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SPRING 2020 VOL. 29, NO. 2 COUNTRYGARDENS.COM
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
DEPARTMENTS SPRING 2020 18 A TISKET, A TASKET
82 DESIGNED TO DELIGHT
If any centuries-old tradition deserves a revival, it’s May baskets. Piece together a beautiful arrangement to surprise a friend and mark the start of the gardening season.
Create a delectable kitchen garden with design tips from Marylandbased gardener Helen Norman.
26 SMALL GARDEN, BIG IDEAS Landscape designer Darcy Daniels’ tiny urban garden packs a punch with an ensemble of over 500 plants. Use her tips to compose your own small outdoor spaces.
34 TWICE AS NICE A she shed full of character built from salvaged materials fulfilled Mississippi gardener Debbie Lewis’ dreams. Gather inspiration for your own dream shed from her shabby-chic garden getaway.
88 MIDCENTURY MENAGERIE Playful pastel animal pots adorn Pittsburgh artist Lucy Kelly’s shelves. Collect your own flea market finds with her scouting pointers.
94 GROWING TRADITIONS Wendy Kiang-Spray, author of The Chinese Kitchen Garden, shares her expert advice on growing and cooking some traditional Asian vegetables.
ENTER OUR 23 RD ANNUAL GARDEN AWARDS!
40 SET IN STONE
See page 3 for details.
Hardy succulents and alpine plants enliven the rocky landscape of Helen Bodian’s Upstate New York garden.
48 COULEURS DE PRINTEMPS Grounding structures and generous drifts of single- and multicolor tulips blended with perennials create focal points in this French-inspired Annapolis, Maryland, garden.
56 WHERE THE BEES ARE An abundance of pollinators fill Mary Ray’s Fort Collins, Colorado, rock garden. Forgoing a lawn, she uses native plants that thrive with little water and no fertilizer.
62 FOR REAL Master the art of naturalistic floral arrangements with simple steps from floral designer Nicolette Owen.
72 SHADES OF SERENITY You can cultivate colorful, textured gardens in the shade. Make the most of the cool and calm areas in your yard with our guide to shade-loving plants.
@CountryGardensMagazine #countrygardensfriends Country Gardens Magazine 1
4 EDITOR’S NOTE 6 PLANTINGS 8 WEEKEND GARDENER 10 DESIGN NOTEBOOK 14 GARDEN KNOW-HOW 16 GARDEN SHOPPING 102 GARDENER’S BOOKSHELF 103 RESOURCES 104 CREATIVE BREAK
COUNTRY GARDENS // SPRING 2020
Editor SUSAN APPLEGET HURST Designer JESSICA ENO Copy Editor ERIKA BJORKLUND Contributing Editor HALEY KNUDSEN, SAMANTHA S. THORPE
Proofreader MARTHA COLOFF LONG Contributing Proofreader NANCY MCCLIMEN Administrative Assistant KATIE MORT Contributing Illustrator HELEN SMYTHE
HOME Executive Editor SAMANTHA HART Group Editor ANN BLEVINS Senior Editors BRIAN KRAMER, SALLY FINDER WEEPIE, KRISSA ROSSBUND Senior Associate Editor NATALIE DAYTON Design Directors KIMBERLY MORGAN METZ, MICK SCHNEPF Group Art Director NICOLE DEAN TEUT Associate Art Director JESSICA ENO Assistant Art Director EMILY BUTTERWORTH Senior Graphic Designer BRITTANY MUELLER Administrative Assistants RENAE MABIE, SUE MILLER, KIM O’BRIEN-WOLETT Photography Coordinator ALYSSA RICHARDSON
GARDEN Senior Content Manager SUSAN APPLEGET HURST Design Director KIMBERLY MORGAN METZ Associate Art Director JESSICA ENO Administrative Assistant KATIE MORT Better Homes & Gardens Test Garden® Manager SANDRA GERDES
FOOD Executive Editor JAN MILLER Senior Content Manager JESSICA SAARI CHRISTENSEN Senior Associate Editor CARRIE BOYD Design Director STEPHANIE HUNTER Associate Art Director RAE DANNEMAN Administrative Assistant COURTNEY BUSH Director, Meredith Test Kitchen LYNN BLANCHARD Culinary Specialists SARAH BREKKE, JULI HALE, COLLEEN WEEDEN Senior Food Stylist GREG LUNA Food Stylists KELSEY BULAT, LAUREN MCANELLY, SAMMY MILA
EDITORIAL ADMINISTRATION Editorial Directors JENNIFER DORLAND DARLING, JILL WAAGE Managing Director, SIM KARMAN WITTRY HOTCHKISS Creative Director MICHAEL D. BELKNAP Assistant Managing Editor JENNIFER SPEER RAMUNDT Copy Chief MARIA DURYEE Senior Copy Editors ERIKA BJORKLUND, MARTHA COLOFF LONG, ANGELA RENKOSKI Business Manager, Editorial CINDY SLOBASZEWSKI Lead Business Office Assistant GABRIELLE RENSLOW Director, Premedia Services AMY TINCHER-DURIK Director, Quality JOSEPH KOHLER Director, Meredith Food Studios ALLISON LOWERY Director, Meredith Test Kitchen LYNN BLANCHARD Director, Meredith Photo Studio REESE STRICKLAND Photo Studio Set Construction Manager DAVE DECARLO Photo Studio Business Manager TERRI CHARTER Premedia Trafficking Supervisor JUSTIN ATTERBERG Color Quality Analyst BEN ANDERSON
CONTRIBUTING FIELD EDITORS Atlanta Danny Flanders Chatham, Massachusetts Karin Lidbeck-Brent Columbus, Ohio Teresa Woodard Davidson, North Carolina Andrea Caughey Denver Elaine St. Louis Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan Khristi Zimmeth Newport, Rhode Island Lynda Sutton Redlands, California Thad Orr Roxbury, Connecticut Tovah Martin San Diego Karen Reinecke Seattle Debra Prinzing Sodus Point, New York Christine Froehlich Tidewater, Virginia Marty Ross
FOR EDITORIAL QUESTIONS, EMAIL COUNTRY.GARDENS@MEREDITH.COM OR WRITE US AT COUNTRY GARDENS, SPECIAL INTEREST PUBLICATIONS, MEREDITH CORP., 1716 LOCUST ST., DES MOINES, IA 50309-3023 To subscribe, go to BHG.com/SubscribeCountryGardens. For subscription help, email chgcustserv@cdsfulfillment.com or call 800/677-0484. Subscriber Please Note: Our subscribers list is occasionally made available to carefully selected firms whose products may be of interest to you. If you prefer not to receive information from these companies by mail or by phone, please let us know. Send your request along with your mailing label to Magazine Customer Service, P.O. Box 37508, Boone, IA 50037-0508. Retail Sales: Retailers can order copies of Country Gardens and other gardening magazines by emailing bhggardening@meredith.com.
MEREDITH NATIONAL MEDIA GROUP President, Meredith Magazines DOUG OLSON President, Consumer Products TOM WITSCHI President, Chief Digital Officer CATHERINE LEVENE Chief Business & Data Officer ALYSIA BORSA Chief Revenue Officer MICHAEL BROWNSTEIN Marketing & Integrated Communications NANCY WEBER SENIOR VICE PRESIDENTS Consumer Revenue ANDY WILSON Corporate Sales BRIAN KIGHTLINGER Direct Media PATTI FOLLO Research Solutions BRITTA CLEVELAND Strategic Sourcing, Newsstand, Production CHUCK HOWELL Digital Sales MARLA NEWMAN The Foundry MATT PETERSEN Product & Technology JUSTIN LAW VICE PRESIDENTS Finance CHRIS SUSIL Business Planning & Analysis ROB SILVERSTONE Consumer Marketing STEVE CROWE Brand Licensing STEVE GRUNE Corporate Communications JILL DAVISON Vice President, Group Editorial Director STEPHEN ORR Director, Editorial Operations & Finance GREG KAYKO
MEREDITH CORPORATION President & Chief Executive Officer TOM HARTY | Chief Development Officer JOHN ZIESER Chief Strategy Officer DAPHNE KWON | President, Meredith Local Media Group PATRICK MCCREERY Senior Vice President, Human Resources DINA NATHANSON Chairman STEPHEN M. LACY | Vice Chairman MELL MEREDITH FRAZIER For syndication or international licensing requests or reprint and reuse permission, email syndication@meredith.com. PRINTED IN THE USA
MEREDITH SPECIAL INTEREST MEDIA Vice President & Group Publisher SCOTT MORTIMER Vice President, Group Editorial Director STEPHEN ORR Vice President, Marketing JEREMY BILOON Executive Account Director DOUG STARK Director, Brand Marketing JEAN KENNEDY Associate Director, Brand Marketing BRYAN CHRISTIAN Senior Brand Manager KATHERINE BARNET FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION Associate Business Director JENNA BATES Business Managers LISA CARLSON, MARISA CLARK CIRCULATION Consumer Marketing Managers LYNN BOLINGER, ED LICHINSKY ADVERTISING & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Garden Sales & Marketing Director MARTY WOLSKE marty.wolske@meredith.com National Account Executive TYLER SMITH tyler.smith@meredith.com National Account Executive TOM HOSACK tom.hosack@meredith.com National Account Executive ALI PELTIER ali.peltier@meredith.com Regional Account Executive BRIAN KEANE brian.keane@meredith.com Regional Account Executive COLLIN COUGHLON collin.coughlon@meredith.com Sales Assistant DIANA WEESNER diana.weesner@meredith.com Do It Yourself Advertising Sales Director AMY GATES amy.gates@meredith.com Project Supervisor BETHANY PETERSON bethany.peterson@meredith.com Account Executive BRIAN KOSSACK brian.kossack@meredith.com Sales Assistant ASHLEY JACOBS ashley.jacobs@meredith.com Home Senior Vice President & Group Publisher STEPHEN BOHLINGER stephen.bohlinger@meredith.com Brand Homes Director NICOLE HENDRICK nicole.hendrick@meredith.com Eastern Advertising Director BROOKE VLADYKA brooke.vladyka@meredith.com Advertising Sales Assistant CHERYL CORBIN cheryl.corbin@meredith.com Food & Holiday Executive Vice President & Group Publisher CAREY WITMER carey.witmer@meredith.com Advertising Sales Assistant MOLLY MONAGHAN molly.monaghan@meredith.com ADVERTISING OPERATIONS 1716 Locust St., Des Moines, IA 50309-3023 Associate Production Director PATRICK MCGOWAN Production Managers KYLE DIRKS, ASHLEY SCHAUBROECK, ANGELA SCHOPP DIRECT MEDIA Sales Director TYLER HUB tyler.hub@meredith.com
¨
23 RD ANNUAL GARDEN AWARDS
SHOW US
PRESENTED BY
ENTER TODAY! TIPS FOR GOOD ENTRY PHOTOS
• Send photos from only the best season in your garden. • Take your photos on a slightly cloudy day, or in the soft light of morning or evening. • Show us the whole garden—don’t send closeups of flowers. • Limit your photos to the best ones—it’s not necessary to send more than 20 photos.
WHAT TO SEND
Send us your name, address, email, and telephone number, as well as color prints or digital photos of your garden, a rough landscape plan, and a brief description of your garden or garden room.
YOU COULD BE FEATURED!
SEE 2019’S AWARD WINNERS IN THE COUNTRY GARDENS FALL 2020 ISSUE.
By submitting photos, you grant Meredith Corp. the right to publish the photos in any medium whatsoever (now existing or hereinafter created) and in all forms of marketing and advertising, now or at any time in the future.
GUIDELINES
Only amateur gardeners are eligible for awards; participants cannot earn their living from gardening, landscaping, or interior design. Gardens that have received other national gardening honors or awards, or have been featured in a national magazine, are ineligible. Please retain an original copy of your complete entry for your records; materials will not be returned.
WHERE TO SEND ENTRY
By postal mail: Garden Awards, Code: CG Country Gardens 1716 Locust St. Des Moines, IA 50309 Or enter online: Email your information and a link to your images in cloud storage (Dropbox, Google Drive, Amazon Cloud Drive, etc.) to countrygardens .awards@meredith.com.
DEADLINE: Tracie Fish Bothell, Washington
Ellie Gilbert Plymouth, Massachusetts
Camilla Potter Durango, Colorado
Susan Rothschild Sheffield, Massachusetts
SEPTEMBER 30, 2020 CONTEST OPEN TO U.S. AND CANADIAN RESIDENTS
EDITOR’S NOTE PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARTY BALDWIN AND KATE SEARS
I’m in a colorful mood these days. Spring reminds me of how precious the seasonal
changes are and how important it is to pay attention to the moment. I find the energy and anticipation of watching the garden revive itself generates creative impulses in all kinds of activity, including making garden plans and arranging get-togethers with family and friends. By the time daffodils sprout and the serviceberries and magnolias bloom, I have lots of fun planned for my garden. I come up with ways to make more memorable moments, whether that is arranging bouquets for friends or creating art projects inspired by the season. Perhaps that energy comes from a wish for it all to last just a bit longer—to make sure I don’t miss a thing. Several of the stories in this issue of Country Gardens® magazine were chosen for you because they particularly celebrate special moments in spring flowers. You’ll find beautiful and fragrant May baskets (even one that won’t bother allergy sufferers), see the surprising allure of rock garden plants, and pick up tips for adding tulips to your landscape. There is also a lesson on flower arranging with stunning examples for you to follow. And if you’re tempted to create flowers that will never disappear, take advantage of a free embroidery pattern we created for you. Then we’ll all be in a good mood!
Susan Appleget Hurst EDITOR
ursting nto l m 18 40 48 62 104
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COUNTRY GARDENS // SPRING 2020
A Tisket, a Tasket Set in Stone Couleurs de Printemps For Real Creative Break: Stitch a Bouquet
REBOOT YOUR ACREAGE Contest
How could the new Bobcat compact tractor with front-end loader help with your next project? ®
Describe your project and how the CT2025 compact tractor could help make it easier, upload a photo of the project area, and you’ll be entered into the Reboot Your Acreage Contest from Country Gardens magazine, Successful Farming magazine, and Bobcat Company for a chance to win this prize, valued at more than $20,000. To enter and for a complete list of rules, visit Agriculture.com/AcreageReboot or scan this QR code using your smartphone’s camera.
Enter today for a chance to win! NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. Subject to Official Rules at www.agriculture.com/acreagerebootrules. Begins at 12:01 a.m. CT on 2/1/20 and ends at 11:59 p.m. CT on 5/1/20. Open to legal residents of the 48 United States, and the District of Columbia, 21 years or older and the owner or immediate relative of an owner of at least three (3) acres of property. Limit one (1) entry per person using only one (1) email address. Void in Alaska, Hawaii and where prohibited. Sponsor: Meredith Corporation.
