Reading Roses

Does this look like a climbing rose bush to you?  It looks like a support system for a clematis!  The roses are not in full bloom here in the Northeast, though Dublin Bay popped this morning, and the earliest in my garden, ‘Theresa Bugnet’ is making her debut again.  May is a tease before the full flush of rose bloom!  There are so many rose books on my shelves, but a favorite that I love to thumb through in anticipation is, “Roses A Celebration”  Why?  Because so many garden writers have their say on the subject of their favorite rose.  It is amazing that Wayne Winterrowd, the author,  was able to convince 39 eminent gardeners to write an essay on their favorite – who could choose?  Well, they did, and this book is a joy to anyone that thinks they couldn’t do the same!

To read more gardeners’  book reviews for the month, please go to Roses and Other Gardening Joys, one of my favorite blogs, to see the May 2012 Book Reviews!

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day May 2012 & begonia babies

May blooms include Iris.

Rosa ‘Theresa Bugnet’

My earliest rose blooms in May, faithful Theresa Bugnet.

The rhododendron have begun to bloom.  A lost name, but I remember well the trip  to watch a college lacrosse game when I made a detour to a beckoning nursery and found this.  As sweet as this bloom appears, I hear and see the heat and excitement of a lacrosse game when I look at it each Spring!

I’ve lost this Iris’ name but each May, its grape jelly scent and clear blue color remind me of a dear friend who moved away many years ago.  This iris had been in her CT garden long before she gardened there, and now it blooms in both CT gardens.

Clematis ‘Josephine’

Purchased for its name, ‘Josephine’ disappeared last year, but it has just appeared again, surprising me as it grew through a Manhattan Euonymous unnoticed until this early Spring day.  Like my Aunt Josephine, this vine is one of a kind!  My Aunt raised goats, and could be perhaps the reason for my life long but unfulfilled desire to raise goats!  She lived in a rambling antique house set on a rolling landscape near the Croton Reservoir.  Like the clematis, she has disappeared from our lives, but she appears in happy memories, often unexpected.

Clematis ‘Nelly Moser’

Nelly Moser is another clematis, blooming at the front door this May.

Aside from flowers blooming in May, I am starting to harvest the young lettuce!

And though the outdoors commands my waking hours, I  cannot neglect the indoor plants, particularly the begonias.  I’ve just received a new box of babies from The Violet Barn.  Highly recommended!  I was astonished at the beauty of the wrapping inside the shipping box!

Each small baby arrived in pristine condition!

Begonia ‘Emerald Lacewing’

Take a look at their offerings, www.VioletBarn.com.

I am happy to join in on Garden Bloggers Day. To see what is blooming for bloggers all over the country go to www.maydreamsgardens.com

Spectacular Steinhardt kingdom

The Garden Conservancy’s Open Days program continues to impress!  What an extraordinary garden we visited this week end!  The home of Judy and Michael Steinhardt was open to the public on Sunday and it is a day I will not forget!  Approaching from a very long dirt road, the 55 acre estate is near the Croton Reservoir, so you have the sense that you are about to enter a woodland paradise with water ways.

How about zebras and camels!  We arrived through a beautiful gate and parked in the orchard (along with hundreds of other visitors!)A walk through a beautiful garden generally creates a feeling of serenity or excitement, but I laughed aloud to see these animals in a private setting – so unexpected and joyful!  Our walk then took us past the waterfowl preserve, through an enormous maple grove with lotus pond, rope bridge and moss bridge skirting over beautiful waterways.  Forgive this author, who left her camera at home.  I can’t forgive myself!  I had my I Phone with me, and it is great, but I haven’t mastered all the tricks it can perform yet! 

What a  tremendous gift from the Steinhardt’s to share their paradise with the public.  I will say that I was disappointed that too many of the parents who brought their children did not school their progeny in how to respectfully walk through someone’s garden.  It is not the zoo! (One can’t blame the children, they were expressing their wonder and thrill the way children do!  The parents…)Most of the children were delightful like this group who watched this giant tortoise with quiet interest.

The vegetable garden was ready to accept seedlings, and it was wonderful to see the structure before the bounty.

The tree peonies  showing their spectacular colors.

The exotic animals were in view as we toured the other side of the estate.  Not everyone can claim a flock of flamingos on their property!  Or a herd of llamas.

Approaching the barns, I was disturbed to see a HUGE wildbeast appear spooked.  He was thundering in and out of his stall and galloping through his pasture.  I thought the crowd might be too much, and when we left the property I saw that they had closed that area to the public. Until that moment, it was the peaceable kingdom, but they are wild animals after all.  Again, I think that more respect should have been shown; the crowds did not always behave appropriately from my point of view.   Soon we came to the Theodore Dreiser ruins where I could picture the owners and their guests perching  to discuss the topic of the day or the pleasures and pains of having exotic animals in your backyard!

All in all, a most extraordinary place.  I have not touched even a small portion of what delights this garden gives, but there is a book to guide the viewer, “The Landscape Diaries: Garden of Obsession.”  This garden will be open again the Autumn.  I recommend wearing comfortable shoes, and leave the noisy, boisterous kids home!

