Small, sweeping gardens surround the face of this center hall colonial in Merion Station, Pennsylvania.

Nestled on a small cul-de-sac in charming Merion Station, Pennsylvania, this cozy colonial features sweeping gardens that frame its entrance.

Five fastigiate fringe trees occupy a small median strip between driveways, and are accompanied by mounding astilbes, melampodium, and variegated euphorbia.

Magenta sunpatiens carry the eye across the sweeping front garden beds which also include hardy hibiscus, salvia, rudbeckia, phlox, stargazer lillies, hostas, and a large flowering crape myrtle.

This smaller series of gardens are maintained by a consistent and thoughtful owner, and thrives throughout the seasons with its different interest points.

A young Japanese maple tree flanks the right side of the door (not pictured), and will grow into a formidable specimen in the years to come.

I hope you enjoy the pictures and selection we’ve put together!

As always, any questions or comments–please share with us!

“The Ten Commandments contain 297 words. The Bill of Rights is stated in 463 words.  Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address contains 266 words.  A recent federal directive to regulate the price of cabbage contains 26,911 words.”

Above, Calocasia (Elephant Ears, aptly named) “Mojito”.

An elegant assemblage of tropicals in what used to serve as a fountain trough.  Each is planted into its own pot and brought indoors for winter.

Caladium “Garden White” with a companion Boston Fern, wonderful texture.

A full tilt tropical garden at the Fareway in Chestnut Hill.  Blue-flowering plant is the herb African Blue Basil.

Canna tubers can be dug and stored in the basement til spring.

Bananas in a classic perennial/annual border.  Banana trees can be left in the ground, cut back, stump covered with a plastic pot and a pile of leaves over all.  They’ll return in spring with lots of offshoots, even in harsh winters (as we discovered last spring).

Baby bananas!

I like words. Words are places, rooms, distant airs, thin and tropical. They make us feel and imagine we are more than our bodies.  Rickie Lee Jones

Coreopsis “Zagreb” is a cheery perennial that blooms throughout the summer.  Here with tangy “Fire” Profusion Zinnia and a bit of Angelonia.  Pale colors can wash out in the late summer light. For that reason, aside from white which always pops (especially at night) we prefer to use bolder colors in our borders.

Annuals come into their own, especially when provided with fertilizer through the season.  They can smother the most insistent weed.  Above, Angelonia in two colors, “Punch” Vinca, Salvia “Victoria Blue” and Coleus.  None of these varieties require deadheading beyond a rare snip.

Salvia “Mystic Spires” (this relatively recent introduction deserves to be more available), Melampodium, Magenta Sunpatiens, Dreamland mixed Zinnias, a lime Echinacea, “Fire” Profusion Zinnias, Rudbeckia “Indian Summer”.  There are a host of incredibly showy Salvias more widely grown in recent years. Beloved by hummingbirds and butterflies due to vivid colors and tubular flowers, they come into their own in late summer and fall.  We were awed that the Salvia “Mystic Spires” we planted in 2013 bloomed through the first few fairly hard frosts that did in everything else.

A perky lime-colored Echinacea (Coneflower).  Wish I’d kept the tag for identification!  Stems are short and sturdy.  The Sunpatiens in the background  have become a staple for us in both sun and part shade.  Here, Magenta.  We love the Bright Orange, Dark Rose, White and Hot Coral varieties as well.

Eye-popping Hardy Hibiscus.

Angelonia, Magenta Sunpatiens, Rudbeckia Indian Summer, Salvia “Mystic Spires”, Phlox “David”, “Fire” Profusion Zinnia.  Unlike the commonly planted Rudbeckia “Goldsturm”, which sports golden flowers that can be coarse in a field of pinks and blues, “Indian Summer” blooms are overblown and a bright, sunny yellow – a hue that plays more effectively with most other colors in the garden.

So find a comfy chaise, put your feet up and enjoy the show.  You’ve earned it.

“More than anything, I must have flowers, always, always.”   Claude Monet

An article, with recipe, for creating moss patterns where you have moist shade. An old wall, a low-lying spot, anywhere near a drain will work well.

Here’s another recipe…

Several clumps of moss

1 container yoghurt or 12 oz buttermilk

1/2 tsp sugar

 

Put all in a blender, blend. Transfer to a jar and paint onto your surface with a brush. Make sure to mist the area frequently after applying the mixture until it’s established. You can also create your pattern indoors on a seed tray containing compost or on the form you’ll be using outdoors. Transfer to the outdoors when the moss has established, and continue to mist until it’s well-situated.

 

 

“Look at the bark of a redwood, and you see moss.  If you peer beneath the bits and pieces of the moss you’ll see toads, small insects, a whole host of life that prospers in that miniature environment.  A lumberman will look at a forest and see so many board feet of lumber.  I see a living city.”    Sylvia Earle