A small inclined suburban corner property— chocked full of ideas, a garden executed impeccably on a corner lot — creates a sanctuary for this charming do it yourself duo. Continue reading
Open Days Program – Labor of Love
Category Archives: Open Days
Open Days Program—For the Love of Gardening
For the Love of Gardening— The Thompson Garden by Kathleen Thompson.
The beauty of this suburban garden begins at street side where a path beckons you to enter and enjoy a preview of the abundant plantings that follow. The front garden is a delight of shrubs and perennials showcasing a spectacular thread-leaf Japanese maple. Upon entering the brick walkway at the arbor, you view a gently sloping garden with curved borders and pathways outlined with recycled concrete. Beds, with ever-shrinking lawn areas, are richly planted with perennials featuring a mix of native and specialty plants including tropicals, all in perfect harmony in both shade and sun. A number of the plants are rare and unusual, collected and propagated at the J.C. Raulston Arboretum. A small pond can be found along the network of twisting trails that lead through the woods to a community lake. Each area of this garden will elicit a sense of serendipity and discovery of plants, woods, and water.
Welcoming Vignettes – The Thompson Garden
Walt and I started designing this garden even before we designed and built the house over 25 years ago. Our style is Southern Informal, our goal was to design a garden utilizing the best characteristics of the slope of our land. Continue reading
Open Days Program—Creating Rooms with a View
As gardens evolve through the seasons— it is lovely to experience the transition.
Peony in the herbaceous border .
Jean & Lawrence Shuping invite you to relax in their three-acre refuge of peace and serenity.
Come and enjoy the pleasures of their garden in Spring! Continue reading
Open Days Progam – Passion for Plants
Passionate about plants!
This one-acre gem—of a passionate collector’s garden—was begun 22 years ago.
Beth & Juan are the ultimate volunteers… artists and entertainers… I am honored to have them as my friends!
They invite you to visit their Wake Forest Garden.
Open Days Progam—Finding Soul—The Yoga Garden
Tucked away below a rocky ridge, a stream slowly bends and flows carving a craggy plateau. Wildlife abounds—sounds of water on rocks, frogs chirping and birds twittering—a wildlife habitat—welcome to Peace and Harmony—Welcome to The Yoga Garden.
Open Days Program – My Fairy Garden in the Woods
Beautiful mature specimens and paths that wind into secret views—a passion for collecting plants—creating layered textures with antiques.
A garden that will make you feel like a kid again—exploring a secret magical place.
Welcome to the charming collector’s garden of Garden of Jean and Wayne Mitchell.
YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED to: Open Days
Saturday May 17 and Sunday May 18, 2014
Wayne is an avid golfer and enjoys relaxing with his wife and their family in the garden.
Meet my friend Jean Mitchell, the most gracious hostess. When not in her garden, Jean is a friendly welcoming face—volunteering at the J.C. Raulston Arboretum Bobby G. Wilder Visitor Center.
Gracious hostess Jean Mitchell.
Entwined Life: What do you call your garden?
Jean Mitchell: Long ago, neighborhood children named my acre and a half woodland garden, “My Fairy Garden in the Woods.”
How long have you been gardening at this location?
Since 1963.
What to you consider your gardening Style?
Informal Whimsical Woodland.
What kind of conditions do you garden in?
Rich woodland soil, but lots of roots and rocks. Very shady conditions. Hilly terrain.
Do you have any challenges in your garden?
Shade and large trees which make it difficult to dig holes because of numerous roots and rocks. Rabbits, voles and deer like to eat foliage.
What is the first thing you added, removed or changed in this garden?
Azalea beds were the original theme to the garden. Many of the original azaleas still remain and are now over 50 years old. The biggest change that occurred in the garden was the removal of many trees that were felled during Hurricane Fran in September 1996. This allowed an abundance of sunlight in many of the garden areas for the first time in the garden’s history, and reinvigorated our interest in gardening.
Do you collect plants and if so what?
Yes! I’m so lucky to be able to get many of my plants at JC Raulston Arboretum where I have volunteered since 1996. Native plants that like shade are my favorites.
What are favorite garden tools?
I love the mattock and shovel for my planting and gardening, and the rake for the leaves.
How much time do you spend working in your garden?
A couple of hours almost every day.
What is your mulch preference?
Ground up Autumn leaves.
Anything new added to your garden?
