A temporary garden acting like a real one


It doesn’t seem right to discuss flowers and Bloom Day without mentioning what’s been growing and blooming in the Show House garden. I’ve enjoyed watching our temporary garden develop as the trees, shrubs, and perennials get bigger and come into flower. Even the veggies are flowering—which isn’t supposed to happen—but they look pretty. Those we’ll keep and hopefully whomever gets them will whip them into shape.



Some of the more interesting plants include the two dogwoods, the fothergilla, and the trollius. The garden is pretty much in full sun, so everything is advanced. All the plants are healthy, and we’re pleased to be giving them back in such great condition to the nurseries who lent them. And glad not to have to worry about watering them anymore; the viewing period ends tomorrow. Sadly, nobody ever looks at this side (the back) of the salvaged door panels, where the trollius and tiarella are.


These pesky little pots, though cute, have needed constant watering throughout the viewing period, the tree bags generally need filling and every other shrub and perennial is in a container as well.


Above you can an idea of what some of the plants looked like when we started and what they've become, though I don't have exact matching shots that would do that, unfortunately.

Comments

Unknown said…
I love the use of the door panels! I could do that...paint them my periwinkle blue, get longsuffering spouse to sink them into the ground to brace against the wind, and voila...instant mini-windbreak. Thanks for the good idea, Eliz..I've wondered what to do with those two louvered doors ever since I had a writerly tantrum a few years ago, slammed the doors on my then-office and knocked both of them off the tracks, to my LSS's great amusement. He took them away from me. And made a proper office with a real door which slams much better when the writer is having a writerly snit!
Frances said…
Hi Elizabeth, what a wonderful job you did with the showhouse garden. I hope lots of people saw it and were inspired to begin gardening at home it they were not already. The plants did grow so much, even in pots. A good thing all around.

I have to comment on your tulips too. We have been growing Vvedenski for many years, first at our other TN house for 9 years, none in Texas, then here for 8 more. They always return. Don't you think they have the largest flowers of the species type? Love 'em.
Frances
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Avis said…
You created a very beautiful garden. And I feel your pain on the constant watering of container plants. Cheers!
Even though it is temporary it sure looks good.
JAbel said…
What is the pale yellow flowering plant in one of the pesky little pots pic.I hardly ever see pale yellow at the garden stores in So Cal and that one looks very pretty.
Gail said…
The painted door panels are brilliant and easy to duplicate for most of us. I like container plants and think they add so much to a garden setting but they do require daily maintenance here in the Middle South; twice some days!

...and so the planning starts for next year's show house!
Diana said…
How pretty it all looks, especially the door panels. Pam and I were just talking on a garden tour a few weeks ago about getting your color in the garden from things other than plants sometimes. This is a perfect example of bringing in blue -- but not with plants. Very cool!
EAL said…
JAbel,

Sorry to say, the yellow plant is a humble pansy!
JAbel said…
Thanks,I couldn't tell from the shot if it was something like that or one of those small single leaf geraniums.At least I know what to look for now!
Unknown said…
I'm covering those door panels. And the cool horizontal wall behind the sink!

So those door panels, you just have them standing up between two posts that are sunk into the ground and painted the same color, is that right? Or is there more "structure" that I don't see?

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