THANK YOU!!! This is exactly what I need for inspiration. My house is old and has a lot of these classic outdoor features that I can see planted in my mind in a general sense, but not with specifics. I love the rose and clematis suggestions given for all the arbours! I even have MAC waiting in a pot! It's great how each garden is divided by size and also style with actual building details. You are brilliant for finding this.

I already love the first picture, Virginia. That combination of softness and formality, along with the wonderful stonework, is just about my ideal. Unfortunately, I don't have the necessary Italian villa. I look forward to seeing the book. So nice of you to find these interesting books.

vaporvac, I'm very glad that you are finding it inspirational. I figured that if even I, with no design sense, could see what Forestier was doing and why, this would be a very nice thing to share with people who can actually translate concept into reality.

Ingrid, I really like the illustrative style also. The book was published in 1920, and has an Arts and Crafts vibe that I find very appealing.

Virginia

Virginia, thanks so much for sharing this!

Virginia, that picture you've posted is EXACTLY what I'd like to create. I have been trying (lots of setbacks), but I am now raring to go again. Thank you!! I haven't looked at the book yet, but as I love Arts and Crafts too (do you know the frontspiece from 'News from Nowhere'?), I know I'll love it. 'An Epoch of Rest' is such a beautiful phrase to me.

I've never tried a link before, so am not confident that this will work. Trish

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/News_from_Nowhere#/media/File:Kelmscott_Manor_News_from_Nowhere.jpg

Trish, I immediately thought of you when Virginia posted this. I think you're much closer to the dream than I am (ie. your water pond!), but I'm still undaunted and chipping away. I hope to start repairing stone and concrete work next week and into the fall, then I can spend the winter felling volunteer trees and saplings.

I'm loving your link, as well.

lavenderlace, I'm glad you're enjoying it.

Thanks, Trish, for the frontispiece, and also for reminding me that 'News from Nowhere' was written by Morris. Somehow, I'd forgotten that. I haven't read it, but had heard of it. I see that it's available online via the Gutenberg Project, so will read a bit, and see how it goes.

I think I might need to see some garden photos...

Virginia

vaporvac, good for you, repairing your stonework. Mine is badly in need of it - and painting, but......... You never know, knowing that you are tackling yours might just give me the nudge I need.

My garden, or at least a large part of it, is pretty abysmal just now, because of canker. However, hope springing eternal, I ordered 11 more roses this winter (winter now here, and 8 have arrived and are planted). I also have severe iron depletion in many areas.

At least the 50 or so Korean box I planted nearly 3 years ago are looking like they might get more than 4" high this Spring!

Trish, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you. I had canker in my garden too and had to discard quite a few roses, the most heartbreaking being La France, my favorite rose, but I replanted, not always successfully because of the drought and there being no drip watering at the time, and the garden is looking better again. The eleven new roses are a great start and I wish you all the best with them. All that boxwood will be making a statement before you know it!

Thanks, Ingrid. I've sprayed with Phyton, which I imported from the US, after Diane's (nanadoll) recommendation. We'll see!

vaporvac, I actually went to a hardware store today to look at paint for the balustrades! See what you and Virginia have done!

Trish

Trish, what will you plant on/near the balustrades once painted?

Trish, that's lovely- your pooch seems to agree!

FWIW, here's a photo I took yesterday of my immature MBRC. It's a darker pink in cooler weather.

Thanks, Virginia. If my MBRC looks like that she'll be staying.

Virginia, this is thanks to you!

Painted today, but too pale, I think....Plonked a ratty geranium in for a bit of colour. Don't think it improves things though! The upper level was the veggie garden, but I'm giving up on veggies, and have planted Mrs BRC in the middle of it.

Trish's Garden · More Info

Another bit, waiting to be done.....

Trish's Garden · More Info

Trish

Trish, it really looks great. The "soft focus" photo you posted before didn't make the balustrade look like it needed painting, but that last photo gives the game away. I hope MBRC will be a nice pink for you. I have the impression that your climate is a bit more like mine than Ingrid's, so fingers crossed that she'll behave for you.

I like the multi-level garden look... everything here is very, very flat.

Cheers!

Virginia

I like that very much Trish, the balustrade, tiled terrace especially, and the steps there... I can just hear those Kookaburras in the trees...

Virginia, thanks. I like the 'look' of the tiered garden, just not so keen on the 'looking after' it!

