http://statebystategardening.com/ga/blog_02_summary/ en helanderb@comcast.net Copyright 2012 2012-05-13T23:16:28+00:00 http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ga/blog_02/sizzling_succulents/ http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ga/blog_02/sizzling_succulents/ I just spent Mother’s Day weekend peeking into some stunning private gardens on the Atlanta Botanical Garden’s wonderful garden tour – Gardens for Connoisseurs 2012. I was really inspired by the 11 gardens I toured with my good friend, Marcia, as well as a little awestruck by a couple of these gardens.  I took a couple hundred photos and am now armed with ideas to update my own garden’s design. Gardening magazines keep reporting that using succulents is a hot new design trend. I saw several stunning containers filled with succulents or mixed in with other traditional flowering plants to add texture, structure and whimsy. Popular succulents for pots include euphorbia, sedum, echeveria, aloe, agave, haworthia and semervivum.  I sure can’t identify all the succulents I saw, but I know I am going to add more to my garden. Take a look at some of the amazing succulent containers I photographed on the garden tour… Succulents look classy in this formal urn!   This tabletop display uses different colors, textures and structure   I loved the succulents peeking out of this whimsical container   A trio of terracotta pots filled with succulents including string-of-pearls   This is a crazy mix of succulents - all shapes and sizes - and I have no idea what all the names are!   I like this mix of plants in this large terracotta container on a back patio   Noted Atlanta garden designer, Ryan Gainey, is growing succulents in his greenhouses.   Inspired to add more succulents to my garden, I created and framed this piece of succulent art that can hang on a wall.   Check out all the different succulents at your local nursery and come up with your own crazy combinations for summer interest. 2012-05-13T22:16:28+00:00 http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ga/blog_02/take_time_to_see_and_smell_the_roses/ http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ga/blog_02/take_time_to_see_and_smell_the_roses/ Recently on a cool and misty day, my friend, Cindy Dale, who is a Master Rosarian, invited me to her garden to see her roses in full bloom. The warmer winter and spring temperatures have encouraged roses to bloom several weeks early. Cindy is a little worried there will not be as many blooms to choose from to enter the rose show competition she helps to coordinate each year.  But with all the fabulous roses she has planted (over 200 varieties), Cindy is sure to have an amazing array ready for this annual event.  If you love roses and are in the Atlanta area, you might enjoy a drive to the southside to see the show. Cindy Dale shares some of her award-winning roses The South Metro Rose Society presents its 27th Annual Rose Show on May 19-20 at Church of Christ Fellowship Hall, 870 Redwine Rd. in Fayetteville, Georgia. Rose growers may enter their roses for judging between 7-10 a.m. on the 19th. The public is invited to come see, smell, and photograph hundreds of roses from 1-4 p.m. on both days. Admission is FREE! An information table will be staffed by ARS Consulting Rosarians. Rose bouquets will be sold and terrific raffle prizes include tickets to the Georgia Aquarium, restaurant gift certificates, rose bushes and more! All show visitors are eligible to win two tickets to the Georgia Renaissance Festival. Call 770-631-3885 for more information. To get you in the mood for the rose show or just to inspire you to add more of this favorite flower to your garden, I’ve included some of Cindy’s roses in full bloom. Chicago Peace hybrid tea   Outta the Blue shrub rose   Abraham Darby shrub rose   Easter Basket floribunda rose   Jeanne LaJoie climbing rose   Roses surround Cindy's fountain. Hope to see you at the rose show! 2012-05-03T22:27:41+00:00 http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ga/blog_02/the_gardens_of_hills_dales_estate1/ http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ga/blog_02/the_gardens_of_hills_dales_estate1/ Spring is a wonderful time to visit a public garden and get new ideas for your own private space. Recently I went back and toured again the Hills & Dales Estate in LaGrange, Georgia with 43 of my master gardener friends. The former home of the Fuller E. Callaway family, the mansion is a beautiful Georgian Italian villa. While I admire the home, I absolutely love the gardens. The