PLANTINGS BY RUTH ROGERS CLAUSEN AND IRENE VIRAG PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROB CARDILLO, TOM McWILLIAM, AND BOB STEFKO
PRETTY PICK-ME-UPS THE CHEERY FACES OF PRIMROSES BECKON VIEWERS AS THE GARDEN BEGINS TO SHAKE OFF WINTER’S SLUMBER.
You can spy their bright, welcoming faces in shady spots in early spring. With
their petite pinwheel-shape blooms, primroses (Primula spp.) splash their colors across sun-dappled borders and under shrubs and trees. A shade-lover that thrives in rich, moist soil, primrose can be found across the Northern Hemisphere from the Alps to the Himalayas. There are more than 400 species of primrose in various shapes and sizes, lending pretty notes to the garden when winter thaws in Zones 2–9. In the wild, they enjoy a wide range of habitats, from wet bogs and marshlands to summer-dry, well-drained alpine regions. Most of the alpine species are somewhat tricky to grow. They are often planted in containers so they can have ideal soil conditions and are kept in cold frames or greenhouses until it is warm enough to bring them outside. Members of P. auricula, a hardier alpine species, are jewel-tone, frilly, fragrant, and surprisingly unfussy. They’re distinguished by golden and lightcolor centers. Their colorful characteristics make them perfect to play the lead at the front of borders. Classic Primula auricula ‘Winifrid’ features plush red petals and a golden center that glows like sunshine. Or go cooler with light-center, blue-velvet ‘Lavender Lady’. Even double-flowering auriculas, such as frothy, cream-color ‘Nymph’, are tougher than they look. If they’re in well-drained soil and have a little shade and some space, they’ll sing. In the garden, pair primroses with bulbs that bloom in early spring, such as tulips, crocuses, and grape hyacinths. They also partner well with forgetme-nots, bleeding-heart vine, lungworts (Pulmonaria spp.), and European ginger. Their color brightens the space under shrubs like roses, witch hazel, viburnum, and mock orange. After spring passes, primroses’ textural foliage enhances a garden through fall.
AURICULA
JAPANESE PRIMROSE
Features jewel-tone flowers, often with a central contrasting eye. Clusters of waxy flowers rise above rosettes of light green, thick, spoonshape leaves. 8 inches tall. Zones 3–8.
This primrose grows best in damp soil where it can be planted with moistureloving irises, astilbes, and ferns. Flowers range from crimson and magenta to white arranged in a candelabralike cluster. 18 inches tall. Zones 5–8.
(PRIMULA AURICULA)
(PRIMULA JAPONICA)
PRIMROSE Primula
HEIGHT: 6–24 inches tall, depending on variety
ZONES: 3–8 LIGHT CONDITIONS: Partial shade preferred; will tolerate sun, but only if the soil remains moist at all times and temperatures remain cool. PREFERRED SOIL: Moist, neutral to acidic, humus-rich DISEASES AND PESTS: Spider mites can cause problems, particularly if plants are in a too-sunny spot. Wash away mites with a splash from the hose. GROWING TIPS: Start primroses from seeds or plants. Mulch well. Primroses will stay green through summer, although most blooms are spent by June. For larger blooms, fertilize in early spring with highphosphorous fertilizer. Feed with all-purpose fertilizer once a month after blooming. Let plants self-seed, which is an easy way to propagate. If dividing, do so in spring right after plants bloom, or in fall.
CHINESE PAGODA PRIMROSE (PRIMULA VIALII)
A lover of moist soil beside ponds and streams, P. vialii features pointed spikes of violetpink flowers, hot pink in the buds, that rise from a rosette of foliage. 12–24 inches tall. Zones 4–8.
COUNTRY GARDENS // SPRING 2020
ENGLISH PRIMROSE (PRIMULA VULGARIS)
Known as the common primrose, it is often found growing at the base of British hedgerows. A rosette of leaves gives rise to a number of charming single flowers with a light fragrance. 8 inches tall. Zones 4–8.
7
WEEKEND GARDENER WRITTEN AND PRODUCED BY KATE CARTER FREDERICK PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARTY BALDWIN
NO LONGER ADRIFT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF VERTICAL SPACE TO HIGHLIGHT HOUSEPLANTS AS LIVING ART ROOTED IN A TREE’S PAST.
Driftwood’s craggy, natural surface makes it a fitting home
for plants to snuggle into. Play upon its tree-remnant history to create wall mounts for epiphytic ferns (staghorn, bird’s nest, rabbit’s foot), jungle cacti (Hatiora, Rhipsalis, Schlumbergera), and bromeliads. These plants grow on trees and rocks in their native rain forests and absorb moisture from the air. For an organic gallery-wall effect, select a variety of driftwood pieces in a mix of shapes and sizes. Water the plants a day before you mount them. Carefully remove each plant from its nursery
pot, gently squeezing the soil/root ball to keep it intact, and wrap with layers of damp mosses. (Sphagnum moss can irritate skin, so wear gloves while handling it.) Use monofilament to lash the plant to the driftwood gently but firmly so as not to damage the plant while securing it. Tuck chartreuse reindeer moss or gray lichen under the lashing for textural interest and contrast. Mount the driftwood to the wall. Water anytime the mosscovered root ball feels dry when squeezed gently.
MAKE YOUR OWN DRIFTWOOD WALL- MOUNT PLANTERS
STEP 1 Attach a D-ring or similar picture-hanging hardware to the back of the driftwood.
MATERIALS:
STEP 2 Wearing gloves, briefly soak sphagnum moss in a pan of water. Squeeze excess water from a handful of moss. Remove houseplant from its pot and bundle the root ball in a layer of moss.
STEP 3 Moisten sheet moss or moss mat; wrap it around the bundle. For a colorful accent use embroidery thread to encircle the bundle several times from top to bottom; tie the ends to secure.
Driftwood D-ring and hardware for attaching Screwdriver Waterproof gloves
For more information, see Resources on page 103.
Sphagnum moss Pan Houseplant Preserved moss (sheet, mat, reindeer) Embroidery thread Monofilament
OPPOSITE Select a collection of houseplants that
STEP 4 Set the bundle on the driftwood; add contrasting bits of moss if desired. Lash the bundle securely to the driftwood by wrapping monofilament around both and tying the ends securely.
STEP 5 To water, take the planter off the wall, hold it over a sink, and spray the moss-covered root ball until saturated. Let the planter drip-dry before returning it to the wall.
play off each other’s forms, such as (clockwise from top) Easter cactus (Schlumbergera), variegated hoya (Hoya carnosa ‘Rubra’), Rhipsalis, bromeliad, and Scindapsus pictus ‘Exotica’. These plants require four to five hours of filtered or reflected light daily.
COUNTRY GARDENS // SPRING 2020
9
DESIGN NOTEBOOK WRITTEN AND PRODUCED BY TOVAH MARTIN PHOTOGRAPHY BY JACOB FOX
MIX IT UP
LEARN FROM A BULB-BLENDING PRO HOW TO COMBINE TULIPS AND OTHER SPRING BULBS FOR A STUNNING COLOR SHOW.
COLOR CREATIVELY
Big swaths of strident monochrome
were the norm when thirdgeneration bulb purveyor Tim Schipper was working on a new niche for family-owned Schipper & Co. USA. In the late 1980s Schipper happened on a display at a golf course that really wowed him: a combination of two tulip varieties blooming at the same time, each color making the other more exciting. The impact provided him game-changing inspiration to create a new division for his family’s business: Colorblends Wholesale Flowerbulbs. The company’s first bulb blend, Hot Hot Hot, was a head-turning duo of bright red and golden yellow tulips, which has remained a top-selling combo. Beyond tulips, Colorblends intermixes daffodils, hyacinths, and crocus and merges muscari with daffodils and tulips to create knockout garden displays. Try Schipper’s tips for combining color, timing, and design to create your own impressive spring show.
Tulips are particularly fun to work with because they offer the full color spectrum (minus true blue). Schipper generally teams up color wheel neighbors, emphasizing the common ground between them by picking up on streaks or shading in the petals to create color echoes. “Colors can lift each other up,” he says. Mixing soft pastels creates an elegant, serene feeling, but adding a single bright hue brings zing.
ADD LIGHTS OR GO DARK White can refresh and brighten any grouping. But Schipper sometimes adds a deep shade— such as purple—to a vibrant combination, providing a resting point for the eye. “Dark colors make bright shades pop,” he says. And the high contrast of pairing nearly black maroon with glowing white is always a head-turner.
BALANCE THE SCENE Varying heights of different varieties and incorporating other species can take a combo up a notch. Schipper also factors in the physical heft of various flowers, even when working solely with tulips. Keep in mind, however, that minor bulbs such as muscari or squill can seem to disappear in a blend. For balance, bulk up the numbers of minor bulbs to counterbalance the star power of tulips and daffodils.
TIME IT RIGHT A blend of blooming color only works if all the players coincide. Tulips and daffodils unfold their flowers in intervals, with early daffodils starting the season weeks ahead of early tulips. Theoretically, late daffodils can intersect with early tulips, creating a stunning spring show. Ideally, two same-season bloomers will overlap because flowers can remain open for 15–21 days. Hyacinths can also mingle with midseason and late daffodils for a joyous presentation.
PLANT WITH A PLAN
OPPOSITE Tulips are
reliable and easy to grow. They promise a pop of color in spring, which is what makes them a Colorblends staple.
Most tulip displays are treated as annuals and are usually best for only one year, so a sunny spot isn’t required. However, daffodils, hyacinths, muscari, and other bulbs that perennialize should be planted in a sunny, well-drained spot. Beds that will hold summer annuals are good sites, or plant bulbs around shrubs or perennials that don’t kick in until late spring. Curved beds create more vantage points for viewing. Schipper recommends planting tulips 2–3 inches apart for maximum impact.
COUNTRY GARDENS // SPRING 2020
11
THE COLORBLENDS HOUSE & SPRING GARDEN Tim Schipper and his family purchased and restored a 1903 Victorian mansion in Bridgeport, Connecticut, near the Colorblends headquarters. Every spring the house wades in bulbs, ready for visitors. Visit the garden from dawn to dusk, seven days a week, from April 1 through May 15. You’ll find it at 893 Clinton Avenue, Bridgeport, Connecticut. For more information, go to colorblends.com.
ABOVE The Colorblends spring garden is different every year but the
show is always sensational, as blends of daffodils, tulips, and other bulbs strut their stuff in inspirational, idea-sparking displays. RIGHT To bring pizzazz up to the Colorblends porch, the staff plants combos such as Narcissus ‘Pink Charm’ and Darwin hybrid tulip ‘Oxford’.
NOT EVERY COLOR WILL BE A STAR; SUPPORTING ROLES ARE IMPORTANT. COLORBLENDS FOUNDER TIM SCHIPPER
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COUNTRY GARDENS // SPRING 2020
BELOW Tim Schipper carries a pot of mixed daffodils through the display garden at the Colorblends Show House. While his architect sister and brotherin-law worked to restore the old mansion’s faded glory, he focused on the landscape around it. For the garden’s design, Schipper turned to Netherlands-based Jacqueline van der Kloet, one of the world’s best-known designers of spring bulb gardens. She laid out a garden with slots for blends, naturalized bulbs, permanent displays, and annually-changing tulip plantings.
Greigii tulips
GARDEN KNOW-HOW WRITTEN BY HALEY KNUDSEN PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRIE PASSANO STYLED BY KIMBERLY MORGAN METZ
WEED BARRIER BASICS
MASTER THE ART OF WHEN AND HOW TO CORRECTLY USE LANDSCAPE FABRIC IN YOUR GARDEN.
To prevent weeds from sprouting under a deck or other structure, properly install heavyweight landscape fabric before building.
Landscape fabric is an often-misunderstood
garden tool. When you see black material sticking out from under rocks or along a path, it’s an eyesore. It is useful under concrete pavers or decks where you don’t want anything to grow, and it can help reclaim an area with out-of-control weeds. But to look good and work effectively, it must be used and installed properly. “People shouldn’t have the idea that landscape fabric is a solution for all weeding,” says Ayse Pogue, senior horticulturist at the Chicago Botanic Garden. “It is a shortterm solution for a long-term problem because you are always going to need to weed.” Landscape fabric, also known as weed barrier or weed control fabric, is available woven or spun and in different weights, strengths, permeability, and life expectancy. Mesh options are more permeable, allowing rain and air to circulate to the soil and promoting better soil health. However, they may need to be replaced more often than other options as the pores clog with dust and silt, causing water to pool on top. Effectively using landscape fabric means understanding its purpose and drawbacks. “Two common mistakes we see are not properly preparing the area prior to installation and not securing the landscape fabric,” says Kim Kemper, vice president of marketing for Jobe’s Company, a manufacturer of landscape fabric. Use our five tips and pros and cons lists to make the best use of landscape fabric and avoid common issues.
PROS Blocks weed seeds under the fabric from sprouting Keeps soil moist by reducing evaporation Limits herbicide use, which can be cost-effective Can help control erosion on slopes Makes weeding easier since weeds are more visible when they sprout
HOW TO USE LANDSCAPE FABRIC RIGHT
1
ADD SOIL AMENDMENTS OR FILL BEFORE INSTALLING If the area will be planted, amend the soil with compost, manure, peat moss, or other organic matter, and water in well. In areas that won’t be planted, add fill and level the soil.
2
INSTALL THE FABRIC RIGHT SIDE UP
3
OVERLAP THE FABRIC
4
SECURE THE FABRIC
5
COVER IT UP
Lay the fabric rough side down so it better grips the soil. Doing this prevents the fabric from slipping around during installation.
Overlap the ends/edges of pieces by 6–8 inches to prevent weeds from growing through the seams.
Place staples or pins every 8–10 inches along the edge of the fabric and every 12 inches where fabric overlaps in the center (make fabric overlap by one foot). Add extra staples wherever the fabric looks baggy or needs reinforcement.
If installing under a deck or hardscape, it’s only necessary to cover landscape cloth where it’s visible or exposed to sunlight. If used in landscape plantings, cover the fabric with a couple of inches of mulch. Plan on replacing the mulch and pulling young weeds every year from then on.
CONS Weeds that sprout in plant debris and mulch on top of the fabric can eventually become entangled in it Has limited uses in annual and perennial gardens Surface mulch on top of landscape fabric washes away more easily on slopes Permeability is reduced, discouraging beneficial soil organisms and leading to poor soil quality Once fabric is installed, the ability to improve or till soil underneath is eliminated
For more information, see Resources on page 103.
