The Lady's Green Room

The Lady is surrounded by leafy splendor in her garden room. There are walls of verdant trees, and, overhead, foliage arches across the ceiling.

Of all my garden spaces, the Lady Garden is becoming my favorite. The arbor swing has a great view of the hydrangea walk and is up close to bird and other wild life activity. I like to watch the trees and listen to the sounds in the garden. Squirrels play, and the gentle tunes of wind chimes mingle with bird song. It is a peaceful place that Lou and I both enjoy.

Most of the planting beds feature hostas. They are well suited to the filtered sunlight this area receives. As June begins, they are growing full and I love their colors and textures:Clockwise from upper left: Francis Williams; Sum and Substance; Whirlwind; Big DaddyAnd here is a birds nest fern, an indoor plant spending the summer outdoors. As long as I keep it watered it likes the subtropical temperatures.

While green predominates, as it usually does in my part of the world in summer, there are some colorful red accents:

And a few other things which add some interest:

The Lady Garden, 2011, is still immature. I am waiting for ground covers to cover the dirt floors. Boxwood and tea olives have yet to grow together to form hedges which will delineate two sides. I am still tweaking the stone paths. The planting beds need lots more plants! Meanwhile, garden ornaments, colorful pots, and temporary plants help to fill in. But things are growing, and it is beginning to feel like a real outdoor room.

For Whimsy and Romance

Lou was balanced on a ladder in the Lady Garden, stretching upward to hang a relatively heavy wrought iron chandelier from a tree branch.

I was down below, holding the ladder steady on the uneven ground so that he wouldn't fall, and more importantly, so that the ladder wouldn't tip over and crush a native azalea I have been nursing along for two years and which has finally begun to take hold.

"This isn't very practical," Lou said.

"Practical? Who said anything about practical? This is for fun. It's a whimsy. Why, it's for romance!"

With the word romance hanging in the air, Lou hushed his complaints and got into the spirit of the affair.

The chandelier is a new addition to the Lady Garden. It's not my fault I bought it. I was with friends when I found it, and they all insisted it would look fabulous in my garden and it was such a great buy, how could I pass it up? I would have walked away if I had been by myself, but, you know, they were right.

The chandelier holds six candles and is hanging between the arbor swing and a small but comfortable wooden bistro set, also a recent purchase. It is the perfect place for sitting with a relaxing drink and enjoying the sights and sounds of the Lady Garden and the surrounding area. Nesting bluebirds are nearby, as well as hawks and owls. Lou says he is looking forward to our date.

The Lady Garden, the newest addition to my gardens, is a feminine space with repetition of curves and flourishes. I raised three boys, so I think I am entitled! Echoing shapes, as well as materials and color, helps to unify a space. Below is a photo of the chandelier and a few other decorative touches in the Lady Garden.

This time of year the Lady Garden is surrounded by dogwoods and other flowering trees in bloom. Here are a few shots taken in and around the area:

I am waiting for most of the plantings in this area to mature, but a few colorful annuals add some color to the green shrubs and other plants.1st row: purple verbena; Cheilanthes argentea, my new favorite fern. 2nd row: boxwood; ajuga. 3rd row: decorative kale; osmanthus frangrans. 4th row: epimedium; pansies from the big box store.

Though life is serious business, I hope you will always leave a little place for whimsy, just for the fun of it, and for romance!

Note: I realize my last post also contained the word Romance in the title, but I just couldn't help it!