Visiting the Biltmore House Gardens in June

 Up the road to Asheville we went

 The Biltmore House is the nearest thing to the Grand Estates we have here in the South

 Imagine that this is your front yard

 and this is your back yard

 here is one side yard

 Italian Garden with ponds

 looking back at the house from the ponds

 After a quick walk through specimen trees here is the entrance gate into the walled garden

 Huge border of coleus of various colors

 I am not a big red fan. In our heat red just makes you hotter, but this little rose was pretty here in its spot

 tiny teacup magnolia

 white clematis climbing the wall

 well done low pot

 whatever this plant is it was everywhere and I loved it

 This is the bottom of the walled garden with a patio leading into the conservatory

 what contrast

 One whole side of the walled garden was a White Border so you know I was Oooing and Ahhhing

 hydrangea limelight

 never did figure out what this plant was but I want some - does anybody out there know what this plant is?

 white astillbe

 Oak leaf hydrangea

finally at the end of all that hot walking we were able to enjoy the shade of the wisteria as we walked to the Stables Cafe for a lovely lunch. Bleu cheese on a burger and Chicken salad croissant. One Christmas ornament and several bottles of lovely wine and we were off.

 

On our way home we stopped at the Carl Sandburg House National Historic Site in Flat Rock NC. Got several books for my classroom and some lesson plans and trip information from the nicest park rangers ever. All in all it was a great day trip - hot as the devil - but a great trip.

Present to Myself

I bought myself a present from Bluestone Perennials. The box came packed full of all the goodies that I had suffered over in the catalog for several weeks. UPS doesn't seem to share my tender feelings for little plants. One side of the box had been dropped kicked, and most of the dirt had been throw out into the bottom of the box but luckily Bluestone packs the plants with this treatment in mind. 

Here they all are not really any worse for the wear. A hydrangea for the White Garden, a free plant called Echina Ritro or something like that, looked like an alium in the catalog; two salvia, and three agastache for the Sunny Border.

 Below is Agastache Blue Fortune, long and leggy - I did end up pinching them to thicken them up.

 Salvia May Night below, a dark purple flower that looked too good to pass up.

Fianlly Hydrangea Wedding Gown is an all white, repeat blooming lacecap. I have high hopes for this one. The dark corner of the White Garden stays shady all day, so I hope the hydrangea makes it out there in the hot shade.

Garden Blogger's Bloom Day May 2013

 Clematis in the White Garden

The White Garden is beginning to take shape, more about that later. 

 This is the first year the white peony has bloomed. It smells divine. 

Red peony Karl Lagerfeld just outside the White Garden.

 Blue salvia pinched to thicken it up, budding and ready to bloom. 

Double Pink Knockout Rose in the Sunny Border. Loaded with buds. 

Junior Prom comes to Pinewood Cottage

 Grace Anne

April 12, 2013

Junior Year

 at home

 gathering at the Burt Stark House

 my daughter with her best friends

 yes Miriam, it really is Grace Anne

into the limo and off they go

Uh, somebody is getting old and I don't think it is me.

This has nothing to do with gardening

     You may or may not know that my Mama lives with us. I have sole responibility for her care. She's 85 and beginning to fade away. She has collapsed several times in the last couple of weeks, and we spent the day in the ER last week to have everything checked out.
     As a follow up to the ER trip the doctor asked us to come in for an office visit. So it was scheduled for today 4 o'clock. 85 years old. Weak. Passes out. Today... thunderstorms... wind... rain... 85 years old. You get the idea?
     We get seated in the office - I go to sign her in, and the girl says "oh, somebody made a mistake, we have you scheduled for March 7th. I am so sorry." She was actually going to let me go out the door and drag my 85 year old Mama back home in a thunderstorm.
     I am old enough that I have learned my lessons in life. I did show out - bad - but she was wrong! We did get in to see the doctor within about 10 minutes. I shouldn't have had to show out. In the 12 years or so that I have been helping Mama run her life I have NEVER had anyone that wasn't understanding and helpful. People will hold doors so we can crawl though them, they let us go ahead of them in lines, I could go on and on telling how people are so kind.
     This poor girl deals with the general public, and I know that is not easy but come on gal! Some day you'll be old.

I love old houses

My wife asked me to help decorate the Boy Scout Troop House for the annual Christmas Party this Tuesday. My son is in the troop and really loves it. I have been in the house before but never have been up the stairs. The house was built in 1904 according the scout master and was donated to the troop when the local mill closed several years ago. This house sits 50 yards from the mill entrance so I guess this was a supervisor's house.

This picture is looking to the right on the landing and where the landing is open to the floor below. Sloppy painters have messed up the dark wood floors but could easily be brought back to a deep luster. Everything is solid and well built. The picture below is looking to the left and shows the panel details and the ceilings. Where I am standing is an upper landing with two doors to the right and the left leading into two smallish bedrooms each with a double window in the end wall.

I love old houses and the architectural details. What a great surprise. I had no idea that any of this was up there.

Camellia Season has begun

 Camellia Japonica Professor Sargent

Camellia Japonica Pink Perfection