15
GARDEN SHOPPING WRITTEN BY HALEY KNUDSEN PRODUCED BY JESSICA ENO PHOTOGRAPHY BY JASON DONNELLY
FUN WITH HERBS
HERBS ARE EASY TO GROW, AND THEY PAY OFF WHEN YOU CAN ADD FLAVOR TO DISHES YEARROUND. MAKE THE MOST OF THEM WITH THESE BOOKS AND TOOLS.
GROWING AND USING HERBS
This handy reference shows you how to grow the most popular herbs. Simple recipes for pantry staples and bath and beauty products make this a go-to guide for herbal success. Look for it on newsstands or online at zinio.com or Barnes & Noble’s digital newsstand at barnesandnoble.com.
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COUNTRY GARDENS // SPRING 2020
Cut, tie, and hang fresh herbs to dry in a cool, dark place on this steel rack. Herb Drying Rack—Gardener’s Supply Company; gardeners.com; $20
1
2
5 3 4 1
Quickly chop herbs like rosemary and parsley to put in a salad, soup, and more. Herb Scissors Set with 5 Blades and Cover—Poromi; amazon.com; $12
2 Try simple recipes with medicinal herbs for treating common health needs. Grow Your Own Herbal Remedies (Maria Noël Groves, Storey Books)—storey.com; $25
3 This handy tool helps you quickly strip herbs before chopping to speed up food prep. Herb and Kale Stripping Comb—OXO; oxo.com; $7
4
Trim the perfect amount of herbs for your needs with the 2-inch Centurion Precision Garden Snip—amazon.com; $13
5 Learn about 40 flavorful herbs, herb-gardening tips, and prep and culinary techniques. Grow Your Own Herbs (Susan Belsinger and Arthur O. Tucker, Timber Press)—workman.com; $17
Veronica Purpleicious
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WRITTEN AND PRODUCED BY TOVAH MARTIN PHOTOGRAPHY BY KINDRA CLINEFF
A TISKET, A TASKET ARE YOU THRILLED BEYOND WORDS THAT SPRING HAS FINALLY SPRUNG? SAY SO WITH A FRAGRANT MAY BASKET.
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COUNTRY GARDENS // SPRING 2020
OUR COVER STORY
No need to go shopping for this project: Using what’s on hand is what May baskets are all about. Daffodils are readily available for the plucking in early May and they come in happy colors and an array of perfumes. To manage the straight stems and keep them from opping, enlist short branches of forsythia. Have a container with a short handle? Extend the reach with raffia tied to the knocker or doorknob.
Provide a feast for the eyes with an arrangement of anemones, ranunculus, bleeding hearts, and white lace flower (Orlaya) in a sensational medley of soft spring shades that don’t overpower a room with scent. Refresh the water every other day or so and the arrangement will linger for a week or more.
If ever a tradition needed to be reborn,
it’s celebrating spring with a May basket. Tucking a few fresh flowers into a container and secretly delivering it to a neighbor or friend seems to have gone out of fashion, but it’s a custom worth reviving. May baskets are fast, easy, and inexpensive to make, and they’re a fun kickoff for the gardening season. It’s unknown when May baskets originated, but they’re probably linked to ancient European rituals that marked the first day of May as the awakening of spring. May baskets became popular in the United States during the 19th century, when people began celebrating May Day by slipping a few early blossoms from a budding garden or field into a container and then quietly leaving it at someone’s door before knocking or ringing the doorbell and running away. They are meant to be anonymous. Sure, you can wink when someone later mentions the mysterious flower gift at their door. But as a no-stringsattached token of friendship and a nod to the unfolding season of bloom, May baskets are a gardener’s way to have fun and put a smile on someone’s face. COUNTRY GARDENS // SPRING 2020
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Stretching your imagination with improvised containers—like this vintage one with a built-in loop for hanging—is part of the fun. We attached a 1-inch grosgrain ribbon to the metal loop and made a firmly knotted bow to hang over the doorknob. Any blooming garden plants can be included in a May basket. We gathered lightly aromatic saxifrage (Saxifraga × arendsii ‘Touran Neon Rose’) as a nest for a dozen pink tulips.
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Lilacs have such a strong association with spring, they are an obvious candidate for a May basket. One of the most fulfilling for the nose is the early-blooming bicolor Syringa ‘Sensation’. For accents, add a few flowers of blue columbine. We filled a fishing bait bucket with water and used its strap as a hanger to hold the humble gift in place.
Even a recycled tin can makes an attractive May basket. And the beauty of cans is they are usually capable of holding water (you might want to do a quick watertight test, especially for vintage cans). Simply affix a wire handle: Punch holes near the top edge, thread wire through, and twist the ends neatly. If your can comes with a colorful label, match flowers to those hues. Don’t want to steal from your garden display? Tulips can be found at many supermarkets. Arranging is easier if you start with a bed of frothy flowers, so we began with a base of fragrant golden spring-blooming basket-of-gold (Aurinia saxatilis).
Fragrant flowers are nice, but not all recipients want to be greeted by a noseful of pollen, especially if they suffer from allergies. Fill a watering can with water, snip some snap pea sprouts, asparagus, and spearmint, and hang the bounty from a doorknob. Want to coax the recipient to plant something delicious in her garden? Tuck in a seed packet!
Spontaneity—not rules—is what May baskets are all about. They can be as complex or as simple as you want, making it easy to get kids into the act. A May basket will last longer if the flowers are tucked into water (just in case they aren’t discovered immediately). And furnishing a water reservoir is as easy as hiding a recycled cup or jar inside a pretty container. So let’s revive the tradition. Get ready, get set, tie some flowers to a doorknob, and run! For more information, see Resources on page 103.
LEFT Recruit a vintage metal picnic hamper if a front door doesn’t
offer a way to hang the basket. Simply tuck in a couple of canning jars filled with water to hold the blossoms. Blooming fruit trees are perfect for spring displays. This May-basket-to-go includes flowering quince (watch out for thorns) nestled beside winter-blooming jasmine (Jasminum polyanthum), delivering an intoxicatingly aromatic surprise.
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SMALL GARDEN, BIG IDEAS ON HER POCKETSIZE PROPERTY, AN OREGON DESIGNER DIRECTS AN OUTSIZE GARDEN PERFORMANCE BY EMPHASIZING THEATRICAL PLANTING COMBINATIONS.
WRITTEN BY MARY-KATE MACKEY PHOTOGRAPHY BY LAURIE BLACK PRODUCED BY THAD ORR
Assembled from a cast
of over 500 plants growing on Darcy Daniels’ 50×100-foot lot, the groupings in her home landscape work like a good company of actors. “I want them to be members of an ensemble cast, sharing the stage— together or in sequence,” the landscape designer says. “These intermingled layers create a community of plants that offer up a steady succession of bloom or foliage interest through the seasons.” While her garden explores a fascinating range of botanical possibilities, the layout features creative use of the small space that makes it welcoming and comfortable. Darcy, who has been head of the design firm Bloomtown Gardens for almost 20 years, uses her garden to research new plants. “But I wouldn’t call myself a plant collector,” she says. Rather, she sees herself as constantly auditioning plant possibilities, using and sharing the information with her landscaping clients in the Portland, Oregon, area, and on her website eGardenGo, which provides inspiration and ideas for garden success. For instance, she tried a wide selection of ferns before casting the eared lady fern (Athyrium otophorum) for its red stems
OPPOSITE At the welcoming entry, smoketree (Cotinus Golden Spirit), on the
right, is balanced by a purple clematis Jackmanii intertwined with a pink rose (Rosa chinensis ‘Mutabilis’) on the left. These hide a newly created streetside garden room. “We enjoy sitting out there,” designer Darcy Daniels says. “It’s quite secluded yet open and sociable. I like the neighborly aspect of it.” ABOVE Darcy sits in one of the four gathering spots around her house. “The best decisions I’ve made have been prioritizing places for people,” she says.
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and silvery foliage and Himalayan maidenhair (Adiantum venustum) for its delicate looks and tough disposition. Darcy divides her garden players into two roles— forever and now. Forevers are the structural trees and shrubs. These often need room to grow into their eventual size, so Darcy uses the now plants as fillers while the forevers slowly mature. For a plant to earn its spot in the forever lineup, Darcy demands high performance—year-round star qualities. The small 20-foot Japanese stewartia (Stewartia pseudocamellia) presents white spring flowers, bright fall color, and exfoliating bark in winter. “As it grows it just gets better,” Darcy says. “Even if it crowds out other plants around it, it will always, always be my first choice as a forever plant.”
ABOVE Darcy’s seating area in front of her house is surrounded
by (clockwise from lower left) Angel Wings senecio (Senecio candicans ‘Senaw’), Rhododendron ‘Medusa’, dark-leaf ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Diabolo’), plum yew (Cephalotaxus harringtonia ‘Fastigiata’), Japanese maple ‘Shaina’, Rhododendron williamsianum, Japanese aralia (Fatsia japonica ‘Spider’s Web’), Japanese stewartia (Stewartia pseudocamellia), and deodar cedar (Cedrus deodara ‘Feelin’ Blue’). RIGHT A repetition of colors creates design cohesiveness in confined spaces. Red and orange blooms and foliage take their cue from the rust-color wavy steel edging and trellises on both sides of the path.
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Bright turquoise details echo throughout the garden rooms in the form of decorative accents: throw pillows, painted trim, containers, and splashes on outdoor rugs and art. It’s the only color not reected in the plants and acts as a disruptor to make the whole space more interesting.
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PETITE BUT POWERFUL
VISUAL TRICKS INVOLVING FLOW, FUNCTION, SPACING, AND COLOR ARE WRITTEN INTO DARCY DANIELS’ SCRIPT FOR MAKING THE WISEST—YET INTERESTING—DESIGN FOR A SMALL YARD. HERE ARE A FEW OF HER BEST TIPS.
USE IT ALL. Darcy’s home occupies almost half of her 5,000-square-foot lot, so she snags every possible space, from the canopy, which includes coral bark maple (Acer palmatum ‘Sango-kaku’), down to the original (and unused) driveway, planted with Brazilian vervain (Verbena bonariensis) and a mix of grasses and hardy succulents.
GROW TO THE GROUND. In a small garden, every square foot contributes. At the steps, Darcy takes advantage of the tiniest bit of earth, softening the edges of the sidewalk with spills of groundcovers, including the large-leaf lamb’s ears (Stachys byzantina ‘Helene Von Stein’).
MAKE ROOM TO EXPLORE. In tight
DIVIDE AND ENLARGE. Small gardens
EXPAND THROUGH REFLECTION.
CHOOSE FLEXIBLE FURNISHINGS.
benefit from being divided into outdoor rooms with another destination visible from each one. Darcy creates drama with walkways flanked by mountain fleece (Persicaria ‘Golden Arrow’), on the left, and dysosma (Podophyllum pleianthum), on the right. They pull visitors along yet are interesting enough to keep the stroll relaxed.
Mirrors give the illusion of more space beyond. Darcy has two in her garden. This one on the house wall reflects an ensemble that includes blueberry, asparagus fern (Asparagus densiflorus), and a tumble of purple-blue Serbian bellflower (Campanula poscharskyana).
spaces, Darcy creates a destination rather than land on a dead end. Her garden paths circle the house. Big-leaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Pia’) and eastern white cedar (Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘Iceberg’) lead the way to one of the four seating areas with box-leaf azara tree (Azara microphylla) overhead and Himalayan maidenhair fern (Adiantum venustum) fringing the path.
Smaller gardens need movable furniture, not heavy, large pieces. To accommodate guests, Darcy can shift these lightweight chairs into other outdoor garden rooms. Light and airy furnishings hold the space open but won’t be overwhelmed by the surrounding plants like golden flax (Phormium ‘Yellow Wave’) and the upright yew (Taxus × media ‘Beanpole’).
Although flower hues are important accents in Darcy’s garden, sophisticated combinations of foliage colors and textures are what keep it attractive throughout the growing season. In winter and early spring the garden relies on interesting evergreens—a mix of rhododendron, cypress, pine, and juniper cultivars.
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SUPERSIZE IT
While it might seem counterintuitive, a few big containers work well in a small garden because their bulk keeps the design simple.
The now plants, Darcy says, “are the ones I have fun with.” Currently she’s captivated by the silky silverwhite foliage of Angel Wings senecio (Senecio candicans ‘Senaw’) and is also enamored with red Heuchera ‘Fire Alarm’. “It’s my current ‘heuchera of choice,’” she says. “It’s peppered throughout my garden.” When the now fillers die or get too big, Darcy can remove them without guilt—she’s simply following the original plan she figured out years before. Her theatrical approach retains an improvisational flair. “I see possibilities rather than absolutes,” Darcy says. “There’s always more than one way to do things. It’s a continuum, a process, a meandering path forward. You come up against limits; you adapt and go.” For more information, see Resources on page 103. LEFT Although there are several seating areas dotting the small
property, Darcy designed plenty of space for entertaining on the patio between the back door and her studio. A clean-lined dining set with sturdy but lightweight stacking chairs allows easy reconfiguring within the cozy space.
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2
1
3
5
garden at a glance 4
DANIELS
1 Seating with mirrors 2 Gathering area at side of studio
3 Dining area between
studio and back door
4 Former driveway 5 Seating at front of house COUNTRY GARDENS // SPRING 2020
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WRITTEN AND STYLED BY LUANN BRANDSEN PHOTOGRAPHY BY JASON DONNELLY
T WICE AS NICE
BUILT FROM SALVAGED, LOW-MAINTENANCE MATERIALS, THIS MISSISSIPPI GARDEN SHED CLEVERLY BLENDS FUNCTION AND FROUFROU.
“That’s a wren you hear, and that is a cardinal singing
OPPOSITE Nestled in a long,
sweeping perennial bed, the garden house takes shelter beneath shady oaks in summer. In winter, sunshine streams through leafless branches to warm the paver floor so that it radiates heat through cool nights. ABOVE Gardener Debbie Lewis and contractor Bill Blossom both consider the shed’s glass etched doors a highlight. Bill took a PDF of the birdcage design Debbie gave him to a vinyl sign maker. “He cut a resist and masked it off,” Bill says. “We then peeled off what we wanted to show and sandblasted lightly.”
