Now THAT'S unique! Do you think they planned that effect?

Seriously appropriate for this time of year! I really like the 'fireworks,' and I think the espalier is stunning, but somehow the informal exuberance of the perennials with formal structure of the espalier strikes me as a bit odd. Maybe in context it works.

Great effect, whether accidental or intended. . .I always nuture my spent
alliums as long as possible, just because they add so much interest in the
garden (and engender lots of comments!). . .for years, I've tried to hang on
to the expired Allium giganteum heads, planted in front of a stand of Solidago
'Fireworks', but the alliums always collapse before the target date.

Agree with nhbabs: as remarkable as the espalier may be, in it's on right,
perhaps a solid stone wall or painted shed would make a better backdrop.
Or: maybe I'm just envious that I wasn't there to see this, and some other lucky individual was !

Carl

Forget about perennials combo!
I'm flabbergasted, how of all living things Viburnum plicatum 'Mariesii' could be trained in a such fashion???
And who is the person who had SUCH visison with THIS plant?

I always find espaliers very impressive. This reminded me of one that Richie had posted and I had to go searching.

Here is a link that might be useful: Richie's pyracantha

wow...that is just AMAZING...love all of it and I had no idea that viburnum could be espaliered like that..I thought it was Morning Glory at first glance!

Great espalier Richie, I tried to do the same thing a number of years ago but it got away from me and turned into a thorny mess.
The espaliered Viburnum was in a very small garden on a exterior wall just as you entered from the driveway. Throughout they attempted to mix more formal plantings with the casual whimsical and I think they did a great job. I don't have any more photos of this garden but perhaps dtd does.
This is a new garden planted in 2005 to complement the historic house built around 1730 and fully renovated by the owners,an architect and garden writer. The garden was designed by Nan Blake Sinton and is composed mainly of hardy shrubs and ornamental trees. Pale pink 'New Dawn' roses climb on the fence surrounding the garden, and the roof of the garden shed is covered in 'White Eden' and 'Abraham Darby' roses as well as Clematis montana rubens. There are two crabapples (Malus 'Donald Wyman'), a large Viburnum sieboldii, and fragrant lilacs in the main garden. A spalier, created from Viburnum plicatum mariesii, on the wall of the house and a hedge of clipped Philadelphus coronaius in the parking area provide a bit of formality. There are small flower beds with astilbes, lavender, nepeta, salvia, and other perennials. A small brick patio is planted with lace cap Hydrangeas and Hydrangea macrophylla Enziandom'. At the front of the house there are American Hollies, English boxwood, Ilex glabra 'Nigra' and a large viburnum. One of the outstanding features of the garden is a large, old sycamore maple on the lane at the corner of the property a survivor from the old days.

I do love that allium & astilbe pairing; I suspect the 'fireworks effect' depends on the weather for timing of bloom, so this year it just happened to come through.

The espalier doesn't seem all that formal to me - it's more of an old French/Italian countryside farmhouse effect, especially because the viburnum leaves and style of growth are so similar to many fruit trees that are espaliered for practical reasons, not for aesthetics. That was the overall style of this garden - not a formal note to be seen, sort of cozy and quaint, and looking much older than its mere 5 years.

Great shot, Kt, I wish I'd taken some photos; I have some from the Donaroma gardens, which I'll post when I have a minute (if they're any good).

kt, this is SUCH a great design and photo of it. I have forwarded your photo and richie's to Fine Gardening Photo of the Day editor, michelle gervais;
mgervais @taunton.com
but, to use it, she would want a high res jpeg or whatever from you; can you send it to her? your photos are always such top quality; do send her this, and i would encourage you to send more in the future as well!

best,
mindy

btw, today's photo is of a new england garden

Here is a link that might be useful: Fine Gardening Photo of the Day; New Eng.

I am just starting with the espalier idea which is perfect for a bare south fence with really nothing doing. So far.
I have a Royalty Crabapple tree that i THINK might be a good starter. I know to leave a space between the trunk and the fence for air flow etc. Can anybody tell me what type or gauge of wire to use to train the branches on??
I'm going to span the wire between support poles either galvanized steel or wood about 30 ft apart and will have three Crabapple trees evenly planted in a row
I really didn't want to use my wooden fence as a support
unless I really must. Thanks

Very interesting combination--- that looks a bit like an Astilbe Ostrich Plume in Bluestone's catalogue, but I'm not sure. Ostrich Plume is fairly tall.

I love the description of garden plantings for this home and wonder if it's frequently open for the Garden Conservancy tours (and listed in this year's catalogue). Though we live in CT, a Massachusetts garden is definitely within easy reach.