Thank you Mr. and Mrs. Steinhardt for a most remarkable walk through your obsession!

WEEK END WANDERINGS

How many hours can one work in the garden before the body says, “Enough!”  But mentally and spiritually, you are still all about gardening.  Suggestion: visit a Garden Conservancy open day garden in your area!

We did just that this week end.  To find gardens in your neck of the woods with open days and times, I suggest you join The Garden Conservancy, but you can just purchase the annual book with complete listings, or visit their website calendar.  For $5.00 you can see the most beautiful, inventive, charming, classic, natural or spectacular gardens open to visitors.

We changed out of our garden gear, washed our hands, and headed to Bedford, down a dirt road, to be charmed by a garden that offered a morning of visual delights.  I came away with new ideas and imaginings of how to interpret something wonderful from their garden into my own.  Yesterday I thought, “Add more bulbs in unexpected places.”

Find bulbs to surprise and delight.  The owner was generous in telling me I can find these beautiful bells at Brent & Beck’s, leucojum Gravetye giant.  They are tall and happy.

Embrace more shrubs.

After a lovely walk through this hillside garden, we were still not ready to don our work clothes and get back to work, so we detoured to an unusual nursery, Mariani Gardens, in Armonk NY.

Mariani Gardens

Displayed with the utmost care and attention to styling, you will find embellishments and accessories for the gardenand outdoor spaces.

I am still thinking about where I could put one of these to lend a note to a quiet space.

The prices on some of the large japanese maples were steep, but that is expected.  The plants were beautifully maintained and the offering varied.

They also offer great pieces for porch and outdoor seating areas.  A glass of iced tea, book, sunglasses and a clean and freshly groomed Cavalier King Charles by my side, I am ready!

Frosty Night and Anniversary

A year ago, 2011, my Gardening Journal reports that the tomato seedlings spent the night outside.  Not this year!  The cold frame is closed up tight, the agastache is covered.  The asparagus should be able to withstand a slight freeze.

The garlic doesn’t mind the frosty breath of morning as long as the sun comes out bright and strong.

The daffodils will bloom even in snow, no worries here.

Daffodil 'Thalia'

Mathilda, you will be coming in tonight.  You were meant to brighten the Easter table and then be planted outside….but not yet!

Hydrangea 'Mathilda Gutges'

This is not the night to leave house plants outside!  A year ago, you might left them outside  and a year ago, you might have gone to bed early in order to rise for  Kate and William’s nuptials!Happy Anniversary Kate and William! P.S. If you are an anglophile like my grandmother was and I in her footsteps, and love everything about English gardens, I recommend stopping by the latest post on a favorite blog, What ho Hidcote!  Photography is sensitive and informative on all subjects of gardening, but most captivating is the insider’s look at Hidecote Garden – one of my favorite garden visits in my gardening years!!!

Dear readers, I am still waiting for the wise sage/gardener to tell me what this is in my garden.  I’ve only had one brave gardener hazard a guess – I think she may be right!

Another mystery in the garden was solved this week, by our wonderful  CT State Cooperative Service!  We noticed dead branches and brown leaves on two of our large hollies next to the house.  Upon further examination, we found this weird design on the bark of the trees!

Damage from yellow-bellied sapsucker

We’ve been told by the expert that this is the work of a yellow-bellied sapsucker, who drills holes in order to produce sap which they feed on.  We have had to wrap the bark to prevent further damage and hopefully to discourage insect damage.  Isn’t gardening fun?

MAKE MORE!

APRIL 2012 Garden Book Review

One of my very favorite blogs, ‘Dreaming of Roses’ is having a monthly book review!  This is where two of my favorite blogs intersect.  Just this week my PRIZE arrived; I won a book from Margaret Roach!  (Her blog, A Way To Garden is amazing and so is she!  If you haven’t visited her blog, go immediately!  And if you don’t know her story, you MUST read her book!)  Fortunately, the book I won is of a subject that is near and dear to my heart, so I am thrilled to review!

MAKING MORE PLANTS by Ken Druse

Ken Druse is a guru among gardeners.  I heard him speak many, many years ago and have been a devoted fan ever since.  I have most of his books and still refer to them when planning a garden space or when I need a good reference or just some salve for the soul – great photographs to peruse on a cold Winter’s day!

I love to propagate so this book was affirming and inspiring.  On any given day of the year, you will see this on my counter top.

That is page 141 of Ken’s book in the background, with a discussion of hardwood cuttings.  I find some are easy (hydrangea) and some not so easy!  But you will feel encouraged to try after reading his book!  I love the organization of this book by chapter; you will find sowing, vegetative reproduction, cuttings, leaves, layering, grafting, division, geophytes, and roots.  You may not know you are a propagator, but if you are reading gardening blogs, I bet there is a chapter or two in this book that you have explored.  My domestic angel (otherwise known as housekeeper but I revere her much more than that title infers!) just this week gave me a division of her favorite house plant, on the right!

It looked just like the photo in Ken’s book! (small photo on lower right) when she handed it to me carefully wrapped in wet paper towel!  She is a propagator! (And probably wishes I would dabble more in soil OUTSIDE and not inside in her domain!)

