Arbor Garden, 2016
Sunday, April 17, 2016 at 8:30PM The Arbor Garden, originally called the Lady Garden, is eight years old. It has taken that long for me to develop a clear vision of what I want. While it has not yet become the enclosed garden room I dream about, the plants along the periphery are growing; and it is easier to see what it will become. The Arbor Garden has always been one of my favorite places to sit and enjoy wildlife, but with rough edges and a large sloping layout, it has never been particularly photogenic. Here are some recent shots taken in and around the space, and at the end of the post I'll show you some views taken when the area was first being developed, so you can see some of the changes.
Overview of the Arbor Garden taken from the patio:
Steps leading from the patio to the Arbor Garden:
Some plantings beside the steps:
A close-up of 'Red Dragon' Persicaria, seen on the right in the above image:
Chinese Snowball Viburnum and Philadelphus, AKA Mock Orange and English Dogwood, next to the Arbor Garden:
Here is a view of the Mock Orange taken from within the Arbor Garden:
Hellebores grow around the Mock Orange. They have been blooming for months and have mostly faded to greenish-white, but they are still beautiful. Their lovely foliage is evergreen and will give the ground a green covering when the flowers are gone:
Here is the entrance to the Arbor Garden:
One of the first things I added to the Arbor Garden was this large urn. I put a fern in it every year:
This is a current view of the sitting area and the arbor swing:
Here is a closer view of the small sitting area near the arbor swing - don't miss the chandelier!
The plant in the green pot is 'Banana Boat' Creeping Broad-leaved Sedge:
I have a couple of small green chairs on the landing, which is a step down from the arbor swing. This chair holds a pot of plants, which have not grown enough yet to really show up. I also have planted some woodland phlox and some dwarf mondo grass between the pavers here::
Moss is spreading to cover the ground around the large urn in the middle of the Arbor Garden. A number of 'stepable' ground covers are intermingling with the moss and each other. Hopefully, in another year one will not see any bare earth. These are some of the ground covers, as well as some other plants that are planted in pots in the Arbor Garden:
Clockwise from top: Maidenhair fern, Leopard Plant and Variegated Carex grow together in a large red pot; Creeping Jenny ((Lysimachia nummularia 'Aurea') and purple clover blend together; Creeping Jenny and Oxalis; 'Ogon' Japanese Sedum and Ajuga; Impatiens and Dusty Miller are easy annuals growing in pots.
Finally, here are a few views taken years ago when the Arbor Garden was much younger. The top image was taken in May, 2008, very soon after the arbor swing was completed. Some stonework was done, and the urn was in place. The views below the top image were all taken in 2010:
You may also enjoy reading some previous posts about the Arbor (Lady) Garden:
Rocking Along in the Lady Garden
Reader Comments (20)
This is so beautiful! It's a lovely transition to the woodland. Your Mock Orange reminds me that mine will be blooming within a few weeks, too. It's one of my favorite shrubs. What a stunning setting you have there!
So Lovely - sigh!
It's amazing how much it's changed! Gardening is definitely a reminder to be patient for me. Thank you for sharing!
I noticed the first bloom on my Philadelphus yesterday; yours is lovely already covered with flowers. there is so much to enjoy in this area Deb. I love the fern in the urn and the lime green pot is gorgeous, really shows its contents to advantage. The arbour itself has quite a Chinese feel about it, like the gates into houses. I can understand why you love to sit here, I would too.
that very last image bottom right is magical!
Your garden is so lovely, Deb! I swear I breath more deeply every time I stroll through it through your posts. The color of the arbor is perfect, as are the surrounding plants.
I want to hang out in your arbor garden! I especially like the viburnum-mock orange combination. And I love the way you made the arbor and swing a feature with that pop of vibrant color on the posts. Beautiful.
It's a great project, Deb! I love the urn with a fern, and the chandelier is gorgeous! I have never seen Creeping Broad-leaved Sedge. What a beauty!
I can easily imagine you enjoying a cup of tea in this lovely garden!
Interesting to see the evolution of an area. Gardens take years to mature, but the journey and seeing everything take shape makes it all worth it. I love the combination of the Chinese Snowball Viburnum and the Mock Orange. So fresh and pretty!
It must smell heavenly with that mature Mock Orange. I can see why it is your favorite spot and the wildlife surely feel safe and secure in your woodland gardens.
That Red Dragon is very cool! I'm not sure why you think this garden is not photogenic, because it certainly is. The chandelier is great, so unique!
What a lovely space to sit. I love the swing structure. I could sit there for hours. I also like the idea of plants between the pavers to soften the hardscape. You have such a fabulous garden!
Must be wonderful to sit in the arbor garden and smell the blooming Mock Orange.
It's all beautiful but my favorites are the fern in the urn and the sedge in the matching green pot.
The Arbor Garden looks lovely! The chandelier is an especially nice touch. Do you know which species of mockorange that is? I have a big one like that that is a water hog, which is fine, but it would be nice to have mockorange in a drier place too. The snowball viburnum is gorgeous.
Your gardens are so beautiful Deb. I just want to jump right into your photos and sit on the lovely swing overlooking the lush landscape. Thank you for sharing...made me smile!
Hi, everyone! Thanks to each of you for visiting my blog and taking time to leave a comment. I appreciate each one. Sweetbay, the mock orange is an unnamed passalong from a friend, given to help rebuild my garden after the tornado in 1990. Deb
I love your swing it is absolutely gorgeous; I have a large country swing that is on my porch so I can sit and look out on my garden and enjoy it...Great garden photo series.
Deb this arbor garden is absolutely beautiful! What a wonderful place to sit and enjoy nature all around you. You have the most fabulous property! My favorites were the beautiful Mock Orange and that awesome chandelier - I would love that!!
So much beauty - thank you for sharing it all!
- Kate xx
Another beautiful spot to watch your garden grow...I love that swing!