history of the gardens at Hills & Dales began in 1832 when Nancy Coleman Ferrell planted a small formal garden on her LaGrange property. Her daughter, Sarah took over the care of the garden in 1841. Sarah scratched out garden design ideas in the dirt and slowly expanded the space to include formal boxwood parterres on six terrace levels. She rooted her own boxwoods and scoured the region for plants, especially unusual and exotic ornamentals. Known as Ferrell Gardens to the locals, the gardens were popular with young courting couples. Sarah created parterre gardens with English boxwood (Buxus sempervirens 'Suffruticosa') and arranged them into spiritual mottos For sixty years, Sarah tended and expanded her gardens but the property fell into disrepair after her death. Fortunately a frequent visitor to the gardens, the wealthy Fuller E. Callaway, purchased the site in 1911 and he and wife Ida Cason Callaway began restoring the gardens and building their stunning mansion on the hillside. Later their son, Fuller E. Callaway Jr. and wife Alice Hand Callaway began caring for the estate and the gardens in 1936. Alice continued to expand the gardens for sixty years just as Sarah Ferrell had done. In 1998, the Callaway family bequeathed Hills & Dales Estate to the Fuller E. Callaway Foundation. The house and gardens were opened to the public in 2004.  Take a walk with me through these charming, formal southern gardens that were nurtured by four strong southern women….   You are welcomed to the garden through this charming "bird" garden gate.   The sunken garden as seen from the house.   A Southern magnolia is espaliered over the windows of this former garage and chauffeur's quarters on the grounds.   The Ray Garden features seasonal flower beds.   I love this weathered bench under a towering mimosa tree!   Chinese privet frames this approach to the greenhouse.   The herb garden is laid out in a formal pattern next to the greenhouse.   Alice Callaway loved collecting orchids and maidenhair ferns in the greenhouse.   I liked this garden saying tucked into the greenhouse.   Some of the 43 master gardeners on the tour pause at the Callaway home.   Take a trip to tour this southern gem in LaGrange and see how four strong southern women created a beautiful and historic garden. 2012-04-19T15:54:38+00:00 http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ga/blog_02/the_gardens_of_hills_dales_estate/ http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ga/blog_02/the_gardens_of_hills_dales_estate/ Spring is a wonderful time to visit a public garden and get new ideas for your own private space. Recently I went back and toured again the Hills & Dales Estate in LaGrange, Georgia with 45 of my master gardener friends. The former home of the Fuller E. Callaway family, the mansion is a beautiful Georgian Italian villa. While I admire the home, I absolutely love the gardens. The history of the gardens at Hills & Dales began in 1832 when Nancy Coleman Ferrell planted a small formal garden on her LaGrange property. Her daughter, Sarah took over the care of the garden in 1841. Sarah scratched out garden design ideas in the dirt and slowly expanded the space to include formal boxwood parterres on six terrace levels. She rooted her own boxwoods and scoured the region for plants, especially unusual and exotic ornamentals. Known as Ferrell Gardens to the locals, the gardens were popular with young courting couples. Sarah created parterre gardens with English boxwood (Buxus sempervirens 'Suffruticosa') and arranged them into spiritual mottos For sixty years, Sarah tended and expanded her gardens but the property fell into disrepair after her death. Fortunately a frequent visitor to the gardens, the wealthy Fuller E. Callaway, purchased the site and he and wife Ida Cason Callaway began restoring the gardens in 1911 and building their stunning mansion on the hillside. Later their son, Fuller E. Callaway Jr. and wife Alice Hand Callaway began caring for the estate and the gardens in 1936. Alice lovingly cared for and continued to expand the gardens for sixty years just as Sarah Ferrell had done. In 1998, the Callaway family bequeathed Hills & Dales Estate to the Fuller E. Callaway Foundation. The house and gardens were opened to the public in 2004.  Take a walk with me through these charming, formal southern gardens that were nurtured by four strong southern women….   You are welcomed to the garden through this charming "bird" garden gate.   The sunken garden as seen from the house.   