Passing the end of the Back Border we see our last glimpse of
The Dell. We are finally back to level ground.
On our right there is a bed of Queen of Sheba tulips. I think we put in about 90 bulbs here, most of them on this side of the path.
We've reached the shade garden, but let's pause and look back.
Still looks like spring!
Several large trees contribute shade to this next area. Beneath them a few dogwood and redbud trees enrich the setting and deepen the shade. The perennial shade garden is new and not ready for show yet.
It has been planted and hopefully by spring 2007 we will have something ready to photograph. Right now all I can show you are a few Hostas.
This Hosta is cultivated variety 'Cadillac'.Until the new plants fill in, I am leaving some of the existing ones which will be removed later. This is a Dame's Rocket, they don't mind some shade, but I prefer them to be on the bank.
Out of view on our left we pass a holly tree, a large white pine, and the small columbine garden through which stepping stones lead visitors in a shortcut to the back yard. But we will continue to the front yard for this area extends to the far front corner of the house and the path will terminate between the house corner on our left and a large bur oak tree on our right.
Just past the columbine garden is a large spruce on our left, then a large snowball Viburnum; seen on the right is a row of spireas in full flower.
The blue patch is a clump of cranesbill geranium that photographs bluer than its true pinky lavender color. During the ice storm, February 2003, we lost so many limbs on this side that suddenly we had too much sun for the shade garden I was planning. I was upset and thinking fast as we cleared the mountain of debris. There would not be time to grow more shade trees for protection from the hot morning sun. If there was to be shade, it had to be built. Thus was born the idea for a pergola.The plan for the pergola is to grow vines on it that will cast shade while soaking up the sun above. Until then, we enjoy what is already here.
When snowball viburnums start blooming, the blossoms are first green, then gradually turn white.
We have reached the end of the house.
This is climbing hydrangea - a wonderful plant.
And here, beginning to bloom.
We are to the front now; looking back from this distance the pergola is easier to see.
And, that's the end of the tour. I think you left your car on the street near the mailbox. As we approach, one last look shows the large oak tree and the neighbors' black locust.
I hope you enjoyed your tour.
You are welcome to come back anytime.
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4 comments:
That was a delightful tour, thank you. I shall come back and take it again, when the endless grey wet British weather becomes too depressing.
Rachel, I am so glad you found this tour. I tried to have some surprises to enrich the experience of readers who were adventurous enough to dig deeper into this web site. I haven't done much on it since I started the blog, but it was already rather large with several categories that offer further reading, some more than others. I hope it helped distract you from your virus miseries.
Barbee' I enjoyed the tour. Some of my favorites of the tour were the story about your grandmother's Pinks and how you came about acquiring them.
I liked the sedums in the shoes, The Queen of Sheba tulips on the North path....
The Woodland garden, The Oriental Poppies in the back border...
and the wildflowers in the meadow I liked most of all because of the wild life it attracts to this area of the garden.
Wonderful!.... Thank you for sharing.
Vetsy, you are very welcome! I'm so happy that you enjoyed the tour. Thank you for taking the time, I know you have much to do in your garden so I feel honored that you spent some of your time here with us.
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