Designing From the Top Down

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Many times designers talk about site lines, leading the eye through the garden, and pathways with a destination. In the Pacific Northwest we have another viewpoint to consider. Many of our houses now have different levels, with patios on the ground but also with decks at a higher level. Gardeners of these houses should consider what their gardens look like from above.
When viewing the garden from an upper level it is important to consider what the garden looks like from a bird’s perspective. The pattern that the pathways and plantings make are two areas that add visual interest.

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Top Down Fire Pit

In this top down view you can see the fire pit, the pathway, and the deck to the side. At ground level these destinations can’t be seen right away. As you go down the path a sense of discovery draws you to explore further. From the deck, though, you can see the destinations and the plantings all in one go. Large rocks with small evergreen Tsuga mertensiana (Mountain hemlock hardy to zone 5), gives the feeling of being in the alpine. This site is perfect for this native that prefers moist air and cool summers. The flagstone is similar in texture and color with the pattern clearly visible from above.

Top Down Ferns

From the top down viewpoint the ferns here are planted en masse with the quilt-like pattern of greens creating the feeling of a forest canopy. It reminds me of viewing tree ferns from high mountain hikes in Hawaii. Other views of this garden reveal patterns made with plants amidst the large native trees on the fringes.

In this more traditional garden the use of pattern and hardscape are evident at ground level but are also important from above. Being immersed in the garden as you wander through is wonderful, it has a bit of lush chaos and exuberance. From above, however, the restrictions of pavers, pathways, and raised beds show the order amidst the chaotic beds.

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You can see the full impact of this garden from above. Each pocket of the garden boasts its own vantage point to relax in. For example, the sitting area is secluded and shady in this very open sunny garden. It is a welcome respite after a long day of puttering in the garden.

A welcoming gathering place to watch the sunset with family and friends, surrounded by the tropical area. At the edge of the garden the summer border leads you along a drainage swale that collects excess water and diverts it into a catch basin. Each of these areas continue to delight when seen from above.

These examples can help you consider viewpoints and planting schemes in your garden. As great as it is to be immersed in the garden, it is also very satisfying to see a different perspective from the deck, upper floor, balcony, or stairway. Plan for both viewpoints when you have the opportunity.

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Full Sun Plant Combo

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Spirea ‘White Gold’ plantswoman design
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Sedum ‘Sunsparkler plum dazzled’ plantswoman design
Geranium ‘Boom Chocolatta’ plantswoman design

Are you out in your garden today? Enjoy this riotous plant combo currently exploding in my garden. There is so much going on in this plant combo starting with this low growing sedum. ‘Sunsparkler Plum Dazzled’ attracts bees and butterflies while providing deep rich color all summer long. Also deer resistant it is a great addition to your garden borders. A great mid-height filler for your garden bed is Spirea ‘White Gold’. With white flowers and yellow green leaves this spirea plays well with others. Great for your garden beds or in a container Geranium ‘Boom Chocolatta’ adds a bit of fun to your garden. Also known as a yellow rock rose, meet Halimium atriplicifolium. Heat and drought tolerant, this guy knows how to rock these summer heat waves!

Fox Lily Planting

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The Foxtail lily in my garden is stunning. Yellow Eramus ‘Bungia’ and peachy Eramus ‘Cleopatra’ jut into the sky and produce hundreds of tiny flowers to enjoy. As a contrast to the tall growing Foxtail Lily (Eramus) Campanula ‘Kent Bell’ is lower growing with lovely purple blooms. Even lower than the campanula, Ajuga Catlins Giant fills the lowest levels of this plant combo.

Rose Ark Iris

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Remember a few weeks ago when we posted the beautiful ark rose iris? Well I thought I’d let you see the fabulous plants that keep this beauty company in the garden. Something as simple as a tree peony is a great compliment to the ark rose iris. Add a California Fuchsia to fill in the low levels.

Living in the northwest we have no lack of evergreen trees. But most of the time they are surrounded by more evergreen trees. Not this Mugo Pine. It’s right at home with the ark rose iris.

 

Lower Garden Planting

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I want to introduce you to a little garden planting in my lower garden. This part of the garden is in full sun and this little combo will give me year round interest. First off Allium Sensation is a huge crowd pleaser. From the first moment it shows up in spring to its final seedpod show this Allium always has something to show you. Molina Skyracer along with Seslaria Greenlee are great fillers with great color into autumn. Senecio Angel Wings gives this planting contrast and these fabulous leaves are great for small cuttings.

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2021 Magnolia Collection

2021 Magnolia Collection

I love magnolias.  They are seductive and diverse little gems of the garden.  I am eagerly awaiting this collection of Magnolias to make their appearance this spring!

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Mactophylla has the largest bloom and is a dwarf form of the Bigleaf Magnolia and some botanists list Ashe as a subspecies of Bigleaf Magnolia (Magnolia macrophylla ssp. ashei). Ashe Magnolia trees are very similar to Bigleaf Magnolia trees except that they tend to grow much shorter and flower at a younger age. The flowers and leaves are still just as large, with the leaves growing up to two feet long and the flowers more than a foot in diameter!

