Suzie Cranston’s Birdhouse Garden

February 13, 2018January 2, 201944 Comments

Various birdhouses including one like a caravan

When Suzie Cranston’s world was rocked by the death of her son, Peck, a sign saying ‘Peace begins in the garden’ inspired her to create a garden that would celebrate his life.

A painting of Peck Cranston as a boy, holding a tortoise

Beautiful at any time of the year, my sweetheart and I often pause to admire it on walks through our quirky little neighbourhood, Fondren, in Jackson, Mississippi. More than twenty years after starting the garden, Suzie is eager for others to enjoy it as much as she does. She welcomes visitors with a broad smile, pointing out things they may have missed: flowers, garden art, a new birdhouse and, in particular, things that Peck would have loved, such as the tortoises which appear everywhere. Continue reading →

Pedestrian Walkway At The Missouri Botanical Garden

October 9, 2017October 9, 201735 Comments

Covered path at the Missouri Botanical Garden

I rarely take people pictures. It makes me feel sneaky (when I try to take pictures unobserved) or shy (when I’m spotted). I’d be hard pressed to estimate how long I’ve spent in gardens waiting for people to clear away from my shot and how often I’ve captured a random back or stray bottom by mistake when looking too excitedly at a flower to thoroughly check the periphery. Continue reading →

Creative Combination Planting At Chihuly’s Garden And Glass, Seattle

April 28, 2017December 29, 201864 Comments

We travelled to Seattle last May to see this unusual garden at its peak, when the perennials were in bloom. The underplanting feels as if an artist has laid out the plants by magic, with the sweep of a brush.

Underplanting is the idea of planting a garden in layers, with shrubs growing beneath trees, and shorter perennials and bulbs underneath them. The designer thinks about the height and spread of each plant, their colours and textures, then combines them in the most pleasing way. I’ve seen many attempts but rarely seen the effect better realised. Continue reading →

The House Of Their Dreams, Newton, Mississippi

April 13, 2017December 29, 201836 Comments

Some years ago, I was waiting outside a historical building for my sweetheart to finish a landscaping consultation when a gentleman approached. He urged us to take a look at his woodland garden, just a few streets away, even if we only had a few minutes. Continue reading →

Succulent Topiary Dancers

March 18, 2016December 28, 201811 Comments

The clay faces of these dancers are serene, their feet frozen in an eternal dance. They live – or rather, their hair and clothes do – with some friends at the San Diego Botanic Garden. Continue reading →

Brent and Becky’s Bulbs: a private tour

October 13, 2015December 30, 201817 Comments

It may seem unseasonal to post pictures of daffodils in the autumn, but far from it: if you live in the northern hemisphere, this is a great time to plant bulbs for flowers next spring. Meanwhile, the gardens of my Australian blogging buddies seem to be full of life all of a sudden, so I imagine it’s daffodil season there.

Either way, I’d only need the flimsiest of excuses to belatedly share pictures from our visit to Brent and Becky Heath, including some taken in their private garden, trial grounds and growing fields. I’m not a daffodil expert so please don’t ask me for their names!

Continue reading →

Spanish moss at Magnolia Plantation, Charleston

July 18, 2015December 28, 201815 Comments

Sky is reflected in the lake around dawn at one of America’s largest romantic gardens. I’m at Magnolia Plantation with a group of garden writers: one of the best surviving examples of the romantic style of gardening. The idea is that gardeners should co-operate with nature, rather than try to control it. It’s a delicate balance.

The Spanish moss tumbling from the trees catches my eye – a Gothic plant if there ever was one. Ann Radcliffe would have approved.

For more interpretations of this week’s theme, visit the Daily Post’s photo challenge.

Symbol: white picket fence

July 13, 2015December 28, 201810 Comments

I took these pictures of fenced gardens earlier this year on a brief visit to the historic district of Colonial Williamsburg. I don’t see many white picket fences at home in Lancashire: dry stone walls are more our thing.

These fences seemed as much symbolic as functional: a way of staking a claim to an area; an imposing of some kind of order. The gates were unlocked so visitors could wander freely from one garden to another. In some places, they were low enough to step over. Continue reading →

Rick Griffin – Landscape Architect

June 4, 2015December 28, 20187 Comments

As promised, here’s a glimpse into Rick and Shirley Griffin’s private garden in Jackson, Mississippi. Professionally, Rick works with whatever style his client prefers, but confesses to a “natural inclination to the funky”, which he allows full rein in his private garden. At work or at play, he bubbles with natural enthusiasm and creativity. Continue reading →

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Austin, TX

May 28, 2015December 28, 201815 Comments

The wildflowers were the winners (by a short head) in yesterday’s poll, so here they are! These pictures were taken during a snatched visit to The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. I thoroughly recommend a visit: allow at least half a day if you want to see everything. Continue reading →

A fine reward: Trillium recurvatum

April 21, 2015December 29, 201810 Comments

If you follow my blog, you’ll be aware of my weakness for shade plants. I don’t mind at all that their flowers are rarely flashy: demure beauty is fine by me.

I’m from a part of the world (Lancashire, England) where wandering in the woods – I was going to say ‘is a commonplace experience’, but nature rarely offers that, so far as I’m concerned, so I’ll make myself clearer. At home, we walk in the woods for pleasure, exercise, fresh air, to enjoy the season: it doesn’t normally involve risking many dangers.