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Sunday, July 19, 2009

A Private Botanic Garden


Visit Color Outside the Lines to enjoy more shared gardens.

On Sunday morning June 28 I had the pleasure to visit a fabulous home garden, which might better be called a private botanical garden. The gardener is a former co-worker of mine from the early 1980’s. She has been developing these gardens since retirement about five years ago. She said she began with the front yard and then continued aroound the sides and back and now there are plant beds all over. Upon arrival at the address one is astonished at the colors, fullness and variety of plantings.
View looking across from driveway.
A closer look at daisies and one of several bird baths.
The front of this bed is at the street and has 16 yellow daylilies.
The half acre property looks even more extensive with the various paths, arbors, and plethora of flowering and foliage plants, trees and shrubs.
The property is divided into about 13 garden areas.
The Secret Garden has flowering plants in pink, red and orange.

The Children’s Garden has whimsical objects and plants that appeal to the little ones.


The Hosta garden has some 60 to 70 hosta varieties.

A large tree provides shade for the hostas.
A tiny area is designated the Dogs’ Garden and there rest two family pets.

A Lily Border was established with bulbs given as a generous gift from a relative.


The Street Garden is along a pathway that goes from the street across to the edge of the property. Note how the many pathways are made of wood chips.

Throughout the gardens on can see delightful plants, like these red Double Knockout Roses.
Another red Knockout Rose is behind pink roses and near blue hydrangeas.
Pink and red Astilbe border the back of the house.
Many trees also give shade and provide vertical interest.

A weeping cherry with another bird bath nearby.
Near the side of the house two wooden barrels hold water plants.

There are quite a number of arbors arouond the property. The first leads around the house to the back yard is currently covered in a deep burgundy Clematis.

Another is of wrought iron with carved roses on it.
This arbor leads to the garden extension area. Nearby is an iron bistro set.
At the edge of the extension garden beautiful pink miniature gladiolus blooms.
This one is the entrance to Secret Garden.
Here is a row of four wooden bird houses. The one on the left needs repair and is tilting precariously on its tall pole. However, a growing bird family currently occupies it. Just beyond is the Secret Garden with more bird houses and also large bird feeders.

Another arbor leads to the Vegetable Garden.
The property abuts the back and side lawn of a former mansion, which has a row of towering evergreens as a border to and backdrop for the gardens. Another arbor leads to the back lawn of the mansion, which houses the English Department of the college where we worked.

In another post I will tell about collecting divisions from selected plants which my host dug up for me to use in my own garden.

7 comments:

ChrisC said...

What a beautiful garden! I can't imagine anything better than being able to garden full time.
Come on retirement!

Stacey said...

Hi Carrie. :) Thanks for telling me about this beautiful post today. I just love to visit other gardens. I would love to have a lot as big as your friends. It is stunning! Please tell her how much we enjoyed it.

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

Oh my how I would love to have a garden like that. I can't even imagine all the work involved, but everything is just breathtaking. What a thrill that she gave you some plants to take home. I love that when people share. Living in the desert, I so miss beautiful gardens, but they are nearly impossible here. I loved this post and can't wait to see your garden. Hugs, Marty

Carrie said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Carrie said...

Hi Marty,
Thanks for your nice comment on this post. I have been sharing photos of my developing garden beds in these posts:

http://oakrisecottage.blogspot.com/2009/06/outdoor-wednesday-new-plant-bed.html

http://oakrisecottage.blogspot.com/2009/06/share-garden-sunday-developing-new.html

http://oakrisecottage.blogspot.com/2009/06/share-garden-sunday-hydrangeas.html

http://oakrisecottage.blogspot.com/2009/07/outdoor-wednesday-garden-ornaments.html

I am looking forward to the next Cloche Party in September. Thanks for sponsoring this lovely event!
Carrie - Oak Rise Cottage

Irene said...

So beautiful! A piece of heaven on Earth!

"E" Street said...

Hi Carrie! Thanks for stopping my blog (E Street Garden) - I appreciate your comments and share your enthusiasm for those little impatiens!

What a beautiful garden you shared! If I could have something that looks that good, I would be happy (but probably exhausted too!). We are doing a lot of work in ours but are in only the first season so we have a long ways to go!

Your blog is a lot of fun and I look forward to keeping an eye on it!