And a closer look - I can't believe how level they actually managed to get this. Quite remarkable. Even sofer would have been impressed with their technique - very blokeish. But it is wonderful - when I saw it, I really imagined it as a reflecting surface, and it works perfectly. When you walk around it, it is just like a huge mirror. Fantabulous!
the past 3 weeks we have had very cold temperatures - and the trough has frozen over. These next pictures are for pix, they remind me of her castings -
And closer - these were leaves that froze on the surface - then I peeled them off (as one does) they left lovely patterns
just one more - bear with me
I have altered the path below the trough, widening it and bringing the wall up a bit - as you walk the path in this direction, just around the curve is a set of steps which mimic this curve - the idea is to 'sweep' you up to go view from the grass level. Walking the other way, (towards the camera) the curve of the steps encourages you to by pass them and you go around the trough at the lower level. AND hopefully, the landscape guys are back from christmas break tomorrow to turn these from frozen dirt into lovely stone wall and steps.
Wonderful, Laurie! DH is lusting after that trough. LOL
Of goody, more paths! The history of garden paths is apparently full of more drama and intrigue than I ever thought possible.
The horse trough is much larger than I imagined it, and fits so well into the landscape. Your previous description of how the fellows maneuvered it into place was quite amusing, but now I can really see how it must have been practically impossible to control once it started sliding downhill.
The drinking trough is wonderful. Especially the etchings from the frozen leaves.
I agree with your statements about modernism, and some basic principles like scale and plasticity still apply. I do love modern architecture & gardens. You must be familiar with the work of Mexican arch Luis Barragan. He is a genius with color, which is integral to his work. I just retired from HOK (modern work) and spent some time at the London office near Picadilly. Love that office.
So glad you recovered your photos. I'm looking forward to more!
We are going back up onto the lawn area - earlier in the year. I'm getting a little bit tired of looking at projects, so I'm going back to summer and show you a couple of plantings. The path that I opened with at the top of this thread, looks like this during that season of the golden orb - I love this.
Portland - Barragan, a big fan of his work. Just amazing imagination when it comes to space and how light effect it. Wonderful.
Kaper, you can tell DH that lust is what got that trough here in the first place - I just had to have it - just had to (wait until he sees my table on the patio! Another lustful piece). And MHF, I do think paths are full of tristes and intrique - one of the best path gardens I've seen is the Alhambra in Granada. Low paths, paths for spies, paths with running water so you can't be overheard - I just finished a wonderful murder mystery and it involves an impenetrable maze, the most vicious of paths, that holds the final will of the father in the centre! Excellent use of paths.
But, lets have a bit more sunshine - this is the bed infront of the barn from the lawn. Is there anything more cottagey than hollyhocks?
The path that leads from the front gate to the lawn in summer
this is the bed, we call it new bed - it was the first big one I added to the garden - it is the bed along the lower trough path. This actually gets very good sun on most of it - the lower edge is fairly shady. The bed is approximately 4m/13' top to bottom, and 5.5mtrs/18' side to side. this is along the top of the bed - and Pix, you wanted the sheep in the background, there they are.
In the centre of the bed is a stand of Crocosmia Paniculatum - the wonderful tall crocosmia - I just love this plant, I love the broad leaves, the buds, the blossom and the seed heads. Its really bulking up nicely now, and - well just look what it does with back light
Blossom - I really love this plant. Almost as much as I love angel's fishing rods.
Have to stop there for this evening - time to return to town.
Tils and Redchic, eternal gratitude. xoxo. Thank you for picasa. It is brillant.
Please don't leave us hanging - what's the book? :-)
Seems to me we need a group trip...
PNW round-up? LOL
Love the trough!
What's the name of the murder mystery?
The photo of "The path that leads from the front gate to the lawn in summer" is beyond lovely. All the photos are just terrific but this one has grabbed my heart. How much sun does that area get? Can I get a list of the plants in there?
Are the sheep yours? When we were househunting, I so wanted this darling cottage right next to a farm with sheep and other animals. The next best thing (better, really) to having your own is to live next to them where you can gaze out the window and see (and hear) them!
I am not a fan of the red crocasmia! We had one taking over my 'peony garden' so I made dh go and dig it all out last summer. What a project that was! I could have stood it if it was located in my 'bright colors' border but in the middle of pastel peonies (and overshadowing them causing them not to get any sun and grow/bloom) and asking too much.
