Finally, I'm posting pictures!

From the daylily bed in the middle lawn, this is the view down to the water.

This is from behind the peonies in the long border. No water to be seen any more...soon the 'meadow' will be ablaze with color.

Which leads to the current battle, mostly tradescantia this time. I 'edited' last fall, mostly successfully except for that. This section is at the far right corner of the lower lawn. What I want to keep: Tall grasses, some volunteer daylilies at least until I see what color they bloom, a lovely old stand of yellow baptisia, and ditto climbing hydrangea. There are also a few phlox volunteers. I removed the better colors last year, at least the ones I could get to, so I don't much care if these become collateral damage.

The opening is a stone stairway down to the bottom lawn. The iris clump is blocking the top, I'll move it when I can.

This is after the second round of Roundup this spring...It may take one or two more.

I think this section would look great as a 'wild' bright garden, orange, yellow, gold mixed in with the grasses. A modern, tamer solidago, sunflowers, maybe...all the stuff that doesn't fit above, now that the middle lawn is becoming so refined.

Whew! That's it for now!

Pam

great property too!!.. looks so tranquil

Your hard work is really showing, Pam. Can't wait until I visit the gardens again.....

It's looking really good Pam, lot of hard work you've put in.

So pretty!

Nice!

I think anyone would be inspired by your efforts to restore this garden and make it your own. It will be fabulous even in the winter with all its great "bones" in the plant material you are working with. A treat to follow your postings. Thanks, Patti

Thank you all.

What's so amazing about this place is that it was always beautiful even in its decadence. I don't have any pictures of how it was when I first saw it, and early on I mostly photographed what I liked and the new stuff I wanted to keep track of. That first spring I remember oohing and aahing over early violets and aquilegia in many colors, lilies of the valley, Johnny Jump-ups and forget-me-nots all over the place as the garden slowly woke up. It's been full of surprises ever since. This year I discovered yellow violets and yellow geraniums in a couple of places. On her visit recently Marilyn spotted corydalis- I didn't understand what it was, and pulled it up. Luckily later on I found another one. I don't know if they're new arrivals or if there's just more room for them now that other things are thinned out or eliminated. But you can be sure I'm giving them room to multiply!

So thanks again, everyone...

Next, I have a few questions... Stay tuned!

Pam

Looks great!!! You have been very diligent.

What a beautiful place, and what a great job you've done, Pam. Your efforts have really paid off in making it your own. Looks like a perfect spot for an RU some year!!! LOL

Thanks everyone!

Pam

Sounds like a plan!

Pam, I just love what you're doing with your place. I'm enjoying all the pics. You have a gorgeous property, and you've put a lot of effort into sprucing it up. I would love to come and visit sometime.

Karen

I love sharing the inherent beauty of the property, and the progress towards bringing that out more and more. I've been inspired by the historic gardens I've studied and visited, and continue to be inspired by those and the many, many wonderful gardens here on DG. I feel I've learned as much in the last few months here as I did in the previous 10, and if I can contribute something as well I am happy to do so.

Anyone who expects to be in the area when I'm there is welcome to come!

Pam

So I can grow stuff there too?? ^_^

I sent you a d-mail, Pam.

Karen

Victor...I have soooo much ground to cover...are you donating? Tending? Weeeeeeding?!

Renting space??

Could be....

I just came across this picture while looking for something else...This is the long daylily bed last July. Just look at all the vine foliage! I get furious over one or two escapees-or even 10- completely forgot how bad it was. Maybe there's hope?!

Pam

So now comes the big dilemma. Behind where the tall grasses, etc, where I'm cleaning out now, is another whole section. You can see it from the Garden Room. The area I'm talking about is in the upper right pane. It was full of the usual thugs, but last year J had it cleaned out. They didn't really get the roots, and put down grass seed even though the rocks make it impossible to mow. Supposedly they'll weed whack, but in my experience they tend to miss a few areas more often than not. It is backed by yet another stone wall which is still a huge mess-brambles, along with everything else.

There is a grass path leading down to it from the middle lawn, just opposite the Cotinus at the end of the long border. By the way, this year the two Euonymus alata were pruned into globes, and for the first time I don't want to pull them out!
To the left of the path are the tall grasses, and to the right is the Bowl. At one time, when the property was a tin mine, there was a structure here and the stones were the foundation. Over time, they were re-arranged. Also, where the grasses are, J said (he had them put there 25 years ago or so) there used to be a depression, perhaps where they mined.

This is the whole Bowl.

This is how it looks from the top. The junk on the left edge is supposed to be cleared out one of these days. There was talk of moving the tallest clump of grass where the briar is, but I don't know how successful that will be. the clump is so old, and huge...

Here's a shot of the clump in May. The brown areas are where the RU worked so far. It's the biggest one, in the foreground. I'd love to widen that opening. The mowers have a tough time getting around there, the blade is 54'. Also, it would open up the view behind that area from the house.

Here's a shot from October 2007, showing the grasses in bloom (Also, the Falling Down Wall, which i was already trying to get under control).

I have no idea what to do here...or rather, I have several, but nothing seems perfect. Should I move all the grasses back into the Bowl, and keep the front border lower? Or maybe just fill it with some kind of significant shrub that will also act as groundcover? Viburnums come to mind, but that section is all day baking sun. It's a really large area, and I really don't need or want another perennial bed. I'm hoping to put something there that I don't have to think about once it gets going. Berries are obvious, but out of the question. I've had too much trouble with raspberries all over this place, you won't catch me planting anything even close. J suggested fruit trees, but again, what about what comes up in between? I'm stumped.

Suggestions. anyone? Victor, uwanna rent a space? LOL

Pam

Shrubs are always an answer to a large space....viburnums are native, & good choices......plus they are easy keepers & provide food for the wildlife....there's always winterberry, which I love.

Just a couple more...

Most of the pictures I just posted were taken earlier in the season, before everything grew up and hid the basics. This is from two weeks ago, the last time I was there. Finally I moved the blue iris to its new bed, getting plenty of sun but out of direct view. Eventually it will be re-shaped to join the bed in front of the dwarf lilac beyond, and the whole thing will be edged with nepeta. This one is Walker's Low. The opening for the mower is narrow, so I can't wrap the bed around the corner. But the ferns are beginning to fill in again between the rocks, they got zapped along with everything else, but not completely eliminated, and that will soften it.

Marilyn, don't viburnums need some shade? They wouldn't get it here...but winterberry is a good suggestion...I love them too.

I forgot to say that the iris bed and dwarf lilac are at the top of the Bowl. Down the side of the path there are irregular pockets where other things could show off. Right now ferns and daylilies are pretty much it that I'm keeping, but again I'm thinking the kind of perennials that would naturalize, trapped between whatever is behind in the Bowl itself and the mower.

I guess that's it for now...

Pam

Pam, viburnum takes full sun to part shade.....

That could work...I guess I'm remembering Southampton, which was hotter and dryer...Lots of things are different in CT.

Yep....I think viburnums would work great!

Most viburnums are full sun. I love trees and shrubs for large areas. Great for wildlife.

Our viburnums are scattered around. they were here when bought old 'colonized' pastureland. they are the arrowood type and on line gets the full western sun, although are shaded in the morning. they were gorgeous this yr. I also like winter berry. Low bush blue berries might work. they are so compact & not the nasty canes like raspberries.

What about blueberries? Vibernums are good, and so are winterberry hollies. I love all three. Your place is looking so great, and I can't wait to visit next week!

Karen