Archive for April, 2008

Sunday, April 27, 2008

April 27, 2008 at 11:26 am · Filed under Helen's Haven

It seems too much color in one spot is always an issue in my garden. Last week, I had issues with too much purple, this week it seems my butterfly nectar garden has too much green. I must have said it out loud because on Monday as we were leaving the driveway for school, Aster says I think we have too much green in the garden. Then again, it just may be that obvious even to a soon to be 7 year old!

Monday was a fine day of garden scouting, finishing a story for Fine Gardening magazine, potting up container gardens for the JCRA Gala in the Garden all the while, listening to the rain’s gentle fall.

We are official in spring planting frenzy time…everyone wants it now and I can’t be in two places at once. This is a hard act to balance, but somehow I will manage.

Friday was “take kids to work day”…err, it was a snow makeup day and with no snow to make up for, we have a 4 day weekend. Before heading out to my client’s garden, I got to play in my garden which I usually only get to do on Sunday. I choose to weed.

Everyone has a task they don’t like to do. For some it’s deadheading, others it’s pruning, and for many it’s weeding. I actually like to weed. It’s a good thing too, since I lead the Raleigh Garden Club team to maintain the Winter and Viburnum gardens. I will soon start caring for the Butterfly Garden…I got to get working on that…

With regards to weeding, I find it very satisfying…something I can do in the garden and not have to think. With so many maintenance rules with regards to when to prune, fertilize, deadhead (or not), plus watering needs, sun needs, and menacing animal needs, it is nice to be in the garden and not have to think. So what was that again? Do I need to be fertilize this and prune that, or was it prune that and fertilize this….with a weed, it always needs pulling – you don’t have to give it a second thought – just get it out!

Saturday was a blast – one of those magical moments in the garden of my friend Lisa Treadaway. She had her open house with Carol Stein, garden writer for the News and Observer, also a friend of mine, speaking on cooking with herbs. This was followed by a wine and cheese party in the herb garden. We were protected from the sun by the American Wisteria covered arbor. The breeze was light and the humidity was low. We also started cooking up some ideas of promoting the Piedmont with garden and story ideas. You will soon see one particular story idea for a column that was cooked that day!

Lisa Treadaway, Helen Yoest, Carol Stein

Plants in the garden that are just coming up or just getting started include:

Crinums

Echinacea

Buddleia Butterfly bushes.

Plants in the garden that are waxing include:

Amaryllis

Mrs. G.G. Gerbing azalea

Bottle Bush

Hydrangeas – Oakleaf, Lady in Red, Lime Light, Endless Summer, Nikko blue all leafing out nicely

Santolina

Herbaceous peonies (spp?)

Achillea yellow yarrow (spp?)

Clematis – added a new trellis to support it

Passiflora Incarnata Maypop is ready to pop! I have this strong-growing vine in my garden because it is the host plant for Gulf Fritillaries

Spice Bush (both Lindera spp. and Lindera spp.) These were a gift from the JCRA and make a nice addition to my garden because they are the host plant to Spicebush Swallowtail

Arisaema tripihyllum Jack in the Pulpit,

Plants in the garden that are peaking include:

Cross Vine

Verbena ‘Homestead Purple’

German Bearded Iris

Siberian Iris (blue spp.?)

Dwarf Iris cristata, Columbine

Brunnera macrophylla ‘Jack Frost’

Hardy Orchid

Chrysogonum virginianum green and gold ‘Allen Bush’

Lavandula stoechas Spanish Lavender

Iberis sempervirens Candy Tuff

Pink Double Knock Rose

Cl. Rose Stairway to Heaven with a hundred blooms

Tree peony (spp?) white,

Sage blooming (spp.?)

Fringe tree (just added in honor of a friend)

Edgeworthia – all leafed out

Big leaf Magnolia – all leafed out

Salix ‘Scarlet Curls’ all leafed out and needing thinning

Dianthus (spp.?)

Campanula (spp?) – a white variety given to me by Annette Hunt from New Bern whose garden will be in Better Homes and Gardens 2010 Salvia macrophylla ‘Hot Lips’

Tradescantia (spp.?) – a volunteer,

Roses in bloom besides the Stairway to Heaven include, Fragrant Wave, Julie Child, Pristine, Sweet Valentine, Pink Pease, Rainbow Sherbet, Black Beauty, and Don Juan.

Plants in the garden that are waning include:

Hellebores (seeding)

Carolina jessamine

Pansies

Vinca

Ajuga

Lady Banks Rose

Dogwood (spp.?)

Mertensia virginiana Virginia Blue Bells.

On Thursday, we had a nice morning dew. I never stop enjoying the wonder of seeing a garden through children’s eyes. On the prostrate rosemary, there were spider webs covered with dew. Aster spots this and says to me as we are leaving for school, “Mom, see those spider webs that plant? At first I thought they were feathers, then I thought they were caterpillars, but when I got closer, I saw they were little spider webs covered with dew. Pretty neat don’t you think?” Yep, sure do!

