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Waterwise Gardening Talk

  • March 15, 2011 12:12 pm

I’ll be teaching several classes for the Town of Cary this year.

Saturday, 19 March at 10:30 am I’ll be doing a talk at the Herbert Young Community Center, 101 Wilkinson Ave, Cary, NC 27511.

The class is called What’s in a Water-Wise Landscape?  Seven Steps to a Healthy Property (#50361)

The fee is $5 for Cary residents and $7 for non-residents.

You can register online, here https://classweb.townofcary.org/eConnect/Start/Start.asp or you can call the center at 919-460-4965 to register.  You should also be able to get in if you just come in on Saturday—head to the front desk at the center.

I’ll also be doing a pruning class again on 9 April as well as repeating this one on 21 May.  You can see more about these classes in this section of the Town of Cary’s Spring Program Brochure, page 13.

I hope to see you there!  Let me know if you are coming!

Winter Planters for Cary, NC Garden

  • November 6, 2010 11:52 am

I finished the pots I posted about previously.  The pots fit beautifully into their settings and definitely complement the landscaping and home.  I used plants that will provide some great winter color and texture.   Winter color can be challenging anywhere but in NC gardeners do have many options. 

Two pots were added to the front porch turning matching pairs of pots into threesomes.  The four pots weren’t enough for the large, gracious entry of this traditional brick home.    I had already potted the existing containers when the new ones arrived.  Standard dwarf ginkgos were used to add some vertical interest–and as something very unique.   I reused some variegated ivy to spill from the pots with the ginkgos.  The smaller pots got a mixture of pansies, snapdragons, ornamental kale, Ajuga reptans ‘Black Scallop’ and Sedum tetractinum.   I used the same plants in the new pots but added some variegated boxwoods as a permanent accent.  The boxwoods, quite small now, will grow to add substance and year-round color to the planters.  New, large pots round out the grouping at this home's entry.Three pots at front entry.

The  Ginkgos will lose their leaves, but will be perfect for some winter lights to brighten the porch.

Two more pots were installed in the back woodland garden next to a gazebo.  These pots replaced some old half barrel planters that were rotting away.  Removing those was a bit more work than I’d expected.  Ferns, variegated ivy and a few more plants were growing in these planters.  The ivy had escaped going right into the ground and even growing up and under the gazebo.  I removed all of the plants, soil and the rotting wood.  There were even rocks that had been in the bottom of the barrels.   The new pots were quite a bit taller than the barrels.  I trashed the ivy and planted the ferns and some Epimedium between the pots and the gazebo.  The large growing ferns will soften the space and be lovely next year.    A fall blooming Japanese Anemone was growing with a fern and that was planted also.  It has room to spread around and will bloom better out of the pot.

The new pots got evergreen Autumn Fern (Dryopteris erythrosora),  Lenten Rose (Helleborus orientalis), Epimedium, some miniature Narcissus and a few Pansies.  The Lenten Rose had been growing (rather poorly) in the barrel planters.Pots at gazebo entry in Cary, NC gardenLeaf motif pot for woodland setting.

All of these containers are irrigated with drip lines.  This makes maintenance much easier.  It is hard to hide the black 1/4″ tubing, but as the plants grow and fill in, they are hard to notice.  The tubing can be routed through the drainage holes in the pots which can make them less noticeable.   I do hope the homeowners are happy with their new pots.  It’ll be fun planting them again in the spring.

Pot Delivery (it’s not what you think!)

  • October 21, 2010 9:29 pm

They’ve arrived!   I ordered some wonderful new pots for a client and they arrived today.   Next week, I’ll be adding the plants.

My clients had two pairs of pots on their large front terrace, but the space still cried out for more.  I suggested a new pair to go with them.  Then I mentioned an area near the backyard gazebo.  Half barrel planters had been planted there long ago.  The ivy had escaped from them and the wood was decaying.  I suggested we consider new pots for that space as well.  It was agreed that I would pick out pots for both of these locations.

Front terrace with pots by Linden Landscape Design, Cary NC

Gazebo by Linden Landscape Design, Cary NC

 

Then I got to go shopping!  I love choosing accessories for gardens.  Plants can be accessories and I get to choose them all the time.  But pots and furniture are even more fun– like candy.  Most gardens aren’t complete without some carefully chosen accessories.   I checked out Market Imports at the NC Farmers Market in Raleigh.  I found these pots:

Campania Caprice Planter by Linden Landscape Design, Cary NCCampania Frascati Planter by Linden Landscape Design, Cary NC

Click the pics to embiggen and find out where the pots will go and why I chose each.  But I’ll bet you guessed that already.