‘pretty, pretty, pretty’ up in those oaks,” Debbie Lewis says, pointing past irises before stepping through the pretty blue doors of her new garden shed. “When I’m inside, there are so many windows that I feel like I’m part of the garden. It’s like I’m spying on the birds and other inhabitants.” A biologist by training, Debbie says the idea for a garden house in her and husband Bob’s Mississippi yard first emerged from sheer pity. “I’d drag my potted plants into the garage every winter, and by spring, they’d look horrible and I felt terrible,” she says. “I thought of how well my grandmother’s cement block garden shed worked, but it wasn’t attractive. Then I saw pictures of she sheds, and I was sold on a shabby chic look with lots of salvage.” Even better, Debbie knew her contractor friend Bill Blossom—an avid repurposer— would be perfect for the job. Though he’d never heard of a she shed, Bill quickly came on board, even offering to donate from his ample salvage stash. Designing around what he had, Bill built four walls with their openings in his warehouse before delivering them to Debbie’s garden to add the roof and details. “It was sort of like a surprise for her,” Bill says. Debbie didn’t see the results of Bill’s efforts until all the parts of the shed arrived for assembly in her yard, but she was thrilled. COUNTRY GARDENS // SPRING 2020
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1
2
MATERIAL MATTERS THESE SMART DESIGN TIPS OFFER BIG REWARDS IN TERMS OF SAVINGS, STYLE, AND EASE OF CARE: Use low-maintenance, durable materials whenever possible. For instance, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) scalloped trim (1) doesn’t require future painting or repair.
3
4
For a long-lasting DIY roofing option, use lightweight clear polycarbonate plastic roof panels (2), or steel or aluminum sheeting. Tile or concrete floors are virtually wash-and-wear. Lay cinder block for a solid, enduring foundation, topping it with 2 or 3 inches of sand in which you can lay bricks. “You don’t want the water to settle around the foundation in a garden,” contractor Bill Blossom says. Brick floors are also highly durable and will absorb passive solar heat streaming through the windows. Feature common salvage materials in creative ways, such as slate shingles for siding (3) or architectural salvage as decorative door and window frames. Even vintage hardware (4) can often be repurposed.
5
Protect wood siding from sun and rain with a colored exterior stain. Lend personality and character to a project with reclaimed materials and accessories. Before you buy, be sure to check for cracking or chipping that could make a material unsuitable. Consider sunlight, views, and breezes when determining window placement. Properly frame doors and windows for a finished look as well as durability. Consider reglazing unique old window frames to better enjoy the sunshine. Include custom details that can set your shed apart, such as repurposed fixtures fitted with solar lights (5), a cheery paint color for the door, screen or Dutch doors, window boxes, cupolas, finials, and shutters.
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“I’m the queen of knickknacks,” Debbie says of her eclectic style. The shed’s vast windows create the perfect backdrop for her numerous suncatchers, including a large spiderweb design by a Mississippi craftsman that she received as a shedwarming gift from her husband, Bob.
Debbie loves cutting blooms from her garden, often blending them with market flowers, to fill her collection of vases and vintage containers. She found this vessel with tall flower tubes in a shop years ago.
LEFT A 30-year-old cactus is a holdover
from Debbie’s days teaching high school biology. Beneath the bench, her collection of African violets thrives. TOP A container of ‘Blushing Bride’ hydrangeas rests on a vintage porch chair, awaiting their permanent home in the garden. ABOVE A soft cloud of maidenhair vine (Muehlenbeckia complexa) drifts from a sculptural planter. In the dappled shade of the shed, maidenhair vine, ferns, and other tropical plants get the light they need but not too much heat.
“I love that Bill made so much of it maintenance-free,” Debbie says, noting the PVC gingerbread trim and screen doors, slate shingle siding, and copper threshold. The finished 10×12-foot retreat perfectly suits her fun, eclectic decor. Colorful suncatchers dangle in nearly every windowpane, and a menagerie of ceramic and metal animals tuck among ferns, climb the walls, and look down from high shelves. In one corner, a pitcher plant holds enough water within its pods to house a happy tree frog. There’s space to pot, paint with friends, or relax at the bistro set to read, sketch garden plans, or enjoy afternoon tea. “The whole space just worked out so well,” Debbie says. Bill agrees. “I’ve done man caves, but this is the first she shed I’ve done,” he says. “I think it’s pretty special.” For more information, see Resources on page 103. COUNTRY GARDENS // SPRING 2020
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WRITTEN AND PRODUCED BY TOVAH MARTIN PHOTOGRAPHY BY KINDRA CLINEFF
set in
S TO N E FACED WITH A ROCKY GASH AND POOR SOIL IN HER UPSTATE NEW YORK LANDSCAPE, A THOUGHTFUL GARDENER WOVE A TAPESTRY OF HARDY ALPINE PLANTS.
Creeping speedwell (Veronica ‘Waterperry Blue’)
For Helen Bodian, a rock garden was the perfect fix for a hard problem. A member of the North American Rock Garden Society (NARGS) for many years, she was primarily an armchair admirer of the plants that thrive in rocky terrains. But when excavation for an addition to her family’s farmhouse left an unsightly wound in the landscape, she imagined a solution that included alpine plants. Nestling massive boulders beside the building felt like the right calculation for Helen, an artist and fine art photographer with an eye for composition, and the stony result would give her an opportunity to host the plants she’d previously encountered only in NARGS publications.
Although many rocks already dwelled in the site, Helen needed more to create the visual balance she sought. Massive boulders were fitted into the incline like puzzle pieces to form irregular tiers that look as if they have been part of the landscape forever. But the configuration is not random. “A lot of reason went into its creation,” Helen says.
ABOVE The far end of the rock garden flows into a blue moment created by tall native Camassia before exiting via stone steps.
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WHAT IS AN ALPINE PLANT? Alpine plants naturally grow in high elevations above the evergreen tree line but below the permanent snow line.
Blue globe daisy (Globularia trichosantha)
The hardscape took careful thought, but the plant selection took even more research. A gap in a magnificent fothergilla hedge and a grove of pines reveals the rock garden in its full splendor. Helen is drawn to the ground-hugging growth, sprawling habits, and intriguing foliage of plants adapted to rocky terrains, but she finds finicky plants less than thrilling. Many alpine plants are adapted to very specialized habitats difficult to replicate outside their native terrain. Over time, Helen discovered that certain genera love her stone and soil. Rather than nursing fussy individuals, she concentrated on collecting sedums, sempervivums (hens-and-chicks), columbines, dianthus, Pulsatilla, irises, campanulas, veronicas, and phlox as well as other survivors of her planting beds’ shallow pockets. “I have interesting plants, but not difficult plants,” she says.
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Repetition holds the garden together. Helen is fascinated by plants that self-seed, popping up in various places. “I purposefully allow for serendipity,” she says. “It’s one of the things that gives me pleasure.” Diversity keeps the scene interesting throughout the year. “I think about foliage and texture as well as blossoms. Plants like spiky iris have a structural purpose,” Helen says. Unlike many rock gardens that feature only sprawling plants that hug the stones, she works with dwarf conifers and deciduous shrubs to give her garden more dimension. She also adds taller perennials to balance the garden without obscuring the rock. The flat horizontal line of the far rim of the garden presented another challenge. Behind it was a field, and the picture felt contrived. Helen’s solution was to plant low, shrubby beach plums (Prunus maritima) that are irregularly placed so they undulate slightly
COUNTRY GARDENS // SPRING 2020
LEFT Winchell, the cat, strolls
between dwarf evergreens that complement the rugged gray stone year-round as do ground-hugging succulents. The assorted Sedum, Sempervivum, and Jovibarba varieties that fill in between pavers and crevices have the added benefits of seasonal flowers, rosy foliage in cold weather, and being easy to divide and relocate as needed.
Yellow mountain-avens (Dryas drummondii)
Miniature dwarf bearded iris (Iris ‘Knick Knack’)
A patio composed of local stone lies in front of Helen Bodian’s rock garden, providing a space for admiring the panorama. Lowgrowing beach plum (Prunus maritima) and Sargent crabapple (Malus sargentii ‘Tina’) soften the rim of the rock garden and merge it into the surrounding landscape.
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“I HAVE INTERESTING PLANTS, BUT NOT DIFFICULT PLANTS.” HELEN BODIAN
between rocky tiers for a natural presentation, interrupting the view of the field. She has since added other shrubs and low-growing trees such as low, spreading crabapples (she prefers Malus sargentii ‘Tina’), and the rock garden now feels naturally connected to the landscape. Tending the mature rock garden calls for removing or pruning plants that have outgrown their spaces, filling niches affected by winterkill, and redistributing plants as the living tapestry of each crevice evolves. Unlike many rock gardens that peak in spring, Helen’s display of diverse forms and foliage astonishes from the spring flush to waves of color that include a larkspur explosion and tall late-season asters. “It’s like an amphitheater,” she says of the ever-changing scene. “It’s so easy to become absorbed in this little world.” For more information, see Resources on page 103.
ABOVE White pussytoes (Antennaria dioica), pink rock jasmine (Androsace
sarmentosa), and other ground-covering plants fill gaps between stones with a pretty carpet of color, with cheery red-and-yellow flowers of eastern red columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) bobbing high on tall stems. Many plants spread by runners or seed and find their most suitable niches on their own—but Helen does a bit of editing here and there.
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‘Heavenly Blue’ speedwell (Veronica rupestris ‘Heavenly Blue’)
ROCKING THROUGH THE SEASONS
Does an interesting stone ledge start your garden wheels turning? Transforming your rock garden cravings into reality calls for plugging in a few concepts. According to Elisabeth Zander, president of the North American Rock Garden Society, making a rock garden isn’t difficult if you start right and follow basic care principles throughout the seasons. Whether you are working with a mini garden in a trough or something much more ambitious, the principles are the same. “Rocks aren’t critical, but good drainage is imperative,” Zander says. Here are her suggestions for success with rock gardens:
SPRING
SUMMER
Plant your rock garden right. Unfurl the plant’s roots so they anchor well, dig a deep hole, and then plant in a combination of gravel, sand, and soil.
Most rock garden plants are adapted to full sun. Keep that in mind if you mix taller and shorter plants; shade can affect neighbors as plants mature, requiring repositioning.
Many rock garden plants begin their blossom show early in the season, so remove fallen leaves covering your alpines as soon as possible in spring. Top-dress with gravel, reapplying where necessary. In most cases, feeding is not necessary. With the exception of gentians and a few heavy-feeding plants, alpine plants prefer to grow in a lean soil. Snap photos of ephemerals and spring bulbs for referral before the plants go dormant. You don’t want to usurp their space when planting later.
Annuals and biennials can be part of the picture in a rock garden. Insert small annuals to add to the show. Troughs make eloquent accents in a rock garden. Tuck them into the scene. Rock garden plants are adapted to dry conditions. Constant watering can wreak havoc. Watering is necessary only during extreme drought conditions.
AUTUMN
WINTER
Remove leaves quickly in autumn to avoid problems with rot. Mulching is usually not necessary, except to maintain the topdressing of gravel between plants.
Some rock garden plants are evergreen or semievergreen, extending the show into winter. Plus, a rock garden’s gorgeous stones and even a trough can look lovely in winter, so consider placing your garden where it can be seen from the house.
If self-seeding is desired, do not deadhead plants. Collect seeds if desired or allow them to spread naturally. Thanks to the good drainage, many spring bulbs love rocky habitats. Plant spring bulbs in autumn.
COUNTRY GARDENS // SPRING 2020
A generous snow cover is good news for a rock garden—leave the blanket of snow in place. Rest easy: Most alpine plants are adapted to cold climates.
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WRITTEN BY TERESA WOODARD PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROB CARDILLO STYLED BY MARTY ROSS
COULEURS DE
PRINTEMPS TWO GARDEN DESIGNERS BRING JOIE DE VIVRE, VIBRANT HUES, AND FRENCH FLAIR TO THEIR SPRING GARDEN IN ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND.
‘Ballerina’ Tulip
ABOVE Pierre and Nancy
Moitrier, owners of Designs for Greener Gardens, bring complementary talents to their garden design projects. Nancy offers the horticulture knowledge, while Pierre adds the stonework and hardscapes experience. RIGHT The couple’s signature look combines stone paths, walls, and accents with structures of reclaimed wood in gardens filled with expertly blended foliage textures.
Nancy and Pierre Moitrier don’t shy away from color. In and outside of their suburban
Annapolis cottage-style home, they painted the walls in goldenrod, moss green, and terra-cotta, earthy colors reminiscent of Pierre’s rural French homeland. And they continue their passion for color outdoors with a multitude of vibrant spring bulbs in their ¹∕₃-acre, corner-lot garden. Orange-red tulips push through swaths of chartreuse forest grasses. Creeping blue forget-me-nots stretch beneath layers of scarlet-and-blush tulips along a stone walkway. And marigold-orange fluted tulips pop beside stackedstone walls. “We’ve always loved rich colors, especially the harmonious color schemes found in nature,” Nancy says. “It all started on the inside,” she says, when she and Pierre hung a Turkish silk shawl in the glass front door. They liked how the shawl’s terra-cotta color looked from the outside,
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The Moitriers added a swale to the side of their garden to allow spring rains to percolate on the property rather than run off into their neighbor’s. They fill the space with contrasting golden Japanese forest grass (Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’), a mix of conifers, fluted ‘Ballerina’ tulips, and two-tone ‘Avignon’ tulips.
Potted tulips create portable color anywhere it’s needed. Nancy added purple tulips to a grouping on the patio.
‘Dynasty’ tulip
so they repainted the home’s exterior in terra-cotta and moss green then filled the front garden with plants to match. The couple met 22 years ago in England, where they discovered shared interests in garden hardscapes and landscape design. Nancy, who grew up in a family of plant-lovers and had a horticulture degree from Penn State University, was starting a design business. Pierre loved the outdoors and had a passion for building with natural materials. Nancy invited Pierre to return with her to Maryland, where they took on a labyrinth garden project and a custom stone wall. “It was my first time to play with 50 tons of stone,” says Pierre, whose name comes from the French word for stone. For two decades, the couple has continued learning and working together in clients’ gardens as well as their own. Nancy focuses on plants, and Pierre, who studied landscape design at George Washington University after moving to the United States, crafts stone paths, cairns, and walls as well as rustic furniture, fences, and follies of eastern red cedar. In their backyard, he even built a fanciful tree house 16 feet up in a sweet gum tree. “You have to have both structure and plants in a landscape,” Pierre says. “Structure without plants would not be very pretty, and plants without structure would be just a jumble.”
TULIP DESIGN TIPS PLANT IN ABUNDANCE. “Some
people think planting 25 bulbs is a lot,” Nancy says, “but you really have to plant hundreds to make a statement.” Last fall, she and Pierre added 368 new tulips to their existing troves of daffodils, grape hyacinth, and species tulips. They plant bulbs 6–8 inches apart in clusters of six or eight.
