October 01, 2014
Arts & Crafts Front Entry Garden - One Year Maintenance Visit
One year after planting, today I detailed this garden: staking, weeding, shearing and deadheading. This is my first garden design to incorporate those plants and ideas from my trip to England in 2012. This small front bed was a blank slate. The building's Arts & Crafts style is the theme for this planting.
August 19, 2014
Dahlia Show, San Francisco
California's Dahlia Society 2014 Flower Show at the Hall of Flowers in San Francisco. With more than 8 distinct forms and many more in a full spectrum of form only nature could make. Below are those that look outstanding to me.
August 03, 2014
English Garden Tour with Mike & Frank - 2014
Here's the start of our 2014 tour of English gardens. Click on the garden title to see more photos.
Garden Museum Gardens - London, July 4th
August 02, 2014
Brighton - England
The last weekend of our trip culminated with Brighton's gay pride celebration. A fun diverse tourist industry catered to vast hordes arriving from London and beyond. Gay pride is the cities largest event bringing more people to the already large groups of English couples, Muslim couples and families, straight, gay, old and new. It's a city that knows how to entertain.
Brighton is historically the tourist get away spot for England. An hour train ride from London means it can entertain large numbers of day tourist. Extra trains back to London left late into the night via their special red queuing scheme. Our train home was a party train.
July 31, 2014
Great Dixter
We decided to end our tour with the garden we saw first in 2012, Great Dixter. This time the season is solidly summer with the dahlias in crescendo.
July 30, 2014
July 29, 2014
July 28, 2014
Studley Royal - England
Studley Royal, this idyllic English garden was created in the first half of the 18th century in the scenic Yorkshire Skell river valley. The main approach to the house is a long allee of trees focused on the Ripon Cathedral almost 3 miles on the horizon. The formal part of the garden is isolated from the Palladian house that burned down in 1946 but a similar Palladian style stables remains on 800 acres parkland. The raised valley floor anchored a series of straight and curved canals controlled by numerous weirs. The center of the valley and garden is a series of Moon ponds, one full circle, one half circle and two crescent that may represent the waxing and waning of the Moon. The ponds are laid out in an asymmetrical form that echos the natural serpentine valley floor and is reminiscent of natural oxbow lakes. Clipped yew hedges separate the formal water & Parterre à l'Angloise from the planted native tree hillside. Steep and angular turf banks frame the valley floor. Here the light and wind play off the water surface and the tree canopy. Everywhere the sound of water.
July 27, 2014
July 24, 2014
Trentham Estate Gardens
The Trentham Estate in Staffordshire is a formal garden set along the River Stoke. Recently renovated from the designs of Piet Oudolf and Tom Stuart-Smith, this is a contemporary formal garden.
The Victorian Garden in the front with the Italian Garden and lake beyond.
July 21, 2014
July 18, 2014
July 17, 2014
July 16, 2014
July 15, 2014
July 14, 2014
Hidcote Manor Gardens
It was a cloudy day with intermittent rain. We had the place to ourselves.
Hidcote is a remarkable garden designed by Laurence Johnston. He was an American born in Paris in the late 19th century. His mother purchased this property for him in the hopes that he would become a farmer. He instead traveled the world and created this amazing 19 acre series of garden rooms. He never married, which had me asking the docents about his sexuality. I never got a definitive answer. Johnston was responsible for numerous plant introductions including Penstemon 'Hidcote Pink' which I planted last week in Glen Park.
Hidcote is a remarkable garden designed by Laurence Johnston. He was an American born in Paris in the late 19th century. His mother purchased this property for him in the hopes that he would become a farmer. He instead traveled the world and created this amazing 19 acre series of garden rooms. He never married, which had me asking the docents about his sexuality. I never got a definitive answer. Johnston was responsible for numerous plant introductions including Penstemon 'Hidcote Pink' which I planted last week in Glen Park.
July 13, 2014
July 12, 2014
Westbury Court Gardens
Started back in the late 1600's, Westbury Court is the oldest style garden we will visit in July. The Dutch influence was strong in this period of Royal and religious turmoil in England. After looking to France for all things cultural, the Protestant state of the Holland became the importer of cultural ideas. Long straight lines, canals, rows of trees, topiary and hedges are Dutch elements introduced to the English garden at the end of the seventeenth century.
"Westbury Court, Gloucestershire, has the last remaining Dutch-style water garden in Britain. Dating from the 18th century, it is very simple and serene. Evergreen hedges, topiary and perfectly straight canals of still water calm the soul. All the plants, even those in the vegetable garden, are 18th-century varieties to tie in the water garden. Small but perfectly formed." -- From Gardens Illustrated magazine
"Westbury Court, Gloucestershire, has the last remaining Dutch-style water garden in Britain. Dating from the 18th century, it is very simple and serene. Evergreen hedges, topiary and perfectly straight canals of still water calm the soul. All the plants, even those in the vegetable garden, are 18th-century varieties to tie in the water garden. Small but perfectly formed." -- From Gardens Illustrated magazine
July 11, 2014
July 09, 2014
Kilver Court Gardens
Kilver Court in Shipton Mallet, attached not to a great country house but to a designer outlet mall. A beautiful mall, not like something you see off the interstate in the US, but a cute collection of clothing stores, cafe, restaurant, nursery in a collection of stone buildings.
