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Grateful for the Garden

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Grateful for the garden is an understatement as I consider the gift the garden shares. Visiting Northview allowed me a few moments to reflect.

Being grateful is an emotion that is often overlooked. As gardeners, we are elated when that particular bud opens into bloom. Satisfaction is found when we eat that first homegrown tomato from the garden. The sweet heat from a Shishito pepper surprises our tastebuds and reminds us that the next one could be hotter or not. No matter the circumstance, being grateful should be a part of our daily existence.

I recently read a book, Harper Counts Her Blessings. This book made me reflect on how we can move throughout our day without reflecting on exactly what we are thankful for. This is a great book for parents and grandparents to have on hand when offering up a simple lesson about being grateful.

Jenny Rose Carey is a fellow garden writer. I was introduced to her first book, Glorious Shade, at a Garden Writers event a few years ago. We share a love of a few things like the color pink, as well as shade gardens. After reading this book, I knew a visit was imminent. We discussed a visit and then the period of unexpected pausing hit. When GardenComm International‘s Region 2 announced an in-person meeting, Northview was a featured garden, I knew this garden was calling me.

THANKFUL FOR THE HISTORY

For the past 25 years, Jenny and Gus have reimagined Northview into not just their home, but a popular place for garden aficionados around the world to visit. Thanks to Wilmer Atkinson for keeping such good records to document the journey of Northview. Mr. Atkinson was the founder and editor of the Farm Journal. When he acquired the land, it was just over 150 acres. There are trees on the property that provide glorious shade and date back to the days when Mr. Atkinson planted and beautified the grounds.

As with many perennials, over time the land Mr. Atkinson called home was parceled off and sold. Today, Northview is just under five acres and includes a divinely beautiful carriage house. As I sat in the carriage house, I imagined how thankful Jenny Rose Carey must be. The carriage house is well-lit, surrounded by walls of great garden books, a fireplace, and a kitchenette…all in the midst of the garden. I am grateful to have enjoyed a few moments in the room where Jenny writes.

A GRATEFUL GATHERING

Northview is not just another beautiful garden. It is a working garden, a teaching garden, as well a the perfect environment for experimentation. Using minimal watering techniques, and using the right plant in the right places, Jenny has curated whimsical places throughout the garden to pause.

Pausing to see what plants Jenny has included embracing the local wildlife and seasonal plantings which fall victim to the same wildlife as they need nutrition. These living examples are all a part of the lesson plan found at Northview. Armed with a delightful Head Gardener, Hanna von Schlegell, and Joe Giampa, a local artist and carpenter, Jenny has all the help

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Memories and Magic at Cottage in the Court

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Memories of pink and blue hydrangeas found in Grandma’s living room were expected each year. However never a pink peony. This year a pink peony provides memories of Grandma.

Memories of my Grandma with a song on her heart have been with me all week. There are memories everywhere in my garden. Each spring, as the earth gives way to plants coming to life, I think back to my childhood. This is the week that I would rather have been outside in the garden. Lying motionless, head to the ground, quietly waiting for a worm to cross my path. Pursing my lips, gently attempting to blow it over, the worms became quite started. Wriggling quickly for cover, this game would have gone on for hours. Instead, Mom would call me indoors to rehearse my lines for the Easter program at Church.

We could walk to Grandma’s house on Capitol Hill after Church. With the smaller yards along the way, enjoying the diversity found in each garden was exciting. I wanted to linger at each and every yard we passed. My Grandpa insisted I keep up, so I did. However, the memories of the colors and textures lingered on my mind. Grandpa knew my parents would be waiting at the house. My parents were very protective of us and we were barely out of their reach.   

Easter Sunday there was usually a colorful Hydrangea in the windowsill at the house on 7th Street where they lived. Memories of the purples, pinks, and muted tones of these small shrubs, added a bright spot to the dimly lit living room. It was something I looked forward to every year. I often wondered what she did with them afterwards. Now I will never know.

This week, I marveled at my garden. As I walked past the Camellia’s with their bright red blooms, I heard a familiar voice. She sang in the church choir and rehearsing prior to an event was important. The song, “He Lives”, an old spiritual was a part of every Easter Sunday Service. I imagined Grandma was walking beside me, as I created my daily memory of the garden in the morning. As we strolled, arms locked together, her voice was quite clear and very real.

Memories of Daddy’s white special occasion suit brought a smile to my lips when I saw this peony in my garden.

