Finding Design with Chloe

For those who think a rose is still a rose...

Last week, I installed a rose trellis for a client.  She wanted an everblooming climber.  Now, Knock-out roses are definitely the most maintenance free, everbloomers on the market, however, they are not climbers.  So my search began.  

I found this rose (pictured) called "Fourth of July" and it boasts the same effortless habit as knock-out roses.  They are also continuous bloomers.  As it turns out, there are many other roses on the market that boast the same attributes. Yay! The hybridizers are listening to their consumers.   No one wants to spend their time spraying, treating blackspot and other diseases and having their roses give them one time only blooming per season.  This particular climber is also fragrant, bonus, huh?  Its scent is similar to apples.  

Be on the lookout for these fuss free varieties.  Now if we could only find a way to keep rabbits from eating our plants.  At least with a climber, eventually they will be too high for them to reach.  You would think the thorns would be a deterrent.   Pesky Wabbits!

I leave you with a little Queen of Soul: duh do do do do do da do!

 

Let me see what spring is like on Jupiter and Mars...

Of course, I've got to paint it, don't be ridiculous! Imagine a robins egg blue with a bit of a bronze patina. Oh if only it wasn't raining today!
I found this armillary on the side of the road. It's basically in perfect condition. It spins and everything! I absolutely adore it and it was free. How's that?

Herbside planter

I filled mine with oregano, lemon balm, catmint, parsley, marjoram, basil, pineapple sage, lemon balm, and my absolute favorite ( because it smells identical to lemon drops) lemon verbena! Fill yours with anything that strikes your fancy. Just remember, most herbs need sun, at least 6 hours. Snip often, this keeps them bushy. Give them good drainage! Cool huh?

My Must Have List!

Pretty early this morning, I was in my garden to hose things down a bit... storms splashed up debris on my garden furniture and patio. The plants could use a drink - its going be hot,hot, hot here today!   Plantings and potted flowers  have performed superbly, due to my hard work mother nature watering much more than I do.  However, it is August and blooming is in its slow down mode. 

This time of year is what my grandmother referred to as the "last hurrah" for blooming.  Soon I will be planting mums, gathering pumpkins, and kicking brightly colored orange leaves as I walk down the garden path.  More time for contemplation, makes me think of what I just gotta have need in my garden for next year!  Here are some of the items on my wish list.  What do you lust after (stay on the garden trail here, girls)?

  

I can't get enough of these rusty and moss covered babies.  I am limiting myself to two one per year - that way I can get something really nice rather than a lot of ones that I end up tossing after a year or two.  Doesn't that sound like a frugal plan... I'll let you know how that works out.

Ok,  now for the potatoes or would the plants be the meat?

Plant Material... I need some additions!

This is H. paniculata True Unique.  

'True UMy friend, Susan Cohan is to blame for me coveting this one!     Actually, (why not) I will blame her for many of my coveted garden desires!  She's an amazing designer!

Japanese Stewartia (Stewartia pseudocamellia). 

I love camellias and so do my rats in a better outfit squirrels, so wish me luck at winning this battle! Perhaps they won't like the pseudocamellia... what do you think?

These giant alliums remind me of something out of Alice and Wonderland!  They are huge and the blooms last for a good month or so.  Gotta Have 'Em!!!!  Just Gotta!

Eastern Redbud, cercis candensis, is on my list!  They come in shades of magenta to pink and there is even a white variety that I wouldn't mind having.  For the weeping lovers, this one also comes in a weeper. I'm not a big fan of weepers, seen too many landscapes with weeping cherries and blue atlas cedars that remind me of  Disney World.

  Does that wet your whistle?  Now I gotta work on my bulb ordering list!  I'll keep you posted on what I must have there.  Giant Alliums first and foremost... peony - like tulips, lots of daffodils...grape hyacinths... ahhh... 

Happy Birthday Drew!

My son, Drew has always been a great kid ... he had his moments, but to quote his first grade teacher, " he doesn't always listen, but he's so cute!"  Hope you enjoy my walk down memory lane.

This picture is taken at age 5.  He was into birds then, oh... and snakes, and lizards, and mice, rabbits, guinea pigs and dogs!  We had a mini zoo!

This was taken the first summer he met Suzanne!  Now they get married in October!   

Do you remember loving your car this much?

Their engagement picture... (grabbing the tissues and sounding like my mother) where did the time go?

Happy  25th Birthday Drew!  

How did you spend your Sunday?

 

Shop Sunday....Wouldn't this be a wonderful way to spend a Sunday afternoon?  This shop is called Whimsy and is located in Carpinteria, California.  Carpinteria is an old fashioned, quaint and charming town with loads of antique stores, restaurants and unique shops along with a wonderful beach.  Its only a stone's throw from Santa Barbara.  This would be my dream vintage garden shop.  Don't you love the blue claw foot tub planters?   

Rocking chair Sunday...Would love to be here reading a good book...Then again, I would love to be here on a sunday afternoon, tea and crumpets anyone? Maybe an afternoon nap? Could tranquility get any better than this?

Solitude Sunday...Tranquility, a good book and a lantern... Are you game? I'll bring the wine and cheese!

Sunday Brunch...All you need here is a good cook, or a good wine then who cares Love the Black and White Stripes!

Dog Days of Summer!

Happy Dogs - Cooper and Daphne are my inseparable Bichons.  They are definitely partners in crime!  Squirrels, bunnies, mice and an occasional baby bird falling out of its nest are enough to keep them quite entertained.  They are 3 years old.  We first got Cooper and then inherited Daphne this year, when my mom passed away.  Funny that they are exactly the same age, even born in the same month.  

