Things Peasant Gardeners Do

6 years ago

It starts innocently enough. I became gardener at the same time they were getting to the last bit of remodeling of the house, the front porch and walkway. Of course I had an opinion.

The front porch used to be a pure white gingerbread gazebo looking thing attached to a big brick manor house. The walkway was redbrick that had heaved and thawed for far too many winters. Once that was all done, I had to pick out some pots because the Lady of the House, well lets just say, there is some residual childhood trauma with her mother who was of a certain status with the Philadelphia Flower Show Ladies. The real truth is she hasn't got a Martha Stewart bone in her body.

The pots of course instantly became seasonal arrangements.

The Lady of the House is always frantically busy. So you know who pretties up the pots, tis the season. Well the first two years I just wandered into the garden and took cuttings. The garden is a veritable Christmas greens factory. It is a mature, 20+ years, strolling garden of ornamental trees and shrubs planted by two plant geeky British doctors.

Been there done that with winter greens from the garden, so thought I would try something new this year. This is Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Spirited'. A found, small, slow growing seedling of 'Crippsii' they say. When the season is over they will be planted in the garden.

Plant geekiness should be given offerings.

The grey tile of the stoop and brick edging around it are the only remains of the original front porch. The gingerbread gazebo was replaced with properly scaled brick columns. The lumpy brick walkway was replaced by a flagstone paved cement walk.

I left the Lady of the House with instructions to replace the ratty old wreath on the front door with something that flows with this years pot décor. I can only hope for a miracle.

Featured Answer

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

6 years ago

Chris, I quite like the planters....and particularly the Christmas ornament "mulch" :-)) Dwarf Hinoki cypress are some of my favorite plants although ones with yellow foliage have not been at the top of my list. I did have a lovely specimen of 'Nana Lutea' in my old garden though.

I do find it rather interesting that some posters contribute to threads by only posting negative comments.........but then comments like "peasant gardeners don't do formal" makes it all good again! LOL!

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Comments (6)

steve duggins(Z6a) - Central Ohio
6 years ago
That looks remarkable. Well done - although I'd rather see pics from the garden of ornamental trees, but that's just me. Intrigued by the C o 'Spirited'. How much sun is yours getting? I wonder how well it will brighten up. I almost bought a 'Crippsii' earlier this year, but decided it would get too big for the space. Seeing this little, young specimen at Dawes arboretum didn't help, but I managed to resist.
Christopher CNC
Original Author
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
In their current potted situation they are in bright shade/reflected light on the north side of the house. They will be planted in full sun come spring. I may have an advantage with that in the mountains of WNC since our summer hot is about 85 degrees and we generally get plenty rain. My 'Crippsii' in too much shade is practically plain green and doesn't want to grow at all.
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Embothrium
6 years ago
At the moment the formality is imbalanced because there is nothing to the right of the entry that matches the cryptomeria to the left of it. The identical pair of planters are if anything emphasizing this situation.
plantkiller_il_5
6 years ago
peasant gardeners don't do formal
Christopher CNC
Original Author
6 years ago
@EmbothriumThe garage is directly off to the left out of the picture and perpendicular to the house. Hence the asphalt directly against the flagstone walk. The cryptomeria is crammed into a tiny triangle of a bed while the right side bed runs the full length of the house. (The death of the cryptomeria has been discussed more than once.) The entire house façade is imbalanced. The front porch is the only formal we got. It's just a dab of formal in an imbalanced world.

@gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)I am developing a real fondness for the dwarf Hinoki cypress in the landscape. Great year round foundation shrubs and so low maintenance. The yellow and blue in conifers really attracts me. Must be leftovers from my tropical days. Everybody wants color!

peasant gardeners don't do formal. Not at home we don't. Peasant gardeners can be trained to do formal.

Haha for sure.