We had a superb visit to the Ringling Museum in Sarasota, Florida. It was a perfect day to enjoy the grounds. In the central museum courtyard are enormous terra cotta pots with bougainvillea as the only color spots- and nothing more is needed. Classic and simple, and I wanted to live there! Although if I did live there, I would add lemon trees. Then nothing more would be needed.
Walking though your garden can be a wonderful tactile experience.
Like a cashmere sweater or a fuzzy fleece in a clothing store, it’s almost impossible for me to walk past these plants without touching them. Even prickly things, like the center of a coneflower, make me want to connect. (“Let me see if I can touch it so softly that it doesn’t hurt!”)
We’re always focused on how a garden looks, especially when we’re perusing beautiful photos, but when we’re in the physical space, the smells, sounds, textures and even tastes elevate our experience to another level.
We planted this Wisteria frutescens at the corner of my neighbor’s porch about 5 years ago. It is such a gorgeous and reliable bloomer. If the idea of Wisteria makes you nervous, just be sure to select the American variety. It doesn’t get nearly as big as the Asian varieties and won’t end up pulling down your structures over time.
Rain, rain, you’re messing up the work site in my front lawn! But we need you, the plants are happy, and it’s a great time to get beautiful photos. This one is from my neighbor’s front yard, which is always pretty as a picture.
Pantone’s Color of the Year for 2017 is a no-brainer for the landscape. ‘Greenery’ is meant to be fresh, lively, and symbolic of a fresh start- all the things a good garden should be!
What will you do outside in 2017?
This photo doesn’t capture how cute and fluffy these things are! I think I’ll put one or two in my garden.
Need a dose of the tropics? Head over to the US Botanical Garden! I just went for the first time in several years to catch the end of the Christmas displays. It’s a great place to warm up and dream of spring.
Beautiful photos are fun, but we all know sometimes it gets a lot worse before it gets better! Too muddy today to even move the bamboo palette off the walk. Back tomorrow!
Trick question! You can’t have too many Japanese Anemones! These look like Anemone hupehensis var. japonica ‘Bressingham Glow’. Photo taken 16 October 2015 in Arlington, VA.