tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11489642.post8334529869836089563..comments2024-03-07T03:36:23.060-05:00Comments on Old Country Gardens: Foliage is the KeyMelanie Chopayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05985844123815086844noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11489642.post-53847871695950054052011-07-25T03:54:20.797-04:002011-07-25T03:54:20.797-04:00Foliage really compliments a garden. It just goes ...Foliage really compliments a garden. It just goes along with almost anything.garden photo tours @ gardengatewaysphototours.comhttp://gardengatewaysphototours.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11489642.post-40243308098403049382008-05-19T03:27:00.000-04:002008-05-19T03:27:00.000-04:00Great post, and I enjoy the foliage combinations y...Great post, and I enjoy the foliage combinations you have put together.<BR/>I am a big fan of foliage.<BR/>Regards<BR/>Karen<BR/>An Artist's GardenAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11489642.post-73926684535074329722008-05-18T00:08:00.000-04:002008-05-18T00:08:00.000-04:00I ran out of money---;( No more plant shopping so ...I ran out of money---;( No more plant shopping so I'll just have to hang out here and look till next year. Starting up a new garden is killing me. You and I like a lot of expensive plants! <BR/><BR/>I don't mind the hard work one bit and you don't either--it's a labor of love. Right now I'm fighting all that darn grass that blew in my gardens. I'm having to hand pick it out of everything. <BR/><BR/>One day I want to drive up and see your gardens. I think it's something you just have to take in on a personal level to get the full affect. I just love it. I have to do some genealogy work up that way in a couple of years so I may just look you up on my way north sometime!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11489642.post-49750942257986301492008-05-17T05:30:00.000-04:002008-05-17T05:30:00.000-04:00I think I'm right in saying people in earlier cent...I think I'm right in saying people in earlier centuries (such as 16th and 17th) used to put Sweet Woodruff in their linen closets so clothes and the things which kept them warm at night were infused with the scent - but I've never known before what it looks like.<BR/><BR/>Don't you think low growing weeds could be re-named 'ground cover'?<BR/><BR/>EstherEsther Montgomeryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05412078991551799972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11489642.post-20295081302096996452008-05-17T00:34:00.000-04:002008-05-17T00:34:00.000-04:00I read an article in a magazine last year about th...I read an article in a magazine last year about the importance of foliage. It is the foliage that gives us that restful tranquil feeling, that lowers our heart rate and our blood pressure. <BR/>After reading that article I noticed that it was the gardens with the best foliage that captured my attention and made me want to linger. This was surprising to me because I really love flowers.Robin's Nesting Placehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05894844125547373328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11489642.post-48728270988771008772008-05-16T23:19:00.000-04:002008-05-16T23:19:00.000-04:00You are the epitome of a true gardener...so much h...You are the epitome of a true gardener...so much hard work, but you don't shy away from it...your gardens are just gorgeous!!! Love all your foliage, which is my "thing" with plants...You have great combinations of everything!Juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04402220963886597754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11489642.post-49137801469685645092008-05-16T22:21:00.000-04:002008-05-16T22:21:00.000-04:00Melanie- What lovely foliage combos! I like to us...Melanie- What lovely foliage combos! I like to use a variety too, but I'm not as good at it as you are.<BR/><BR/>I have a spireas collection. They're some of my favorite shrubs. The flowers are kind of cute, but I like the foliage on them the best.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11489642.post-46061613151102891482008-05-16T21:35:00.000-04:002008-05-16T21:35:00.000-04:00Looks great!!Looks great!!Lets Planthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00335805787831512992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11489642.post-72631601276058812252008-05-16T21:06:00.000-04:002008-05-16T21:06:00.000-04:00I love your combinations and those raised beds are...I love your combinations and those raised beds are gorgeous!archivesinfohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11173735671172866919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11489642.post-54605731958101749172008-05-16T19:05:00.000-04:002008-05-16T19:05:00.000-04:00Hi Melanie, another beautifully written and illust...Hi Melanie, another beautifully written and illustrated post. You have showed us good examples of foliage texture and color, the hakone grass is so lovely. I bought one and immediately divided it, like other grasses, but it is much different, not nearly as vigorous or happy when cut up. All three pieces died. Don't split it. Your dark geraniums are lovely, not matter what their name is.<BR/>FrancesFrances,https://www.blogger.com/profile/03616568389165362993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11489642.post-22147782707890065132008-05-16T16:04:00.000-04:002008-05-16T16:04:00.000-04:00backyardwoman, well, I'm not happy to hear how exp...backyardwoman, well, I'm not happy to hear how expensive 'All Gold' is for you but at least I don't feel like I'm going to be robbed here. At the end of August I'm going to have to bite the bullet and divide up my one big clump.