Back in the garden...finally!

Well, after a bit of a hiatus, I was back in the garden today. This year I'm doing an internship at Chanticleer, where I ended my year last year (as the North American Christopher Lloyd Scholar). I'm excited about the prospect of being here for 9 months and the opportunities to learn and experience the garden over this period.

It was a nice first day. After a late-season snow storm that produced about 8 inches of snow last week, we were blessed with a beautiful 50 degree (F) day today.  With this week's temps we should see significant snow melt and the emerging of early bulbs.

Today I worked on pruning the majority of the day. As there is still so much snow cover, we're somewhat limited in what projects we can undertake. Pruning, however, is a perfect job these days. We pruned a series of Hydrangea paniculata and H. arborescens, both of which flower on current

seasons growth, making it safe to prune this late. We also pruned Catalpa bignonioides 'Aurea'. Both the H. paniculata and the Catalpa were pollarded back to their base framwork, which allows us control their size while providing necessary stability for the plant from season to season. 

Remaining framework on pruned H. paniculata

Yet another great garden!

Since my last entry, I have said farewell to Great Dixter and have returned to the USA, where I am spending the final month of my scholarship at Chanticleer, in Pennsylvania. 

Chanticleer, the former home of the Rosengarten family, is a 35 acre garden and estate located about 20 miles northwest of Philadelphia. Similar to Great Dixter, Chanticleer takes pride in it's bold and experimental plantings, which often stop one in their tracks. There are 7 full-time horticulturalists, all responsible for designated areas within the garden. Each garden space has it's own character and style, providing a range of designs and plants. Despite the variety,however, the garden still maintains rhythm and cohesion, an often underestimated aspect of the garden experience. Fortunately, during my time here I will work with all of the horticulturalist in their different areas, allowing me to get the broadest experience possible. 

One of my favorite (bold) plantings at Chanticleer

Solar Garden

Last week was a busy and productive week! I started the week in the Solar Garden, where a group of us lifted the existing mixed bedding, which had run its course, and we continued with the normal procedure of forking over the bed and adding mushroom compost.  In addition to prepping the soil, we also extended the bed edge out about a foot.  We did save some of the persisting cornflowers,  which we cut and bunched for sale on the front porch. 

Lifting existing bedding

We thought through some different planting schemes, but we (Fergus) decided on Canna indica 'Purpurea', Cosmos (white), Tagetes cinnabar, Zinnia Benary's Giant Salmon, Salvia  bonfire, and Zinnia Zowie Yellow Flame.  I'm excited to see how it works! 

New planting done

Northiam Horticulture Society Judging

Recently our local horticulture society had a summer social event with a flower show that Ed and I were asked to judge. As it was my first time judging such an event, I was a bit nervous. It's a smaller show than their spring show, with only two categories. The first category was one flowering specimen and the other a mixed foliage display.  It wasn't as bad as I anticipated, and was actually fun and a good experience. 

The evening also included a rather challenging plant identification and garden photography competition. It's great that these sort of groups still exist and that they continue such a rich tradition, while encouraging a younger generation to become involved. 

June jobs

Despite a dry month, the garden is really looking good right now. We've been running around the garden (literally at times) setting up sprinklers and trying to keep things watered. We have also been replanting bedding areas which have gone over. The challenge is to do this in such a way that it doesn't create massive holes throughout the garden.  Therefore we prioritize which areas need to be redone first, and stagger the timing of our removal and replanting of different areas. This approach is more subtle and allows for new plantings to fill in before we tackle another area. 

Planting Salvia 'Amistad' in the Peacock Garden

Newly planted Canna 'Wyoming' in the Peacock Garden

Part of this process is making sure we have the necessary stock to select from. So all the while we continue to sow seed, prick out, and pot on seasonal bedding material. It's all intertwined, and requires a good deal of multi-tasking.

A fresh batch of seedlings

This is another facet of succession gardening, which is a lot of work, but worthwhile for us to provide a continuous show in the garden throughout the season. 

Exotic Garden

Taking Tradescantia cuttings

This week we have begun sorting through plants in the hot house, getting some things (i.e. Begonias) moved out into cold frames, where they will still have protection, while freeing up necessary space in the greenhouse. This has allowed us to move plants that have spent the winter under the bench, up on top of the bench, where they will get proper light as they begin to emerge. One such plant that is beginning to emerge quickly is Colocasia. These were repotted into fresh soil, and some into larger pots, and were placed on the heat bench to encourage growth. These are important pieces to the Exotic Garden composition. 

Repotted Colocasias on the heat bench

We are hoping to plant up the Exotic Garden in the next two weeks. "Exciting, isn't it?" (as Fergus would say) We have spent a couple of days now carefully unwrapping the Bananas (Musa basjoo) and the Tree Fern (Dicksonia antarctica), as well as weeding, tidying, and forking the soil. This is usually done around the 2nd week of June, as we're out of frost threat and the plants are far enough along to use. 

Banana after straw removed

Unwrapping the Tree Fern

Turkey Trip

I just had the privilege of spending a week in Turkey as part of my scholarship. Being my first trip to Turkey, I didn't really know what to expect, but it ended up being one of the best travel experiences. 

Old Istanbul

Part of the trip was spent in Istanbul and part in the eastern town of Erzincan--what a contrast! In Istanbul I experienced a bit of sensory overload with so much going on. This was a horticulture-based trip, but it was also very much a cultural experience. We worked in the botanic garden one day, laying out and planting part of a border.  It's always fun to meet other horticulturalists and see the work that they're doing and share plants and ideas. 

Border before

Border after

I also enjoyed seeing the city. Situated on the Bosphorus and the Sea of Marmara, the city slopes up away from the water, creating a wonderful tiered effect. I especially appreciated all the old architecture and the traditional markets. 

Istanbul is a beautiful city

It was nice to leave the hustle and bustle of Istanbul and head east for a few days. We stayed in the town of Erzincan. It felt small after being in Istanbul, but it still had lot going on in its own right. There was a busy main street with numerous shops and restaurants, and then, as if you had pulled back the curtain to a different scene, one block over in the shadows of the main street there was a fabulous old market. Everyday they had farmers selling fresh fruit and veg and seeds, as well as the permanent shops of the local artisans-- it was great. 

Probably wouldn't see this in Istanbul! 

Old mountain village

From Erzincan, we were able to do day trips out into the surrounding mountains and countryside looking at plants in the wild. Turkey has a wonderful range of endemic plants, and although we were a little early for some things, we still saw quite a bit.  It's great to see these plants growing in their natural habitats.  We become so accustomed to the plants we buy in our local garden centers and nurseries, that we often forget where they come from.  By seeing them growing naturally, it not only gives me a greater appreciation for the plant in a cultivated setting, but it gives greater insight into the specific requirements of that plant. 

 Pelargonium endlicherianum

Ferula orientalis

Tchihatchewia isatidea

This was a special trip and a wonderful experience, from the people, to the food, and obviously the plants--I hope to be back one day!