A Couple's Bird Lovers Country Paradise Part II

So we continue with the bird lovers paradise in the country. My last picture on my Part I post showed the house from the pond area. Now we are standing right by the house looking down at the pond. The view is lovely. The zoysia grass is gorgeous! While I like a green lawn in the winter, this tan is really a beautiful winter color.

When we turn around we are looking at the beautiful house. Here is one of many seating areas around the home. This one has a great view down to the pond and when we look through to the zoysia grass in the background we are looking toward the front of the home and the berry patch.

Around the home there are many water features to attract the birds. This one is only a few inches deep and serves as a fresh water station for the birds as well as a bathing station. The water recirculates.

Remember I told you I was visiting for a dinner party? I have never been invited to a dinner party like this that was private. I enjoyed myself tremendously. Here is the table we all dined at. The hostess decorated it with candles and roses and we used antique silver to eat. What a memorable evening for me.

Coming around to the Florida room we have yet again another lovely view outside. I love windows and this house has a lot of them with super views. This room had a few gardens as well as the Aero garden you see in the corner. Kimi grows fresh herbs in this Aero garden. There was also a lemon tree and other small gardens in the room. Kimi loves to garden.

Out back in the courtyard there is a formal parterre garden area. The gardens contain herbs in raised beds. In the center of the parterre is this water feature where koi live. This is part of the view from the immense kitchen window. The house was really laid out nicely in order to maximize views of the surroundings. Every single window has a view.

Directly across from the front stoop is the berry patch. This is a great spot for me as a gardener because everything is laid out nicely and conveniently in this garden area. All fruits and vegetables are consolidated in one simple to reach garden area. In my new home my orchard as well as my vegetable garden are both right in the frontyard and are easily reached by walking thirty feet across the lawn area to the gardens. Convenience is a major consideration when growing edibles or you will not want to keep up with the chores involved with growing edibles. Each of the rows contain various fruits such as: blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, and grapes. There is also a row or two that can be used for tomatoes or other vegetables. Under the row cover in the rear Kimi grows fresh vegetables that can take the cold. Brussels sprouts were growing here when I visited.

Last but not least I show a picture of the wonderful host and hostess of my evening out. Tom and Kimi here in their butler's pantry. Thanks so much for a great evening....

in the garden....

Happy Presidents Day to you all! 

For those of you who are affected by the snow and sleet (first major snow event for our area in over 10 years!) and who must travel, please be safe, drive carefully and slowly and be aware of others. Don't overestimate your driving abilities and realize icy roads can quickly change your driving ability. Be careful!

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

A Couple's Bird Lovers Country Paradise Pond Part I

You all are in for a special treat today and Monday. A special garden/house tour that most would not normally see. In my role as a garden coach I meet super folks and Tom and Kimi are just those kinds of folks. Today and Monday we will tour their newly built country pond and a bit of the home and garden. First, let me say this property was purchased by Tom and Kimi a few years ago and prior to that it was owned by another client of mine. I have had the pleasure of helping with the berry patch and orchard for several years now and wow! Tom and Kimi have really developed the place beautifully. The orchard on this property will not be featured because it is dormant, but I used it as a model to develop my own orchard and am ever so grateful for the experience I gain in helping others in their gardens. So this property is extra special to me and Tom and Kimi are really nice folks.

Tom gave a wonderful garden program to my garden club this past October. He is a published photographer and avid bird watcher. His program was on the birds of Iraq. Birds of Iraq? Yes indeed, beautiful birds and gorgeous pictures. Everyone in the club loved his talk and they want him to come back! Kimi is also a bird watcher and they have developed their 20 acres to be a wildlife friendly paradise that is especially designed to attract all sorts of birds-including water birds. Today we'll look at the pond area and Monday we'll explore up by the house with a few pictures of inside the house.

We'll start with the gorgeous waterfall. Both this pond and the waterfall, as well as the other various features on the property were built by Robert and Beth of Teacup Gardener. Robert and Beth were at the recent dinner party I attended at Tom and Kimi's home. The party was in fact in their honor now that the beautiful pond is finished.