At a moment when I had no time to spare, the magic found in my garden stopped me in my tracks. On another evening this week, I was caught off guard by a flash of color. My Dad had a white suit that he traditionally wore on Easter Sunday when he had to preach. The fabric was textured, not pin-cord or seersucker, but almost ridge-like. The ruffled, ridged petals of a peony made me freeze.

It was at that moment I heard the booming but mellow voice of my Dad, breaking into song, his song. “Blessed Assurance” was a song that Dad sang or hummed when he was feeling downright blessed. This white, bigger than life, crinkled petal peony – which should not be blooming right now – came to life before my eyes. It was as if the deeply colored center was a microphone and Dad’s voice filled the air around me. I was emotionally full. Grandma never saw my garden. Dad had the pleasure of seeing it and walking through it quite a few times….even now, in spirit. The memories, beautiful memories fill my soul.

I believe in my ancestral connections. The memories my Dad shared with me about North Carolina and gardening with his grandparents are etched in my mind. In my heart, I believe my ancestors are lifting me up and providing strength as I continue my garden writing journey. The awareness I have of their presence is so real.  

As new plants begin to unfurl, I am certain that more memories of my ancestors will offer more unexpected garden magic throughout the year.

Do you have memories of your ancestors when in the garden? There is magic in every garden…but you must be present to feel it, accept it, and allow it to bring you joy.

I am going to be sitting here waiting for the next memorable moment of magic with my kinfolk in my garden.

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Life and The Seeds Sown Within

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Life is like a perennial garden. Often the seeds that are sown within enhance our very existence.

When I go into my garden, the realization of how plants imitate life is evident no matter where I look. The seeds which fall along the way and multiply, simply enhance what I consider my world. As I spoke with a friend recently, we were in agreement on a few observances in our life gardens.

Life is shorter than we ever thought, just like the seasons. We agreed, when we were younger, the seasons seemed to last forever. Now they whisk by with barely enough time to really enjoy the moments found within. Especially now. With the uncertainty of the next moment, the opportunity to just be in the moment is more important than ever.

Some people are like Mountain mint. A plant that attracts beneficial insects to the garden and repels a few that we do not want -such as mosquitos.

We spoke of the friends who we missed. Our friend Bob, who was like Pycnanthemum (Mountain Mint) in our world. You see, Bob had his hands in just about everything. Feeding knowledge to the younger folks who would listen and positive ideas to standard practices. He is a seed that we sorely miss, yet the roots he sunk deep into our workplace soil remain and grow.

There are friends who are like the seeds of the Cleome, scattering and making a difference to all who know them.
(Image by Anna Armbrust from Pixabay)

Mary was like the Spider Flower (Cleome). The seeds, which are quite minute, of this beautiful garden addition, truly speak to the nature of our friend. Although short in stature, Mary blooms eternally to many of us. If you are not familiar with the Cleome, this self-seeding annual brings life to the garden. It attracts hummingbirds and butterflies creating quite the show as they dance and hover above the blooms. Mary was always ready to dance, bringing joy to all who knew her.

I cannot forget the lesson of conversation. Yes, the art of simple conversation should be considered a seed as well. We reminisced about how we were raised. Sharing the joys of having a conversation with my Mom every day after school sowed the seed of how important human connections are – whether near or far. Mom chatted with each of us about our day and current events. We had the opportunity to respectfully speak our minds. I am certain that whatever we shared with her, were seeds as well. Our opinions helped Mom figure out how to fertilize each of us to help us grow. My sister, brothers, and I each had different requirements which helped us become the adults we are today. The seeds of conversation were enhanced each evening as we had family dinner together when Dad came home.

As seasons change, gardeners clean up the garden beds to prepare for the next season. We had to clean up from playing outside, so Dad could see his children happy and smelling quite fresh when he arrived home. At the dinner table, he sowed seeds of knowledge into our lives, whether we paid attention or not. At the time, we were hungry for whatever Mom cooked for dinner that day. We did not realize that Dad was sowing seeds of wisdom into our mental garden plots of life.

In these uncertain times, are we sowing seeds of positivity in the life gardens of these we encounter? It is important that we seize the moments we have to plant perennial or self-sowing seeds of positivity everywhere we go. The lingering effects of properly sown seeds can make a difference in the life gardens of those around us. Make time to have dinner with those you love to share memories with. Make your life a fertile bed that will grow seeds or roots of positivity to share with those around you.

