A Garden of the Heart

Aldridge Gardens is a 30 acre picturesque retreat nestled in the middle of Hoover, Alabama, with urban condos and shopping malls just moments away. Eddie Aldridge, its founder, once lived there with his wife Kay, but with plans for the gardens to become public, they moved to their current home overlooking a lake in 1996. In the new location Eddie has created another impressive garden, filled with plants he loves. This 2 acre personal garden is a garden of the heart, developed not for show but to bring joy to its owners. I was thrilled when Eddie and Kay invited me to visit their garden this week, and I am happy to have their permission to share my photographs of their special place with you. Enjoy!

Their beautiful fountain once graced the Aldridge's Garden Shop. I remember it well, for Aldridge's was one of my favorite places to buy plants!

This lace leaf Japanese maple also once was located on the site of Aldridge's Garden Shop. It is about 60 years old. It is still in a pot, though the bottom of the pot has been knocked out so that its roots can spread.

Here is another one of Eddie's special Japanese maples. This one is about 100 years old! There is a wire cage around its trunk to protect it from beavers, the creatures most notorious for destruction in Aldridge's garden.

Walking around the garden and viewing the lake, one feels the serenity of the space. It is very quiet, except for the birds!

Some more views of the garden:

Charming accents are featured throughout the garden. The butterfly bench is one of my favorites:

Eddie explains that while he oversees the main landscape, Kay's domain is the terrace. This area has great views of the garden and the lake, but I enjoyed Kay's lovely accessories, as well:

Eddie and Kay are well into their retirement years but remain active and very involved in the community. As all good gardens reveal something of the gardener's soul, I think this one reflects the gracious and youthful spirits of its owners.

You may also enjoy my previous post, Young Lovers at Aldridge Gardens

Magic Light in the Garden

I must be kin to a lizard. I suffer terribly on gray, cold days, coiled under cover and biding my time with a sluggish spirit. But let the warm sun shine, and I am out! Basking in the regenerative rays, all energy renewed, taking it in, joy, joy!This Talavera lizard doesn't like freezing weather, either, but he enjoys warmer months outside on the patio.

Winter, mild though it is compared to most of the country, has persisted far too long for my comfort. So when temperatures recently climbed into the 70s and the gentle light of spring washed over the earth, I was ready to officially declare winter gone for the year. Out came the cushions for the patio furniture. Into the garden went the tropical plants that had spent the last few months in Lou's office. ( And Lou was happy that his work space no longer smelled or looked like a greenhouse.) 

Cruel joke! The last two days have been cold again with rain, and more predicted today. But I'm OK. I know it is only winter dragging its last nasty tentacles behind. On the good days I was able to get out to take photos, and I have enjoyed reviewing them as I prepared this post.

The garden is pretty enough, but there are moments when light transforms it into something magical, and those moments are maybe what I do all the work for.

Here are a few shots of the magic light in the garden. Enjoy!

In the woodland garden:

The new birdhouse at the entrance to the woodland garden will soon get a flowering vine, probably a clematis. Meanwhile, plants around its base are beginning to grow:

Here's another birdhouse in the woodland garden. It's an old birdhouse in a new location and an equally old, rusty bird has laid claim to it:

The columbine I planted earlier this year continues to bloom well:

A few more shots inside the woodland garden:Clockwise from upper left: This Pieris japonica (Japanese Andromeda) was a rescue plant. I think it has finally made the turn toward health. Acer japonica 'Vitifolium' has put out its first leaves. I planted this little tree last September. A recent late freeze frosted a Saucer magnolia, but I am happy that some undamaged flowers are now opening. Fern fronds are coming up all over the woodland garden. Surely a sign that winter is past!

I love the woodlands this time of year, but other parts of the garden will not be overlooked.

Dogwoods and azaleas are just beginning to bloom, and soon they will be putting on a show!