The Path Less Traveled

Sapphire Blue sea holly is a favorite for deer resistant, drought tolerant drama

Sapphire Blue sea holly is a favorite for deer resistant, drought tolerant drama

Have you been into your garden recently? Not to weed the borders or cut the grass – just to see what is happening? Set the alarm clock a little earlier tomorrow, grab your camera and go on a mini garden safari.

I must admit I wasn't sure there was anything really worth photographing. I hadn't even caught up with removing spent bulb foliage let alone trimming the grass edges, the peonies needed deadheading, the new borders weren't grown in, I still had 'holes' to plug….. Sound familiar?  Yet I challenged myself to be an adventurer in my own garden, to be expectant, observant.

Hidden in plain view

Create a sense of mystery with a scrim of finely textured foliage or flowers

Create a sense of mystery with a scrim of finely textured foliage or flowers

I typically view this scene from a different perspective; from the left (indoors) the right (driving into the property) or three feet higher up – when I'm standing. Yet as I bent down to pull a weed (I couldn't help myself) I happened to glance up and noticed what a delightful semi-transparent screen this stand of Sapphire Blue sea holly (Eryngium 'Sapphire Blue') made. Veiled glimpses of this intimate patio made it appear all the more enticing, tucked within a frame of foliage and flowers. The elliptical glass birdbath drew my eye back to the roses and Caradonna sage (Salvia nemorosa 'Caradonna') now in full bloom. I could ignore fallen petals and leaves and enjoy the romance of the setting.

You can create a similar effect using tall verbena (Verbena bonariensis) or grasses.

Take a different path

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From outside the border, the strolling path disappears visually, leaving uninterrupted layers of colorful trees, shrubs and perennials

Do you always walk around your garden in the same direction? The scene above is part of my large island border which has a strolling path running through the middle of it. I have trained myself to deliberately walk that path in each direction periodically to get a fresh perspective but I rarely walk around the outside of the border and peer in. Yet this richly hued  vignette could only be truly appreciated when I did just that. The red-tipped Shenandoah switch grass (Panicum virgatum 'Shenandoah') is still low enough for me to see over and provided a perfect visual carpet for the glowing Orange Rocket barberry, Skylands spruce and erupting Cleopatra foxtail lilies and orange oriental poppies . Layers of gold, orange and burgundy, set off by many shades of green – all revealed by taking a walk along the path less well traveled.

Learn to stand still

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No special detours taken for this shot – I just stood still and crouched down a little to look more closely at this lovely metal bird my son sent for my birthday. The early morning light cast a perfect shadow.

From my semi-crouched position I simply turned my head….

IMG_1128Was this my garden? I usually walk this pathway quite quickly and as a result was missing this complex vignette with its luscious textural layers and color play. Yet look how the ice-blue corkbark fir (Abies lasiocarpa var. arizonica) needles  complement  the rich plum leaves of my new Moonlight Magic crepe myrtle while offering a monochromatic medley with the Sapphire Blue sea holly and Blue Shag pine (Pinus strobus ' Blue Shag'). I had missed that moment when the rising sun kissed the tips of the Skylands spruce (Picea orientalis 'Skylands') and barberry branches (Rose Glow to the left and Orange Rocket to the right). A little bird helped me see all that.

Do you need a add a 'garden moment' alongside the path to re-focus your view?

Dare to dream

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I  want to wait until this newly planted area has grown in before I write a more extensive post discussing the design details of our new patio but I thought you might like to get a glimpse of my vision at this interim stage. This is the view from our kitchen looking out into the back garden. The main patio is several steps away from the house and we have added a large planter in the middle of a border between the two. The idea is to create layers of color and texture to frame the patio, attract hummingbirds and butterflies, establish a focal point and create a more intimate space within the acreage.

IMG_1076Once outside you feel nestled within that space yet have open views all around. The plants have a lot of growing to do – but the dream is becoming a reality.

How is your garden growing?

 

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6 Comments

  1. Kathy Juracek on June 13, 2016 at 10:11 pm

    I have Sapphire Blue Sea Holly in my garden, it puts such a beautiful glow in the garden.
    Your gardens are breath taking!!



    • Karen Chapman on June 14, 2016 at 8:03 pm

      Thank you Kathy – I'm glad you enjoyed the mini, carefully framed tour! Yes those sea holly are one of my favorites too



  2. Jay Sifford on June 14, 2016 at 4:08 am

    What a great reminder of the reason we garden at all in the first place. I practice this almost on a daily basis (sometimes life gets in the way), either in the morning or early evening. Opening myself to really seeing my garden, not just looking at it, opens me to magic, and we all need a bit of magic in our lives. Hopefully, our gardens tell a story, one of history and of the present, as it looks toward the future. Our gardens are metaphors for life if we only see instead of look, if we listen instead of simply hearing. There's a rest that comes as we appreciate the fruit of our labors, and how we have entered into partnership with nature.
    I would not miss it for the world.



    • Karen Chapman on June 14, 2016 at 8:04 pm

      As always you manage to express so eloquently what I can't- thank you



  3. Kathy on June 16, 2016 at 5:53 am

    I am always so impressed with your garden. I have a date with my garden today – it is much needed time. I am putting a small patio right into the middle of my Potager and love the "screening" suggestion – thank you.



    • Karen Chapman on June 16, 2016 at 8:07 pm

      Enjoy the moment Kathy