Now it’s off to pick out more plants for these new pots.  I’ll need more of the panolas (viola x pansy–cute smaller pansy flower, no faces) and snapdragons like I put in the other pots.  I also used a nice dark Ajuga cultivar called Black Scallop.   Oh, and some soil too.  More shopping!

They’ll look great.

A Couple of Gnomes in the Garden

  • October 13, 2010 11:47 am

OFrancis Garden Gnome Bird FeederK, I’m not talking about typical garden gnomes.  Those kitschy little fellows that sometimes peek out of the foliage in many gardens.

I just planted two plants with the cultivar name ‘Gnome’.

Both are really cute and I put both in containers.  But they are both very different.  The first was a pair of standard ginkgos in a couple of matching contaGinkgo biloba 'Gnome' by Linden Landscape Design, Cary, NCiners that flank my client’s front door.  Ginkgo biloba ‘Gnome’ is a dwarf ginkgo and these are grown as a standard to create lollipop-like plants.  Gnome was discovered as a chance seedling by plantsman Ian Hiscock.  The foliage grows much more closely together than on typical ginkgos.   Soon the leaves should turn brilliant yellow and all fall at once, like other ginkgos.  They should have an interesting look in the winter and be gorgeous in summer.

Ginkgos by Linden Landscape DesignThe other gnomes couldn’t be more different.  I installed several miniature English ivy in some pots on the back terrace at his home.   These plants have tiny (1/2 – 3/4″) leaves of dark black-green.  Newer growth is lighter.  They should turn a more purplish color in winter.  We’ll see.  They are little now, but should be great plants to reuse in the pots over the years.  I’ll just root prune them when I replant the annuals.  Here’s a picture of the little cutie:  Miniature ivy 'Gnome' by Linden Landscape Design

Plantsman’s Lectures and a Plantsmen’s Tour at JCRA

  • September 29, 2010 8:18 pm

Noted plantsman, designer, writer and lecturer Richard Hartlage will be speaking tomorrow evening at the JCRA’s Friends of the Arboretum lecture in Raleigh:

“Twenty Years of a Life in Horticulture and Landscape Architecture”
Richard Hartlage, 2010 Outstanding Alumnus for Horticultural Science and Associate Principal, AHBL

September 30, 2010 (Thursday) – 7:30 PM-9:00 PM

Find out more here.

Then next Tuesday come back to the arboretum for a tour:

“Ornamental Edibles”
Mark Weathington, Assistant Director and Curator of Collections

October 5, 2010 (Tuesday) – 1:00 PM-2:30 PM

Oh, don’t forget the JCRA’s annual plant distribution this Saturday.

UPDATE:  I almost missed mentioning one more event.  Next Thursday, 7 October, there’s another Friends of the Arboretum Lecture.

“A JCRA Alum’s Perspective of the U.S. National Arboretum”
Richard T. Olsen, Research Geneticist, Floral and Nursery Plants Research Division, USDA

October 7, 2010 (Thursday) – 7:30 PM-9:00 PM

There’s something for everyone in the next couple of weeks!

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  • Author: Lynn Wilhelm
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Garden Tours

  • September 23, 2010 11:24 am

I had time to tour two gardens last week.   The first was during Plant Delights Nursery’s open house/garden.   This mail order nursery, owned by plantsman Tony Avent, is open for several weekends a year.  During these weekends you can view the plants in Tony’s gardens and purchase them at the nursery.  The second garden was the Stevens garden in Cary, NC.  This garden was among four on the Garden Conservancy’s Open Days tour.   Sadly, I was only able to see one of them.  Luckily, I chose Stevens’ Lakeside Paradise.  Entering this gorgeous garden is like entering a different world.

