I'm jumping back to June and the garden of Linda Boley, which is actually in Boulder, CO—we covered a lot of territory under the guise of a trip to Denver.
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I loved Linda's garden. At the time I remember thinking it was immaculate, but looking at these photos I'm hard pressed to find a single leaf out of place, no weeds, no debris in the gravel. How did she do it? Plus she was a patient and generous hostess, answering question after question and even sending a few of us home with a sempervivum (see this post for a photo of my plant gift).
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From her garden description in our Fling brochure: "I started with a dying lawn and one large, diseased, Siberian Elm tree, and lots of Siberian Elm tree seedlings...we hauled in 14 tons of soil and established a front yard rock garden and lots of perennials (shade and sun garden) and annuals in back...the front yard rock garden has had three major overhauls as a shade tree was removed and more native plants became available...I designed, planted, built and maintain everything myself; the flagstone, gravel, soils—all available locally—I hauled in myself, but that is getting harder with age."
Plants bordering the front sidewalk...
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The garden dates to 1977 when Linda purchased her home.
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She says the painted (dead) tree is just for fun. I think it's genius, adding height without shade and a splash of color that works with the brick of the house.
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I swooned over the sempervivum in person and I do it again now looking at these photos.
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That's Linda, third from the left, wearing the light blue shirt and khaki pants. She calls out the front xeric rock garden as her favorite feature adding "I get to meet and chat with my neighbors while I'm working." I wish she was my neighbor!
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Check out that carpet of sempervivum, amazing!
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This raised rock garden is up against the right side of the breezeway to the backyard, visible in the photo with the painted dead tree, above..
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There's a lot going on in a very small space.
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I didn't take many photos in the back garden, we only had 35 minutes here and I wanted to explore every inch (every plant!) in the front garden. This fence treatment caught my eye however ...
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As did this bamboo fencing and a lonicera in bloom on the opposite side of the yard.
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I wonder if it's the same as my honeysuckle, Lonicera x brownii 'Dropmore Scarlet'?
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This planting circle under a shade tree was lovingly cramscaped.
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The fine textured grass just daring me to run my fingers through it, which I did.
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The gardens we saw in Colorado had amazing clemetis, this one a fine example.
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Okay, back to explore the garden in front of the house...
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I asked Linda which agave this was, do you think I can remember for certain? No. I think she identified it as A. havardiana.
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It's a looker, with those strong leaf imprints.
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Perfection! I guess it helps to not have any trees (in your lot or the neighbor's) dropping litter.
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This one surprised me, Alchemilla saxatilis, although now that I see its common name is Alpine Lady's Mantle I guess it shouldn't.
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I accidentally get my toes in a photo every now and then, when I do I always think of Peter, the Outlaw, because early on in our friendship he said something like "I thought you might be much younger because photos of your feet show up on your blog sometimes"...
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This is the patch of sempervivum from which Linda gifted me a plant. I'm hoping as my baby offsets they'll have that great pine-cone like shape to the leaves.
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A magical mix of colors and textures, everywhere you look.
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Amorpha nana, dwarf false indigo
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I think the green creeping carpet is Arenaria ‘Wallowa Mountain’
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Isn't the color combo of the cotinus and sedum fantastic?
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Okay, that's a wrap on this Fling garden. Still lots of Colorado to share in the coming weeks though.
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Weather Diary, Aug 7: Hi 73, Low 61/ Precip 0
All material © 2009-2019 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.
I loved Linda's garden. At the time I remember thinking it was immaculate, but looking at these photos I'm hard pressed to find a single leaf out of place, no weeds, no debris in the gravel. How did she do it? Plus she was a patient and generous hostess, answering question after question and even sending a few of us home with a sempervivum (see this post for a photo of my plant gift).
From her garden description in our Fling brochure: "I started with a dying lawn and one large, diseased, Siberian Elm tree, and lots of Siberian Elm tree seedlings...we hauled in 14 tons of soil and established a front yard rock garden and lots of perennials (shade and sun garden) and annuals in back...the front yard rock garden has had three major overhauls as a shade tree was removed and more native plants became available...I designed, planted, built and maintain everything myself; the flagstone, gravel, soils—all available locally—I hauled in myself, but that is getting harder with age."
Plants bordering the front sidewalk...
The garden dates to 1977 when Linda purchased her home.
She says the painted (dead) tree is just for fun. I think it's genius, adding height without shade and a splash of color that works with the brick of the house.
I swooned over the sempervivum in person and I do it again now looking at these photos.
That's Linda, third from the left, wearing the light blue shirt and khaki pants. She calls out the front xeric rock garden as her favorite feature adding "I get to meet and chat with my neighbors while I'm working." I wish she was my neighbor!
Check out that carpet of sempervivum, amazing!
This raised rock garden is up against the right side of the breezeway to the backyard, visible in the photo with the painted dead tree, above..
There's a lot going on in a very small space.
I didn't take many photos in the back garden, we only had 35 minutes here and I wanted to explore every inch (every plant!) in the front garden. This fence treatment caught my eye however ...
As did this bamboo fencing and a lonicera in bloom on the opposite side of the yard.
I wonder if it's the same as my honeysuckle, Lonicera x brownii 'Dropmore Scarlet'?
This planting circle under a shade tree was lovingly cramscaped.
The fine textured grass just daring me to run my fingers through it, which I did.
The gardens we saw in Colorado had amazing clemetis, this one a fine example.
Okay, back to explore the garden in front of the house...
I asked Linda which agave this was, do you think I can remember for certain? No. I think she identified it as A. havardiana.
It's a looker, with those strong leaf imprints.
Perfection! I guess it helps to not have any trees (in your lot or the neighbor's) dropping litter.
This one surprised me, Alchemilla saxatilis, although now that I see its common name is Alpine Lady's Mantle I guess it shouldn't.
I accidentally get my toes in a photo every now and then, when I do I always think of Peter, the Outlaw, because early on in our friendship he said something like "I thought you might be much younger because photos of your feet show up on your blog sometimes"...
This is the patch of sempervivum from which Linda gifted me a plant. I'm hoping as my baby offsets they'll have that great pine-cone like shape to the leaves.
A magical mix of colors and textures, everywhere you look.
Amorpha nana, dwarf false indigo
I think the green creeping carpet is Arenaria ‘Wallowa Mountain’
Isn't the color combo of the cotinus and sedum fantastic?
Okay, that's a wrap on this Fling garden. Still lots of Colorado to share in the coming weeks though.
Weather Diary, Aug 7: Hi 73, Low 61/ Precip 0
All material © 2009-2019 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.