MIMIC NATURE’S DESIGN. Nancy says she studies natural roadside vegetation and imitates the curving swaths peppered with outside stragglers for her bulb plantings. “Nature doesn’t put things in a straight line,” she says. SPOTLIGHT FEATURES. Nancy and Pierre use bulbs to define walkways, mark an entry, and create focal points outside a window.
LAYER IN VARYING HEIGHTS.
They line their front walk with low forgetme-nots, 18-inch ‘Suncatcher’ tulips, and 24-inch ‘Blushing Lady’ tulips. The forget-me-nots were originally planted in 2001 with seeds from the couple’s wedding favors and have been self-sowing ever since.
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GO MONOCHROMATIC. The Moitriers plant orange tulips in varying sizes and shapes like double, peony-style Sunlover; fluted ‘Ballerina’; and classic, egg-shape ‘Daydream’ and ‘Avignon’. FIND A BACKDROP. The Moitriers
position tulips along a contrasting backdrop, whether it’s a hand-carved stone cairn or colorful foliage plants like deep green spreading English yew, golden Japanese forest grass, or ‘Autumn Bride’ coral bells. These foliage plants also cleverly disguise tulip leaves as they fade.
COMBINE BULBS AND PERENNIALS. Nancy’s favorite
combos are ‘El Nino’ tulips and Japanese sacred lily (Rhodea japonica), and ‘Little Beauty’ tulips and grape hyacinth. (To create a carpet of these smaller bulbs, use a garden knife to make six 3-inch slits per square foot; fill each slit with one or two bulbs.)
REPEAT COLORS THROUGHOUT THE GARDEN. “You’ve got to find some repetition so the whole creation makes sense,” Pierre says, noting the chartreuse and orange reiterated throughout their garden.
Layering tulips in varying heights—even in pots—keeps the display lively. The Moitriers accent their front walk with ‘Suncatcher’ (18 inches tall) and ‘Blushing Lady’ (24 inches tall) tulips. Other perennials and annuals, such as blue forget-me-nots, orange and burgundy pansies, and Early Bird purple-and-white columbines fill in as accents.
DETER DEER In spring when bulbs begin to emerge, spray the leaves with deer repellent weekly and after rainfall. “It’s better to be safe than disappointed,” Nancy says, explaining that one evening of deer browse can ruin an entire tulip display.
A few Japanese maples are planted throughout the garden, their spring leaves echoing the warm colors of the tulips and the exterior color of the house.
Sunlover Tulip
Pierre creates custom fences and furniture, like this charming bench, using eastern red cedar branches The shed is framed with ‘Ace of Hearts’ redbud (Cercis canadensis ‘Ace of Hearts’). ‘Queen of Night’ Tulip
On spring evenings, Pierre and Nancy enjoy returning home after work to tour their own paradise. As they step out the front door, they might spot a resident fox running across the street. He’s a regular thanks to the Moitriers’ commitment to a richly diverse plantscape. After it rains, they watch from the arched bridge as water percolates through the stone swales and admire the Triumph tulips planted in nearby ridges, perhaps making mental notes to plant more. “We love to walk around to see what’s coming up, what’s not quite right, and how we can make things better,” Pierre says. “It’s a great passion of ours.” And, no doubt, this daily practice is a key to the couple’s garden’s success. ‘Avignon’ Tulip
For more information, see Resources on page 103. COUNTRY GARDENS // SPRING 2020
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WRITTEN BY PAM PENICK PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAVID PATTERSON STYLED BY ELAINE ST. LOUIS
BEFORE
Forgoing a lawn, Mary Ray bermed her front yard with rock and soil and filled it with flowering perennials and annuals, including lots of Colorado natives, accented by a few dwarf conifers. Small trees along one edge provide a bit of shade, as well as shelter for birds. A curvy path meanders from the street to the porch.
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COUNTRY GARDENS // SPRING 2020
WHERE THE
bees ARE
A COLORADO ROCK GARDEN ALIGHT WITH FLOWERING NATIVES ATTRACTS POLLINATORS GALORE AND PEOPLE TOO.
On a street of grassy lawns near downtown
Fort Collins, Colorado, Mary Ray’s rock garden is a showstopper. In the front yard accented with maroontinged rocks, hummingbirds dart among colorful agastache and bees dive into penstemons’ tubular blooms. When she’s outside pulling weeds or trimming an overly exuberant salvia, Mary is frequently interrupted by passersby asking about the garden. “I have never worked out there without someone stopping to chat with me,” she says. “I really like it. A college-age girl once asked me, ‘What’s that orange flower?’ ‘That’s globemallow,’ I said. ‘It grows in Arizona.’ She pulled up her sleeve, and she had a globemallow tattooed on her forearm. She was from Arizona. I have lots of experiences like that.” Flat as a dollar bill, the front yard was bare and dusty following construction of Mary’s house in 2011. Laying sod never crossed her mind. Three decades of gardening
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“A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK XERISCAPE IS JUST CACTUS AND ROCKS, BUT IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE THAT WAY.” HOMEOWNER MARY RAY
in the high desert had cultivated her appreciation for native plants that thrive with little water and no fertilizer. She also yearned for a rock garden. “I’d always thought of rock gardens as fussy little gardens,” she says, until she saw the naturalistic rock garden at the local botanical garden ablaze with flowering perennials and native plants, accented with bristly conifers. Mary was transfixed. “It was unlike anything I’d seen,” she says. “It inspired me to take the same approach in my yard.” Mary drew up a plan for boulder-studded beds, a winding flagstone path, and a small patio. She tackled installation with the help of her son Taylor, who moved dirt and placed rocks. “Basically the garden is raised beds held in place by stone,” Mary says. The stone creates microclimates that allow for a greater diversity of plants. “If a plant requires a
LEFT Native sundancer daisy (Hymenoxys acaulis) and Wulfen’s alyssum add cheerful shades of yellow to the garden. ABOVE Mary
rarely sits in her front garden, preferring to weed or prune or just walk around, relishing the activity of bees, hummingbirds, and dragonflies and chatting with passersby. OPPOSITE Frothy lavender flowers of Little Trudy catmint frame a cairn of artfully balanced rocks, with a California poppy peeking over. Maroon-edged Sempervivum crowds close in front. “Sometimes they grow as big as dinner plates!” Mary says.
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COUNTRY GARDENS // SPRING 2020
little more water, then you find a spot where a rock is tilted so that rain funnels to it,” she says. The stone also radiates heat, protecting plants in winter, and offers shaded pockets of moist soil for roots to grow in summer. Filled with tough, beautiful plants that attract pollinators, the decidedly unfussy garden thrives. Mary sees her yard as an ambassador of sustainable design. “A lot of people think xeriscape is just cactus and rocks, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Young guys riding by on bikes have stopped to say, ‘I really like what you’re doing here. Is this xeriscape?’ They’re seeing what it can be.” For more information, see Resources on page 103.
ABOVE LEFT Mary plants in drifts of three to five for impact, but
many of her plants self-seed at random in the crushed-gravel mulch and cracks in the paving. “Most of my maintenance at this point is control,” she says. “I pull out more than I put in, but when you’re a gardener you learn to trust Mother Nature.” ABOVE A twelvespotted skimmer dragonfly rests on a flower spike beside ‘Schoodic’ pine, one of several small evergreens Mary grows for winter interest. “They fade into the background when everything is blooming,” she says, “but when it starts to snow they are spectacular.” LEFT Tall purple spikes of ‘Caradonna’ salvia echo the maroon streaks in the boulders. Sundancer daisy springs from a gap in the patio stones.
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COUNTRY GARDENS // SPRING 2020
Purple ‘May Night’ and ‘Caradonna’ salvias mingle with ‘Colorado Gold’ gazania, variegated Sedum kamtschaticum variegatum, and pink evening primrose (Oenothera speciosa).
Globemallow (Sphaeralcea ambigua) sports vivid orange flowers on velvety gray-green stems.
DRIP IRRIGATION HOW-TO WATER AT THE ROOTS TO MAKE YOUR PLANTS HAPPIER AND USE LESS H2O.
Traditional irrigation systems spray water up and over plants’ leaves, which is kind of like offering a thirsty friend a shower instead of handing over a glass of water. Drip irrigation waters plants at soil level, exactly where it’s needed, and avoids waste due to wind, evaporation, and overspray. You can easily connect to a spigot or hire a specialist to connect to an automatic controller. Components can be purchased at home improvement stores or online.
STEP 1 Before planting, lay out the main tubing atop bare soil and stake it to the ground. STEP 2 After planting, connect spaghetti tubing with emitters to the main tubing and encircle each plant. STEP 3 Spread gravel or wood mulch over the tubing to hide it and protect it from sun damage. STEP 4 Put a timer at the spigot so you don’t overwater. STEP 5 Water new plants frequently until they are established.
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FOR REAL A TALENTED DESIGNER GIVES A MASTER CLASS ON CREATING ARRANGEMENTS WITH A NATURALISTIC LOOK.
WRITTEN BY JULIE CHAI PHOTOGRAPHY BY BEATRIZ DA COSTA PROP STYLING BY PAM MORRIS
THE BOLD GESTURE
A single flower—in this case, a bright gold bearded iris—can be “your little bit of sass,” floral designer Nicolette Owen says. “I like to work with more nuanced colors and have them seamlessly blend so they’re almost monochromatic but with little pops. Without it, the arrangement wouldn’t be as interesting.”
See page 68 for details on making this arrangement.
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“I want my designs to look like they’re still growing,” says
Nicolette Owen, cofounder of Brooklyn’s Little Flower School. Owen believes the most beautiful arrangements are unforced and natural, making use of the organic forms and colors of flowers to create a romantic aesthetic. “I try to capture the natural grace of each stem and create movement and flow not only with shape, but also with color,” she says. She thinks of arrangements as miniature landscapes, taking inspiration from both wildflower meadows and formal gardens, but likes to add bright or unexpected touches that bring spontaneity to her designs. Owen’s designs seem at once both loose and cohesive because she follows basic design principles to create a classic shape for each arrangement. If you’re just beginning, she says, “Start simply, with three to five stems of one flower you love and one or two delicate touches. As you master the balance of putting together an arrangement, you can add more elements.”
THE FLOWER FORMULA
1
ESTABLISH THE FOUNDATION
Use foliage, branches, or flowers with bulk to form the framework and determine height and width. “You want the foundation to be a beautiful shape in itself, with something going high and something going low for balance.”
2
LAYER IN FOCAL FLOWERS
Place stems with larger, showy blooms—or a cluster of them—at varying levels to create visual movement. Aim for a mix of shapes and textures.
3
ADD FINISHING TOUCHES
Weave in small pieces, such as wispy grasses, delicate flowers, or blooms in a contrasting color, to add interest.
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DIAMOND
THREE INGREDIENTS CREATE A LUSH DISPLAY.
SHAPE-SETTING BRANCHES
Pink-edge dogwood Also try: star or saucer magnolia, lilacs, or Japanese maple
THE FOUNDATION Owen formed the foundation
with a single, showy branch of dogwood positioned to highlight its bracts of pale chartreuse and blush pink. “It was already doing the work for me,” she says.
SUPPORTING CAST ‘La Belle Epoque’ tulips’ rosy hue
echoes that in the dogwood. Owen nestled some in low to
anchor the branch and keep it from shifting. Additional clusters arch up and over, following the lines of the dogwood branch.
PUNCTUATION POINTS A couple of stems of maroon-and-gold Fritillaria uva-vulpis add a hint of deeper color and a sense of wildness, as if they were just plucked from a garden.
SEMICIRCLE CLUSTERED ON ONE SIDE, TRAILING CLEMATIS WITH BELL-SHAPE DEEP PINK BLOOMS ESTABLISHES THIS ARRANGEMENT’S FOUNDATION.
EMBRACE THE TWIST
Curving stems, like this fritillaria, are a great cheat for giving a bouquet organic shape.
CREATE BALANCE With the clematis forming the lowest point of the loose semicircular display, Owen added stems of tall Fritillaria persica ‘Green Dreams’ to the other side. The twisting stems lead the eye up and out. FILL THE BASE Tucked in low,
creamy white and rosy ‘La Belle Epoque’ tulips are focal points and also the body of the arrangement (between the high and low “arms” on either side). When using tulips, Owen immediately recuts the stems and lets the blooms open. “I love when they dance and make beautiful shapes,” she says. Double daffodils with bright gold centers create some of the height.
ADD ACCENTS A cluster of pink lily-of-the-valley and purple-and-white checkered snake’s head fritillaria finish the look, or you can substitute other spring bulb flowers.
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DON’T OVERFILL Give stems room to breathe and show off. “Negative spaces and gaps are just as important as the flowers,” Owen says.”
IF YOUR DESIGN STARTS TO GO OFF TRACK, DON’T BE AFRAID TO START OVER. FLORAL DESIGNER NICOLETTE OWEN
FOLLOW THE FLOWER’S LEAD
Highlight a plant’s character: Let vines such as clematis cascade.
1
2
3
4
5
6
WIDE WEDGE
“I PREFER WILD AND SPRAWLING RATHER THAN TALL, AND ASYMMETRICAL RATHER THAN DOMED,” OWEN SAYS. STEP 1 To help hold stems in place, cut a piece of chicken wire and shape into a ball to fit in the vessel. Hold in place with floral tape over the vase top. STEP 2 Build your foundation with several stems of arching spirea. STEP 3 Thread in Solomon’s seal, which has gently curving stems with narrow lime-green leaves and creamy bell-shape flowers. STEP 4 Tuck short pieces of dogwood low into the center to add visual weight. STEP 5 Nestle buttery yellow, tissuelike ‘Garden Treasure’ peonies below the foundation stems as focal points. STEP 6 Add a single bright gold iris as an accent. “Sometimes a single flower can be distracting, but this makes you take notice,” Owen says. Finish with a few white parrot tulips and clusters of deep yellow ranunculus.
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SIMPLY PUT
Shallow bowls with just a few flowers are so easy to assemble. Owen places floral tape in a wide grid across the tops of the bowls to hold short branches of ‘Kwanzan’ flowering cherry and purple and green hellebores. To add a small-scale contrast to the group, she floats individual hellebore blooms in saucers of water.
ENERGIZING COLOR
SOFTEN EDGES
Pairing peach ranunculus with fringed purple ‘Cummins’ tulips makes each color more exciting, but the whole effect is charming rather than bold. Soft pink lily-ofthe-valley adds romantic fragrance and ‘Winchester’ honeysuckle creates a gently defined lower edge for the arrangement.
Dainty bells of Allium bulgaricum create an airy line that draws the eye up to the tip of this semicircular arrangement.
CREATE VISUAL WEIGHT
A group of orange and peach ranunculus serve as the focal point of this design.
