placed right in the garden. A cast iron urn filled with a brilliant coleus and blue lobelia is surrounded with the lush, ferny foliage of bleeding hearts and a pot of coleus is a cozy spot for a friendly game of checkers between the tortoise and the hare. |
 .  |
.
| Blooms ‘n’ Vases Nothing says spring more than a huge bouquet of tulips. Peaches ‘n’ Cream from White Flower Farm is one of the best mixed collections with large flowers that just entice you to pick them. |
|
 I’m rarely without fresh flowers on my computer table and when the peonies are in bloom they’re quickly gathered up for vases. A powerful protector, peonies will protect the land upon which they are planted. Curious enough, neither beast nor pest touches them. A symbol of ostentation, their fragrance surely lives up to the reputation as a single flower’s scent can take over an entire room. |
 |
.
| All-Star Annuals My favorite combination of annuals for a large bed are zinnias ‘State Fair,’ ‘White Profussion,’ salvia ‘Black and Blue,’ sweet potato ‘Blackie,’ and nasturtiums ‘Mahagony’ and ‘Jewel of India.’ The salvia is a magnet for humminbirds, as the zinnias are for butterflies. What could be more magical than being enchanted by the fluttering of butterflies and hovering hummers on a lazy August afternoon. The more you pick salvias and zinnias, the more they bloom. They’re wonderful paired up in vases on the summertime dinner table. Nasturtium flowers are edible and have a peppery flavor. They can be picked and used to garnish salads. |
|
 |
 |
.
 |
 |
Ghost of a Rose I am haunted by roses, well more to the point, am obsessed with roses. When I heard Blackmore’s Night’s ‘A Ghost of a Rose’ one Winter, we decided to plant an entire hedge of white Blanc Double de Coubert, a rugosa. Some favorites are Teasing Georgia, Curly Pink, Queen O the Lakes and Diana, Princess of Wales. We also have some unnamed varieties from Jackson & Perkins test group. We have upwards of 50 organically grown roses, using home- made sprays to control disease and insects. |
 |
 |
.
and delights for your senses within these pages.
Posted in: Gardening
Loading ...
Post a Comment