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Walking The Field

I would bet that if I organized and offered a shopping trip with Rob, it would fill up in an instant.  There would be a waiting list.  He has an eye for where to go, what to see, and what to commit to that interesting and beautiful.  His less obvious searches includes sifting through the debris and dried materials that tends to accumulate in vacant land.  This abandoned tangle of wire fencing and rotted posts may not upon first glance seem like much seem like much. But I would say the chances are excellent I will see this found object, or this combination of colors and textures and materials, or some semblance of this idea somewhere soon.   

Vacant land has a story to tell.  This grass likes the watery ground.  Other species only come so close, before conditions are no longer optimal.  Plants are very specific about what they want-this picture makes that clear. Given this picture, it is no wonder that lawn saturated with water from automatic irrigation thrives.  Other plants are not so crazy about it-they stay away, if they can.  I know him well enough to know this wild grass laying over is appealing.  Some spot or another in the shop will have this look.            

Wild asters have small and insignificant individual flowers, but large colonies of them can be very beautiful.  Weedy and wonderful, this.  Rob’s pictures are a harbinger of what is to come from him.   The other day Rob nailed a  twig bird feeder to a chestnut fence post, and set the post in a tall limestone cylinder.  Wedged into the cylinder around the fence post, a few wisps of weedy plastic grass.  The idea of plastic grass appeals to no gardener, but should you come in, take a look.  There is an utterly natural and believable look to the entire assembly.      

This vacant land is littered with giant logs, the remnants of their roots intact.  The goldenrod and asters have grown up around them.  The story that lies behind this picture is unclear.  They do not look cut, they look rotted off at the very base.  They look like they were dumped here. But perhaps this land was inadvertently flooded long enough to kill all of the trees.  I am just waiting for Rob to ask if I can send a truck and trailer after them.  They would be the perfect material for a stumpery. 

 I have no clue what thesese shrubby trees might be.  They have been dead long enough that the bark is peeling away from the wood from a long standing sun burn.  Spooky branches, he calls them.  Would they not be perfect for a Halloween vignette?  Rob is just as likely to find inspiration from spooky branches in a tract of vacant land as the library.  To put it mildly, he has an active imagination.  A genuinely original imagination.    

He and I both love asclepias tuberosa-milkweed.  Few wild and weedy plants have big luscious leaves like these.  The story of how milkweed seeds mature, and are sent aloft is one of the most delightful stories that nature has to tell.  When the pods mature, and crack open, the seeds are packed tight in that pod with the unopened parachutes attached, just waiting for a stiff breeze to send them all aloft. An afternoon sky full of milkweed seeds is one of the best visual pleasures of fall.   

Thistles are a pernicious weed in cultivated gardens.  They are almost impossible to eradicate; the roots go very deep, and are very strong.  Who would want to touch one?  But the seed pods are beautiful.  The seeds nourish many a goldfinch.  They look great in fall arrangements. If you know of any tract of vacant land in zone 4-5, there will likely be a thistle patch.        

There is a fall party going on here-undisturbed.  No one has had a mind to refurbish, zone, or organize this space for residential use.   Vacant land in no means implies a vacant space.  There are plenty of plant species thriving with no need for any supervision.  It may be that the most beautiful places on earth are places that are solely supervised by nature.   Every gardener appreciates this.  

Rob took all of these photographs-of course he spotted this giant thickly growing clump of asparagus.  Did it grow from a seed?  Was there a farmhouse here decades ago?  The mystery that is nature is alive and well on this vacant land.  A shopping trip with Rob to a vast tract of vacant land?  It might be better than you think.

Posted on: October 4, 2011 2 Comments
Filed Under: Detroit Garden Works, Garden Design, The Natural World Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Too Much Water

 


I knew from the start that the installation of this landscape would prove difficult.  The property on the whole drains poorly at best.  The soil is very heavy clay; parts of the property would hold water for weeks in the spring.  It is not as if I were hoping for the best; an extensive drainage system was installed, and 1000 yards of soil added to bring the grade up.  Faintly visible above the boxwood in this picture, one of many catch basins.  The central landscape feature for the rear yard-14 very large columnar carpinus.  By very large, I mean in excess of 25 feet tall.  In front of those carpinus, densiformis yews and boxwood planted on a large radius.  A rose garden and fountain completed this center portion of the landscape.   

