Lasting Landscapes by Carol

Behind the Scenes

Every time I visit a public garden, I’m impressed. The displays are usually spectacular, nearly weed free, and looking as fresh as they day they were planted. Did you ever wonder how this gardening miracle was achieved?

I never really thought about it until recent visits to the Chicago Botanic Garden and the Biltmore Estate where my group received ‘behind the scenes’ tours. At the Chicago Botanic Garden, we saw the quarter mile long area where plants are grown and cared for in as ideal conditions as possible. Plants that like morning sun are placed on the East side, while plants preferring strong sun are on the West. Some plants grow in houses that maintain humidity at a certain level while others live in arid conditions. A number of plants are grown outside once the weather is warm enough, while others remain indoors in tightly controlled environments.

Lasting Landscapes by Carol
Imagine the time and effort required to create and maintain a bed constructed of plant material.
Lasting Landscapes by Carol
Gardeners at the Chicago Botanic Garden grow and care for unique specimens in climate-controlled houses like this one.
Lasting Landscapes by Carol
When not on display, the Bonsai collection grows indoors where it can be meticulously maintained
Lasting Landscapes by Carol
A sophisticated watering system helps reduce the need for hand watering and saves time
Lasting Landscapes by Carol
Staff use a heated bench for seed germination and to grow plant material at a certain rate for displays

Special mum displays for fall are started months earlier and trained along forms. Seasonal back-up plants are ready and waiting to replace any like specimens that aren’t performing up to snuff. I would love to have the ability to swap out plants in my garden like that. Wouldn’t it be great to replace that crispy Astilbe that suffered through a drought with a perfectly fresh replacement? Of course, most homeowners don’t have the time or the budget to do the kind of work performed by hard-working public garden staff members. Knowing how much effort and money went into creating such special places, made me appreciate them even more.

Lasting Landscapes by Carol
Containers are growing, ready and waiting for future displays

I was also inspired by the plant trial gardens and breeding programs. Often public gardens have plant curators who seek out unusual plant material from around the world. They breed plants that can be used successfully in home gardens. Chicagoland Boxwood is an example of this; the Chicago Botanic Garden introduced this cultivar as a cold hardy boxwood that maintains its green color in the frigid Illinois winters.

Lasting Landscapes by Carol
Staff members grow plants outdoors once it’s warm enough
Lasting Landscapes by Carol
Echinacea plants grow happily in the trial garden

At the Biltmore Estate we learned how the staff is honoring this historic garden. When plants need to be replaced, such as a diseased Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) hedge, the staff references the original design created by Frederick Law Olmsted. Since Olmsted’s design recommended American Holly (Ilex opaca), that is the plant the staff will use as a new, native and disease resistant hedge. I think most public gardens do their best to honor the spaces we visit and make them welcoming to all.

Lasting Landscapes by Carol
The Tsuga hedge in this picture (top left) will be replaced in the fall in keeping with the original design
Lasting Landscapes by Carol
An accessibility display at the Chicago Botanic Garden featured wheelchair access and scented plants for physically or visually challenged visitors
Lasting Landscapes by Carol
A vertical display was kid-friendly and welcomed the touch of passersby

I respect and admire the work our public garden staffs do and hope you’ll think about the talented gardeners that keep them looking so good for our visits. And don’t hesitate to use some public garden strategies in your own landscape. Replace plants that aren’t performing well with fresh specimens that will grow better in the space. Consider how visitors see your garden and do your best to make it welcoming to all. Most of all, enjoy your garden and all those public (and private) spaces you visit.

Lasting Landscapes by Carol

Unusual Plants for Winter Interest

Most people think of traditional evergreens like boxwoods and holly when they seek winter interest in the garden. These plants have their place and are solid performers, but lately I have been looking for more unique plants that become standouts in the landscape. While these plants may be a bit more difficult to find, I encourage you to search for them as I am confident you won’t be disappointed.

Edgeworthia chrysantha (Paper Bush)

Edgeworthia is a zone 7 to 9 plant which I located in a protected spot in my zone 6b garden. Although advertised as a plant that grows 5 feet tall and wide, mine has grown to at least 7×7. The buds form late in the year and look like fuzzy ornaments dangling from striking, cinnamon-colored branches. When the flowers open in early spring (usually March for me), they perfume the air with an intoxicating, gardenia-like scent.

Lasting Landscapes by Carol
My Edgeworthia is loaded with buds in late December

Ampelaster carolinianus (Climbing Aster)

Ampelaster rambles in my garden, climbing a trellis first and then reaching to nearby shrubs for support. This perennial vine tops out at about 10 feet in height and begins blooming in October or November. Ampelaster seems unimpacted by frost and continues to put on a show well into January.

