FROM THE GREEN HOUSE

#3 JANUARY 2025
A Garden I Once Knew

She was a haven,  she was a friend, she was a source of creativity, and she was work. It’s been two years since I said goodbye to my garden. I’ve put off writing this because I knew it would be emotional, and I was right. Funny how a garden can bring such strong emotions to the surface - even now. I know some of you will understand.  

I’ll admit that I write this mostly because the photos have been sitting on my phone for far too long. I see them as I scroll, rushing past them, but today they call. I need to honor all the work and the wonder of what I was given to steward. So heads up, this one will be mostly photos of my favorite plants and plant combinations. Photos of where my kids grew up, spending hours of their childhood exploring and playing. My grandkids discovered some of the joy there, too. It’s where my husband dug a thousand holes and spent just as many hours weeding. It’s where we hauled and spread a crazy amount of mulch. It's where friends came to weed as we prepared for the garden walk one summer. It's where I grew as a gardener - where I got to play with ideas and inspiration. It was my living sketch pad and lab where I practiced what I learned in horticulture classes, then applied in garden designs. I am forever grateful for it all. 

So come along with me as we walk through this garden I once knew.

Most of my memories of the garden are good ones, but this photo reminds me of the weeds. By the end, each spring brought with it a carpet of chickweed. 

This redbud was one I started from seed in one of my classes. In the summer, the heart-shaped leaves created a huge canopy - perfect for a secret spot for the grandkids to play. It was hard to say good bye to this one. 

Viburnum carlesii - Korean Spice Viburnum

Polygonatum - Solomon's Seal

Clematis alternifolia - Sweet Autumn Clematis

Early on in my time with the garden, I fell in love with potager gardens (kitchen garden). So I designed one in the front yard. I loved this space where vegetables, herbs, and flowers grew alongside each other.  

Bridal Wreath Spirea remind me of my grandmother's garden, so they found a home in mine, too. 

Ajuga reptans - Bugleweed in full bloom

Syringa 'Tinkerbelle' Dwarf Lilac

Alliums & Sedum

I definitely am a collector of plants. One of my favorite plant obsessions was and still is Hellebores (Lenten Roses). I had 20 different cultivars that lined a path in the back gardens. An expensive perennial, but so worth every penny. 

Hydrangea quercifolia - Oakleaf Hydrangea. Either 'Snow Queen' or 'Alice'

Acer palmatum 'Sango-kaku - Coral Bark Japanese Maple
Its foliage in spring was just as fascinating as its fall color. A gorgeous tree that I wish I had brought with me. 

Japanese Anemone
I hope its not giving the new owners too much grief as it likes to spread. 

Excorda racemosa
This shrub is a Pearl Bush. Gorgeous white flowers in the spring. 

Magnolia stellata

These winter shots were some of the last that I took of the garden. Thanks for coming along with me as I walked through her once again. I'm reminded of the joy she gave me, but also all the work. I'm grateful for my time there, but I had more energy then. I'm just as grateful for my small garden now with her own challenges and opportunities. And I'm looking forward to spring with new ideas to try and new plants to grow.

Lessons I have learned: a garden is an expression of who we are, that we are stewards of the earth we've been given, and the garden isn't only for us - it supports so much life - but especially ours. I believe that's why we have such a strong emotional connection to plants and the garden. The heart & soul of a garden is the gardener.