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I love the yellow flower with pink in the base,  like the sun rise.  15-20 feet high 

magnolia sunburst plantswomandesign

Magnolia Sunburst is a very floriferous tree and is regarded as excellent! The deep canary-yellow flowers have narrow tepals that open just as the foliage starts to open, making the tree look like it’s covered in glowing yellow candles. Heavy textured foliage begins a rich bronze-purple. Fast, upright grower to 30′. 

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Magnolia ‘Yellow Bird’ boasts bright canary yellow flowers which appear more dependably since they emerge with the foliage late in the spring after the danger of frosts. Full Sun, up to 40 feet high with 3 1/2 inch flowers.

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Magnolia Ann’s flowers range from deep pink to purple. It grows in shrub-like form instead of a tree. Up to 15 feet in height.

Magnolia laevifolia plantswoman design

Laevifolia is a small structured tree covered in miniature magnolia blooms. Excellent small scale evergreen Magnolia with handsome rounded leaves touched with brown indumentum (fur). In mid spring masses of large 4″ ivory white intensely fragrant flowers explode all over tree. The flowers have a rich and penetrating lemon aroma.   About 9 feet at mature height.

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Maudiae is one of the easier winter blooming evergreen Magnolias to grow in mild climates. Large, 6 in., pure white flowers are very fragrant (lemon) and arranged along the branches, rather than at branch tips. A Maudiae will form small trees or work well as potted specimens. They do well on the West Coast and in the Southeast.

Read more about the Magnolias that have made appearances in my gardens over the years.

The Suductive Magnolia

Winter Blooms for the Bees

Winter Blooms for the Bees

After the torrential rains of December and January, it is a wonder that anything is blooming.  Thankfully there are great plants that survive the downpours and even flourish when everything else is a soggy mess.  Along with the plants surviving, there are insects that winter over in the trees and they love to see the sunshine just like we do.   As soon as the lukewarm sun starts hitting the trees the groggy bees stumble out looking for some food (kind of reminds me of teenagers).   It is essential that we, as gardeners, provide early blooming plants for these very important members of our planet.    Interestingly enough some bees are not at all particular about their food supply while others are.   Our goal should be to provide both native food sources and ornamental garden food sources.    Nature has a way of adapting to what is available but also searching for specifics. 

I’m not a big native plant person. Growing up here I have seen the native plants in so many places, including open fields, forests, ditches, ponds, roadside edges, and yes, even parking lots.  I probably should not go into my opinion of ferns and mahonia in parking lots, that’s another topic.   I do, however,  have native pollinating plants in my garden. The earliest blooming plants are fabulous Mahonias.   The statuesque Mahonia x media ‘Charity’ (Zone 7-9, part shade, drought-tolerant), the mahonia repens (Zone 5-8, part sun, average moisture),  and the newly popular Mahonia ‘Soft Caress’-Mahonia eurybracteata ’Soft Caress’ (Zone 4-7, Shade to part shade, acid soil).     These three together are my favorite combination to attract bees that need native plants.   The Mahonia Soft Caress blooms first in my garden from December through January.   Charity starts after that and blooms until February.  Then Mahonia Repens, with its soft, papery, red-purple leaves finishes the cycle in February and March.   By the time these are finished there are many other native pollen sources blooming in the forest, and edges of the stream.

 

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Non- native plants also start blooming in January and February.  Many of these are also great for hummingbirds that have also not left the area.   Edgeworthia  chrysantha- Paper Bush ( Zone 5-9, filtered sun – part shade) has amazing hanging flower heads with yellow, waxy, tubular blooms and sweet scent that attract bees and hummingbirds in January and February.  If you want to do a little more searching the rare, very cool, Edgeworthia akebono is striking with creamy outside and tangerine orange inside flowers and light scent. 

A more common, yet still lovely, plants are the winter-blooming Camellias.   Camellia sasanquas are blooming in gardens all around me.    The best ones for pollinating are the single blossoms like Camellia sasanqua ‘Yuletide’ – Yuletide Camellia (Zone 7-10, part sun).  The brilliant red blooms have a yellow center with prominent stamens.   Sometimes blooming as early as December.   Camellia sasanqua ‘Setsugekka’ is a clear, brilliant white that is a semi-double.  The golden yellow center calls out to any passing bee.  

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I’ll leave you with one more picture of a low growing crocus.   Don’t forget these little puddles of sunshine in your garden, the bees will also enjoy them.

Autumn Garden Checklist | 2020

After a so-so summer, fall seems to be walloping me. I HATE wearing socks, putting on long sleeves, and even wearing long pants again. Even though I love being a ‘Child of Winter’ (Warren Miller ski film term), I think I may also be a Child of Summer. The fall winds are throwing branches and trees down already, and the tomato crop is furiously producing fruit, almost as if it knows the time is limited.
As the season pushes through the remains of summer, I start to think of the things I need to get ready to do for fall. Everybody’s list is a little different but gardening tasks never really cease. They just change.

