Monday, September 29, 2014

Update On My Friend Eddie's Garden


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Garden tour time! And what better garden to tour than a good friend's beautiful garden you designed yourself? Such was the case when my garden club met at Eddie's garden last month. What a fun visit! Besides being very gracious, Eddie and her husband have quite the beautiful home and lovely garden. Today is an update of the now mature garden I designed and won an award for last year from the Perennial Plant Association (PPA).
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This garden was designed for a plant lover. Eddie wanted something different, something in bloom all year round, a wildlife friendly garden, and something she could work in. The above view is from her front door.
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This corner to the right of the front door showcases her patio peach and some groundcovers. You cannot beat heucheras for year round interest. Here 'Mocha Mint' takes up the job along with some irises and daylilies under the patio peach tree.
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One of my strengths in designing a landscape is to combine trees, shrubs, perennials, bulbs, etc, into a complete landscape that flows and provides lots of interest. Here we have a crepe myrtle underplanted with dwarf nandinas. I am not a big fan of the tall nandinas but do like the dwarf nandinas as they can be planted in sun or shade (prefers more sun than shade), and they are evergreen. This is a bonus in a year round landscape.
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Walking down her front sidewalk you are greeted by all sorts of pollinator friendly plants. Eddie is lucky in that her home faces east. In Tennessee you can grow just about anything in an eastern exposure.
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Eddie's front lawn is bounded by perennial beds. Here we have the 'summer garden' filled with amsonia, brown eyed Susans, dayliles, and coreopsis. The border goes further into the background toward the driveway where 'Knockout' roses are planted along side baptisias and asters.
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This part of Eddie's garden is my absolute favorite part due to these beautiful 'Autumn Joy' sedums. I call this her 'fall garden'. This area divides Eddie's home from her neighbors and provides year round interest in addition to hiding a power transformer box behind the grasses. The purple ninebarks like 'Diablo' (pictured here) make a good companion for sedums.
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This border garden flows really nicely and is not unfriendly to the neighbor house with the way it was designed to flow. The intent was not to cut off any neighbors but to enhance Eddies gardening views and gardening time.
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Now this garden is a garden I had no part of and I tell you I love it! Eddie has done a fantastic job landscaping the end of her cul-de-sac. Just look at all that color! And if you could see this garden in person you'd be delighted with all of the pollinators visiting this beautifully done garden. The textures, heights, and colors all work very well to make this end of the street garden a draw for passerbys.
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One last shot of Eddie and Pete's beautiful home....

in the garden...

I am really behind on posting pictures and articles. Hopefully things will slow down for me a bit so I can be more regular but life is hectic! Blogging sometimes takes a backseat. Please stay tuned for more garden tour pictures from my friends gardens coming up-soon! 

Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team, In the Garden

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Atlanta Botanical Gardens (end of summer)

BY SKEETER
 Summer, where did it go? This past weekend, the Saint and I had a special visitor to our GEORGIA GARDENS. Our very own Master Gardener here at "In the Garden" Tina, came to visit us. She and I attended the Giant Plant Sale at McCorkles Nursery and had a blast making new selections to add to our gardens.
Upon Tina's journey back to Tennessee, the Saint and I took her to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens. Click HERE to see my first visit to Atlanta's most beautiful spot in the city.
With our visit back in October 2012, the Garden had an awesome Scarecrow Display. Click HERE to see those unique scarecrows.
This visit had us captivated with a display called "Imaginary Worlds" a new Kingdom of Plant Giants.
The Saint insisted on walking through the large Ogre.
Nearly 2 hundred thousand plants come together to form these sculptures! This is the largest exhibition of its kind to be shown in the USA.
The Cobra snakes were incredible and filled with such vibrant colors.
 The Hood of the snake was just awesome to the eyes! 
 A closer look, shows us greenery.
Different shades of greenery and a succulent or two. 
 Here is an example of the plants that make up the Cobra's.
Zooming in so you can see the names. Now whom will be the first of you readers to take on this project for your gardens?
 Butterflies over the brick wall.
A beautiful butterfly.
 We were in awe over this huge Cypress tree in the background. It reminded us of the Gentling Gardens in Asheville, NC. and their huge trees.
 Orangutans frolicking in the surrounding beauty.
 Textures come alive. 
 The Fuqua Conservatory is full of lush color.
 I could stroll this Conservatory all day long!
 So tropical and just filled with beauty.
The Orchid Center was filled with scents coming from a spectacular Orchid collection.
A Tropical Wall in the Conservatory. 
 What a neat treat to spot these sculptures inside the conservatory.
 Zooming in, we see the faces better.
 Mother Natures bounty.
 This was Tina's favorite.
 While this was my favorite.
When we stepped outside of the Conservatory, we discovered the same exhibit in a huge way!
 Such a neat face!
 Love those whimsy faces.
Natures very large bounty. 
 These faces remind me of our days enjoying Fasching in Germany.
 A Giant Frog was in the middle of the pond.
 A lot of tadpoles swam within the pond. 
The Frog was looking across the walk to a Toad.
 A Toad with the city of Atlanta in the background. 
 A beautiful Water Lily.
 I really enjoyed the textures and colors in this fence of plants.
 Backing out from the same view, you can see how this garden could be used as a fence. I would love to have this surrounding my entire home encasing it with beauty.
 Other then a few sirens and a music festival going on nearby, one would never know they are in the middle of the big city of Atlanta, except for the occasional views in the background.
 A perfect spot for this young family to have a picnic.
 Well, Leaping Bunny's!
 And more cute Rabbit's.
 A Horse...
 A Magical Horse (Unicorn) in a magical garden!
 This arbor had Kiwi growing upon it along with other vines.
 Dancing Fish in a fountain spitting water. By keeping the people in this photo, you get an idea of just how large these beautiful sculptures are.
 The Formal Garden was stunning with the sun shining from above.
 Fountains or birdbaths are a must in a garden.
 This fountain contained a glass sculpture by Chihuly. Click HERE to learn more about Dale Chihuly.
 Gorilla's took over the Canopy Walk.
 Such a proud fella.
 The Sculpture in the Cascades Garden was one of my favorites. I would say a close second behind the Cobra's.
 The hair was long and flowing as was the water over her hand.
 This spot was so tranquil.
 A majestic Earth Goddess.
 The bridge leading to the Children's garden was glowing.
I cannot think of a better way to end the Summer. What a wonderful time we had with Tina, In the Garden...


Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team, In the Garden