I LIKE AN OPAQUE CONTAINER BECAUSE IT HIDES THE LOWER MECHANICS OF THE STEMS. NICOLETTE OWEN
TALL TRIAD
BEARDED IRISES INSPIRED THIS DISPLAY’S TALL TRIANGULAR SHAPE AND COLOR PALETTE.
THE FOUNDATION
Sturdy rhododendron branches cut short sit low and off-center on the lip of the vase, forming the base of the bouquet’s underlying shape.
FILLING THE BASE
Owen tucked pink lilacs in low, “almost like carpeting,” she says. This step isn’t crucial but creates interesting texture in the mix.
FOCAL FLOWERS
Tall ‘Downtown Brown’ bearded irises, which need a lot of space to show off their big blooms, rise above the foundation to complete the arrangement’s outline.
FINISHING TOUCHES
Delicate-looking accents round out the palette and create a still-growing feel. Dark-center, coppery ranunculus “have sinuous, dancing stems that create movement,” Owen says. Burgundy hellebores fringe the bottom, adding an intense, deeper color.
For more information, see Resources on page 103. COUNTRY GARDENS // SPRING 2020
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Tall trees make a lovely canopy, but their scale can make the garden below seem insigniďŹ cant. Include shrubs and small trees to connect the garden to the house and the taller trees. Look for understory trees that are happy in woodland areas for best shade tolerance.
WRITTEN BY KIMBER MITCHELL
SHADES OF SERENITY CULTIVATE A SOOTHING SANCTUARY THAT RIVALS ANY SUNNY GARDEN WITH OUR HELPFUL TIPS AND TOP PLANT PICKS.
They’re often the most forgotten parts of the landscape—those
shaded enclaves tucked under trees or against the house where sun-loving plants are unable to grow. But there’s no need to shy away from these untapped resources, which have the power to captivate and comfort like no other area. Shade gardens offer a welcome refuge from the sweltering sun whether you’re entertaining guests or relishing a moment of solitude under the
calming canopy of a tree. And who wouldn’t prefer to attend to outdoor chores away from blistering sun? Sheltered spots can also have significant advantages over sunny ones, especially when it comes to garden maintenance. Weeds don’t grow as quickly and soil often retains moisture longer, so you won’t have to weed or water as frequently to keep plants looking healthy. The shade cast by buildings has its
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LOW-LIGHT LAWNS Lawns do poorly in shade but you may still have luck if you choose the right grass species. Cool-season grasses include ryegrass and fine and tall fescues, which need four hours of sun to survive. Shade-tolerant warm-season lawn grasses include zoysiagrass and St. Augustine grass.
benefits, too, moderating temperature changes and protecting plants from harsh winds. Like all successful gardens, shady havens require some special care to look their best. Soil near trees can often be dry, as tree roots soak up lots of moisture. Whether you want to boost water retention in those areas or improve drainage in soggy situations, the best remedy is to amend the soil with organic matter such as compost (top-dress soil under trees to avoid damaging shallow tree roots). Take advantage of the abundant supply of autumn’s fallen leaves by shredding them and using them as mulch to enrich the soil and insulate perennial plant roots over winter.
DEGREES OF SHADE PLANT TAGS INCLUDE INFORMATION ABOUT A PLANT’S LIGHT NEEDS. MANY SHADE PLANTS TOLERATE A RANGE OF LIGHT LEVELS, BUT THOSE THAT FLOWER OFTEN WILL NEED AT LEAST PARTIAL SUN TO PRODUCE A GOOD BLOOM.
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PARTIAL SHADE
FULL SHADE
The area receives only an hour or two of direct sunshine each day, or it consistently rests in dappled sunlight. Gardens that lie under tall deciduous trees often fit this description.
Little to no direct sunlight falls on the area. This type of shade is often found beneath evergreen trees, on the north side of buildings, or in densely wooded areas. Soil in full shade can be either dry or boggy, so pick plants carefully.
COUNTRY GARDENS // SPRING 2020
Many blooming perennials, such as foamower (Tiarella spp.), and shrubs, such as azaleas, need an hour or two of sun to ower well. They often perform well at the edge of a shaded area, rather than deep within it. Morning sun, rather than hot afternoon sun, can bring out the best in these plants.
Yards are rarely all sunny or all shady as the sun travels across the sky. Tuck shade-loving plants under small trees or in the afternoon shade created by large shrubs or structures. Even if the area has full morning sun, plants such as astilbe and hostas can grow in the shade of shrubs if sufficient moisture is available and temps are not high.
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SHRUBS AND SMALL TREES JAPANESE MAPLE (Acer palmatum)
Elegant and graceful, these trees steal the show with their lacy, fine-textured leaves. Dwarf varieties (3–8 feet tall) are slow-growing and tuck easily into small spaces or even containers. Zones 5–8.
REDBUD
(Cercis canadensis) Celebrated for its spring flowers that bloom abundantly on bare branches, this easy-to-grow tree continues to shine through fall with heart-shape leaves that brighten to golden yellow. Zones 4–8.
YEW
Japanese maple (Acer palmatum ‘Crimson Queen’)
(Taxus spp.) The ultimate evergreen shrub when it comes to versatility, this slow grower comes in an array of shapes, sizes, and growth habits. Choose a spreading variety or an upright form. Zones 4–7.
FLOWERING DOGWOOD (Cornus florida)
This native North American tree is prized for its springtime pink or white flowers. Reaching heights of 10–25 feet, it’s an understory tree in the wild, so it flourishes in the shelter of a shady haven. Zones 5–9.
MOPHEAD HYDRANGEA (Hydrangea macrophylla)
Redbud (Cercis canadensis)
Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida)
Yew (Taxus spp.)
Mophead hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla)
Few shrubs brighten shadowy spots like these voluptuous bloomers in shades of pink, blue, and white. Soil pH determines the bloom color—acidic for blue and alkaline for pink. Zones 5–9.
VIBURNUM
(Viburnum spp.) These no-fuss shrubs aren’t picky about soil type and many tolerate part shade. They beautify the landscape with three-season splendor: white blooms in spring, berries in summer, and yellow foliage in fall. Zones 3–8.
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Columbine (Aquilegia sp.)
Japanese forest grass (Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’)
Coralbells (Heuchera ‘Glitter’)
Ligularia ‘The Rocket’
(Astilbe chinensis ‘Visions’)
PERENNIALS FOR FOLIAGE AND FLOWERS JACOB’S LADDER
LIGULARIA
BISHOP’S HAT
(Polemonium spp.)
(Ligularia spp.)
(Epimedium spp. and hybrids)
With its sky blue or white flowers in summer, Jacob’s ladder provides pretty color in part shade, growing to 3 feet tall. The plant does not perform well in hot, humid summers. Zones 3–8.
Sometimes called leopard plant, it has long-lasting foliage and varieties can have golden daisylike flowers or tall yellow spikes. Perfect for the back of a shady border, it needs soil that does not completely dry out. Zones 3–8.
Though this group of plants produces small blooms in spring, its true value is in its leathery, shield-shape foliage that holds up well all season long. Most varieties tolerate dry soil. Zones 5–9.
FOAMFLOWER
(Tiarella cordifolia) Fluffy spikes of pink or white flowers bloom in spring, standing up to 12 inches tall above elegant foliage that can remain evergreen in mild winters, sometimes turning bronze. Zones 3–9.
COLUMBINE
(Aquilegia spp.) Blooms from late spring to midsummer in a host of colors and grows 3 feet tall. Columbines usually tolerate dry summer soils. They often self-seed and can naturalize in the garden. Zones 3–9.
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CORALBELLS
(Heuchera spp. and hybrids) Coralbells are the coleus of the perennial world, available in leaf shades of green, gold, purple, and burgundy. Some varieties feature showy flowers on tall stems in spring. Zones 3–9.
ASTILBE
(Astilbe spp. and hybrids) Most astilbe varieties grow 1–3 feet tall and bear flashy plumes of pink, red, white, or lavender flowers in early summer. Soil should remain moist for best performance. Astilbe tolerates black walnut trees. Zones 4–8.
COUNTRY GARDENS // SPRING 2020
JAPANESE FOREST GRASS (Hakonechloa macra)
Bright green or golden grasslike leaves create a 14- to 20-inch mound and turn pinkish with the cool temperatures of fall. It can form a beautiful groundcover without becoming invasive. Zones 5–9.
JAPANESE PAINTED FERN
(Athyrium niponicum var. pictum) Fronds show off a tapestry of silver, burgundy, and green tones. A popular textural accent with hostas, Siberian bugloss (Brunnera), and coralbells, it grows about a foot tall and wide. Zones 3–8.
Containers filled with vibrant foliage color and contrasting textures liven up shaded areas. This pretty pot combines ‘Ghost’ fern (Athyrium ‘Ghost’), Perilla ‘Magilla’, calathea (Calathea roseopicta), and Caladium ‘White Queen’.
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IMPROVED IMPATIENS It was an impatiens-lover’s worst nightmare. First the leaves turned yellow and curled downward, then they fell off. Eventually the flowers followed, leaving bare stems. Downy mildew, a white fuzzy fungus that afflicts Impatiens walleriana, was to blame. To combat the devastating disease of this most common annual flower for shade sold in garden centers, plant breeders created two new highly resistant varieties. Both capture the same plant structure, flower size, and key colors of traditional impatiens. Look for these two new varieties in your garden center this spring:
Or plant a living mulch of groundcovers, which are great lawn alternatives that flourish where turf can’t. Just remember that popular picks like creeping thyme and sedum won’t grow in shade. Opt instead for shade-tolerant plants such as pachysandra or deadnettle. In warm, dry climates mineral mulches such as gravel or rock may be the most appropriate choice. But there’s more to a scenic shade garden than groundcovers. A mesmerizing palette of flowers and foliage can set your shady sanctuary awash in just about any color. You’re not limited to hues of green. Take your shadowy outdoor spot from bland to breathtaking and make it a cool retreat for relaxing. For more information, see Resources on page 103.
Imara impatiens shine from spring to frost in rose, white, salmon, purple, red, orange, or pink, and in two duotone options called Red Star and Orange Star. They reach 10–12 inches tall.
Beacon impatiens, which flower from spring through summer, grow slightly taller at 15–20 inches—with larger flowers—and come in six classic shades: red, violet, salmon, orange, coral, and white.
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Shady spaces, even when mostly green, can really come alive when good design principles are applied. Create destinations by drawing the eye with paths and adding seating areas. Use colorful furniture and accents as focal points.
COUNTRY GARDENS // SPRING 2020
ANNUALS/TENDER PERENNIALS LOBELIA
WAX BEGONIA
(Begonia semperflorens)
(Lobelia erinus)
Whether planted in a mass or combined with other annuals, these no-fail bloomers grow quickly and fill in spaces with a profusion of cheerful pink, white, red, or bicolor blooms. Most are 12 inches tall or less.
Glorious as a groundcover or border edging, this compact plant covers itself in tiny blooms of white, true blue, or violet and flourishes in cool spring temperatures.
CALADIUM
(Hypoestes phyllostachya)
(Caladium bicolor) Sweet potato vine (Ipomoea Illusion Emerald Lace)
Tropical bulbs often treated as annuals, flamboyant caladiums have large heart-shape leaves adorned in flashy combinations of green, white, cream, or pink. They perform best in moist but not soggy soil.
COLEUS
POLKA DOT PLANT
A whimsical grower that thrills as a bedding plant or understory accent, polka dot plant is aptly named for its pink-, red-, or white-freckled leaves. It thrives in hot, humid shade.
SWEET POTATO VINE (Ipomoea batatas)
Splashed, spotted, or streaked in shades of chartreuse, pink, red, and deep purple, the dramatic foliage of these showstoppers can upstage any bloomer. Varieties can grow tall, stocky, or trailing.
These fast-growing, nonclimbing vines kick into high gear with summer heat and can spread 3–5 feet wide. Spotlight their chartreuse, dark purple/black, bronze, or tricolor foliage at the front of a mixed border or the edge of a large container, or plant them en masse for a lush, intriguing carpet.
IMPATIENS
WISHBONE FLOWER
These low-maintenance beauties are a staple of shady havens and deliver a spectacular show of fastfilling color. (See “Improved Impatiens,” opposite, for more information.)
Available in nearly every hue, these trumpet-shape blooms offer a profusion of color. Upright types help set off the edges of beds or paths, and trailing varieties spill over the sides of pots.
(Plectranthus scutellarioides)
(Torenia fournieri)
(Impatiens walleriana and I. hawkeri)
Coleus Marquee Red Carpet
(Lobelia erinus Sky Blue)
(Caladium bicolor ‘Miss Muffet’)
WRITTEN BY PAIGE PORTER FISCHER PHOTOGRAPHY BY HELEN NORMAN STYLING BY AYESHA PATEL
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DESIGNED TO
deligh t
A MARYLAND WOMAN’S DESIRE FOR A SIMPLE KITCHEN GARDEN QUICKLY BLOSSOMED INTO A LUSH POTAGER THAT NOURISHES HER FAMILY—AND FEEDS HER SOUL.
“It all started with a pair of red tuteurs,” says Helen Norman,
a fashion and lifestyle photographer and avid gardener and cook who lives on Star Bright Farm, her family’s 130-acre organic farm in White Hall, Maryland. She found the garden structures at a deep discount and snagged them when her kitchen garden was nothing more than a pipe dream. “I’d always wanted to be able to walk out of my house and literally pick what we were going to eat for dinner based on what was ripe and in season,” Helen says. “And in my mind’s eye, my kitchen garden always had red tuteurs in the middle of it. So when I brought them home, I took it as a sign that it was time to bring my dream to fruition.” She placed the pyramidal pieces in the yard and began to map out various raised beds around them. That was the birth of a large kitchen garden that’s become one of Helen’s favorite “rooms” on the family’s property. Designed to mimic a French potager, which combines the practicality of a kitchen garden with the beauty of a flower garden, the space feels cozy and intimate, as Helen intended. Grassy
OPPOSITE “I always wanted a kitchen garden with tuteurs, so I placed
them in the yard and built the beds around them,” Helen Norman says of the red structures that accent her garden and also support edible and ornamental vines. RIGHT “It’s an experience to be able to eat fresh food from the garden year-round,” Helen says, picking summer ingredients for a supper salad with Grizzly, her Jack Russell terrier.
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ABOVE Having spent years
photographing other people’s gardens, Helen knew she wanted a garden that was aesthetically appealing as well as productive. The formal beds also provide structure for vegetables that can sprawl and appear untidy. FAR LEFT Cherry tomatoes tumble over cages that keep them off the ground for better air circulation around the plants and for making harvest easier. LEFT “Our food travels 10 feet instead of 10,000 miles,” Helen says. Assorted greens, such as this ruby chard, have a long season and fill salads when young and tender or go in soups or stir-fries when mature.
