Blogging Archives - Page 17 of 19

Bzzzz February 20th, 2008

Every place I visit seems to have its own unique “green” character.

In London, I was charmed by the profusion of creative window boxes around the town. In France, I was amazed at the enthusiasm of small towns to “green” their city streets compete for prizes. Here in the U.S., I adore walking around Charleston and glimpsing into tiny jewels of walled gardens. In Key West I was enchanted by the exotic, luscious, tropical plants growing with wild abandon in the yards of even the most humble cottages.

One of the most charming cities with a unique garden appeal I have visited is Amsterdam. The city of 12,000 bridges and 160 canals is also home to about 2,400 houseboats that line the canals and waterways around the Netherlands’s capital. Houseboat living became popular in the 1950s during a shortage of affordable housing. As boat owners upgraded their old and dated barges for larger and more modern vessels, ingenious and thrifty folks bought the barges and converted them into floating homes.

Despite the fact that they traded in earth for water, many of the houseboat dwellers still have gardens. Visitors to the city can tour the canals in well-narrated tours. But the narrative is just noise when you start snapping photos of all the picturesque waterways and the homes.

Not a few of the houseboat dwellers had converted portions of their decks into tiny but traditional gardens by carting in loads of dirt to create a replacement allotment. Most, however, were container gardens. Beautification of their aging vessels seemed to be important to many, as containers of geraniums, daisies and, of course, tulips were abundant.

Many of the houseboat dwellers had productive pots of tomatoes and herbs. Some of the canal dwellers just seemed to be giving their houseplants a good airing.

Amsterdam is a wonderful and inviting walking city. The streetscapes are safe, clean and lined with interesting plants. But the canals are what draw the eye and the imagination.

For me, it was a lesson in “make blooms where you are planted.” Regardless of how humble your abode or challenging your growing circumstances, create a bit of beauty to brighten your day and the day of those who see your home.

I certainly wish more of our American suburbs and small towns would take the lessons of our European cousins. A bit of greenery and flowers is not just beautifying. It sends the message that someone cares about the place where they go at night and raise their families.

Posted In: Container Gardening, Gardening, Travel

Tags: Blogging

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Bzzzz February 14th, 2008

For me, there’s nothing like seeing the real thing to learn about plants.

That’s one of the reasons I make visiting botanical gardens, parks and flower shows a high priority when it comes to travel and my free time. Aside from the enjoyment of being outdoors or seeing all the wonderful new combinations, I can see the three-dimensional version of the plants in a natural setting. I can see their real size and color. I can smell, touch and feel the plant.

When I look at the flowers and plants in magazines and catalogs all seem to run together after a while. The photographers make them all just lovely. And how can you really judge color or size in print? Forget about smell.

When I’m visiting a park or garden I will sometimes photograph a particularly striking arrangement with the plan for making a similar arrangement at home or just to add to my photographic idea book.

Here’s an example. On the left is a container arrangement I saw at the Dixon House and Gardens in Memphis last May. I was particularly taken by the holly, primroses and parsley packed into the beautiful pot. The unusual shape of the holly made a dramatic statement in the container arrangement and added some vertical interest.

On the right is a version of the same arrangement I made at home with flowers I found at the local garden center, including a sky pencil holly and some miniature petunias. I didn’t have the fabulous container they had at the Dixon gardens, so a simple terra cotta container had to do.

Could I have gotten such an arrangement idea from a book? Sure. But by actually seeing and copying an existing arrangement, I had a much better idea of the outcome to expect.

I haven’t had nearly the same success with packages of plants sold to create specific effects. White Flower Farm has some spectacular arrangement collections and photographs that make me salivate. They are drop-dead gorgeous. Still, I’m not buying them anymore though because I can never recreate the same effect in my garden. It’s frustrating to spend a lot of money on plants and then be disappointed in the outcome. I’ll save my money for seeds, fabulous pots and plants I can be confident will do well here at Bumblebee.

Of course, not all of the arrangements here at Bumblebee are copies. But I think copycat gardening is a good strategy for learning about plants until you’re ready to fly solo.

Posted In: Container Gardening, Gardening

Tags: Blogging, Dixon House and Gardens, gloriosa superba Rothschildiana, Memphis, White Flower Farm

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