Helen Yoest (Philbrook)

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Sunday, April 20, 2008 Garden Art

April 21, 2008 at 2:49 pm · Filed under Helen's Haven ·Tagged ,

Voles, my nemeses – they attacked again! I hate those root munching, menacing, miserable, meanies.

While the 90% first frost is October 31, it just about always goes way past this date; the spring last frost date (90%), however, is always right around the target date of April 15. This week we had a frost on the 16th. Everyone was worrying and wondering what to cover up. I remained calm remembering my new mantra learned from the infamous ‘Easter Freeze’ of 2007. Basically, it is out of our hands. Don’t put it out until after April 15 and then watch the weather for the next weeks’ report. If you do put it, then you have to put up with the consequences. With regards to what is in the ground…let them do their thing, let come what may…

I spent Thursday with two friends shopping for garden art. We aren’t just talking about concrete bunnies, but art on a museum quality level. On days like this, I often stop to pinch myself not believing I’m awake. It feels like a dream. The thrill of knowing I am actually a part of making garden art history literally brings tears to my eyes.

First we met with Phil Hathcock and then Thomas Sayer. I actually have art from both that is on a more human scale than what we were shopping for on this day. I’m also very fond of both artists. You can’t help feel the emotion that goes into their garden art. The connection between the art and the artists is important to truly understanding their art – at least it is for me.

In both cases, the connection between the artist and the garden art admirer was immediate. At one point, tears were fought back between the admirer and the artist…I got emotional just watching this exchange of emotion. Follow-up meetings were made for the next day to see if their art would work on the property. I had no doubt, but seeing this fantastic property was a must for the artist and how the art would fit the land was essential. After which, commissions were made. I hope to be invited for the erections. Below is a photo of some work by Thomas Sayer in the garden of my friends Marty and Alan.

Plants in the garden that are just coming up or just getting started include Crinums and, Echinacea, Butterfly bushes – all nine varieties including Blue Chip which will be available to the public soon. It was a gift to me from Denny Werner, Director the JC Raulston Arboretum.

Plants in the garden that are waxing include Amaryllis, Mrs. G.G. Gerbing azalea, Bottle Bush, Hydrangeas – Oakleaf, Lady in Red, Lime Light, Endless Summer, Nikko blue all leafing out nicely, pink Double Knock Rose, Cl. Rose Stairway to Heaven with first bloom.

Plants in the garden that are peaking include Cross Vine, verbena ‘Homestead Purple’, another Ajuga, Iris, columbine, Brunnera macrophylla ‘Jack Frost’, Lady Banks Rose, Hardy Orchid, Chrysogonum virginianum green and gold ‘Allen Bush’, Spanish Lavender, Dogwood (Sp.?), Candytuft.

Plants in the garden that are waning include veronica ‘Georgia’, Ajuga ‘Chocolate Chip’, Tulips, Forsythia (Sp.?), Weeping Cherry, contorted crabapple, daffs (waning), Loropetalum (Sp.?), Spirea (Sp.?), Hellebores (seeding), Redbud, Carolina Jessamine, pansies, Vinca, Camellias, Rosemary, Quince (Sp.?).

I asked Lily if she thought the garden had too much purple. With a questioning look she asks, “How can you have too much purple?” Maybe in an 8 year’s mind you can’t…but her mama thinks you can. Then I remember why the purple is there in the first place – to attract butterflies so I guess Lily is right, maybe you can’t have too much purple.

Helen Yoest (Philbrook)

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Sunday, April 13, 2008

April 12, 2008 at 7:23 pm · Filed under Helen's Haven

With so much spring in the air, I couldn’t focus on what I needed to do…I was literally driving in circles all week!

Aster asks first, then Lily, “When are we getting our chickens?” I’m not sure who wants them more them or me. What I do know is I have limited space and I’m been spying the spot where they will go, but it belongs to the kids.

My friend Bob Davis, who keeps chickens, teaches about keeping chickens, and has inspired many to want to keep chickens, or “girls” as he likes to say stopped by to see if what I had in mind will work.

Bob came over to see how well the children’s play set will convert into a chicken house and chicken playground. The good news is, it will convert nicely and he actually loved the idea. The bad news is the kids will need to be ready to give up their play set. So, I approached them about doing so. Of course they answered yes, but they are only 7, 8, and 11 and play on it often but saying in almost unison, “Oh yes, we’re done with the play set, we are ready for our girls.” The next day, five of their cousins visited and they all headed to the play set. So I have to put this conversation off of at least a year or more.

No watering was necessary this week with the ground still nice and damp from last week’s rain. A little more rain on Saturday helped.

I planted my Charleston plants, potted up the container garden I’m donating to the JCRA Gala, and agreed to do another container for the Gala from the Raleigh Garden Club…my dear friend Barbara is very persuasive.