A southern magnolia is espaliered over the windows of this former garage and chauffeur's quarters on the grounds.   The Ray Garden features seasonal flower beds.   I love this weathered bench under a towering mimosa tree!   Chinese privet frames this approach to the greenhouse.   The herb garden is laid out in a formal pattern next to the greenhouse.   Alice Callaway loved collecting orchids and maidenhair ferns in the greenhouse.   I liked this garden saying tucked into the greenhouse.   Some of the 45 master gardeners on the tour pause at the Callaway home.   Take a trip to tour this southern gem in LaGrange and see how four strong southern women created a beautiful and historic garden. 2012-04-19T15:54:24+00:00 http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ga/blog_02/smith-gilbert_gardens_a_north_georgia_treasure/ http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ga/blog_02/smith-gilbert_gardens_a_north_georgia_treasure/ Tucked away in Kennesaw, you will find a gem of a garden that encompasses 16 acres, including the historic Hiram Butler Home (ca. 1880).  A Confederate major, Butler is known for his role in “The Great Locomotive Race,” helping to track down the Union soldiers who stole the General locomotive. After a former house burned down, Hiram Butler built this home with triple-layer brick walls, over 12 inches thick. In 1970, Richard Smith and Dr. Robert Gilbert bought the Hiram Butler home and the surrounding acreage. Their original goal was to attract birds that migrated over their property. Over a 35-year period they continued to develop the spectacular gardens, which include 30 contemporary sculptures and over 3,000 species of plants. You’ll find plants here you may never have seen before! Recently I enjoyed a guided tour of the home and gardens with 50 members of the Peachtree City Garden Club. We wandered down pathways through various themed garden areas including the conifer garden, rock garden, rose garden, camellia garden, waterfall area, woodlands, bonsai exhibit and the new Gather ‘N’ Grow edible garden that just opened in March. Come along for a little spring tour of the Smith-Gilbert Gardens…   Members of Peachtree City Garden Club gather outside of the Hiram Butler Home before garden tour begins.   Deodar cypress in the Conifer Garden   'Flame' azalea in all its golden glory!   I love this old bench covered in lichen. In the back you see mahonia.   Metal arbor frames one of the contemporary sculptures - the signature piece in the garden.   A row of snowball viburnum - wow!   Jack-in-the-Pulpit   Another interesting sculpture entitled 'Harlequin'   'Bird in Hand' sculpture at the waterfall   Landscape bonsai exhibit   Raised beds at the new edible garden - Gather 'N' Grow - "a place for dirty hands, playful hearts and happy learning."   Going vertical at the edible garden.   And back to the Butler home through the 'Magnolia Gate.'   Take some time when you are in the Atlanta area to enjoy the stunning Smith-Gilbert Gardens. 2012-04-03T21:59:31+00:00 http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ga/blog_02/spring_blooms_in_georgia/ http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ga/blog_02/spring_blooms_in_georgia/ Even with a pollen count at records levels, I decided to take a golf cart ride around my Peachtree City Georgia town to photograph the amazing spring blooms popping up all over. Not even the yellow pollen dust can detract from the beauty. These few weeks are precious to Southerners when the dogwoods, azaleas, redbuds and cherry blossoms are out in all their splendor. Right now there is nowhere else in the world so lovely! Here is just a sampling of the views I saw on this lovely spring day… Traditional southern home surrounded by dogwoods and azaleas   The dogwood bloom has a perfect shape. This photo was taken by my friend Cubie Steele.   This amazing snowball viburnum takes pride of place in a yard with very few plants at all! But wow - what a show this time of year!   The delicate pink blooms of the redbud provide a wonderful compliment to the dogwood   White azaleas and dogwood   Lady Banks roses blooming on my trellis!   My mother's camellia is still blooming.   My friend, Al Baird, showed me around his amazing garden filled with azaleas and camellias   My pond water has a yellowish pollen tint to compliment the Japanese kerria starting to bloom with its pretty yellow flower!   Get outside to enjoy the spectacular show and take photos to remember how pretty your garden looks in the spring! 