<BR/><BR/>Amy, this plant is originally from a very cold location in the Ukraine so you should be able to grow it in your northern zone too.<BR/><BR/>Linda, I think you are right about 'Midnight Reiter'. I know for sure I have that Geranium, this might be it. By next week they'll all be blooming and I can take more photos.<BR/><BR/>Thank Nan, you are much of my inspiration when it comes to finding great variegated foliage plants.<BR/><BR/>Nancy, I agree, the new foliage on Pieris is just wonderful.<BR/><BR/>Jean, other people have mentioned to me about Achemilla seeding about but I've never had a single seedling here. <BR/><BR/>Rees, it took me a long time to learn this lesson, or maybe it just was that foliage wasn't touted as much as it is today?<BR/><BR/>Gail, just this week I bought 5 new Astilbe. I have to be very careful though where I site them. Parts of my garden are easily moist, they get watered when I water our lawn twice a week. Other parts of the garden never get watered other than from rain. Finally, some parts are super dry because even with rain, there are trees in those areas that suck the soil bone dry instantly.Melanie Chopayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05985844123815086844noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11489642.post-56139547441658405712008-05-16T12:45:00.000-04:002008-05-16T12:45:00.000-04:00I wish I had figured out this important design pr...I wish I had figured out this important design principle sooner.<BR/>You've done a thoroughly delightful job at combining plants...<BR/><BR/>I just spotted an Astilbe with lovely leaf color, rather like Autumn fern meets Heuchera but it had these scary words "keep moist at all times". Not in this garden, too bad it would have been perfect in bringing that color into the shadier parts of the garden.<BR/><BR/>Great post, as always, Melanie.<BR/><BR/>GailGailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16194325535496408116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11489642.post-88166229846338100412008-05-16T12:40:00.000-04:002008-05-16T12:40:00.000-04:00You're spot on with this one Melanie,The rhythum a...You're spot on with this one Melanie,<BR/>The rhythum and texture differences than can be created by foliage may be more important than color in my mind. I love a bold leaf offset by a fine textured groundcover. Although I'm not a big fan of variegated leaves in general, I do like to use differing shades of leave colors to create interest too. <BR/>Thanks,<BR/>ReesAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11489642.post-88511949215631406922008-05-16T12:18:00.000-04:002008-05-16T12:18:00.000-04:00Thank you for the lovely photos of foliage, I am j...Thank you for the lovely photos of foliage, I am just starting to appreciate it as well. Have always grown Alchamilla Mollis, but do find it seeds everywhere, and is not easy to get out.Jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07462767784866100428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11489642.post-83622763470954200002008-05-16T11:02:00.000-04:002008-05-16T11:02:00.000-04:00Exquisite vignettes, Melanie! And that clump of 'A...Exquisite vignettes, Melanie! And that clump of 'All Gold' Hakone grass - wow. I don't blame you for not wanting to disturb it.<BR/><BR/>And...I know it's a little late, but I've been meaning to congratulate you on your fantastically successful plant sale. I sure wish I lived near you...I'd be right in line to buy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11489642.post-11355341624304413382008-05-16T10:00:00.000-04:002008-05-16T10:00:00.000-04:00Melanie, you've got some wonderful foliage combina...Melanie, you've got some wonderful foliage combinations. I love lady's mantle, haven't added it to this garden yet, but it's on the list. <BR/><BR/>Maybe that purple-leafed geranium is Midnight Reiter? I planted one earlier this spring. I know there's at least one other variety of the purple-leafed geraniums. Mine is small, since it was a mail-order plant. Some plants are just to hard to find locally. I definitely prefer the larger-size pots you can't get through mail order. Larger root balls hold up to the squirrels' digging much better around here. I really have to be vigilant with mail order plants until their roots start knitting into the surrounding soil.garden girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13284047851881823280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11489642.post-38979660806605719592008-05-16T09:44:00.000-04:002008-05-16T09:44:00.000-04:00You're so right about the importance of attractive...You're so right about the importance of attractive foliage. This is an area I've just begun to learn about. Starting out, I was completely focused on flowers, but they're only around for so long. I love lady's mantle but am unsure if I can grow it in my zone. Some books have indicated I could, and others think not. If I can find a plant I may have to just jump in and try it out.Amyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08691765466320690473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11489642.post-80337521573389115722008-05-16T09:13:00.000-04:002008-05-16T09:13:00.000-04:00I totally sympathise about the price of hakonechlo...I totally sympathise about the price of hakonechloa! It costs exactly the same in the UK, around $18 -$19 (and that's only if you can get hold of it). Itlooks fantastic with magenta geraniums and I love the way it lights up a shady corner.Victoria Summerleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05055381807236106596noreply@blogger.com