Plants in the garden that are just coming up or just getting started include Cross Vine (just starting to flower), Crinums and Amaryllis, more Iris, Echinacea, Butterfly bushes – all nine varieties including Blue Chip which will be available to the public soon. It was a gift to me from Denny Werner, Director the JC Raulston Arboretum.

Plants in the garden that are waxing include Mrs. G.G. Gerbing azalea, Tulips, Bottle Bush, Hydrangeas – Oakleaf, Lady in Red, Lime Light, Endless Summer, Nikko blue all leafing out nicely, double pink Knock Rose, Cl. Rose Stairway to Heaven with first bloom.

Plants in the garden that are peaking include verbena ‘Homestead Purple’, Ajuga ‘Chocolate Chip’, another Ajuga, Iris, columbine, Brunnera macrophylla ‘Jack Frost’, Lady Banks Rose, Hardy Orchid, Chrysogonum virginianum green and gold ‘Allen Bush’, Spanish Lavender, Dogwood (Sp.?), veronica ‘Georgia’ (still), Candytuft.

Plants in the garden that are waning include Forsythia (Sp.?), Weeping Cherry, contorted crabapple, daffs (waning), Loropetalum (Sp.?), Spirea (Sp.?), Hellebores (seeding), Redbud, Carolina Jessamine, pansies, Vinca, Camellias, Rosemary, Quince (Sp.?)

It is looking like the pollen has subsided. If so, this will have been a very short year for it.

I am looking forward to a full week ahead. A fine friend will be visiting my garden and then we will visit other gardens and shop for plants. In my fantasy world, these types of days last forever, but in reality, they are only stolen moments.

Helen Yoest (Philbrook)

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Sunday, April 6, 2008 Pearl Fryer

April 6, 2008 at 11:10 am · Filed under Garden Conservancy, Garden Profiles ·Tagged ,

By the sweet smell of wood smoke coming from his chimney, I assumed Pearl Fryer was home – inside warm, dry, and cozy – outside 50, drizzling, and gray. Yet the sculpted gardens were bright and cheerful. I finally had peralbishopsvilleyoest-14the chance to visit the amazing topiary gardens of Pearl’s dreams. I’m glad I did. Located in Bishopville, SC, this garden is now being preserved by the Garden Conservancy.

peralbishopsvilleyoest-30

We had a good 2.5 inches of rain this week. After checking out www.wral.com, and a lead story entitled Falls Lake Finally Full, I see, as of this morning, Falls Lake, Raleigh’s major water source, is at 252 feet. The lake is considered full at 251.5 feet.

City Council ruled that when we got at 90% capacity, we should be able to go back to Stage 1 watering restrictions. As promised, this begins on Tuesday. Unfortunately, Stage 1 also means lawns can be watered once a week. Of course, the irony is the grass doesn’t need watering because we have received enough to green it up nicely. This also means we will be able to water from the end of the hose twice a week. It is my hope, however, not to have to do so.

My friend Bill found me 250 gallon water container. This will become my main rain catch basin. From here, I will transfer water to various parts of the garden and use only when plants need watering – new plantings, those not yet established, those in the oasis zone and finally, those in the transitional zone in the absence of long periods of rain will benefit from this stored water.

Due to the recent rain, gardeners are shopping for spring flowers. I hope they do plant, but plant waterwisely…put the right plant in the right place, take time to properly prepare the soil, and only water when needed.

We had roller coaster weather this week – cold, then mild, windy, then cold, then hot and ending on a cold note.

The garden looks fantastic. Blooming on April 1 was verbena ‘Homestead Purple’, contorted crabapple , daffs, Brunnera macrophylla ‘Jack Frost’, Hellebores, Redbud (waning), Carolina Jessamine, pansies, Ajuga ‘Chocolate Chip’, Iris, columbine, Mrs. G.G. Gerbing azalea, Loropetalum (Sp.?), spirea (Sp.?), Rosemary, Spanish Lavender, Vinca, Camellias (still!), Chrysogonum virginianum green and gold ‘Allen Bush’, tulips, veronica ‘Georgia’, quince (Sp.?), Dogwood (Sp.?), Cross vine (just starting), Forsythia (Sp.?),

I took a couple days off to attend the Carolina Garden Magazine 11th annual garden tour. This year the tour was in Charleston. I had sensory overload. Good thing I have photographs to refer back too so I can further study all that I saw.

The biggest surprise in my garden when I returned from Charleston was the smoke bush (Cotinus Royal Purple) leafing out. I planted her in the midst of the heat and drought (but, post Easter freeze) and it did not do well. We couldn’t water and she lost her leaves. I thought it went to the big compost heap in the sky. During last year’s tough summer and fall, I followed the advice of Mark Weathington at the JC Raulston Arboretum with regards to maintaining our assigned collections. We were to treat any dead looking plant as viable. We did there and I followed this advice in my own garden ‘Helen’s Haven’…I am glad I did.

Helen Yoest (Philbrook)

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