On either side of this center section, simple lawn panels edged in boxwood.  At the far ends, a pair of herbaceous borders on both sides of the lawn.  The wild landscape in the background would be left as is, although there were a number of ash trees dead and dying which had to come down. 

The perennial gardens are backed up by a long hedge of Limelight hydrangea.  The perennial border were planted with Russian sage, boltonia, peonies, Siberian iris, Shasta daisies, coneflowers-all the usual suspects.  I was interested in those perennials that are fairly easy to grow, and lots of them. I did plant the perennials alternating; that meadowy look would pair well with that untouched wild background. 

Within a year, the carpinus had begun to show definite signs of water stress. Roses and perennials, going into the winter soaking wet, died.  I suspected that the irrigation system was pumping as much water to all of the beds as it was to the lawn.  Once woody plant material is established, its need for water declines.  I was by no means thrilled with how the irrigation system had been designed, but it was what I had to work with.  The lawn looked fine-the landscape did not. 

By the third year, there was no mistaking that the trees were not going to tolerate the level of water they were getting.  Added to that, some hard late spring frosts with below freezing temperatures for 4 days in a row.  There were lots of leaf buds damaged or destroyed.  My client was alarmed by what she saw.  I told her there was no giving up on the trees.  We no longer had access to the rear yard to plant trees.  She was going to have to grow them out. My client is a very decisive individual.  She turned the irrigation off, and locked the box.  The lawn was irrigated as little as possible, and definitely not on any regular schedule.  

5 years later, the carpinus have made quite the comeback, and are growing vigorously.  They only get water when it rains.  All of the woody plant material has stabilized.  It can be very difficult to establish a landscape on clay, but once it is established it is very long lived-unless you overwater.  Enough water to live, and enough water to drown can be close to the same amount.  Once you see the foliage on woody plants start to yellow, check the water first.   

Even the yews behind the boxwood have stabilized  If you are wondering how it is possible for it to be shorter than the boxwood-the deer keep it pruned like this.  I am amazed at how level a job they do, chewing.   

The lawn has spots that look like they could use a little water, but a sustainable equilibrium here is more important than a perfect lawn.  The foliage color of every plant is exactly as it should be.  M and M maintains this landscape; Mindy keeps a sharp eye out for any sign of too much water.  It has taken 6 years to get this landscape to thrive as it should. 

Even the perennials have put on size.  I find it very easy to get perennials planted in sandy soil to take hold, but it is so hard to keep them thriving.  The only solution there is to add organic material to the soil and mulch every chance you get.  Perennial bark fines add a lot of organic material to the soil, when it decomposes.  Once perennials are well established on clay, they can live a long time. 

We have the watering on the pots down as well. One of the reasons I so enjoy container gardening is my option to pick the soil, and supply adequate drainage.  My experience planting indicates that attempting to radically change the composition of native soil is futile.  I plant trees that like wet feet in very heavy soils; I have success with evergreens and lavender on sandy based well drained soils.  I almost never plant rhododendron-our soil is very heavy and alkaline, not acid and compost based. But the pots are different-I get to pick the soil.  These yellow cannas are beginning to spike; they have had enough hot weather and regular watering to flower.   

This is a much happier garden than it was 6 years ago.  As Jennifer commented yesterday, a gardener is a person who is in it for the long haul.  These pot planting only last one season.  I like that.  I can start over, and do better next year.  But a  landscape is a committment that needs looking after, year after year.  


No sign of any trouble here today.

Posted on: August 2, 2011 4 Comments
Filed Under: Garden Design, The Natural World, Landscape Design Tagged With: ,

A Little Sass With All This Sizzle

Usually I am a landscape and garden designer; this week I have been a prop delivering a steady stream of water at the shop, for clients, and at home.  Proper watering in extremely high heat can be tricky.  Annabelle hydrangeas, for example, wilt down at the the slightest provocation on a hot day.  This makes sense.  Their leaves are big, and very thin.  This means water is evaporating from the leaves at a high rate-thus the wilt.  This does not necessarily mean the Annabelles need water.  Avoid hosing down plants, thinking you will cool them off.  Fungus, and mildew can run wild in hot humid conditions.  Unnecessary water can aid and abet diesease. Check the soil that your Annabelles are growing in-water if that soil is dry. Ironically, I have seen more plants suffering from too much water in this heat, than too little. The New Guinea impatiens pictured above-water like crazy.  If they lack for water when the buds are small, those buds can drop, sending an entire plant out of bloom until new ones form.  I had this happen at home-Fiona Brinks from Bordines set me straight about it.     