July 07, 2014
July 06, 2014
June 17, 2014
Olio Lens on Dearborn Dahlias
I got a new four lens optical gadget for my iPhone. It lets me take 10x, 15x, wide angle and fish-eye photos. Here are some close ups of what's blooming here in June (Dahlias).
June 07, 2014
New Orleans & Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve
On the outskirts of New Orleans, LA, there is the swamp. An abused piece of "land" now protected by the National Park Service and now entering a healing phase. All of the oyster shell mounds have been mined, all the old growth cedars have been harvested, the oil industry had its way, now nature is allow back in to reign.
May 13, 2014
Noe Valley Entry Garden
An Arts & Crafts inspired front entry-way planted in October 2013, ravished by gopher for 3 months, replanted in March. Here's what it looks like eight months after planting.
Achillea millefolium 'Moonshine', Senecio mandraliscae, Pittosporum 'Golf Ball' spheres, Geranium 'Rozanne', Lavandula (English), Erigeron karvinskianus and Verbena bonariensis
Achillea millefolium 'Moonshine', Senecio mandraliscae, Pittosporum 'Golf Ball' spheres, Geranium 'Rozanne', Lavandula (English), Erigeron karvinskianus and Verbena bonariensisMay 10, 2014
Inner Sunset Collector's Garden
Frank has put together another tour of San Francisco gardens. This one is exclusive to professional gardeners, horticulturists, arborists and the likes.
First up: Eric & Jason. A collectors garden focusing on the subtropical and water-wise plants from other Mediterranean climates. Below a creeping Oxalis.
First up: Eric & Jason. A collectors garden focusing on the subtropical and water-wise plants from other Mediterranean climates. Below a creeping Oxalis.
Dino's Personal Garden
Frank has put together another tour of San Francisco gardens. This one is exclusive to professional gardeners, horticulturists, arborists and the likes.
Dearborn Community Garden
Frank has put together another tour of San Francisco gardens. This one is exclusive to professional gardeners, horticulturists, arborists and the likes.
Dearborn Community Garden. Showcase the 45 gardeners micro allotments and Lotta's Rose border along Bird Street.
Dearborn Community Garden. Showcase the 45 gardeners micro allotments and Lotta's Rose border along Bird Street.
Sloppy Arborist Garden
Frank has put together another tour of San Francisco gardens. This one is exclusive to professional gardeners, horticulturists, arborists and the likes.
Next up, Christopher's sloppy arborist garden. His words, not mine.
Mike's Glen Park Showcase
Frank has put together another tour of San Francisco gardens. This one is exclusive to professional gardeners, horticulturists, arborists and the likes.
Finally cocktails, I mean the last garden, mine. This is my Glen Park garden on Chenery. I've been working this garden for almost 9 years now. All these photos were taken by Dino. Much appreciation to see my work through another's lense. Thank you Dino!
Orlaya grandiflora 'Minoan Lace'
Orlaya grandiflora 'Minoan Lace'
April 12, 2014
Annie's Nursery in Richmond, California
Rodmarton Manor Garden
The our second day of the tour we will be visiting Rodmarton Manor. Rodmarton was built in the true essence of the Arts & Crafts movement as it was happening in 1909. Centrally located in the Cotswold and ground zero for the movement, this garden will show you a good foundation for all Arts & Crafts gardens later in the tour. Those gardens: Hidcote, East Lambrook Manor, Hestercombe, The Courts, & Tintinhull; all are rooted in what we see at Rodmarton and possess different merits to attain our tour.
http://www.rodmarton-manor.co.uk/index.html
Author and British garden historian Tim Richardson wrote a good article for The Telegraph about Rodmarton.
"Rodmarton’s garden was the real thing at the time and remains so today. A visit to this garden can give you an authentic savour of what Arts and Crafts meant to those disciples of William Morris who practised their crafts so assiduously and passionately in the first decades of the 20th century." -- Tim Richardson via The Telegraph
http://www.rodmarton-manor.co.uk/index.html
Author and British garden historian Tim Richardson wrote a good article for The Telegraph about Rodmarton.
"Rodmarton’s garden was the real thing at the time and remains so today. A visit to this garden can give you an authentic savour of what Arts and Crafts meant to those disciples of William Morris who practised their crafts so assiduously and passionately in the first decades of the 20th century." -- Tim Richardson via The Telegraph
Wave Garden in Point Richmond
On April 12th, 2014, I travel across the bay to Annie's' Nursery in Richmond. They we having their annual Spring fete. It was great to see everyone there and listen to the edible garden lecture.
On our way home, Dino stops by the wave garden. I've never heard of it but it is in Point Richmond on the San Pablo Bay. Or is it San Francisco Bay?