Had to jump in before going to work to seehow it worked. I'm so happy ^_^
Didn't take time to look at the pics, save that for when I get home.
Hugs
Jan23 - exactly!
Jan and Portland, I have been dying to go to England for some time. Seriously, if someone put something together, this is what I need to get motivated to go!
You turned me on to angel's fishing rod. Now I have several small clumps started. mine are nowhere near as tall as yours yet, but the bloomed last summer after a year of settling in. First the hummingbirds visited, and then another little bird was attracted by the seeds.
Love your flower combinations and the exuberant grasses.
Laurie, your garden is so amazing. I looked out my window and was dismayed to see such a pitiful sight. I live in the city so I have a very small area, and right now everything is winter bare. To top it off, I am a new gardener.
I keep going back through your photos and enjoying the tour. Thank you for sharing such a special place.
Gwen & Jan, let's go!
Such lovely groupings!! It gets better each time I walk around. Sure am getting my exercise.
I think I need tocheck out the angel's fishing rod. There was a plant that I wasn't familiar with in a pic and I bet that is what it is.
Although it does sound wonderful, the only traveling I will do now will be to Oregon to see the grandkids. Also, we are going to renovate the kitchen this summer. HMMM... I think I've said that before, but definitely, (hopefully) this summer, so any traveling is on hold.
Breath taking Laurie. Your garden lasts a long time in bloom with all of the varietals you have. I too like the crocus and your tall garden against the grey barn very healthy holly hocks. I like the way I have to focus to see that your ornamental grasses don't really have red flowers. Where was the description of the sinking of the big water trough? I couldn't find the thread. I must have been working while you wrote about it.
Laurie, that is a beautiful plant:
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/fp.php?pid=5992782
What is that? And what is Angel's fishing rod?
Angel's fishing rod (Dierama pulcherimum) is the one with the arched over stem and dangling pink flowers (she has both a light and dark variety it looks like). Laurie suggested those for a childrens' garden I was putting in by my first grade classroom, and they really are a fun plant.
This message was edited Jan 11, 2009 4:00 PM
"The path that leads from the front gate to the lawn in summer" is just magical. I'm so glad you posted some summer pics. Your garden is even more lovely than I imagined. I also love that trough. Will take a few more walks through so I'm sure not to miss anything.
As I was typing a bunch of Quail came in to clean out under my feeders. I love to watch them walk. Can't take a picture, if I move, they're gone. There's about a dozen.
So glad you recovered your pictures. I should have remembered picasa and it's habit of grabbing pictures from everywhere. I had a little trouble with it getting too much at first.
Laurie, Your welcome! But really and truly it was Tilly's fantastic thought and idea to link it. I just cleaned up the link a tad. I'm sooooo glad that all of that has worked out for you. But, I'm also glad that it worked out for the sake of all of us. This tour is just fantastic, and I think that some of us may go through withdrawals without it. I absolutely love your "new bed"
Lilimerci, the Dierama is a very good plant to have. It's relatively low maintenance, easy to divide, tolerates many soils, etc, etc, Then, all of a sudden, it will make a pretty and very graceful statement in your yard.
Lili, That is crocasmia. It comes in varying shades of red, orange, and I believe there is a yellow as well, but am not 100% positive.
I do like the seed pod things that are left on the plant in the fall - I like to use them in arrangements. The flowers last a very long time in cut arrangements as well.
I've put Dierama on my want list (skipped over the wish list) Glad to hear your comments on them rc. Need to look into crocus too. I think it's going to be a busy spring^_^
Definitely! we just need to make it too spring!!!
I am in aw, Laurie, you so inspire me so much. I have to go back and take some notes.
Love the trough, like one of those mirrors you buy and lay on the ground, only bigger. would love to realy see it as it was used for, with all the horses around it having a drink. Can't wait to see the finishing of the steps.
You know we just might have to do the tours each year to show the progress of the year. Just a thought ( Ilike it)
So happy we could help.
RC high 5, we rock. LOL
I'm packed whos picking me up?
I have the orange crocosmia (montbretia) if any one wants any. can mail it.
Glorious! Simply glorious! And excellent trough! I immediately noticed how completely level it is and that it is an excellent reflective pool! They could not have done a better job of it, Laurie. Just stirling work. How DO you find people with that kind of skill?
And the sun you get! Oh, to have a garden with that much sunshine... I must do so before the end of this life. Must have a garden filled with sunshine. Glorious crocosmia, and angel fishing rods. I grew some from seed last year and I hope they give me a bloom or two this year. They are supposed to be the darkest of wine colors.