2012-03-22T17:51:59+00:00 http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ga/blog_02/go_vertical_in_the_garden/ http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ga/blog_02/go_vertical_in_the_garden/ After we cut down some diseased Leyland cypress trees last summer that had been deflecting the harsh afternoon sun from our backyard , I realized pretty quickly that I needed something to screen our deck before summer’s heat strikes again. Instead of an awning, I am thinking of going vertical with plants to add some beauty and interest and provide the necessary screening we need. My husband is drawing up some plans to build a lattice box with soil in the middle, contained by landscaping fabric. I can then poke plants through the fabric and have a wall of wonderful plants that love the sun but also deflect it from our deck. I hope we can figure out how to make this idea a reality! Vertical gardening grows in popularity every year. It is a great way to garden in a small space. It also provides a pop of color and a focal point when you have a long wall or fence.  Nothing is more charming than a flowering vine growing up a trellis or arbor. There are so many ways you can take it vertical. Here are just a few ideas: My arbor covered in vines beckons people farther into my garden.   A lovely lattice against a brick wall provides the frame for luscious blooms at Chicago Botanic Garden.    Crossed vines provide interest against this home's siding and compliments the beautiful planting bed.   Cheerful impatiens spill over this wall adding a colorful focal point.   A clever way to hang plants vertically along a fence!   A vertical box built into a corner adds a stunning display at Chicago Botanic Garden.   Vertical gardens aren't just ornamental but provide a compact way to grow fruit and other edibles - an espaliered fruit tree takes up little space.   A wall of herbs at the Atlanta Botanical Garden.   Teepees are the perfect vertical support for veggies and other vining plants.   I got lots of inspiration (and photos) last year visiting the Chicago Botanic Garden. They really utilize their space with vertical gardening.  Try it in your own garden! 2012-03-10T23:51:06+00:00 http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ga/blog_02/warm_weather_early_blooms/ http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ga/blog_02/warm_weather_early_blooms/ Temperatures might get up to 70 today and I am starting to believe that winter may really have passed us by this year! Of course, as soon as I write this – we will probably get a freeze. But it really does feel like an early spring. So many plants are starting to pop up including my day lilies. Carolina jessamine vines are getting ready to bloom on my arbors and hydrangeas are showing some green growth. Some of my mother’s azaleas are in bloom. I have some plump flower buds progressing on my snowball viburnum and really hope those huge blossoms will not be hurt by any late frost. This time of year, I am always excited and fascinated by what is blooming.  Here is what I’ve got going in my February garden:   The prize of the winter garden - Hellebores (Lenten Rose)   I love the color combinations of Hellebores. New varieties have more upright blooms.   It seems like everyone has camellias in full bloom. Last year these bloomed in March and April.   Rosemary is my new "favorite" plant to give structure and interest to the winter garden. And it has such pretty blue blooms in January and February,   My viburnum bushes have become small trees and are covered in blooms right now.   I like the contrast of the fountain grass and the viburnum blooms.   I never seem to be able to grow Daphne odora successfully but my mother's are filled with fragrant flowers right now.   My mystery ground cover! Do you do this - plant something and forget to write down what it is? But it is pretty and in bloom.   Hooray for spring! Let's hope we enjoy a long and cool one because with this warm winter, I hear we are going to have a really "buggy" summer this year!   2012-02-23T13:08:57+00:00 http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ga/blog_02/join_the_great_backyard_bird_count/ http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ga/blog_02/join_the_great_backyard_bird_count/ We finally got some cold weather and I have been enjoying watching (from the warmth of my kitchen window) the birds coming to my bird feeder. Today I saw a hairy woodpecker, blue bird, tufted titmouse and a chickadee. I’m constantly on the lookout for a great blue heron that likes to terrorize my koi and gold fish!  