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PLANTING PLANS Rotate your plantings every year or two for optimum plant health. “A tomato plant shouldn’t be planted in the same spot year after year. It needs a new home,” Helen Norman says.
When Helen sketched the space, she left room for an antique zinc-top table. It serves as work space and an outdoor dining table.
PLAN FOR PRODUCE
HELEN NORMAN SHARES HER TIPS FOR MAPPING OUT YOUR OWN KITCHEN GARDEN.
10’
3’
4’
10’
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Start with a sketch. Every kitchen garden needs a blueprint so you can map out the beds according to the space—and available sun. Leave room for pathways around the beds to weed, water, mow, and harvest.
Add architectural elements like tuteurs, trellises, and arbors. Trellises are needed for climbing vegetables; they might as well be attractive.
Opt for raised beds, which allow you to choose your own soil rather than trying to amend what’s already there. Helen utilizes the same rich compost used elsewhere on her working farm for the best nutrient-rich soil.
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Create a “mow line.” Helen laid 4×4-inch Belgian paving stones alongside the vertical border stones to create a hardscape “frame.” The mow line gives the wheel of the mower a place to land, thereby eliminating weeding and trimming along the raised beds.
Mix flowers with edibles. Some flowers, such as nasturtium, are tasty in salads, but other flowers should be there to attract pollinators that will improve vegetable productivity.
Delineate the beds. Helen selected 7×11-inch Belgian stones for their look and longevity. “Wood rots, but stone survives the test of time,” she says. With about 3 inches of each stone buried in the ground, the beds are raised approximately 8 inches above the surrounding pathways.
Similar in size and scale to Helen Norman’s garden, the illustrated plan above will help you design your own kitchen garden. Most beds are 4 feet deep or wide, making them easy to work in. Paths are generally 3 feet wide, allowing access for mowers and wheelbarrows.
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Lettuce transplants are spaced carefully, allowing plenty of room for them to form heads.
SPRINKLE IN HERBS THAT ARE PERENNIAL AND LEND VISUAL BEAUTY AND FRAGRANCE WHEN OTHER THINGS BEGIN TO FADE. HELEN NORMAN
Cherry and plum tomatoes in various colors make simple salads more fun.
Kohlrabi is closely related to cabbage, and also loves cool weather.
paths wind around raised beds hemmed by durable 7×11-inch Belgian stones. “One of our old barns had a cobblestone floor, and I thought repeating those stones in the garden would not only be beautiful, but also honor the history here,” Helen says. She also used wood salvaged from the barn’s renovation to build the picket fence and arbor for the garden. Formal boxwoods provide architectural structure year-round, while garden zinnias and catmint add color and casualness. Herbs compose the center of the garden, with surrounding beds boasting peppers, radishes, lettuces, tomatoes, and more. Helen says there was no exact science behind what she chose to plant, but cravings did play a key role in what she put in the ground. “I would close my eyes and imagine everything I wanted in a good salad, and that’s what I planted,” she says. “I even carved out a space for a large table that could function either as a prep area or for family meals outside. It really feels like a room of my own, like a place I can escape to and find my inspiration—for cooking and for life.”
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WRITTEN BY TERESA WOODARD PHOTOGRAPHY BY JASON DONNELLY STYLED BY JESSICA ENO
MIDCENTURY enagerie COLLECT THESE CHARMING AND AFFORDABLE PINT-SIZE VINTAGE ANIMAL PLANTERS.
Popular in the 1940s and ’50s, figural animal planters were mass-produced by American pottery companies and sold inexpensively at five-and-dime stores and floral shops. Today, collectors find many at flea markets, thrift stores, and estate sales for less than $20.
Jewelry designer Lucy Kelly hosts an assortment of vintage animal planters in her studio at her home in Pittsburgh. She playfully positions the pastel figures on a shelf among strings of colorful beads, bins of vintage brooches and rhinestone earrings, and drawers of clasps and charms. Lucy finds clever uses for the planters, which were mass-produced by American pottery companies in the 1940s and ’50s, as pots or vases. There’s a remote control in a pink Irish setter, beads in a yellow duckling, and paper clips in a green bunny. “They look cute together in my workshop,” says Lucy, who’s now assembled more than 20 of the planters. “It’s their colors, and they’re the perfect little size for my small studio.” Lucy’s first find was a mini blue bulldog— only 4 inches tall—that she spotted at an antiques shop while traveling. Affordably priced at only a few bucks, one piece easily led to more as she scoured flea markets, antiques shops, and vintage fairs. Some pieces, including a prized peacock, are marked U.S.A. on the bottom, which Lucy explains is an early marking of McCoy, a famous pottery company in Zanesville, Ohio. Others are marked UPCO for Ungemach, another Ohio pottery company. Many of this era’s figural planters featured varying colors of hand decoration, called cold paint, but Lucy prefers the solid-color pastel pieces. “When at flea markets buying jewelry for my business, I can’t pass them up,” Lucy says.
ABOVE Several pottery companies introduced nursery planter lines with
pastel-color baby animals like this charming bunny as well as lambs, ducks, and elephants. McCoy, one major manufacturer, even created a novel line of pastel stretch animals with elongated bodies and openings for plants.
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SCOUTING FOR ANIMALS
FLEA MARKETS, VINTAGE FAIRS, ANTIQUES SHOPS, ESTATE SALES, AND ONLINE AUCTIONS ARE GOOD PLACES TO SCOUT FOR FIGURAL ANIMAL PLANTERS. “WHEN SHOPPING ESTATE SALES, BE SURE TO CHECK THE BASEMENTS WHERE THEY PLACE THE PLANTERS AND VASES,” LUCY KELLY SAYS. SHE HAS SPENT FROM $2 TO $15 FOR PIECES.
SIZE
Figural planters range from 4 to 8 inches in height. Reproductions are substantially smaller than the originals and typically have fewer details. Check reference books and pricing guides for more information.
COLORS
Glaze colors vary by pottery company and decade. For example, Brush Pottery created a line of frog and turtle planters in earthy greens; McCoy created a nursery line of planters in pastels. Some planters were simply glazed in solid colors, while others feature additional details that were applied by hand—referred to as “cold paint”—after glazing and firing. This cold paint is not as durable and more easily fades and flakes off.
MARKS
Turn planters over to find a manufacturer’s mark. For McCoy, look for U.S.A., McCoy, or NM. For Ungemach, check for UPCO. Brush and Weller marks appear as their names in script. According to Joan Spring of the Clay Center of Ohio in Roseville, the region became known as the pottery capital of the world in the early 1900s. Over 200 pottery companies eventually opened there, including Nelson McCoy Sanitary Stoneware Co., which was the world’s largest art pottery company, and Robinson Ransbottom, which was the world’s largest stoneware company.
CLAY
The Ohio River Valley offered a rich source of clay for many regional pottery companies. The American pottery companies created products that were substantial in weight from creamy-color clay that featured a brown or yellow cast when unglazed (check the bottom of the piece). Cheaper reproductions are lighter in weight and white in unglazed areas.
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MARK OR NO MARK? Original planters are often marked with the pottery company’s name or logo on the underside or back of the piece. Many are only marked “U.S.A.” Among the U.S.A. markers are McCoy and Shawnee. Reproductions can be distinguished by a fainter marking or no marking at all.
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Wall pockets were designed with a decorative front, a pocket for a plant, and a flat back side with a hole for mounting on the wall. This peacock wall pocket by Morton is one of Lucy’s favorites. Look for other wall pockets shaped as butterflies, lovebirds, and owls.
THEY’RE QUIRKY AND MAKE THE CUTEST LITTLE CONTAINERS.” COLLECTOR LUCY KELLY
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Pottery companies like Cameron Clay, Fredericksburg Art, Shawnee, McCoy, and Morton created canine planters such as these spaniels, plus bulldogs, boxers, terriers, poodles, and dachshunds.
“There’s something about them with their rich pastel colors from the ’50s. They’re quirky and make the cutest little containers.” Lucy credits her late grandmother, Bubbie, for inspiring her vintage jewelry business and encouraging her collecting passion. As a child, she often visited her grandmother’s antiques shop just blocks from her home. “When I tagged along on buying trips,” Lucy says, “people would always ask her how she knows what to buy, and she would say, ‘I buy what I love.’” And apparently, Lucy has taken Bubbie’s advice to heart. For more information, see Resources on page 103. LEFT Dress up your houseplants with these charming vintage
animal planters. Realize that because the planters don’t have drainage holes, plants may have a shorter life and need replacing if the roots rot. Alternatively, consider keeping plants in plastic liners to easily remove for watering. Also try cacti and succulents that can thrive in containers without drainage holes if planted in cactus potting soil and watered sparingly.
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WRITTEN BY DIANA DICKINSON AND SUSAN APPLEGET HURST PHOTOGRAPHY BY SARAH CULVER AND BRIE PASSANO FOOD STYLING BY GREG LUNA
GROWING TRADITIONS
Photos by Sarah Culver taken from The Chinese Kitchen Garden© Copyright 2017 by Wendy Kiang-Spray. Published by Timber Press, Portland, OR. Used by permission of the publisher. All rights reserved.
STIR THINGS UP IN YOUR GARDEN WITH CHINESE VEGETABLE VARIETIES. THEY GROW LIKE THEIR POPULAR COUSINS, BUT IN THE KITCHEN THEY OPEN ALL KINDS OF NEW FLAVOR POSSIBILITIES.
Growing up in suburban Maryland, Wendy Kiang-Spray had little interest
in her father’s tidy garden filled with the vegetable varieties he had grown in China. “I would plant seeds then forget about them,” Wendy says. Years later when her daughter wanted to garden, Wendy, now a high school counselor, was surprised to discover her own passion for gardening. “My dad isn’t one to talk a lot,” she says, “and never about his childhood in China.” But when she asked about the greens, beans, and radishes he raised as a boy, the stories started to flow. “I’ve always been curious about my ancestry,” Wendy says. “Growing vegetables opened the door.” Her book, The Chinese Kitchen Garden, not only preserves her family’s stories, but also demystifies the curious-looking vegetables so popular at farmers markets and in specialty groceries.
Wendy plants different varieties of Asian vegetables every year, along with her mainstays like tomatoes, garlic, and strawberries. She recommends that gardeners interested in trying Asian veggies plant easy-growing gailan, Chinese eggplant, daikon radish, and long beans. Once you taste their distinct, delicious flavors in Wendy’s simple recipes, these vegetables may become your new mainstays. For more information, see Resources on page 103.
ABOVE LEFT Wendy Kiang-Spray weeds with one of her daughters. ABOVE RIGHT Wendy with a basket of fresh amaranth, her father’s favorite vegetable.
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MY GIRLS LOVE THE GARDEN, BUT LIKE ME AT THEIR AGE, THEY DO MORE PLAYING THAN GARDENING. AUTHOR AND GARDENER WENDY KIANG-SPRAY
GAILAN “Once you’ve tasted gailan, which my sister describes as asparagus’ cousin, it’s difficult to name a more delicious vegetable,” Wendy says. The entire plant is edible. “Everyone in my family has a favorite part. My daughter and I like the thick stems cooked just until they’re tender but still crisp.”
IN THE GARDEN
DAIKON RADISH This large, crunchy carrot-shape white radish starts off tasting spicy-hot, like its round red European cousin. When pickled, the radishes’ heat gives way to mild, sweet flavor. Daikon radishes are white and very long and can weigh 1–2 pounds each.
IN THE GARDEN Because daikon radishes can grow to 12 inches or even longer, loosen the soil deeply before planting. The leaves of this fast-growing radish shade out weeds. You can grow them in spring or fall. For spring sowing, Wendy recommends a slow-tobolt variety such as ‘Tokinashi’.
WHEN TO HARVEST Radishes should be harvested as soon as they mature in spring before they send up flower stalks. If left in the ground too long they can become pithy and bitter. Fall-planted radishes can stay in the ground a little longer, and they tolerate frost well. “A light frost makes them extra sweet,” Wendy says.
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“The trick to gailan is to remember that it loves cool weather, so it’s best to grow it in the fall,” Wendy says. She plants seeds successively—at one- or twoweek intervals—mid- to late summer for continuous harvest from fall until winter sets in. Wendy recommends ‘Ryokuho’, a tall variety with thick stems. Sow seeds about ½ inch deep and in rows 12 inches apart. “If you plan to harvest the plant whole when young, thin plants to about 8 or more inches apart,” Wendy says.
WHEN TO HARVEST When it is ready to harvest, the leaves of gailan will have a slightly waxy look and the flowering shoots of the plant will be about ½ inch in diameter. “Although the greens don’t appear as vibrant in the garden as some other Chinese greens, they will be beautiful when cooked,” Wendy says.
LONG BEANS Chinese long beans, a relative of the cowpea, are a favorite of Wendy’s children. These elongated versions of green beans can reach 3 feet long. There are several varieties of long beans, categorized by the red, black, or white color of the mature seeds. “One particularly beautiful variety is ‘Red Noodle’, a long, purple-red bean that turns green when cooked,” Wendy says.
IN THE GARDEN Plant seeds three to four weeks after the final spring frost, when the soil has warmed to about 70˚F. Grow these vigorous leafy vines on a tall arbor so the pods (in pairs of two) hang down.
WHEN TO HARVEST Wendy harvests the slender pods when they are 12 inches long for the best flavor and crispness. She picks them regularly so the plants remain productive for several weeks.
CHINESE EGGPLANT Many types of eggplants are grown in Asia in a variety of sizes, shapes, and colors. Wendy’s family prefers the thin-skinned and long, slender Chinese eggplant, also known as Japanese eggplant, because they like its mild, sweet flavor.
IN THE GARDEN Wendy starts seeds indoors six to eight weeks before the final spring frost, and transplants eggplant seedlings outdoors two to three weeks after the last frost.
PART GARDEN GUIDE, PART COOKBOOK, PART MEMOIR, WENDY KIANG-SPRAY’S BOOK INTRODUCES READERS TO 38 ASIAN VEGETABLES AND 25 FAMILY RECIPES. $20; timberpress.com
“Chinese eggplants are heavy producers, so you should stake the plants before they get too heavy with fruit,” she says. ‘Ping Tung’ is a delicious, productive variety that has a mild, sweet taste.
WHEN TO HARVEST Eggplants are ready to harvest when they are bright purple but the skin is still glossy. The fruit should be firm but no longer hard. “When you press the eggplant with a finger, you should be able to gently indent it, but the flesh should bounce back,” Wendy says.