Dahlias are an obsession, so of course, I am madly dividing tubers and readying for planting day in the dahlia beds.

Dahlia 'Esther'

If you love ‘Esther’ then you will want to share her with friends!  Propagate!

In his book, Ken explains, “I was born in Spring, and I never got over it!…I love plants – the way they look and smell, leaves crisp in fall and flower buds bursting into bloom in Spring.”  His unabashed love infuses every page and is seen in every photograph.  He is a superb garden writer and photographer and we are all the richer for his bringing his art and craft to  print!  I definitely give two thumbs up to this book, now out in paperback, “Making More Plants, The Science, Art, and Joy of Propagation.”

Clementine implores me to sit down,  there is room for both a small spaniel and this wonderful book on my lap!

Garden Blooming Blog Day

Hope I am not to late for the party!

Epimedium 'Orangekonigin'

Epimedium 'Lilafee'

Daffodil 'Coloratura'

Hellebore 'Royal Heritage'

Corydalis

Dicentra, bleeding heart

Akebia vine

Crabapples

Mystery? Brought it as a volunteer from an old stone wall! What do you think?

Join in the fun on www.maydreamsgardens.com!

Wordless Week end

Won! A Winner!

I won!  I am a winner!  Not too excited, there, I am not a mega million winner.  Almost better than that!  I won a book from my all time favorite garden blog, A Way To Garden !  This must be a day when the stars line up, because it is also my 100th post!  And the book is by Ken Druse, a favorite author and lecturer! The new book, “Making More Plants,” promises much on a favorite topic of propagation.  For anyone who reads my blog, you know I am always propagating, so I can’t WAIT to get the book and see how Margaret’s gift further turns me into a propagating dervish!   Thank you Margaret!!!

I recently was awarded a red ribbon at the GCA flower show, Preview of Spring 2012. Second place in a propagation class means there is room for improvement!  Bring it on, Ken Druse!

This is the time of year that my blog turns mostly to gardening topics, but on my 100th post, I say farewell to a sofa and two chairs.  Keeping house is an indoor pursuit and I forget about it until round about November!  But this sofa, reminiscent of Diana Vreeland, had seen better days.  Time for renewal.

I held on for too long, frayed at the edges and fabric deteriorating, but it has been just about my favorite place to perch for SO MANY years!  The two chairs that flank were in sore need of renewal as well.

I moved pillows around, most will be tossed – out the door, not on the new chairs!  I will share the renewal photos when they are re-upholstered.  You can be assured that the cavaliers will be there to christen them with their approval!

Maybe not physically as above; I am needlepointing their likeness to join the gallery of well-loved dogs from our past!

Needlepoint, you ask?  What do you do for years of sitting at lacrosse games and swim meets?  Or during husband’s favorite movies?  Needlepoint your dogs!  Alternative?  Propagate!

Happy Spring!  Happy propagating!

Easter Sunday

An early  Easter might mean a lack of bloom, but some are saying that we are three weeks ahead of the normal bloom cycle.The akebia greets guests at our front walk gate.  The daffodils are so far ahead that I am certain there will be nothing left in my garden to take to the daffodil show.  It is possible to cut now and store in fridge for weeks, but I will not be able to that this year.All of the new bulbs so carefully recorded and planted just in hopes of going to show!  Ah well…

Another year, perhaps.

While cutting daffodils, I found chives and oregano appearing in the herb bed.

Also in the herb bed, I found this!  Readers, do you recognize?  I don’t!  What did I slip into the bed last year?  

With all of the careful recording, this seems to happen to me all the time!

I  posted that I would be traveling to Stonington CT for a Judge’s workshop last week.  As  Prospective Judges, some of us were asked to bring along a trough to use for practice judging.  Many of my troughs that I have made and planted up over the years were not in any shape to go in front of a Judging panel!They have just come out from under the rhododendrons where they spent the Winter months.  This one looked the best of the bunch so I groomed a bit, added some more top-dressing and hoped for the best.

You know you have done something wrong when a crowd of seasoned Judges gathers around your exhibit with fingers pointing, talking with much animation!  Can you guess what is wrong with that trough?  Though I found the Cotoneaster at a nursery on a table among alpine plants, it does not really ‘belong’ with the hens and chickens and iris pumila, as it is not truly an alpine.  Note to self, BE SURE when you pick up a plant that someone before you did not drop it off in the wrong section.  In my last home, there was a “secret garden’ behind the house with a stone wall built along the side of a rock outcropping with a fountain and lovely “rock plants”.  Among the plantings was a beautiful sculptural Cotoneaster, which  always seemed lovely.  I understand what the distinction was in terms of judging, but I do love the Cotoneaster even recognizing that it cannot live there forever – it will outgrow the space.

If this is your holiday, I  hope that you are celebrating Easter in fine fashion – in church with a hallelujah! Pretty hats?  Finery?  Egg hunt?  Chocolate baskets?  Worship well on this fine Spring day!

Clementine sings, “good day!”  Happy Easter!