Marlorena, the garden was, I'm told, laid out by someone from the Botanic Gardens, probably in the 30's or 40's. It was overgrown with knee high weeds when I bought it seven years ago. When I was creating a new bed, I was thrilled to discover that I was following the line of an original bed, bordered by brick edging. The kookaburras sit in my neighbour's enormous Ironbark?, which overhangs my yard. Sometimes they even sit on the balustrades above the fishpond. I netted it recently, as the fish appeared to be mating, and I feel so sorry for the female fish, who are hounded to exhaustion, then picked off by the kookaburras.

Trish,oh how fascinating that someone from the Botanic gardens laid it out originally... it has that professionally inspired look about it..

I used to enjoy listening to those birds when I was in Brisbane, but I know they can be a bit of a nuisance in that way.... I feel they epitomise the sound of Australia, I hope that's not too way off...

That looks fabulous! I think the colour's about right. My stone looks so different now that I've cleaned it and had the same feeling. I guess I'd seen it covered with moss and rain dirt for so long. I'm still working on mine as there's a lot of it and it's a pretty extensive overhaul. We're working on the stairs first so they're easy and safe to walk down. Our problem is that the yearly freeze/thaw cycle is really hard on concrete and even stone if there's the slightest break.

Trish, that looks incredibly elegant and I'm so happy that you are getting to enjoy your beautiful garden again!

Trish, I'm looking forward to seeing how you get along with the garden updates.

I can see why you think the paint might be too pale, but I also think it will look more "as it should" once you get a few roses and other plants out and about to provide color contrast. Your geranium looks pretty good for winter, but I expect it- and your other plants- will be looking better once spring weather (and light) arrive.

I finally googled the Kookaburra call to hear what it sounds like. A bit maniacal... We have a female Belted Kingfisher who patrols the water by our backyard... she is very good at finding fish in swift currents.

Virginia

Marlorena, I agree, the kookaburra's call is the sound of Australia. The sounds I hear way more often though, are the chattering of rainbow lorrikeets and the screeching of cockatoos. My neighbour feeds all the birds, and we have a flock of cockatoos visiting daily.

Virginia, I took that shot in the early evening as it is so bright here the balustrade looked white during the day. There's no shortage of light, believe me, so I have no excuse for the geranium looking ratty. I just removed it from a pot, as i wanted the pot for a dwarf orange. There's hardly a dormant period here.

The bed below had a marauding salvia in it which I removed a few months ago. Perennials I plant usually either die or are too successful!

I keep looking at that picture you posted at the top of this thread. Thanks again for the inspiration.

Forgot to add, vaporvac, that freeze and thaw must make life difficult. My son borrowed a high pressure water cleaner to clean all our paths and walls. It's made such a difference.

Also, Virginia, your Belted Kingfisher looks extraordinary - love his raggedy hair!

Trish, I think your pond and balustrade look very elegant. I am so rooting for your roses to grow quickly and for you to have the garden you want. It's awful to have roses destroyed and then have to start over. Sometimes I think I'll never live to see the day when ALL my roses are finally mature; it would probably help if I didn't keep replacing them.

Virginia, if my Mrs. B.R. Cant had ever looked like that I would have been ecstatic. That's what I thought I was getting when I bought two of them, but the reality was more of a dirty dark pinkish red which I never want to see again. One bush is long gone and the second one is being dismantled in preparation for Florence Bowers taking its place. As Jeri always says, location, location.

Speaking of birds, this teenage road runner came to our front door and stayed for a few minutes. I think he was admiring his reflection in the glass!

Thanks, Ingrid. And first time I've ever seen a road runner, except on a cartoon!

I love that, such elegant legs, like a ballet dancer... I wish I had one come visit me...

Ingrid, that's a great photo! I think I'd be admiring my reflection too, if I were such a handsome bird...

Apparently, they've expanded their range eastward to Louisiana and Missouri, but I don't guess they'll make it to SC anytime soon. Which is good news for all my resident lizards, I guess.

I love these wildlife pictures. I have so many lizards, but mine won't stay in place long enough to snap a pic. : ( what beautiful creatures!

Trish, your garden is stunning. Love the pond. Thank you for sharing.

totoro, that's very kind of you to say. the 'bones' of the garden are great, but I'm afraid my gardening is not so......... Maybe one day........