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GAILAN WITH OYSTER SAUCE AND GARLIC BOIL 1 lb. gailan in a large pot until stems are just tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a platter. DRIZZLE with 1∕4 cup oyster sauce. SIZZLE 5 cloves minced garlic in 3 Tbsp. corn or peanut oil until just fragrant. Spoon over greens.
“MY MOM CALLS THIS HER MASTER GREENS RECIPE BECAUSE IT TASTES GREAT WITH ANY LEAFY GREEN,” WENDY SAYS.
PICKLED DAIKON AND CARROTS JULIENNE 2 medium daikon radishes and 1 large carrot; toss with 1 tsp. salt. Place in a strainer over a bowl. Let stand 30 minutes. STIR together 11∕4 cups white vinegar, 1∕4 cup sugar, 1 tsp. crushed red pepper, and 1 cup water until sugar is dissolved.
RINSE radishes and carrot; pat dry. Transfer to a glass jar. If desired, add 1 Thai chile pepper. POUR vinegar mixture over vegetables. Cover; chill at least 1 hour.
SALTING REDUCES THE VEGETABLES’ HIGH WATER CONTENT AND ENHANCES FLAVORS.
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STIR-FRIED LONG BEANS WITH PORK MARINATE 4 oz. ground pork in 1 tsp. each soy sauce and Shaoxing rice wine or dry sherry 15 minutes.
about 5 minutes. Transfer to a platter lined with paper towels. Remove all but 1 Tbsp. oil from wok.
TRIM 1 lb. long beans and cut into 3-inch pieces.
STIR-FRY marinated pork until cooked through, about 3 minutes. Stir in 2 Tbsp. Chinese preserved olive vegetable or fermented black beans and 2 cloves minced garlic; cook 30 seconds.
STIR together sauce: 1 Tbsp. soy sauce, 2 Tbsp. water, 1 Tbsp. Shaoxing rice wine or dry sherry, 1 tsp. sugar, and 1 tsp. toasted sesame oil. HEAT 1 cup corn or peanut oil in a wok or large skillet. (Test one bean; if it sizzles, oil is hot enough.) STIR-FRY beans until they begin to wrinkle, stirring occasionally,
STURDIER THAN OTHER GREEN BEANS, LONG BEANS STAND UP TO HIGH-HEAT STIR-FRYING.
STIR IN beans and sauce; heat through. Serve over steamed rice.
NO NEED TO PEEL CHINESE EGGPLANT’S THIN SKIN.
SAUCY STEAMED EGGPLANT HALVE 2 Chinese eggplants crosswise. STEAM eggplants, covered, in a steamer basket until just tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Halve lengthwise and score each piece. STIR together 3 Tbsp. soy sauce, 1 Tbsp. rice wine vinegar, 1 clove minced garlic, and 1∕2 tsp. toasted sesame oil. POUR sauce over eggplant. Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds.
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GARDENER’S BOOKSHELF
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WRITTEN BY MARY ANN NEWCOMER
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Possibly the most famous bulb gardener anywhere, Dutch garden designer Jacqueline van der Kloet has designed landscapes around the world. She’s made beautiful plantings for Martha Stewart; the tulip gardens in Keukenhof, Netherlands; and the New York Botanical Garden, to name a few. Van der Kloet kicked off a whole new way to tuck in spring bulbs by intermixing them with existing perennials instead of planting them in traditional rows. Her lush gardens are informal, naturalistic, and unexpected. A Year in My Garden (Jacqueline van der Kloet, Helene Lesger Books, $55) is a personal account of her private garden. Showcasing and cataloging her favorite plants, she documents her garden throughout the year in a monthby-month format. The calendarlike organization of her photos will inspire you to grab your cell phone or camera to record your garden as the year unfolds.
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4 2 “The story of fruit
trees is the story of us,” writes Orin Martin, the longtime manager of the renowned Alan Chadwick Garden at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Fruit Trees for Every Garden: An Organic Approach to Growing Apples, Pears, Peaches, Plums, Citrus, and More (Orin Martin and Manjula Martin, Ten Speed Press, $25) shows his passion for teaching others to grow fruit trees organically. Martin explains that a good orchard will encompass the four Ps: pollinators, predators, parasitoids, and passerines (birds). Soil preparation, pruning methods, and tending the trees through the seasons are basic tenets of this book. He also shares some of his lesser-known favorites, including pluots (75 percent Asian plum, 25 percent apricot) and apriums (75 percent apricot and 25 percent plum). Martin declares pluots and apriums the sweetest fruits on the planet. I am so tempted, I plan to try growing them, as per his instructions.
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Until I came across author Chris Smith’s quote, “Not embracing okra because it’s slimy is like not visiting the Alps because you’re scared of heights,” I never imagined I would read a book about okra. Then I was intrigued. Smith, the communications manager for Sow True Seed, a source for heirloom, open-pollinated seed in Asheville, North Carolina, uncovers the history behind this muchmaligned vegetable that’s been grown around the world for millennia. The Whole Okra: A Seed to Stem Celebration (Chris Smith, Chelsea Green Publishing, $30) includes okra lore, recipes, crafts, products, and growing advice. Smith has a wicked sense of humor, especially in how he conducts okra experiments on himself and his family, making okra even seem funny. Smith also includes okra-based recipes from some of the South’s best-known chefs. After reading this ode to okra, you will want to try some of his favorite varieties.
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Page after page of lush photos in Naturalistic Planting Design (Nigel Dunnett, Filbert Press, $55) will inspire you to consider border and bed plantings beyond the traditional, formal approach. Nigel Dunnett creates gardens and public landscapes, such as the Barbican Beech Gardens and Barbican Highwalk in London, that are three-dimensional throughout the year. Dunnett interprets gardens as having a floor, a ceiling, and walls. He wants to share his approach by stepping through how to create layers of plantings that flow and drift, how to highlight plants’ textural qualities like smooth and fuzzy, and why repetition and rhythm make for graceful gardens. His mission is to make naturalistic, environmentally friendly landscapes exciting, inventive, sustainable, and mainstream.
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The idea of “eating and drinking with the rhythm of seasons” had me from the get-go. Author David Hurst, the founder of Cocktailmaker Ltd. in the United Kingdom, wrote From Garden to Glass: 80 Botanical Beverages Made from the Finest Fruits, Cordials, and Infusions (David Hurst, Universe, an imprint of Rizzoli, $22.50) to create drink recipes that emphasize fresh, healthy ingredients, making the most of a garden’s or farm stand’s bounty. The book features delights such as Elderflower Fizz spritzed with orange blossomscented water, Woo Woos and C Breeze, and other nutrient-rich, flavorful mocktails and cocktails. Hurst organizes the book’s chapters by their key healthy ingredients: “Herbs,” “Spices,” “Citrus,” and “Berries and Beans” (coffee and cocoa). All of the recipes are nonalcoholic, but at the end of each you will find “Add a Twist” instructions for a cocktail take.
RESOURCES COMPILED BY RENEE FREEMON MULVIHILL
HOW TO CONTACT US SUBSCRIPTION QUESTIONS For subscription help, email CHGCUSTSERV@CDSFULFILLMENT .COM or call 800/677-0484.
COULEURS DE PRINTEMPS PAGES 48–55 Landscape design—Nancy Lowry Moitrier and Pierre Moitrier, Designs for Greener Gardens, 1001 Old Bay Ridge Rd., Annapolis, MD 21403; 410/626-6122; greenergardens.net. WHERE THE BEES ARE PAGES 56–61 Stone—The Rock Garden, Fort Collins, Colorado; therockgardensite.com. Plants—High Country Gardens; 800/925-9387; highcountrygardens.com.
RETAIL QUESTIONS Retailers can order copies of Country Gardens and other gardening magazines by emailing BHGGARDENING@MEREDITH.COM.
For more information about The Gardens on Spring Creek, visit fcgov.com/gardens.
Kitazawa Seed Co.; 510/595-1188; kitazawaseed.com. CREATIVE BREAK PAGE 104 Embroidery floss #351 (red-orange), #3831 (red), #3608 (pink), #3609 (pale pink), #444 (yellow), #807 (blue), #907 (lime green), #701 (forest green), #632 (brown)—DMC Embroidery; dmc.com. Vanishing Fabric Transfer Paper— Printworks; amazon.com. Yosoo Teak Magnetic Photo Frame—amazon.com. Pattern—Enlarge the design below by selecting the fit-to-screen option on your printer for 8.5×11-inch page, or download pattern from bhg.com/CGneedlework.
FOR REAL PAGES 62–71 Little Flower School—Brooklyn, New York; littleflowerschoolbrooklyn.com. For information about classes, please visit their website.
Country Gardens® magazine is published four times per year: EARLY SPRING (January), SPRING (March), SUMMER (May), and FALL (August).
MIDCENTURY MENAGERIE PAGES 88–93 Check out pottery collector groups (Pottery Collector, McCoy Pottery Collectors Society, American Art Pottery Association) on Facebook. Visit the Clay Center of Ohio (7327 Ceramic Rd., Roseville, OH 43777) or attend the three-day Crooksville-Roseville Pottery Festival (third week of July, alternately in Crooksville and Roseville, Ohio; visit potteryfestival.org for more information) or Pottery Lovers Reunion (second week of July in Zanesville, Ohio; visit potterylovers.org for more information).
QUESTIONS & COMMENTS FOR THE EDITOR Email us at: COUNTRY.GARDENS@MEREDITH.COM or write us at: COUNTRY GARDENS MAGAZINE MEREDITH CORPORATION 1716 LOCUST ST. DES MOINES, IA 50309-3023
GROWING TRADITIONS PAGES 94–101 Seed sources include: Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds; 417/924-8917; rareseeds.com. Eden Brothers; 828/633-6338; edenbrothers.com. Fedco Seeds; 207/426-9900; fedcoseeds.com.
PLANTINGS: PRIMULAS PAGES 6–7 Primrose sources include: The American Primrose Society Seed Exchange; americanprimrosesociety.org. The North American Rock Garden Society Seed Exchange; nargs.org. Digging Dog Nursery; 707/937-1130; diggingdog.com. White Flower Farm; 800/503-9624; whiteflowerfarm.com. WEEKEND GARDENER PAGES 8–9 Plants—Art Terrarium, 106 11th St., Des Moines, IA 50309; artterrarium.com. Driftwood— Save On Crafts; save-on-crafts.com; and Etsy; etsy.com. Embroidery floss, preserved moss, monofilament, wire—Michaels Stores; michaels.com. Peat moss—Lowe’s; lowes.com. Wall color Mild Blue #SW6533—SherwinWilliams; sherwin-williams.com. GARDEN KNOW-HOW PAGES 14–15 Landscape fabrics featured: Polar Plastics Mulch Film; Yardworks Economy Weed Control Landscape Fabric; Yardworks Professional Underlayment Landscape Fabric—Menards; menards.com. Easy Gardener Weed Block—amazon.com. SMALL GARDEN, BIG IDEAS PAGES 26–33 Garden designer—Darcy Daniels, Bloomtown Gardens; bloomtown.net; and eGardenGo; egardengo.com. Chair, side tables Inula—Dania; daniafurniture.com. Sofa frame—IKEA; ikea.com. Coffee table, rug—AllModern; allmodern.com. TWICE AS NICE PAGES 34–39 Contractor—Bill Blossom, Blossom Construction Co. Inc., 930 Old Hillsboro Rd., Forest, MS 39074; 601/507-3912. Hydrangeas—Bailey Nurseries; to find a local retailer, visit baileynurseries.com. Grain Sack Stripe Pillow—GamGamzhandcrafted; gamgamzhandcrafted.etsy.com.
Growing from seed for 25 years
SET IN STONE PAGES 40–47 For more information about the North American Rock Garden Society, visit nargs.org. Plant sources include: For sedums and sempervivums: SMG Succulents; smgsucculents.com. For rock garden plants: Wrightman Alpines Nursery; wrightmanalpines.com. Arrowhead Alpines; arrowheadalpines.com.
200+ Certified Organics 350+ Heirlooms • Untreated 103
STITCH A BOUQUET BRING YOUR WALLS TO LIFE WITH COLORFUL EMBROIDERED FLOWERS.
Create your own garden with this cheerful botanical embroidery pattern. Transfer the intricate design by printing it onto 8½x11-inch inkjet transfer paper, following the packaging’s instructions. Then place the printed side down onto a linen fabric. Press an iron over the design until it transfers. To prevent stretching, line linen with iron-on fabric stabilizer available at fabric stores.
FREE EMBROIDERY PATTERN AND OTHER INFO IN RESOURCES,
page 103
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We used basic stitches to make the design, including chain stitch, lazy daisy, running stitch, and French knot.
To get this look, display in a minimalist magnetic frame.
COUNTRY GARDENS // SPRING 2020
Country Gardens® (ISSN 1547-1209), March (Spring) 2020, Volume 29, No. 2. Country Gardens is published four times a year in January, March, May, and August by Meredith Corp., 1716 Locust St., Des Moines, IA 50309-3023. Periodicals postage paid at Des Moines, IA, and at additional mailing offices. Subscription prices: $19.97 per year in the U.S.; $29.97 (U.S. dollars) per year in Canada and overseas. POSTMASTER: Send all UAA to CFS. (See DMM 507.1.5.2.) NON-POSTAL AND MILITARY FACILITIES: Send address corrections to Country Gardens, P.O. Box 37508, Boone, IA 50037-0508. In Canada: Mailed under Publications Mail Sales Product Agreement No. 40069223. Canadian BN 12348 2887 RT. Your bank may provide updates to the card information we have on file. You may opt out of this service at any time. Country Gardens is a registered trademark in the United States. © Meredith Corp. 2020. All rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A.
CREATIVE BREAK
WRITTEN BY HALEY KNUDSEN PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRIE PASSANO PRODUCED BY KATIE LEPORTE EMBROIDERY DESIGN BY HELEN SMYTHE
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*NO PURCHASE OR SURVEY PARTICIPATION IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. Subject to OfďŹ cial Rules at BHG.com/PanelRules. The $10,000 Reader Survey Sweepstakes begins at 12:00 am ET on October 1, 2019, and ends at 11:59 pm ET on September 30, 2020. The next $10,000 Reader Survey Sweepstakes begins at 12:00 am ET on October 1, 2020, and ends at 11:59 pm ET on September 30, 2021. Open to legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia, 21 years or older. Sweepstakes is offered by Meredith Corporation and may be promoted by any of its publications in various creative executions online and in print at any time during the sweepstakes. Limit one (1) entry per person and per email address, per survey. Void where prohibited. Sponsor: Meredith Corporation.