We had a huge greenhouse containing her favorite specimen camellias and a smaller conservatory where my mother taught me the art of rooting, grafting and propagating plants at the early age of four. The conservatory was a magical place for me. It was there that the love of gardening and growing things became deeply rooted in my soul.
I have recently moved and I have just finished planting yet another flower garden. Designing a new garden is one of my favorite things to do and this will be my thirteenth one. Maybe there have been others. I’ve lost track.
Previously, all of my gardens have been quite large with many varieties of plants, flowers, garden structures, ponds, fountains, ‘garden rooms’ and many other things. This time I welcome a small but elegant flowering, scented garden. I have the ideal location for this garden just outside my kitchen window where I can enjoy it while indoors as well as when I am outside.
One of my favorite flowers has always been the rose. My new garden is full of roses, daisies, nicotiana, lavender and peonies. I also have included several flowering vines that will climb on arches and trellises throughout the garden. A winding path weaves throughout the plantings.
A few favorite climbing plants I have included are climbing roses, jasmine, clematis, trumpet vine, honeysuckle, and passion vine. All will bloom profusely and produce wonderful fragrances as I wander through the garden.
Because this garden includes many plants at the lighter end of the spectrum (whites, light pinks and yellows) it will also be a night garden, that will glow in the moonlight. The scented plants will produce a heady aroma at night, giving the garden visitor an even more pleasurable experience.
THE HIDDEN GARDEN 