Anyway, they apparently shop at Annies. If you want to see Annies products in the garden this is a good place to visit. As I understand it is private property but is open to the public.
On our way home, Dino stops by the wave garden. I've never heard of it but it is in Point Richmond on the San Pablo Bay. Or is it San Francisco Bay?
Anyway, they apparently shop at Annies. If you want to see Annies products in the garden this is a good place to visit. As I understand it is private property but is open to the public.
April 02, 2014
Hidcote Manor Gardens
Okay here comes another entry for the beauty that awaits you on this summer's English garden tour 2014. Drumroll please… Hidcote.
Hidcote was the work of a man named Lawrence Waterbury Johnston. Johnston was already 36 when he arrived in Gloucestershire with his mother in 1907. She purchased the property at auction in the hopes that her only surviving son would become a farmer. Instead he became a plantsman extraordinaire. Johnston is responsible for many plant introductions, including Jasminum polyanthum also known as pink flowering jasmine. Any plant that is named either Hidcote or Johnston's this or that is attributed to Johnston. He left no diaries or plant records as to the creation of the gardens. He wasn't a member of the Royal Horticulture Society. Few photos survive to give us any insight into who Johnston was. What we do know is that he never married and his best friends were society ladies.
Hidcote was the work of a man named Lawrence Waterbury Johnston. Johnston was already 36 when he arrived in Gloucestershire with his mother in 1907. She purchased the property at auction in the hopes that her only surviving son would become a farmer. Instead he became a plantsman extraordinaire. Johnston is responsible for many plant introductions, including Jasminum polyanthum also known as pink flowering jasmine. Any plant that is named either Hidcote or Johnston's this or that is attributed to Johnston. He left no diaries or plant records as to the creation of the gardens. He wasn't a member of the Royal Horticulture Society. Few photos survive to give us any insight into who Johnston was. What we do know is that he never married and his best friends were society ladies.
March 25, 2014
The Home of the English Cottage Garden
In preparation for leading a small group around the great gardens of the Cotswold area I'm reading many books on our specific destinations. This week it's East Lambrook Manor House. Although I think it technically is not in the Cotswolds area, it is a must see for us, this is the Home of a the English Cottage Garden.
What is a Cottage Garden? Merely a small residence with some food and flowers planted around the yard? After reading 'The Cottage Garden - Margery Fish at East Lambrook Manor' by Susan Chivers & Suzanne Woloszynska, I would like to share some of my findings, thoughts and feelings about cottage gardening.
Cottagers started out very poor working the land and builder their homes. Naturally they started with useful plants that produced food, herbs and extending into flowering shrubs for their color and scent among other reasons. As their lives improved the cottagers began to collect those rare oddities they found in nature around them. "plants like double primroses and unusual violets. In this way, his garden became a sanctuary for mutants that would have otherwise disappeared. " For Mrs Fish, the preservation of the cottage varieties and selections was utmost important.
The cottagers in the 16th century became the main repository of plants as the monastic gardens began to fade. Well into the 18th century, the cottager were collecting and protecting selections of flowering plants. In the 18th century when the Landscape Gardening became all the rage, the cottagers took the lead in conserving many plants otherwise lost when the large formal estates were transformed into Landscapes. Finally I think the apogee of the Cottage Garden happen in the Edwardian era in the form of an Arts & Crafts Garden. This is when the Cottage Garden took center stage, allowed into the formal part of the garden. The great herbaceous borders created by Gertrude Jekyll and encouraged by William Robinson's writing, the Arts & Crafts Garden owed much to the conservation of the cottager.
Map of East Lambook
What is a Cottage Garden? Merely a small residence with some food and flowers planted around the yard? After reading 'The Cottage Garden - Margery Fish at East Lambrook Manor' by Susan Chivers & Suzanne Woloszynska, I would like to share some of my findings, thoughts and feelings about cottage gardening.
Cottagers started out very poor working the land and builder their homes. Naturally they started with useful plants that produced food, herbs and extending into flowering shrubs for their color and scent among other reasons. As their lives improved the cottagers began to collect those rare oddities they found in nature around them. "plants like double primroses and unusual violets. In this way, his garden became a sanctuary for mutants that would have otherwise disappeared. " For Mrs Fish, the preservation of the cottage varieties and selections was utmost important.
The cottagers in the 16th century became the main repository of plants as the monastic gardens began to fade. Well into the 18th century, the cottager were collecting and protecting selections of flowering plants. In the 18th century when the Landscape Gardening became all the rage, the cottagers took the lead in conserving many plants otherwise lost when the large formal estates were transformed into Landscapes. Finally I think the apogee of the Cottage Garden happen in the Edwardian era in the form of an Arts & Crafts Garden. This is when the Cottage Garden took center stage, allowed into the formal part of the garden. The great herbaceous borders created by Gertrude Jekyll and encouraged by William Robinson's writing, the Arts & Crafts Garden owed much to the conservation of the cottager.
Map of East Lambook
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