Plant Delights

Tony Avent’s place is a great garden to see his plants as grown in demonstration gardens.  But these aren’t typical demonstration gardens.   Tony’s philosophy of “masses of one” has created lovely gardens containing a great many species and cultivars of plants.  Tony trials new plants that he and others have collected, bred or found.  Those that turn out to be garden worthy are propagated and sold in the nursery.  Tony has some plants that are impossible to find elsewhere.   During this open house, Plant Delights also showcased copper sculpture by a local artist, J. A. Cobb.   His fanciful and figural pieces are charming.   I took some photos to share here, click them to enlarge and find out more about each.

Stevens’ Lakeside Paradise

The Stevens garden has a wonderful deck overlooking the back garden and lake.  The centerpiece of the deck is a very well trained Japanese Maple pruned in a distinctly Asian style.  Below the deck is an inviting gazebo.  At lakeside there’s a dock from which we were invited to feed the fish and turtles in the lake (the catfish were huge!).  A charming water garden and front courtyard finished off the tour.  Click photos find out more about the garden and learn a few great tricks the homeowners have used to solve some problems.

The Plant Delights pictures are the first four rows with the Stevens garden after.  To view all the photos after opening one of these below, just scroll down under the picture to see a thumbnail of the next photo.  Click on it so see more. 

 

Abutilon 'Cristina'
Abutilon 'Cristina'
Cestrum x 'Orange Peel'
Cestrum x 'Orange Peel'
Euonymus laxilorus
Euonymus laxilorus
Hedera helix flowers
Hedera helix flowers

Landscape Design Cary, NC Paeonia obovata
Paeonia obovata
Landscape Design Cary, NC Sarracenia 'Daina's Delight'
Sarracenia 'Daina's Delight'
Sarracenia flava
Sarracenia flava
Landscape Design Cary, NC Garden Spider
Garden Spider

Canna with Katydid
Canna with Katydid
Arisaema dracontium
Arisaema dracontium
Cyclamen hederifolium
Cyclamen hederifolium
Hydrangea serrata 'Kiyosumi'
Hydrangea serrata 'Kiyosumi'

Frog greeter
Frog greeter
Frog waiter and patron
Frog waiter and patron
Frog archer
Frog archer
Crane sculpture
Crane sculpture

Stevens front courtyard
Stevens front courtyard
Hidden boy planter
Hidden boy planter
Stevens Garden Gate
Stevens Garden Gate
Landscape Design Cary, NC Stevens Japanese Maple
Stevens deck with Japanese Maple

Landscape Design Cary, NC Stevens gazebo
Stevens gazebo
Begonia pot
Begonia pot
Landscape Design Cary, NC Stevens' Lakeside Paradise
Stevens' Lakeside Paradise
Coppery pot
Coppery pot

Granite Birdbath
This 80 year old granite birdbath has a secret.
Wall potting bench
Wall potting bench
Foliage pot
Foliage pot

An Award Winning Project

  • September 3, 2010 3:32 pm

I just found out that a project I designed while working at Greenscape, Inc, won an award.  The project was submitted in the design-build division of NCNLA‘s Excellence in the Landscape program and won its Merit Award.

Greenscape and several contractors did a fantastic job on this complex project.

When I was called in to design this project the house, detached garage and the dragonfly shaped pool were already nearly complete.   I designed the deck, many stone walls, a motor court and driveway, several walks and paved areas, the fence and lots of planting areas.  The homeowners were wonderful to work with.  I posted the Oxford Project in early 2009.

Head below the fold to see some photos of this property from earlier this summer: Continue reading – An Award Winning Project

Landscape Lighting–WOW!

  • September 2, 2010 2:32 pm

I’m referring to just what happens when you see a wonderful example of landscape lighting for the first time.  It usually does  make you say “Wow”.

photo by KDK Design GroupI’ve been lucky enough to have designed quite a few lighting projects that have made my clients very happy.  Now, let me explain something about lighting design.  There are are a couple of main aspect in the design.  First is the actual layout of the light fixtures and determining the type of fixture/lamp, wattage of the lamp (bulb) and the spread of the light.  Next, the information above plus the power source, site conditions and transformer type all determine the wiring needed to make the system work.  Both aspects are extremely important  for the design–one is just prettier than the other.  I generally do just the first part of design, leaving the wiring configurations to those more adept at the math needed.  Actually, I should mention one more aspect, a night adjustment after installation.   Proper aiming and exact locations of moveable lights can only be determined in the dark.  I do like to be involved in this as well.