The waterfall lit up after dark. A beautiful sight! The picture does not do it justice.

The large pond looking down from the orchard area. This pond was built by the previous owners but the area did not hold water. Tom and Kimi hired Teacup Gardener (Robert and Beth) to line the pond so that it would indeed become a pond instead of a big basin for drainage. The pond holds 575,000 gallons of water. How would you like to have a koi pond that big??

Looking up toward the orchard area from below the house near the pond.

Another view up to the orchard.

A perfect seating area near the pond is wrapped around a pine tree.

The waterfall again. This waterfall makes beautiful music to all who visit the property because you can hear it from all over the property. The sound of water is also a very big attractant for birds of all types-a good thing for bird lovers!

One last picture looking up to the house. This is a very special house and the way it was built; as well as the layout; is quite unique and hard to find in this area. I'll showcase a bit of it on Monday....

in the garden....

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

Update On My Friend Eddie's Garden

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Roy's Garden Paradise Tour Last Part

As I have been working on these three posts it occurred to me I have mentioned that the reason we visited this wonderful garden paradise was because of a pond party-yet I really have no pictures of the pond. Well, here are a few. The picture above shows part of the stream that travels around the garden and empties into the pond.

Here is one of the ponds proper. I really did not explore the ponds all that much because I was so captivated by the whole garden and the many specimen plants so I can't really talk much about the ponds. They were quite lovely and very nicely done in this garden.

I am not sure how many folks came to this party but I would hesitate to guess there were probably at least 40 people. Roy's house and garden are set up to entertain and I somehow got the feeling he and his wife really like to entertain. I always admire this in people because entertaining is not my thing at all. You know how some folks make it look so easy to throw together a party and everyone has a great time? Well that was Roy and his wife Linda, but is not me:( If you would like to come and visit my garden tho I am pretty good in the garden!) The above patio was right outside an entry to the house and was quite an entertainment area. While I do not show all of the seating areas in the garden I would guess there were more than half a dozen. Everyone had a spot to sit and talk with others and I know in our spot we loved our company and really felt comfortable in the garden.

This was our spot to sit and dine on some really good country cooking food! Don't you love the tropical feel of it provided by the gigantic hardy Japanese banana (Musa bajoo).

This picture shows the detail of a large pergola over another seating area. Splendid!

Here is another little Buddha hiding under the diving board for the swimming pool. Don't you love little surprises in the garden? This Buddha looks like he is ready to jump out and surprise unsuspecting divers.

I finish these posts with another view of a corner garden highlighted by a Japanese style lantern. On our visit to Roy and Linda's garden it was clear this was a garden that is so very loved and tended to by a very passionate garden as well as pond person....

in the garden....

Happy Birthday to my sister Joanne! 

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

Roy's Garden Paradise Tour Continues

As we continue with our garden and pond tour we are astounded by these gigantic elephant ears. I think Roy said he ordered these bulbs online from somewhere. He winters the bulbs over inside in a cool area and brings them out each spring for planting in some really nice pots. These elephant ears sure add to the overall theme of the garden; which appears to be Asian.

Now this is the greenhouse I would love to have in my own garden. While my little Harbor Freight 6'x8' greenhouse rocks and does the job, this one is so much bigger and more professional. It comes complete with a heater, fan and a very nice shape.

Look at all that space and nice shelves! Roy is ready for garden season and can easily propagate all of the plants he needs for his garden-and even perhaps have some leftover for some friends!

Here is another little Buddha complete with his own temple. Love it!

There are several bridges in this garden and here is yet another one. The ornamentation and nice combination of stone, plants, and hardscaping is very creative and very functional.

Roy's garden has a lot of water features. Like I said in my first post Mr. Fix-it and I met Roy through the Montgomery County Water Garden Society. The very title of this group says that not only do these folks have an interest in water gardening, but they are interested in more than just ponds. Not everyone can build a pond but almost everyone can have a water feature. This small whiskey barrel is outfitted with a rubber pond liner and filled with what looks to be pickerel weed and a few other water plants. The fish spouting water into the basin adds a lovely sound and helps to keep the water circulating to keep down bugs. What a nice idea!