Redchic and Tills, Brilliant computer consultation from across the sea! You two rock! I was so not ready to give up this tour.
"Where theirs a will, there is a way"
^_^
Glad you didn't give up
I've added Angel Fishing Rod and Croscomia to my want list too... Do you have a picture of Angel Fishing Rod?
Wow - keeping up with all the dialogue! I never expected to generate this much talk - I am flattered. I'm going to try and run back through the questions - but I will have to dash in a couple of minutes - I'm between patients.
Lillimerci (wonderful name - this is up there with Tillysrat and Pixydish) - this photo is for you - this is dierama pulcherimmum donal slieve (two m's or one - never remember) I think this is possibly the one that is most grown. Tall, rich pink, it was bred in at the nursery in slieve, Ireland. The other one that was mentioned, and I do grow is D.P. Blackbird - deep deep purple. There are also pale pinks and white (snowball) in the tall Dieramas. Oh shoot, I just can't get this to come out the right direction. I'll have to leave that for you to lie down to gaze at.
The murder mystery with the maze is The Chinese Maze by Van Gulik. He is an interesting writer, wrote from the 30's thru the early 60's I believe. He was a dutch diplomat, based in China, very interested in chinese culture. he went through a period when they would not allow him to work, so to keep himself busy he researched chinese literature. In particular Chinese murder mysteries (there is a very strong tradition of them). He wanted to also introduce the West to Chinese popular culture. The series is called the Judge Dee Mysteries, and Judge Dee was a real person in the T'ang Dynasty - served as a magistrate, prefect, and then was promoted to the Capital to serve the emperor as an advisor. Apparently he is still a considered historical figure. I really enjoy them, they are quite odd. The books have just come into reprint - I think through Chicago University Press.
I'll have to come back to the other questions and comments, but I do note the group trip to England is back on. We've got to get that flying purple bus up and running.
Portland, don't dismay - remember these are out of season photos!! I've not only got winter, I've got the landscape guys!! I am avoiding photographing too much of that. And I can't tell you how much we LOVE new gardeners on this thread - we get to park all our left over, send seeds, have ideas, redesign people's gardens - we are in gardener heavan with new gardeners!
Gwen, the sheep are not our, we have a sheppard who grazes the fields for us - in exchange I get as much horse poo as I want, he keeps 25-60 sheep on the fields (depends on the time of year). The 'from the front gate path': the upper part is in shade all of the winter, but fairly good sun in summer, the part closer to the lawn area is full sun. The plantings are surprisingly common plants - the photo with the dierama's has: dierama mixed, haloagris is the low bronzey brown plant, allium sphaerocephalon, white hollyhock, verbena bonariensis, and at the far end cotinus coggyria 'palace purple'. In the photo with the big pampas grass, on the left: magnolia grandifolia, under planted with an unnamed heuchera (wonderful racemes of pale greeny pink, light, very fresh fragrance) cordadera (pampas grass). On the right: sanquinasorba canadensis (large white blossom plant), sanquinasorba menzseii (smaller dark maroon blossom), verbascum phoenicium violetta, and galtonia.
MHF, I'm so glad you planted the fishing rods at the school - oh, I hope the children like them! wouldn't it be wonderful if they remembered them when they start their own gardens as adults. Hooray for DG - we might just influence future generations!
Sally, glad you are enjoying the garden, and please - camera at the ready - I look forward to those quails parading through your tour. Lovely idea.
Pix, I knew you would spot the level of the pond, I just thought - hmmmm, a Pixyness, getting it just so. Not too much, not to little, just right. Thanks. The guys doing the work are the same ones that did the big patio and wall last year. They are good. I feel really lucky to have them, but d*&£ I do wish their mothers taught them to wash out their mugs and wipe up the spilled sugary coffee!
tills, you are always welcome to take notes, takes seeds, drop by. If you do decide to use some of Pix's Flag Iris (I know WW, but I do like it - I'll help rip out the over growth!) it would make a nice flowering succession with the Iris in May June, and the Crocosmia July August. both have that blade leaf, but very different size.
And sofer - thanks for stopping in. I take that as high praise indeed.
^_^ I believe that the yellow flag is on our noxious weed list. But I'm not going to fight about it. I had them in my fish ponds for a while years ago. I like them also.
Your tour is beautiful. And all the other words they all have been saying.
