Garden Quote of the Day

“Perfection is everywhere if we only choose to recognize it.” 

― Okakura Kakuzō, The Book of Tea

Plant of the Year - Chelsea, 2014 - Miss Saori Hydrangea

coming 2016:

Miss Saori Hydrangea

Plant of the Year, Chelsea Flower Show 2014. 

'Miss Saori' is from Japan and is a dwarf hydrangea growing to about 3 ft. by 3 ft. with leaves that turn burgundy in the summer.  

This compact hydrangea blooms on old and new wood, giving it potential to bloom in colder climates where stems might be knocked back to the ground in winter.

The mophead flowers are white with picotee pink edges.

 In milder climates it will bloom over an extended period of time—first on old wood and later on new wood.

I don't know the hardiness zone. Sorry.

I will be speaking at Rutgers University Oct 28, 2015

I will be speaking on Wednesday Oct 28 at 4 pm to the Department of Landscape Architecture...about creating serenity, what else?

thrilled!

Mellow Fall Scene - like melting butterscotch

Circles and reflections in the Fall - a very mellow scene

Watch with Glittering Eyes

It's all about magical thinking....

The Subaru Levorg debuts in Southeast Asia

Subaru has launched the Levorg for the Southeast Asian market in Taipei this week. The launched featured world renowned precision driver Russ Swift and Subaru Ambassadors Natalie Pickles and Monika Sta. Maria from Asia's Next Top Model.

Not sure whether the specs are the same between the UK and Asian models. In the UK, the 1.6i GT is available in three colours Crystal White Pearl, Lapis Blue Pearl and Steel Blue Metallic. It costs £27,495 (OTR White colour).

Solastalgia and Ecopsychology - Words for our time

Photo by Corbyrobert - Garden of the Gods   

 Have you heard of  'Solastalgia' ?

A big word for a simple idea.

Nikki Taylor sculpture 

Solastalgia is "A pain or discomfort caused by the present state of one’s home environment".   It is an emotional suffering felt by different people in different locations as the degradation of the environment continues. It affects indigenous people and urban / industrial denizens alike.

“Solastalgia” has been used to describe the experiences of Inuit communities coping with the effects of rising temperatures, refugees from Katrina, Bangladeshi farmers in a drought stricken land. 

  Solastalgia is also what we feel when we become disconnected from our natural environment.....

In 2010 The New York Times published a great article on the term term by Daniel B. Smith (he holds the Critchlow Chair in English at the College of New Rochelle).  I took a lot of info from that article for this blog post.

This concept is not new.  Ecopsychology is  “the relationship between environmental issues and mental health and well-being”.   Ecopsychology is taught at Oberlin College, Lewis & Clark College and the University of Wisconsin, among other institutions.

Why is this important to serene garden lovers and designers?

Because the scientists are following our lead-

The vital link between well being and nature that is our calling is now being investigated by Ecopsychologists.

 They use words like 'solastalgia' and 'solasphilia' give talks and write scholarly articles on how nature makes us feel good.   

They say that their field’s roots are in traditions like Buddhism, Romanticism and Transcendentalism.   And these too are the philosophical roots of Serene Gardening...Thoreau, Lao Tzu, et al.....

A great book.....

And don't forget the concept of 'biophilia', a hypothesis of the great biologist E. O. Wilson, who said in 1984 that human beings have an “innate tendency to focus on life and lifelike processes.” AMEN to that!

Dr. Edward O. Wilson

Over the past 25 years Wilson's ideas on 'biophilia' have inspired many scientific articles, books, conferences and the new E. O.Wilson Biophilia Center in northwest Florida.

The E.O. Wilson Center's Exhibit Hall

We gardeners focus on life and revel in its exquisite forms in the green world....

Serene gardens sing praises to Mother Nature's effect on our wellbeing in a quiet way.  No scholarly words here...just the hum of the bees at work.

The world will rediscover its connection to a healthy earth is our only legacy. Nothing else. 

Ecopsychology is alive and well in my back yard when I am puttering there.

photo at Flikr by one2c900d

Fountain Grasses- a Stand Out

 Dwarf Pennisetum

In fall, fountain grasses are a stand out.

And there are so many to choose from!

Fountain grass (Pennisetum sp.) is a graceful, DEER RESISTANT and sun loving ornamental grass with feathery plumes that persist into fall.

Its relatively small size makes it a great plant for containers, rock gardens, borders, massing or as a specimen.     Once established, they tolerate heat, humidity and full sun.