Here is yet another water feature emptying into the pond.

More on Roy's garden and ponds on Friday....

in the garden....

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

Roy's Garden Paradise Tour

Have you all had enough of winter yet? It is kind of nice to have a break from gardening during the winter, but at the same time you know when the days start getting longer we all just start itching to get into our gardens. It is time!

Well, to tide us over until it is a bit warmer I thought I'd post some pictures from a local garden and pond paradise right here in Clarksville Tennessee. Mr. Fix-it and I were members of the Montgomery County Water Garden Society last year and as such, we were invited to a few pond parties. The last party of the year was held at Roy and Linda's house. Wow! What a treat. I was floored by it all. As you know, most people who like ponds are gardeners. I guess Roy is a even fit for both gardening and ponds and the two hobbies meld well together. Not only that, but Roy is a car man too, so both Mr. Fix-it and I had a fantastic time at this party. I took tons of pictures during the party, and asked Roy if I could post some on my blog so here is the first of three posts. Like always I like to add in a bit of commentary. Enjoy. 

The above picture is a perfect juxtaposition of textures with the evergreen spruce tree, roses, stone, path and the background cryptomeria.

This picture shows a long shot of the pool through a magnificent Japanese maple.

The lot was not a really big lot but Roy and his wife Linda do have two lots. As such there is a lot of hardscaping joining the entire garden together. This arched bridge is part of the oriental influence of this garden. Simply wonderful! Under the bridge is part of Roy's stream and pond.

More of the oriental influence is evidenced in these Japanese styled lanterns. The bright yellow tropical is a nice focal point set in and amongst all the impatiens.

Another Japanese maple is shown to perfection as a specimen in a raised planter. This one was probably 'Tamukeyama' or 'Garnet' or 'Crimson Queen'. One of the dissectum cultivars of the varied Japanese maple family for sure.

Isn't this guy awesome??

We finish this post with a shot of part of one of the many, MANY, seating areas and a small waterfall into the stream that traverses the yard. More on this wonderful garden on Wednesday....

in the garden....

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

Scheider Garden Part IV

We will finish up Paul and Dot's garden today. It was a long tour but there was just so much to see. Pictures sometimes do not convey the feel of a garden. Though I sure wish they could since you know the old saying, "A picture is worth a thousand words." I wonder where that saying came from because with garden blogging it does not seem to work that way. 

Can you see the metal artwork hanging in a tree? It is red and looks somewhat like a ship Christopher Columbus would have sailed.

This artwork was one of my favorites. It is an orb filled with what looks like broken windshield glass. It was a beauty. The glass almost looks like gems.

I took this picture to show one of my favorite conifers. This is a Japanese cedar. It is called 'Yoshino', Cryptomeria japonica. I plan to plant one on the new land once the house is built. In the meantime Paul was very kind to give me a seedling Japanese plume cedar. I am very, VERY excited about it.

This was a nicely colored bottle tree made from rebar.

Farmer Fix-it, aka the driver on this day, enjoyed the garden tour and making new friends. He was quite impressed with Paul's garden, though I think his garden style leans more towards the formal. The artwork throughout the whole garden was really something we both liked a whole lot.

This bamboo sculpture reminded me of a teepee.

This abstract art was quite interesting and made a large presence in the garden.

How about a hanging urn with its own bowling ball? What a great idea!

A garden shed fit right into the shade garden. The rock wall and textures Paul used in this area were very interesting and looked great. Considering this tour took place in mid-September when most plants are on their way out I was quite impressed with all of the happy plants in Paul's garden.

Another great piece made from old tree limbs. As many trees and limbs we are cutting on the property I think I should get going on doing something like this too!

Finally, a rock cairn. I've always loved these but have never had enough rocks or creativity to come up with one for my garden. That is changing. Our land has TONS of rocks, mainly in the form of red chert but I think I may be able to find a few large rocks with which I can create a cairn on the property. Look for that to be an upcoming project. 

I hope you enjoyed my views of Paul and Dot's garden in Portland Tennessee. I took 157 photos and have only published about 40 on these four blog posts. The garden was truly a work of art....

in the garden....

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