A Deep V

 

My neighbor down the street has quite the landscape going on.  I stopped by yesterday when I saw she was in the front yard working.  I told her I really liked the garden.  I will say she did not quit edging and weeding while we talked-how like a gardener.  But I do think she was pleased by my interest.  Gardeners are born with the willingness to share gene.  Hers is a small but very striking garden.  Trees and shrubs are entirely symmetrically placed on axis to the front door-as is a wood arbor keeping a pair of red climbing roses aloft.  But the most visually compelling element are the pair of triangular shaped beds that make for a deep V, intersected by the walk to the front door.  

I will say I have never seen landscape beds cut in this shape.  These diagonal lines are very strong and exciting.  The formal geometry of my garden is much more traditionally and quietly laid out in squares and rectangles.  These are bed lines that zoom, zoom. How they looked immediately made me long for a project where I might experiment with this shape. 

The gardens are a mix of perennials and annuals-I see a lot of confidence here in plant choices-it is clearly a collection of those things she likes best. Red flowers are a dominant theme-there are red roses, geraniums, and a pair of continus on either side of the front porch. We did talk a little about it.  She told me that working in the garden was a great stress reliever.  But I could tell she gardened for the sheer joy of it.

It turned out that she was a docent in my garden years ago, when it was on the Pontiac garden tour; we had plenty to talk about.  I do so appreciate that she has turned the better part of her front yard into a garden.  I drive by twice every day, so I can keep up with what is going on.  I told her the neighborhood was lucky to have her.  We have our share of abandoned houses with the grass a foot long; this I hate to see.  


Her garden makes me feel good.

Comments

  1. deborah, love hearing about what is happening in your neighborhood. especially gardening happenings. i too notice how someone interprets and listens to their own inner “stirrings” when creating a garden……it is so astonishing how interpretaions of ordinary plant materials are used in so many different ways. it looks like someone is busy expressing what a joy it is be alive and digging in the earth! i so look forward to attending your garden cruise. Every year just keeps getting better. have not missed a year yet. happy fathers day……cice

    • Deborah Silver says

      Dear Cice, you expressed this so much better than I did. Thanks for writing. Bre sure to catch up with me on the tour! Happt Father’s Day to you, too. Deborah

  2. I love this! It would certainly make me smile if I were lucky enough to live near-by. 😉

  3. great post. i would love to see some of the other well thought out homes in your neighbourhood.

  4. I’m really intrigued by this garden. To me it looks more like the base of a heart, but either way, it’s stunning. It’s far too symmetrical for my tastes, but I can certainly appreciate it’s beauty. And I think it’s absolutely wonderful that your neighbor did something different than the usual front landscaping when designing this garden. Thanks for showing it to us.

    • Deborah Silver says

      Dear Erin, it does have a heart shape of sorts! Whatever the shape may be called, I love how strong and personal a statement it makes. I know some day somewhere what I have learned from looking at this garden will make itself known. Thanks, Deborah

  5. i LOVE when a home gardener is brave enough to put herself/himself & their vision in the front of their home for all to see.

    nanne in columbus, indiana

    • Deborah Silver says

      Dear Nanne, I totally agree. My neighboring gardener-she has vision, courage, and confidence. Her garden is beautiful.-no question. Deborah

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