One big discussion among gardeners the last couple of years is the necessity or not, of cutting back and cleaning up the garden before winter. There are strong opinions on both options. Every garden is different, so treat your garden individually.

Clean-up

In my garden, I do not cut back perennials until the first frost. Then I know that the plant is dormant and that cutting it back will not spark new growth that could damage the plant when the frost hits.
I do not cut back anything in the garden that has a seed head on it. I love to let the wildlife in my garden forage for seeds during the winter. Great to watch and good for them as well.
I do let the leaves in the beds lay on the ground all winter. It protects the soil and keeps it warm and weed-free. It is important to clean them up early in the spring to destroy overwintering slugs and snail homes. In my climate, that is as early as February. The exception to this is where the big maple grows. It can easily smother the plants with 4-6 inches of leaf matter. Placing these leaves in a pile, in a sheltered location away from strong winds, will create excellent leaf mold by this time next year.
Finish the last bit of weeding and mulching. If the garden is weedy at the onset of winter, the weeds will remain and gather strength through the fall and winter. Just like fall planting, their roots grow well in the fall and winter. Getting your areas weeded through will give you a head start on spring.
Clean tools, add some oil to prevent rust and put away sprinklers and hoses for the winter. I usually note what I need to buy in the spring as far as replacements go. You can do this on a rainy day when you can’t go outside.

Mulching:

Every bed in my garden benefits from new mulch, and I like to mulch with compost in the fall and spring. I use a thin layer in established beds. This year, I have been spreading mulch throughout most of the year because I have so many new beds. When planting a new bed, I spread mulch as the final top dressing. Which will mean I won’t have to use much in the way of fertilizers in the future. Healthy soil is the best way to have an incredible garden. Always be careful not to get mulch on the trunk (or crown) of your plants. This soft, wet material can cause the plant to die from rot.

Seeds

Collecting seeds from plants now is an easy way to have free plants next year. Dry days are necessary to collect seeds, and a dry place to help them completely dry is equally important. I use my greenhouse tables to dry seeds for storage. Seed storing envelopes are available online. Be sure to label each seed packet with type, date, and sun/shade.

Greenhouse:

If you have a greenhouse, it needs to be cleaned out and hosed out. If you have had problems with pests, a good cleaning with an environmentally friendly disinfectant will ensure a successful winter. My greenhouse will overwinter tropicals and other non-hardy plants. Most of the summer, it houses my orchids but remains mostly empty. I clean pots and get rid of dead plants, clean the glass, and check the insulation.

Pruning:

Usually, I wait to prune until the plants lose their leaves and go dormant. You can easily see the structure of trees and shrubs when the leaves are gone. Building a good framework is essential for the overall health of the plant.

Compost

Speaking of compost, now is the time to add to the pile. I actually have two separate piles of compost. One is weeds and invasive plants, which I let grow and remove at the end of the year or whenever it gets large. I don’t attempt to compost weeds because I have horsetail on my property, and I want it gone. My actual compost pile is vegetables, leaves, pruning bits, and some grass. I build layers with cardboard and will use the finished compost in the spring. Many years I add Black plastic over the top to help heat it up and keep it from getting too wet (I live in a damp climate). When I remove it, the compost looks fantastic.

Natural Christmas

I thought you might enjoy what I’ve been up to instead of blogging.   I love blogging but these past couple of weeks the effort required to get my clients set for the holiday season has made it hard to keep up with the blog. Each year I am love bringing the outside...

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Hello friends, Kristen here!  Last week I had the pleasure of walking around the Plantswoman's house just taking in all of her wonderful decorations.  Here is a little tour of what I found. Over the years Susan has collected a wonderful array of holiday trees.  The...

Gather Fall Bounty Project

Fall is chilling into winter. I went out and gathered some materials last weekend while it was still cold but not raining. My lovely grandchildren will be coming soon and I want to have a fun gardening thing to do with them. Don't worry, I will share our creating when...

Bringing Autumn In

Hurricane lanterns are one of my favorite ways to display what I find outside. Often used for placing candles in and protecting them from wind I use them for many other things. These glass cylinders bring things up to eye level and you see them from all angles. This...

Simple Things: Autumn Decor

Fall decorating can be many things. We see pumpkins, corn stalks, and fall leaves used as decorations. We as gardeners head into harvest season and get the chance to see plants and fruit that we only see once a year. Now is the time to start gathering and foraging....

Enjoy the Season

Enjoy the beautiful season. Collect and gather leaves, nuts, seed heads, and see the fabulous world in your garden go dormant. Take a hike to see massive amounts of leaves in color, and the freshening of the forest as the mushrooms re-emerge, and mosses start to grow again.

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Stipa Gigantea

Fabulous Grass

Did you know grass flowers are called inflorescences? Sometimes they are barely noticeable, but other times they are pretty fantastic. Stipa gigantea is one of my favorite grasses, and I have them planted along the hedge of my ‘Feathers’ garden. It is evergreen, and the stems of the inflorescence come out early in the summer and last through the winter. The structure in the winter stays about 3 feet high without the long waving stems of seed heads. I leave the seed heads on during the winter for bird forage.

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