landscape design Archives - Lasting Landscapes by Carol

Unusual Plants for Winter Interest

December 24, 2021

by Carol Verhake with 2 Comments all season interest 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Climb On

May 28, 2021

by Carol Verhake with No Comment Vines in the Garden

When many people think of vines in the garden, they think of unwelcome ones like poison ivy or the aggressive, non-native Wisteria that requires constant maintenance. But there are many vines that add vertical interest, provide seasonal color, offer privacy screening and need little maintenance. You can grown vines on arbors or other physical structures, but you can also grown them on non-conventional ‘structures’ such as shrubs.

A beautiful Gelsemium sempervirens ‘Margarita’ (Carolina Jasmine) growing on a metal trellis

A Clematis softens a metal fence and adds a nice pop of color

I like to train vines up ornamental plants that have a more open habit. My Kalmia ‘Carol’ has lovely blooms which are enhanced by the addition of a Clematis vine that fills in bare spots and complements the flower color. Clematis ‘Roguchi’ winds its way along the branches of my Magnolia virginiana (Sweetbay Magnolia). Consider growing two different vines on the same structure such as a spring blooming Clematis paired with a fall/winter blooming Aster for a multi-season show.

Kalmia ‘Carol’ intertwined with Clematis montana var. rubens

Clematis ‘Henryi’ growing on a viburnum

The spring show on this wooden tuteur includes Clematis ‘Multi-Blue’.

In the fall, Ampelaster carolinianus (Climbing Aster) takes over the structure

Most arborists would disagree with my use of large trees as vine supports, but I can’t help myself. There is nothing like the stunning view of a self-adhering vine growing on a large tree. A couple of my favorites include Schizophragma hydrangeoides ‘Moonlight’ (Chinese Hydrangea) and Hydrangea petiolaris (Climbing Hydrangea). In addition to a stunning flower display, the yellow fall color makes an impressive statement. You can also grow these vines on the side of a building like your home or storage shed.

Hydrangea petiolaris growing on a large tree

A chartreuse from of Schizophragma hydrangeoides growing on the wall of a home

If you need privacy or want to disguise an unattractive fence, try using a weaver like Bignonia. Bignonia is semi-evergreen in my garden. I’m using is on a deer fence to block the view of my neighbor’s compost pile. Just be sure your structure can support the vine you are using. The last thing you want is for the vine to cause damage or additional maintenance.

Bignonia ‘Dragon Lady’ is starting to obscure the view of the neighbor’s compost pile, an undesired borrowed view

If you have a twiner but nothing for it to wrap around, consider adding fishing line, which is nearly invisible, but still strong enough to support certain vines, like Clematis. I use this method on my light post with great success.

Fishing line secures Clematis ‘Polish Spirit’ to the light post

Now that I’ve shared some ideas on how to use vines on different supporting structures, I’d love to hear from you. Let me know some of your favorite climbers and how you use them in your garden.

Winter walks

February 22, 2021

by Carol Verhake with 2 Comments all season interest America's Garden Capital Public Gardens winter garden winter getaway

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.

Longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) needles provide amazing texture in the winter garden

Spent roses cascade over a bed of lavender and rosemary

Corylus fargesii catkins offer interest in the winter

Metasequoia buttresses contrast beautifully with the blooming Witch Hazel

Snowdrops (Galanthus) bloom happily in the winter garden

Mahonia x Winter Sun flowers are beautiful golden rays in February

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?

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.

One of many blooming Witch Hazels at Tyler

A fragrant wintersweet bloom (Chimonanthus praecox var. Luteus) soothes the soul

Croton alabamensis shows off some lingering fall color and awaiting spring flowers

The structure of Sweetgum ‘Corky’ (Liquidambar styraciflua) was mesmerizing

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.

A Perennial Favorite

October 28, 2019

by Carol Verhake with 8 Comments America's Garden Capital naturalistic planting Philadelphia Gardens Public Gardens Uncategorized

Each year I look forward to the Perennial Plant Conference in October, an amazing full day event including lectures given by horticulturalists from around the world. This year’s conference welcomed speakers from Japan, the Netherlands, the US, and Britain.

Started over 35 years ago, the conference continued its educational focus by gathering experts in the field to share knowledge and experiences. The sold out conference attracted 600 attendees and was held on the grounds of Swarthmore College which is advertised as “the most beautiful campus in America.” I can attest to the beauty of the campus. As with the other attendees, I was able to tour the campus before and after the conference. I even ate lunch in the gorgeous amphitheater where students celebrate graduation rain or shine.

Lasting Landscapes by Carol Perennial Plant Conference

This is what the crowd looks like during a break. I can see the coffee urn but it seems to be a mile away!

Loved these chairs – what a great place to take a break from the auditorium.

Shady spots welcomed visitors too.

The amphitheater is my favorite spot on Swarthmore’s campus. Just stunning.

When you tired of sitting you could tour the rose garden.

The blooms were amazing.

This water feature with floating blooms and the reflection of the surrounding trees was magical.

The fall colors in the gardens inspired visitors.

Anemone ‘Honorine Jobert’ colonized along the pathways.

The conference was co-sponsored by Chanticleer, Longwood Gardens, The Hardy Plant Society/Mid-Atlantic Group, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, and The Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore College. That’s some serious backing, which is probably why the speakers are well regarded and the attendance so impressive.

This year’s program included presentations on naturalistic plantings such as Midori Shintani’s discussion about the Millennium Forest and her team’s strategy to merge the cultivated gardens into the natural expanse beyond. Midori explained how her team used random software to position plants in an organic way.

Jacqueline Van Der Kloet, an internationally acclaimed garden designer from Holland, shared her tips for a cohesive design including the need to consider a winter framework of trees and hedges, a planned sequence of flowering for maximum impact, use of repetition for a naturalistic effect, and a recommendation to tie plant colors to the buildings in the background. Of course Jacqueline also suggested lots of bulbs which was no surprise given her Dutch background.

When you are Dutch, bulbs are a must.

Ivin Etienne, Horticulture Display Coordinator for The Garden at Newfields in Indiana, explained that plants have to perform in a public display. There is no tolerance for a part of the garden that isn’t working when you have visitors every day. He highlighted a number of tried and true plants used at Newfields including Hellebores, Epimediums, Baptisia, Iris, Hosta, and Echinacea.

Panayoti Kelaidis is associated with the Denver Botanic Gardens. His presentation focused on rock garden plants that thrive in Colorado’s alpine environment and can also be used in other parts of the country if given the right conditions.

Lee Buttala, an author and television producer, stressed the need to let plants go to seed in order to allow new varieties to be born and to create more balanced ecosystems.

Finally, British garden designer, James Alexander-Sinclair, shared some of his work and explained his design principles such as using angles to make a space look bigger, hiding parts of the garden to reveal it slowly, and doing more planting close to the house. I particularly liked his comment that gardens are only as good as those who look after them. He said what the world needs is more gardeners. I am glad I am one of them at that I have the opportunity to tend gardens every day and attend wonderful educational events like the Perennial Plant Conference.

If you have a passion for perennials or just love plants, I encourage you to attend next year. Be sure to register early though as the 2020 program will likely sell out quickly.