Many annual plants have tropical origins.  They thrive in the heat.  Annual vinca will barely perform in Michigan-it needs heat Florida style to really perform well.  Though I am dropping over from the heat, many of the annual plants are thriving, provided they are properly watered.  This pot of coleus and lime irisine benefits from some shade at the hottest part of the day, and the petunias tolerate this condition. All of these plants are shrugging off the heat. 

 These pots look pretty sassy, in spite of the 96 degree weather we have today.  The New Zealand flax is quite tolerant of heat, sun, and shade.  The dracaena Janet Craig will burn in the sun, but it is very tolerant of heat.  The Solenia begonias have no problem in sun, provided the watering is dead on.  Too much water, and those succulent stems will rot.  Too little, and they will flop over.  Siting plants in conditions they like means your heat management will go better.

Thick foliaged and waxy leaved plants transpire less than thin leaved plants.  When a farfugium wilts, no doubt it is asking for water.  A phormium never gives any visual cue about whether it likes how you are caring for it.  The tuft of leaves that comes off with a slight tug from rot at the base usually looks perfectly healthy up top. Not every sign of trouble can you spot with your eyes.  You may need your hands, or your sense of smell, or your instincts.  Great gardening demands every skill you have, and then some.  

Observe your plants-get to know them.  Weeks after the planting, I am astonished by the size of this Persian Queen geranium standard.  It must be very happy-it has quadrupled in size. I spent a lot of time looking at this plant, and assessing its location.  Plants tell a story-take time to read that story.      

These tomato pots are thriving.  I did not see a single yellow leaf or blotch.  This client has what it takes to properly look after plants.  She’s met every challenge coming from from a season of one kind of unreasonable weather followed by another.  I am quite certain she gardens by eye, and by instinct. 

Annual plants in containers set on hard surfaces in the sun-choose your plants accordingly. These plants appear to be happy.  A summer annual garden can be such a pleasure-should you choose carefully, and water accordingly. 


This scotch pine on standard has an underplanting of creeping jenny.  The creeping J is entirely tolerant of of the shade, and the water necessary to keep these New Guinea impatiens thriving in the sun.  My advice?  Observe carefully.  Plan accordingly.  Should you be gardening in a state or region experiencing this recent record breaking heat-take notes.

Posted on: July 20, 2011 Leave a Comment
Filed Under: Garden Ornament, Garden Design, The Natural World

Hooray For Shade

Shady garden spots have that quiet and peaceful feeling about them-but that does not mean they have to be to uneventfully green.  Sum and Substance hosta is notable for its lime green color; that bold chartreuse looks like someone turned the lights on.  Container plantings in shade can have just as much punch.  This pepperomia is a vibrant shade of green; the intensely pebbly surface reflects light, and attracts the eye.  Pepperomias are small growing shade loving tropical plants that can brighten a shade garden in the summer, and keep you company indoors over the winter.     

There are plenty of tropical plants that are completely happy in shady places outdoors.  These bromeliads are anything but shy in appearance.  I wanted to planty some pots I could keep in the shade of the lindens at the shop.  This red/orange and green duo is just the sort of plant that will brighten that very shady spot.

This pepperomia Jayde features deep green, glossy, and perfectly heart shaped leaves.  It looks juicy enough to be a water plant.  It will make a great companion plant in a container.

This black leaved Calathea is an attention getter.  The shape of each leaf is described by a simple outline and midrib in hot pink.  The green blobby flowers you see pictured here cannot hold a candle to those strikingly beautiful leaves.    The surface of these pale green lance leaved Calathea leaves look as though they had been hand painted.  The pattern reminds me very much of rustic French or Italian china.  Where did I find these plants?  Telly’s Greenhouse, of course.  George has a great eye for unusual and beautiful plants. 

This particular green caladium glows white in the centers of the leaves, and is puinctuated with terra cotta colored blotches; it shines in the shade. 

Putting it all together is the fun of summer container gardens.  A window box in a shady spot can be very lively indeed.

Posted on: July 8, 2011 2 Comments
Filed Under: The Natural World, Garden Design Tagged With: , ,