These are my daughter's dogs, Bebe and Roxy.  

This day definitely went to the dogs!

 Roxy is actually smiling... Dogs will be dogs!  What does that mean?  

 

 

Doggy Doggy World... flipping over your occasional table,  mowing down a few plants, digging an occassional cool spot to lay in, chasing the neighbor's dog up and down the fence till they create a worn down, muddy path... yep...they pretty much rule the backyard!  

The Mini Schnauzer is Graycie.  She was a rescue with a  nasty disposition.  We really tried to keep her but after she bit the 9th person we had to throw in the doggy towel.   Luckily, there were no law suits.  Still loved her and wished it would have worked out.  Doggie Remorse!

Some days are just top of the firebowl days!  Cooper rules all that he sees, therefore he is always perched as high as he can get!  Alpha Dog!

What's Bloomin' in my own garden?

Sitting at my desk pondering what to post...  this is the view from my desk... hmmm... MY GARDEN... seen thru the screen of my office window....  so here goes...

Ok , up close and personal ...

As you know, I design gardens for a living and because I am so busy at optimum planting time, my own garden gets leftovers in both plant material and attention.  This year, we had so much rain and cooler temperatures with low humidity that things look a tad better, even for my much neglected garden.  Usually, by the end of July, I am sick of my garden's appearance altogether.  Large, old very mature, trees,  block out the sun.  What's great about shade gardens is that they are  typically more forgiving of neglect and have a tendency to naturalize well.   

Ok... now ... enough excuses... 

I didn't plant this bed of wild, orange daylilies. My house is almost a hundred years old, so not sure how long they have been here... they are densely planted, probably when the trees were young to allow for more sun.   They are doubles... not great performers for me, because of the shade... but I do get some blooms... so I'm happy!  They are also mass planted with an abundance of old hostas that bloom purple along with a sprinkling of phlox in purples and pinks... so its a lush happy bed.  

A purple double Rose of Sharon compliments the purple hosta blooms.  Again... wish I knew who planted it and when...

This is a porcelainberry vine.  It has a variegated foliage and tiny white berries... a nice filler on the back of my garage.  I planted this one (wanted roses... but impossible in the shade) a few years ago.  It is considered pretty invasive and undesirable if planted in the sun.  I am able to keep it under control very easily.  It is deciduous so it will lose its foliage in the fall.  

 

Of course, my hydrangeas, from snowballs, to lace caps, have been blooming for about a month and last the rest of the summer.  Love the star hydrangea in the middle picture.  They begin blooming white then turn bluish.  

 I do alot of planters, because they are more "critter resilient".  This one has has double Impatiens and Abutilon hybridum, commonly called flowering maples, along with a Euphorbia, commonly called diamond frost, I often use it as a filler in my containers ... its a sweet little pearly white filler.  

 

More planters... 

 

Lysimachia clethroides, commonly known as Gooseneck Loosestrife is a vigorous grower with attractive, oval pointed leaves.  Tiny saucer-shaped white blossoms are produced on tapered spikes resembling ( you guessed it) a goose's neck.  These are planted behind the daylilies and seem to thrive no matter where you plant them.  Invasive, yes!  I love them... they are planted behind the daylilies and border my property line.  My neighbor has a pretty sad yard with no flowers so if they wander over there ... IMPROVEMENT!!!

Caladium leaves add sprinkles of color and texture.  I plant them at the foot of pots to nestle them in and give it a more natural feel.  Happy little plants that can be dug up and overwintered in a cool place then planted again spring after spring.

What's bloomin' in your garden?

July and August bring Crape Myrtles

 

  

As a designer, I find myself designing landscapes to include plants that bloom at staggering intervals.  This allows for  for something to be in bloom most of spring and summer when the landscape is most enjoyed. In the spring, there are so many  plants to use :  from dogwoods to viburnums and a mix of spring flowering bulbs in every color imaginable.  Mid summer also has many choices from hydrangeas to roses with many beautiful perennials to use as filler.  

I call Crape Myrtles a late summer staple because they, number one, are effortless. Crape Myrtles are commonly spelled several different ways. You may find Crape Myrtle, Crepe Myrtle, and  Crepemyrtel. The botanical name is Lagerstroemia Crape Myrtle.  Anyway you spell or say it... the blooms look like crinkled crepe paper and are fabulous!
From trees to shrubs and even miniatures, they  are more and more disease resistant every year and the color palette is full of variety from hot pink to white and from purple to lavender,  with even some salmon colors.  

I grew up in Virginia and now live in New Jersey. Crape Myrtles are abundant in the south and used many times as street trees because of their hardiness and color.  Virtually anywhere you travel in the southeastern US, you will more than likely find yourself within a few feet of a Crape Myrtle.  They are very durable, fast growing plants that offer not only huge selection of color but size as well from dwarf to 20 feet tall.  Their bark is beautiful mottled and looks almost painted.  

I have a medium-sized Crape Myrtle that I planted in honor of my twin sister, Bonnie, who passed away  much too young, 3 years ago in August.  She was the best sister I could have ever asked for and I miss her every moment of every day.  I know she is always with me and protecting me just as she did in life. There are days that I can still see her throw her hands up in the air and say, " you are on your own with this one!"  Simultaneously, she would be right there helping you out of a mess.  Now, she is with my Mom and they can shake their heads together.  

It will bloom on the anniversary of her death and its called white chocolate (her favorite addiction) and has bronze colored leaves with white blooms.  

Mystery Plant ... help identify this please

This plant has me stumped.  I first that it was huskers red penstemon because the leaves of the young plants were red... then they grew like bean stalks all over this bed and have this small yellow flower.  Anyone know?