Johnsen Landscapes & Pools

Of course with all this wonderfulness there is a down side - certain fountain grasses are considered invasive, not all, but some.

 There is a lot of discussion on which varieties are invasive with people saying,  'This species is OK but that one isn't'. 

Some people, to be safe, don't buy any. I would counsel you to look in your area to see which ones are no nos.

Nonetheless, the dwarf fountain grass is a must for a sunny fall garden. Greenwood Nursery describes why this is so:

"Strolling in the garden in the fall and early winter,

after the grasses turn their great yellow fall color,

there is a calming effect when the slight winter breezes

create a gentle rustle in the spent grasses."

Here are some fountain grasses that make for a spectacular autumn landscape:

Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Red Head'

from Great Garden Plants website

 
A early-blooming cultivar of hardy fountain grass, Red Head begins blooming at summer's end and continues into late fall.

The plants grow to 3 - 4 feet high and wide which is a great size for a border or as a specimen.


 They have deep purple buds that mature to long lasting smoky-purple plumes, fully 8 inches long. And like all hardy Pennisetums, the blooms dry on the plant and make nice winter accents, catching the falling snow and rustling in the breeze. Zones 5-9. 

Prune back in early spring.

Looks great with Feather Reed Grass, Blue Mist Shrub (Caryopteris), Asters, Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), Oriental Lily (Lilium ), Sedum and annual flowers.

Pennisetum purpureum  'Princess Molly' PPAF (Princess Molly Dwarf Fountain Grass)

This warm season pennisetum hybrid, from Dr. Wayne Hannah at the University of Georgia, is a dwarf plant that grows only 14 -20" tall with unique foliage.

The olive green leaves are bordered with purple, and highlighted with a dark black-purple stripe down the leaf center. Pennisetum 'Molly' is a great red purple accent plant for the summer and fall garden. It works well in smaller landscapes. Plants will not flower except in total frost-free areas. ANNUAL except in Zones: 8-10

'Prince' Pennisetum purpureum (USPP18,509)

from Proven Winners website

Another warm season ornamental grass is the semi dwarf 'Prince' Pennisetum which showcases purple foliage that intensifies in summer heat. At 5- 6 ft tall, it is the perfect highlight in the back of a border or large container.

ANNUAL except in zones 8 - 11

Pennisetum purpureum Princess (PP 17,728)

The warm season fountain grass 'Princess' does not bloom but its deep purple foliage is stunning in combination with summer-blooming perennials. It is 2' - 3' tall. Plant it in a mixed border with asters and hardy mums to finish the season with a flourish. 

A Proven Winners® variety. ANNUAL except in in Zones 8-11

Pennisetum orientale Karley Rose

Oriental fountain grass is a hardy, small bunch grass with a beautiful inflorescence that is unusually long lasting. 

Pennisetum 'Karley Rose' is 24" to 36" tall and provides 5 months of color, texture, motion in a sunny site.

 The heavy rose-pink blooms literally glow when lit from behind by early morning or late afternoon sun.

The pink flowers make perfect companion to Coneflowers, Knock Out Roses and Sedums. This fountain grass is not invasive and self-seeds only sparingly in the garden. 

Zones 5 - 9. Prune back in early spring.

I am speaking Monday Oct. 19 - Silver Spring, MD

I am speaking on Monday, October 19 at 8 pm  to the  Silver Spring Garden Club

It will be at  Montgomery College   Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus in the Health Sciences Center Building,   Room 122 

for more info go here:  http://patch.com/maryland/silverspring/free-talk-serenity-garden-hosted-serenity-garden

Asters - A Flower for October

'October Skies' Aster

Asters are flowers that provide the last feeding opportunities for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.

 
They are a vital source of nectar and pollen for migrating Monarchs and are perfect for fall borders and shrub beds.

I like asters mixed with grasses and late summer perennials such as Persicaria 'Taurus' (above) and  Chocolate White Snakeroot (Eupatorium rugosum 'Chocolate'). Also with Agastache Tutti Frutti below:

The light purple 'October Skies' Aster shines when mixed with 'Autumn Joy' sedum, 'Karl Foerster' feather reedgrass, lady's mantle, lamb's ears, marigold tenuifolia.

 

Try asters mixed with marigold as shown above. Asters will make you glad in October.








 

Wavy Fence -Garden Photo of the Day

There is something so sweet about an undulating fence...I took this photo  in Wellfleet,  Ma.

Roadside glamour for sure.