If we take the time now to make sure we are sowing seeds that will linger along the way, the world will ultimately become a better place.

Off to be the seed in the life gardens of those that I love.

Teri, Cottage In The Court

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Splendor in the Park with PHS

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Splendor can best describe moments spent at the 2021 Philadelphia Flower Show. PHS provided a timely botanical elixir as the world began to open up and gather.

Merriam Webster describes splendor as having great brightness or luster. The 2021 Philadelphia Flower Show exhibited magnificence and pomp. It was the exact elixir to inspire us to go outside and embrace the beauty that was created for us at FDR Park.

The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society is known for what it does to create a strong horticultural conversation in Philadelphia and beyond. After an unexpected period of pausing, The Philadelphia Flower Show was exactly what we needed. Thank you Pennsylvania Horticultural Society for making certain we could experience this annual ritual for another year. I cannot believe I had the opportunity to experience this history-making event. This was the first time in the Philadelphia Flower show’s history, where it was held outside. The timing of this long-anticipated event happened in June when the garden is gently awakening.

Not sure what to expect, I arrived with high hopes of seeing garden inspiration in a natural setting at the beautiful FDR Park. Arriving early in the day to beat the heat and the crowd was my objective. I was not the only one who had this bright idea. Pennsylvania Horticultural Society partnered with some of the surrounding parking lots to make certain parking was accessible. There were buses and trolleys to aid in transporting attendees conveniently. This was a wise idea as there were many seniors in attendance.

I arrived and was looking forward to a day of fun.

The setting was amazing. The lake, as well as the cool breeze of the morning, invoked a sense of calm. As many know, I often speak about how the garden is a healer. FDR Park was quite the setting for a day of wandering through exhibits for botanical inspiration. I knew this event was not only going to be amazing but a healing experience as well.

SPLENDOR IN THE PARK

No matter where you looked, there were flowers everywhere. Each pot was planted to show off the diversity found in the garden. Defining the different areas where one could wander, the plants led the way. One display that caught my attention, invited the onlooker to take a seat and enjoy the day in the park.

This display was positioned so that one could imagine a feast in the park.

There were displays that invoked a sense of calm as well…

The colors and textures in this vignette really captured my heart.

There were cool cars in the shade which drew a crowd…

This planting also caught my attention. Splendor in the shade seemed to be a theme and truly added a pop of color.

There were even displays that popped in the sunshine…

The colors in this display were definitely bold and brilliant.

BEST IN SHOW

There was also the display by Wambui Ippolito, voted as Best In Show.

From the back corner of the display…
To the front of the display…
Wambui definitely put her heart and soul in this display.

Wambui definitely put her heart and soul into her display. She explained to me how it took a village to make this display happen in a timely manner.

The Burpee Cottage Garden display was absolutely delightful. A perfect way to show what a Cottage Garden could look like. I fell in love with the horticultural toile that lined the booth.

These tomato’s would have been terrific on a salad!
The splendor found in this Burpee display was quite inspirational.

Inside the booth there were seed packet combinations for sale. Sharing what it would look like after planting was quite helpful.

RITUAL RESTORED

The ritual of attending The Philadelphia Flower Show in late winter did not happen this year. PHS had to pivot, plan, and produce the Flower Show in the midst of the pandemic. They also had to find a way to pull this off outdoors. The splendor of the space, the exhibitors, and the creative layout were all spot on. I want to say KUDO’s to the team for a job well done. I had a terrific time, my head is filled with ideas and some I can execute in my garden this year.

Splendor was truly defined at FDR Park as PHS encouraged us to get outside as they brought us the 2021 Philadelphia Flower Show.

Tu Bloom had his hands full as he instructed the attendees of the Planting Party

Now to find my Burpee seeds to incorporate in my cottage garden. I think they might have dropped out of my bag as my arms were full when I took advantage of the Trolley. You know I had to shop! There were a few Heuchera that wanted to go home with me. What a great memento of a sizzling hot day.

Digging through my bags…

Teri, Cottage In The Court

PS – I have more photos, however I do not want to spoil it for those who have not seen The Philadelphia Flower Show. Get outside and see what you have been missing.

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Valor – Perennials Found In Life’s Garden

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Valor found in my family was James A. Speight, Jr, My Dad was quite proud of serving his country,

Valor as defined by Merriam Webster means strength of mind or spirit that enables a person to encounter danger with firmness. The word “valor” defines our Veterans. Men and women who have served in the military are honored as they exhibited the absence of indecision as they faced life or death in battle. This is valor at the highest level.