I spotted a Cooper hawk the other day and have noticed several black vultures around. I’ve been “practicing” identifying birds in preparation for the Great Backyard Bird Count. Heron stalking my fish! Each year thousands of people across the country count birds during the four-day nationwide bird count. This fun and free event will be held this year from Friday, February 17 – Monday, February 20. The best part – you don’t have to go anywhere to participate. Your backyard is the perfect place to count birds. Or, you can go to a local park, school yard, nature preserve – any where you can find birds. The purpose of the count is to encourage people to become more interested in birds and to help researchers determine the winter movements of birds across our country during one specific time-frame. Beginners are welcome and families are encouraged to take this opportunity to get their kids outside to appreciate nature and learn more about our feathered friends. You can commit as little as 15 minutes on one day or you can choose to count on one, two, three or all four days for as long as you like. You can download from the Great Backyard Bird Count website a Regional Bird Checklist that details what birds you will find in our area and a Data Form with instructions on what to do and to help you keep track of the birds you are counting. Northern Cardinal   Tufted Titmouse Here is a list of the top ten birds most frequently reported during the 2011 count: Northern Cardinal, Mourning Dove, Dark-eyed Junco, Downy Woodpecker, American Gold Finch, Blue Jay, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, House Finch and Tufted Titmouse. Most of these birds can be spotted in Georgia. So, dust off those binoculars and get ready to count birds!     2012-02-12T22:49:22+00:00 http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ga/blog_02/crape_murder/ http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ga/blog_02/crape_murder/ Dan and I were at the recycling center today dropping off some debris that I didn’t want in my compost bins.  It was a warm day and it appears lots of folks decided it was a good time to prune their crapemyrtles. I saw crapemyrtle limbs everywhere! The pruning of crapemyrtles (often called crape murder) is usually over-done, poorly executed and often leaves behind a very misshapen tree.  I see landscaping companies routinely topping these trees in late winter and I guess the rest of us just follow their lead. It is better to not even prune a crapemyrtle than prune it improperly. Once you start hacking on it each year, it is hard to develop the nice tree structure that is so attractive. We’ve all seen those well-hacked trees with the huge knobs sprouting dozens of tiny branches. Yikes! Not a good look! Recently the members of the Peachtree City Garden Club pruned four crapemyrtles at Braelinn Elementary school where we are helping to create a memorial garden for a young student who was tragically killed last year in an accident. We are so honored to be part of this project in memory of Anna.  A gazebo has been built by donations from the community and our task is to design and plant some beds around the gazebo in Anna’s favorite color – pink.  At first the school representatives wanted to get rid of the four very dense and shrubby crapemyrtles around the gazebo. Teachers complained they could not effectively watch students on the playground because you could not see through the trees. We asked the school if we could try to save them by thinning out and limbing up the trees.  On a nice warm February day (where is winter this year?) we worked on the trees and feel very pleased with the result. Garden club members work to thin out and limb up four crapemyrtles, trying to maintain a natural and pleasing shape.   The trunks of this tree have been limited to just a few which opens up the shape. We'll then prune out small branches and twigs at top.   Dan's and my trusty truck was full of branches!   Our garden club crew pauses in our work for a photo. Before pruning a tree, it is good to ask yourself a few questions: How does the tree’s shape look overall?  Does the branch structure seem balanced?  Are there dead or diseased limbs? Are any limbs growing at tight angles (growing straight up the middle of the tree) or crossing other branches? Are there branches too close together or rubbing each other? Are suckers growing at the base of the tree?   Pruning out dead, diseased limbs; branches that deter from the over-all shape of the tree and crossing limbs goes a long way in pruning a tree correctly. An example of good corrective pruning of a crapemyrtle 2012-02-04T19:53:47+00:00