Lasting Landscapes by Carol
Ampelaster climbing onto a Callicarpa for support

Croton alabamensis (Alabama croton)

Croton is a native, understory shrub with an open habit. It starts to draw your attention in the fall when its leaves turn yellow and orange. These vibrant colors are accented by the back side of the leaves that appear to have been spray painted in silver. My plant never fully drops all of its leaves; instead, it makes its presence known all winter long.

Lasting Landscapes by Carol
The silver backs to the Croton leaves look unreal

Chimonanthus praecox (Wintersweet)

Chimonanthus is large shrub tolerant of part shade to full sun that needs protection outside of its zone 7 hardiness. Delicate, fragrant flowers begin to emerge in the winter on leafless stems. Chimonanthus grows 10 to 15 feet tall, an ideal height for admiring and smelling the attractive flowers from below.

Lasting Landscapes by Carol
Looking up into a Chimonanthus bloom in winter is magical

Cyclamen coum (Roundleaf cyclamen)

Cyclamen are diminutive plants with striking leaves. This tuberous perennial is native to the Mediterranean, where it is commonly found in rocky outcroppings or woodlands. I’ve tried to mimic its native environment in my garden, placing it the crevices of rocks where it enjoys the well-drained soil it prefers. While Cyclamen do bloom, I think it’s the leaf patterns that add the most interest to the winter garden.

Lasting Landscapes by Carol

I hope I have inspired you to add some more unusual plants to your garden this season. Whether it’s interesting buds, blossoms, or attractive leaves, you have many choices besides basic evergreens for creating an impressive display in the winter months.

Lasting Landscapes by Carol

Winter walks

Most people don’t think of February as a month for garden tours, but I encourage you to change your mindset. Winter is a perfect time to experience gardens when you can see their bones, notice what creates interest and enjoy smaller crowds. Peace comes with touring gardens in the quiet of the off-season.

In the Philadelphia area we are lucky to live in America’s Garden Capital. With over 30 public gardens within 3o miles of the city, we have many gardens to choose from. A number of these gardens are open in the winter and waiting for your visit. I recently visited two area arboretums and was enthralled with their meandering paths, extensive plantings and winter wonder.

The Morris Arboretum was first on the list. Located in Chestnut Hill, the site includes tens of thousands of plants including many collected by plantsman John Morris and his sister Lydia who lived on the property when it was a private home. Some of Delaware Valley’s oldest specimen trees grow at the Morris. During our visit we took note of these features as well as the use of evergreens to frame views, spent seed heads, plants in flower and texture created by plant material.

Lasting Landscapes by Carol
Longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) needles provide amazing texture in the winter garden
Lasting Landscapes by Carol
Spent roses cascade over a bed of lavender and rosemary
Lasting Landscapes by Carol
Corylus fargesii catkins offer interest in the winter
Lasting Landscapes by Carol
Metasequoia buttresses contrast beautifully with the blooming Witch Hazel
Lasting Landscapes by Carol
Snowdrops (Galanthus) bloom happily in the winter garden
Lasting Landscapes by Carol
Mahonia x Winter Sun flowers are beautiful golden rays in February
Lasting Landscapes by Carol
Evergreens are especially noticeable when they perfectly frame a view like this waterfall

In addition to the outdoor spaces, a number of Philadelphia’s public gardens have greenhouses or conservatories that provide a break from the cold and access to flowering non-hardy plants. Who doesn’t love being immersed in a sea of lush foliage or fragrant blooms in the middle of winter?

Lasting Landscapes by Carol
Inside the fernery we were warm and enveloped in humidity

The second garden I had the opportunity to see this winter was the Tyler arboretum located in Media. Tyler spans over five hundred acres and includes seventeen miles of hiking trails and extensive plant collections. Tyler is one of the oldest arboretums in the region dating back to 1681. The property that makes up the arboretum today was purchased by Thomas Minshall from William Penn. Like the Morris, Tyler is home to some magnificent trees including those deemed ‘champions’ because they are the largest individual specimens of a particular species. We particularly enjoyed the Witch Hazel collection during our visit.

Lasting Landscapes by Carol
One of many blooming Witch Hazels at Tyler
Lasting Landscapes by Carol
A fragrant wintersweet bloom (Chimonanthus praecox var. Luteus) soothes the soul
Lasting Landscapes by Carol
Croton alabamensis shows off some lingering fall color and awaiting spring flowers
Lasting Landscapes by Carol
The structure of Sweetgum ‘Corky’ (Liquidambar styraciflua) was mesmerizing
Lasting Landscapes by Carol
Bark might go unnoticed during the growing season, but not in the winter.

Clearly I was inspired by my tours to two Philadelphia’s area gardens this winter. I encourage you to seek out some you would like to see and make a plan to visit. I’m confident that in addition to many ideas for your own landscape, you will leave with a calm mind and warm heart.