Hello GPODers!
One of many many causes I really like the Backyard Photograph of the Day group is due to the numerous various gardening tales we get to listen to. From lifelong plant lovers who’ve fond recollections of enjoying of their grandmother’s gardens to lovers who caught the gardening bug later within the life, it’s inspiring how we are able to all come collectively to take pleasure in one another’s distinctive journeys and landscapes.
At the moment, we’re listening to from Heidi Behrens-Benedict, an inside designer in Bellevue, Wash., who had a really unconventional path to her backyard within the Pacific Northwest. She shares the story of how an inside design job at Washington Park Arboretum in Seattle gave her a brand new introduction to the world of gardening and shifted her perspective that stemmed from an preliminary unlucky expertise with vegetation in her youth.
Pricey Buddies at High quality Gardening ~
A few years in the past, I used to be prime on the brand new Arboretum Guests Middle in Seattle. I keep in mind my first assembly with a gaggle of guild members who had raised cash for the venture. As I sat across the convention desk, I used to be launched to the hosta knowledgeable, the rhody knowledgeable, the native species guru, gardeners who have been captivated with gardening within the Puget Sound.
One of many group requested me what sort of gardening I preferred. Whereas I consider I’m a superb designer, I knew from nothing about gardening. Once I was rising up, my father was within the navy. We lived in sizzling, dry bases. When my father would come residence about 4:30 p.m., he’d stroll within the door and say, “Why are you simply sitting there? Go exterior and weed.” Because it was 115 levels within the shade, gardening all the time felt like punishment.
I keep in mind as soon as tilting my head again as I used to be standing on the black, sizzling tarmac one recess and praying, “Please, God, once I develop up, I wish to dwell someplace it rains daily.” Once I graduated from school, I moved to Seattle. The primary summer season, it did rain daily. The home windows sheeted with water day after day. Mid-August, I used to be standing on the window and saying, “Please, God, I ought to have been extra particular. Maybe not each single day.”
Which brings me to my arboretum venture, once I stumbled with a solution for what sort of gardening I preferred and mentioned, “Container gardening.” What I actually preferred about container gardening was not a lot the vegetation however the classic pots. Massive glazed pots. Massive terracotta pots. Massive Chinese language pots. Sq. pots. For years, I collected stunning pots and exquisite yard artwork.
About 20 years in the past, I began placing vegetation within the pots. What I actually like are perennial vegetation with attention-grabbing leaf construction, and currently, after turning into a novice beekeeper, I’ve targeted on flowers that my bees will love.
So listed below are just a few photos of my pots, vegetation, and yard artwork.
With each good want ~Heidi
Heidi’s background in inside design, significantly her give attention to architectural salvage, is clear in her out of doors area. Other than the colour she has potted into her unimaginable assortment of containers, curiosity abounds in all of the clever touches and decor.
A more in-depth take a look at the colourful annual flowers Heidi potted this yr
Annuals are likely to get the majority of the container area in gardens yearly, however, as Heidi talked about in her intro, the gorgeous foliage of perennials and shrubs will be simply as profitable in a pot as they’re within the floor. I really like how this Japanese mock orange (Pittosporum tobira, Zones 8–10) is spilling out of its attractive inexperienced pot.
When a yard is filled with this a lot fascinating artwork, even a easy planting can create a big effect. This ornate pillar and reduction sculpture have already got lots occurring, so a easy pink geranium is all that’s wanted for a colourful pop of additional curiosity.
The out of doors seating space of an actual collector: not solely an area to take pleasure in Heidi’s lush gardens, however a spot to admire her thoughtfully curated artwork and furnishings items.
Thanks a lot for sharing your clever potted shows and inventive backyard adornments, Heidi! Your story is definitely a novel one, and your backyard actually displays that distinctive background in addition to your designer’s eye.
What was your introduction to gardening? What journey introduced you to your present backyard? When you haven’t shared your backyard on the weblog but, or it has been some time and you’ve got lots to replace us on, contemplate sharing pictures of your area this yr! Observe the instructions beneath to submit pictures by way of electronic mail, or ship me a DM on Instagram: @agirlherdogandtheroad.
We wish to see YOUR backyard!
Have pictures to share? We’d like to see your backyard, a specific assortment of vegetation you’re keen on, or a beautiful backyard you had the prospect to go to!
To submit, ship 5–10 pictures to [email protected] together with some details about the vegetation within the photos and the place you took the pictures. We’d love to listen to the place you’re positioned, how lengthy you’ve been gardening, successes you’re happy with, failures you realized from, hopes for the long run, favourite vegetation, or humorous tales out of your backyard.
Have a cell phone? Tag your pictures on Fb, Instagram or Twitter with #FineGardening!
Do you obtain the GPOD by electronic mail but? Enroll right here
High quality Gardening Really helpful Merchandise
Planting in a Put up-Wild World: Designing Plant Communities for Resilient Landscapes
High quality Gardening receives a fee for objects bought by hyperlinks on this web site, together with Amazon Associates and different affiliate promoting applications.
That includes attractive images and recommendation for landscapers, Planting in a Put up-Wild World by Thomas Rainer and Claudia West is devoted to the concept of a brand new nature—a hybrid of each the wild and the cultivated—that may nourish in our cities and suburbs.
Razor-Again Potato/Refuse Hook
High quality Gardening receives a fee for objects bought by hyperlinks on this web site, together with Amazon Associates and different affiliate promoting applications.
Gardener’s Provide Firm Summerweight Cloth Plant Cowl
High quality Gardening receives a fee for objects bought by hyperlinks on this web site, together with Amazon Associates and different affiliate promoting applications.
Ultimate for summertime pest management, this backyard cowl successfully screens out Japanese beetles, potato beetles, cabbage worms, leaf miners, carrot flies and most vine borers. It transmits 97.6% of the sunshine to your vegetation with out permitting warmth build-up, and it gives chilly safety all the way down to 41° F, to increase your rising season.