HISTORY

On Memorial day, many simply view this as the beginning of summer. This was not the intended purpose of this weekend. According to History.com, in 1868, General John Logan declared May 30th as a day to recognize soldiers killed in the Civil war. After World War I, the United States changed this day to honor Veterans of all wars. All things change over time. In 1968, The Uniform Monday Holiday Act passed by Congress changed the date. We now recognize Memorial Day on the last Monday of May.

Reading the book, Race and Reunion by Professor David Blight (Yale), adds a different date and perspective. Mr. Blight identified an 1865 Memorial day event. Documented in The New York Tribune and The Charleston Courier, the Washington Race Course was significant in recognizing those lost in battle. After digging up and properly burying 260 Union soldiers, there was a Memorial event. 10,000 people gathered to properly “send off” the deceased. The 54th Massachusetts Regiment, other African American regiments, white missionaries, and even freed African Americans participated in the events of the day. Mr. Blight faced adversity as he validated his research. The events beyond the newspapers of the day are suppressed.

Recognizing valor is a part of our lives. Being dependable, steadfast, and honestly reliable is important. Our lives have perennial people that have served in the military. These people have shown valor in serving our country. As I think about life, there are a few plants that exhibit valor in our life gardens.

PLANTED VALOR

Perennials are dependable plants in our gardens. They thrive and multiply, ensuring that they stand firmly as placeholders in our gardens. Veterans are there for us always. Perennials are dependable and represent valor in the garden. Allow me to break down a few perennials that spell out valor.

V – Verbena Bonariensis

Verbena Bonariensis is a perennial that stands on rigid stems, rising above the garden, as it attracts beneficial insects to the garden. Newer cultivars come in shorter heights to accommodate any size garden.

A – Achillea

Achillea, also known as Yarrow is a spreading hardy perennial. Proven to be dependable in spite of the drought, great as a cut flower and year after year.

L – Liatris

Liatris is a pollinator magnet for birds and butterflies. This corm is durable and hardy even in clay soils. A native prairie plant that is also great as a cut flower.

O – Oenethera

Long blooming, dependable, and eager to spread, Oenethera certainly exhibits horticultural valor. It is known for attracting moths and other nighttime beneficial insects.. This plant also has a delightful fragrance.

R- Rudbeckia

Most are familiar with this long-blooming ray of sunshine in the garden. It bridges the gap in a perennial border as well as attracts beneficial pollinators.

Perennials sometimes have annuals with similar names. These plants show up with such grandeur for one season. After one season, they fizzle out. Sometimes, they will sow seed. The valor shown by a perennial is reliable, noteworthy, and often priceless.

REFLECTIONS ON VALOR

My dad was such a big part of my life. Often sharing his experiences good and bad as the only African American in his platoon. Dad traveled to the Philippines snd even California to build military bases. He received an Honorable Discharge in 1961 to join the love of his life. Together, they raised us as a team. I am glad to have had a parent who served in the Armed Forces. The experiences my Dad shared have been quite valuable.

A good friend of mine reminded those on social media platforms of the proper words to say on this Veterans Day. It is not appropriate to say Happy Memorial Day, per Kim. She is a proud Veteran. I asked if she had words to share, “As a military brat, veteran, and spouse, Memorial Day has always been very important to me. It’s the day I honor my Uncle Herman and all the men and women who died in the war.”, Kim Roman, SSgt USAF 1977-1982. I am proud to know Kim and I appreciate her service.

Many people reading this know a Veteran who lost their lives in battle. Some Veterans came home with have battles continuing in their minds. There are some Veterans who are in need of mental health services. For several years, I rode with friends in Rolling Thunder. The emotion I experienced as I listened to stories of survival left quite the impression in my heart. These Veterans are proud to have survived. TheseVeterans continue to mourn their brothers and sisters who did not survive to rejoin the world they protected from danger.

This is the designated weekend where we collectively remember those who exhibited Valor. Remember they are the true perennials in our life gardens. We need perennial people who exhibit valor in our life gardens. A garden with perennials of valor is a great way to remember our Veterans.

I honor my Dad and all of the true Veterans this weekend. With a reflective spirit, I appreciation of their service. Are you honoring a true Veteran this weekend?

Teri, Cottage In The Court

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