Tag Archives: Design

My Daylilies

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Nothing creative today, but have a look at the daylilies residing at 664. I posted Garden Extraordinaire on Garden Walk Garden Talk, and showed you a daylily grower’s remarkable garden, teeming with daylilies. I mentioned this as an upcoming post, so let’s take a look.

Many varieties are found in my garden and all seem to be doing well.

None of my daylilies were purchased for this garden, so sorry I did not mention the names.

Some of the yellows are the stalwart Stella’s, Happy Returns and bright red/yellow,Twice as Nice.

All came from the tearing out of old gardens to make way for new, fresh designs.

Commercial clients do this often, about every five to seven years. I acquire many new plants to either put in my garden, or send off to new and loving homes. Sometimes I rehabilitate the plants and they make their way back to other commercial gardens.

So since I showed you some very pretty and more unusual varieties on GWGT, here is what is living in my garden.

And, by the way, it is so darn hot and humid here in Niagara Falls, that the daylily flowers do not even last the entire day. They are jumping to their deaths right in front of my eyes. I had to be quick with the camera because if I turned around, some would be curling and wincing. But of all the blooms here, they are the best little troopers, looking fresh and happy, even for a very short time.

Here is a wincer below. An hour from now, it will be toast.

The bed the daylilies are in below is three foot six wide and it widens to four foot six.

I partner them with a variety of other plants, like the Veronica above and cleome below, but they also live in the worst conditions on my property. The daylily below is an example living in a hot and dry, 18 inch wide bed below. The plants actually extend from the bed quite a bit as you will see two images below. They are planted in mulch and gravel, the best I could do for them.  The caryopteris grows rather large, but I can maintain the height and width if I choose. This particular bed changes the entire season, starting with tulips. The caryopteris finishes up the season with bees and blue.

The daylilies are fine in this bed, but do drop flowers faster than those in better conditioned and larger beds. 

It has been mentioned before that I have a large garden by a few bloggers. I have a tiny space in my rear garden, it is just the angle of the shots that make it seem larger. I do pack in the plants.  The center of the rear garden is a raised bed with only 3 foot 6 inches of grass circling it. You don’t come to 664 to see the grass, but it makes a nice pathway and workspace.

Joining Blogging from Bolivia Macro Friday.

Joining Tootsie Time, Fertilizer Friday

Garden on the Escarpment

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This is a property I designed in Lewiston.  Springtime is especially lovely. Enjoy the tour, the flowers bloom mostly in pink. See more of this property on Garden Walk Garden Talk on Tuesday.

Rhododendron is king in Spring. The first image is at the driveway entrance and above, the rear of the residence.

The clematis was newly planted the year before. It is filling in nicely.

Japanese maple are in many locations on this property and do quite well.

The side garden above was designed for wedding photos to be taken.  The wedding was the following year, so the plantings had time to fill in.

Island beds are throughout the huge front yard. The new spruce are planted as a screen. They will get beds as they develop.

Hope you enjoyed the tour.

Just Barely Out the Door

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When you are creating and designing your home and the experience of accessing the home, it is important to pay special attention to the transition between inside and outside; that space just outside the doors. What is the feel you want to achieve for visitors and what is the experience you wish to have looking out into the garden?

The home above uses large windows soaring to 30 feet to make you feel like you are sitting in the garden from the comfort of your sofa. The architect made it a priority to merge the indoor and outdoor spaces.  The bluestone runs from the terrace into the interior space above, viewed under the piano. It is a literal connecting element. This is no accidental view or connection to the garden and mountains beyond.

There is no doubt what this designer had in mind for this terrace space above. Sitting and relaxing in the countryside. The repeating seating and french doors in black is masterful.

An antiques dealer combines eclectic  pieces on her veranda with varying patinas and finishes. The blue chair is a wonderful addition to this vignette below. Notice the old cart, such unexpected interest.


Veranda, March 2010, five images above

A tiny well decorated space right outside the apartment. Barely a balcony at the width of the boxwood’s pot, but imagine if it was not there. Sometimes if you think about what a space would be like if an element was missing, it can either make you say ‘wow that’s great’ or ‘oh, it is better with less’. Above… wow, that’s great.

This is a great example of connecting inside to outside. You see right through the house from front to back. And what an entry! As gorgeous as the rear garden appears, I would not hesitate to explore this home.

Veranda, October 2009

A beautiful and graciously charming entry courtyard with a mirrored niche and octagonal windows in the Mediterranean Revival home. The symmetrical boxwood parterres and containers work perfectly with the herringbone brick walk. Such elegance.

Veranda, September 2009 above and below

This terrace, above and below, is landscaped with containers filled with Arborvitae, boxwood and lantana. White birch give the space presence and height. The basil, spearmint and parsely give the dining experience fragrance, and the cook a little fresh herbs.

A narrow terrace, but beautifully appointed.