I spent the better part of the day planting containers for a client who engaged me to design and install the landscape for her new lakeside home-last year. Most of what I saw in ground today is a year old. I was more than happy by what I saw. I credit the degree to which her plantings have taken hold to the grading, the drainage work, and plant choices that matched her existing conditions. I know am posting many too many pictures. But perhaps the oversized collection of pictures will give you a feeling for the overall landscape. Many of her John Davis climbing roses are now over my head. The romance of that was considerable.
Buck built the ipe benches specifically for this porch. The concrete pots are our interpretation of an original French faux bois box.
The espaliered Katsuras in this 36′ foot long raised stone planter provide screening from the house next door, in a space barely a foot in depth. These espaliers are well on their way to making a green wall.
The lakeside has a pair of perennial gardens, endowed by patches of little lime hydrangeas, and some birch.
Near the water, several meadow areas planted with chasmanthium latifolium grass, wild daisies, and amsonia Blue Ice.
Later in the season, the meadow will feature monarda and asters. Last fall, we planted lots of blue and white camassia-for this spring. Some of them are still in bloom.
The more formal perennial gardens feature nepeta, stachys hummelo, and phlox.
The alliums-we could have planted many more.
It is easier to see the design of the lakeside landscape from the second floor balcony. Very formal landscape elements contrast with less structured gardens.
Even informal gardens benefit from beautifully generated curves.
The roses and clematis on the pair of pergolas-they are obviously very happy. I am astonished at how much growth they have put on-in just one year. This willingness to settle down and grow makes me feel like the selection and siting of plants was correct. And that the maintenance has been good.
There is plenty of romance going on here.
The June garden is represented by large flowered clematis, and John Davis climbing roses.
container planting at the front door
rosemary, on the second floor terrace.
This semi shady side garden is simple. The privacy afforded the second floor terrace is courtesy of 14 6″ caliper Bowhall maples. All of them seem to be taking hold, just fine. All in all, I am very happy about what I saw here today. Planting the pots-my pleasure.