Guest Garden Tours: Coping With the Elements
Coping With the Elements:
How many gardeners have to contend with unwanted elements when installing a new garden. Its bad enough having to deal with poor soil and inconsistent lighting, but what happens when you discover a stand of the nasty ‘Black Walnut’ on the neighbor’s property? Do you pack it in and hardscape the entire property? What about container gardening en masse?
Education runs through this gardener’s veins, and when she found herself confronted with this minor (’it is a tree after all’) setback, she set out to find out what plant materials would be tolerant of Mr. Walnut! Turns out that there are quite a few selections to choose from!
Many of the trees visible in the distance of this photo are said walnuts, and yet, upon closer inspection through the open slatted trellis, a plethora of woodland plants seem to thrive at the very base of this tree. This garden is resplendid with various ‘rooms’ that help to separate and define a somewhat deep property. This section, similar to a Potager, will be a vegetable plot in the future. Already tomoatoes, peppers and zucchini are growing.
I nenver cease to be amazed at how gardeners can disguise or soften the edges of corner properties. Living fences are choice and there is an ever increasing number of new and exciting plant materials to consider. Of course my first thought upon viewing this garden was, ‘I wonder how long this lush expanse of grass will remain?’ There is an increasingly popular movement afoot to replace grass areas with garden. I am sure this astute gardener is probably pondering the same question herself!
I love that gardeners are using their newly planted spaces as ‘key players’ when they incorporate hardscaping techniques into the landscape. You’ve worked hard, morning, noon and night to create this garden sanctuary….. don’t cover it up or bury it underneath unnecessary ‘lifestyle’ trappings. This garden maintains a perfect balance of comfort and naturalistic beauty!
Although I am careful to edit photos that show hoses and pots scattered throughout the garden, personally this is a true sign of a fellow plant addict! We should be tripping over the pots and hoses, so frequently are we tending and adding to our garden landscapes!