Some of my views on lighting design are featured in Irrigation and Green Industry magazine.  A couple of installers and manufacturers are also included in the article by Robin Westmiller.  Even though the magazine is targeted at the landscape trade, it’s a great primer for anyone interested in a lighting system.

So, check out the article and see if you are ready for a little “Wow”.

It’s a Sign!

  • June 22, 2010 1:25 pm

Linden's new sign

When my clients suggested I put up a sign at their home, I realized I hadn’t even thought of having one made.

That’s because I usually just create the design for my clients and they go on to arrange the installation.   For this project, I was hired to be on site with the installers and help them with layout and to point out what existing plants to move and remove.

The project was a lot of fun and things are looking great.  Even many of the transplants.  Most of those relocated plants had just been installed (professionally) and seem to be happy in their new locations.  Some plants, old Irises and Narcissus needed to be divided.  A few others, some Nandina, had been in a long time and are showing some stress.

Walk Before

Walk Before, a straight path and a step down from the driveway.

The existing walk was serviceable, but had quite a few problems.  Click the photo to see what.

The lawn was separated from the drive by a raised bed of low brick walls and from the home by a planting bed along the walk.  Because of this, the entry appeared undersized for the large front yard.  I offered the clients a design option with the walk in place, but recommended they remove and rebuild it to really enhance the home.  Any new walk had to avoid the existing well head near the lamppost.

Project House

New Walk of stone to complement the home.

They had already decided to remove the raised bed and fix the grade at the driveway (now there is a slight slope down to the drive.  But deciding to change out the walk took a bit more time. 

The masons did a great job laying the pattern flagstone.  Pattern flagstone is flagstone cut into rectangular shapes.   Rather than a busy look with irregular flagstone (or crazy paving), this style truly complements the ashlar-cut stone on the home.

Because no one wanted to add railings to the distinctively curved stoop (they had been there once), I placed 3 Sky Pencil Hollies (Ilex crenata ‘Sky Pencil’) to provide the “feeling” of a railing.

The light on the post used to be a very colonial carriage lamp–a bit undersized, too.  I suggested they find something more modern and they found this.  It even has a photocell that they like (they’ll love it in the winter).  

The homeowners and a few other laborers did all of the landscape work.  One of the homeowners even did all the grading with new soil at the walk and the drive over the weekend in nearly 100 degree heat and high humidity. 

Now we just need that new Bermuda seed to come up.  A little rain would be nice.

Cast Iron Plant

  • June 21, 2010 4:14 pm

Aspidistra elatior,  or Cast Iron Plant, is a wonderful plant for shady spaces in gardens in Southeastern NC.    

   

Aspidistra elatior

Aspidistra elatior

As it name implies, this is a tough plant.  An evergreen with dark green, lance-like leaves that last a long time, it tolerates deep shade and droughty conditions.  It is relatively slow growing.    This plant was put in my garden about 3 years ago under a Japanese Maple tree.  I think it was a 1 gallon sized plant.      

This year my plant is putting out lots of new leaves.   They slowly uncurl and spread out.  Aspidistra is late to get growing in the spring–this pic was taken at the summer solstice.       

The old leaves eventually get frayed at the tips and turn brown.  To clean them up, just remove the entire leaf at the ground (don’t cut emerging leaves).  I cleaned mine up in March.  For thinner, newly installed plants, I often suggest that only the brown parts be cut.  Simply cut the tip off, mimicing the natural point on the leaf (an old florists’ trick).  Leaving the green part of the leaves allows the plant to keep making new food and possibly grow a bit faster.      

Aspidistra will sunburn if it gets too much sun, both in winter and summer.  The leaves just bleach out.  So the north side of a building or a tree trunk is best.  Here, where we are barely zone 8, I prefer to plant or divide them in the spring or summer so that they can establish before winter (I’ve never divided them as they are so slow growing, but you might want to share some).       

There are variegated forms of Aspidistra,  ‘Milky Way’ with small star-like specks, ‘Okame’ with golden stripes, ‘Asahi’ with leaves tipped with gold, among other named cultivars.     

Aspidistra-'Milky-Way'

Aspidistra elatior 'Milky Way'

Try planting them with other shade lovers like Autum Ferns (Drypoteris), Lenten Rose (Helleborus), Epimediums and Hostas.   The textural contrasts and color differences among these plants are fantastic providing long season interest in the garden.