A Butterfly metal sculpture by Grace Cathey in Waynesville, NC.
What is your first memory in a garden?
Helping my mother plant flowers.
What is it that got you started gardening?
Each of my sons were given an azalea bed that they tended. Back then my passion was collecting antiques.
How many Gardens have you had?
Two—one on Ann Street in Cary and our present garden which we have now had for over 50 years!
Where do you go for inspiration?
Do you have a favorite Garden you’ve visited?
Chanticleer Gardens in Wayne, Pa and
Butchart Gardens near Victoria, British Columbia
Do you have a favorite Garden Book?
I enjoy all garden books!
Who is your Horticultural Hero? Or Garden mentor?
I have many, including my dear friends Mitzi Hole & Suzanne Edney.
Describe where you most often sit in your garden….
The blue bench on the backside of the house.
If money were no object what would you add or do differently?
Nothing! I’m happy and at peace with my garden the way it is.
Do you have ‘garden wisdom’ to share? Or anything you’d like to say about your garden?
My favorite expression is Dr. J.C. Raulston’s motto, “Plan and Plant for a better world.”
Or anything you’d like to say about your garden?
My garden is my peace and passion; a place where I don’t think of anything but my immediate surroundings.
Long ago, neighborhood children named my acre and a half woodland garden, “My Fairy Garden in the Woods.” An antique wrought Iron gate welcomes as you enter into native Sassafras, Bower and Hydrangea lined paths leading to a 3-tiered water fountain. Further on a white Victorian style gazebo beckons to sit a spell and listen. A magnificent Climbing Hydrangea scrambles to the top of a huge Tulip Poplar. Many collector shade plants line meandering paths that lead to a crooked Straight Creek. A glade of native fringe trees winds to the side. Many rare and unusual specimen trees, shrubs and perennials acquired from the J. C. Raulston Arboretum share beds with antiques cleverly placed along paths in this charming collector’s garden.
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Entwined Gardens: Wordless Wednesday
Grady Garden – A beautifully woven horticultural textile retreat…
Under the high shade of these tall pines, is the relaxing garden of Pat & Perry Grady.
I love to visit a garden and sit in the chairs or benches along the way… to pause and take in the views. There is usually a reason a bench or chair has been placed in a particular spot… if for no other reason than to just contemplate what goes into a garden, or an EntwinedLife.
The Grady Garden has many charming places to sit, if only for just a minute or two… to notice the rather steep grade, listen to birds, then quiet; enjoy the majesty of the tall trees – the rustle of wind, juxtaposed to the interesting textures on the ground. Then the eye catches a glimpse of color off in the distance which beckons on to explore the next visual delight to explore. A beautifully woven horticultural textile retreat high above the stress of the hectic world.
But don’t be fooled… from my observations this is a tough challenging location… the shade, the heavy mesh of tree roots unseen which will greedily suck up the water needed to establish any new plant additions… let alone the fortitude and strength it takes be able to dig a hole though the tangle, worthy for any new plant addition! (especially at today’s dear prices) and hope for its survival. Another challenge is defining paths – there is quite an elevation change both front and back, and the constant maintenance to tidy the leaves and pine needles before the signs are put up and visitors welcomed – is a task of patience only Zen Master gardener will rise above. Yet, this all looks so easy woven together.
We honor you dear gardeners for sharing your private spaces with us!
Pat, how long have you been gardening at this location?
29 years
What is the first thing you added, removed or changed in this garden?
Added shrubs and took out a few trees
Do you collect plants and if so what?
Anything for shade
Any favorite garden tools?
Rake
How much time do you spend working in your garden?
About 6 hours a day
What is your mulch preference?
Pine bark and pine straw
Anything new added to your garden?
Arbor in back yard
What is your first memory in a garden?
Living on the farm and having a row of zinnias and gladioli planted in my mom’s vegetable garden
What is it that got you started gardening?
Being outside
Where do you go for inspiration?
Just take a walk in garden and visit other gardens
Do you have a favorite Garden you’ve visited?
Do you have a favorite Garden Magazine?
Carolina Gardner
Who is your Horticultural Hero? Or Garden mentor?
Ann Clapp
Describe where you most often sit in your garden or looking out at your garden
Front porch
If money were no object what would you add or do differently?
More gardens and paths
Do you have garden wisdom’ to share?
Just work and enjoy
Pat & Perry Grady look forward to seeing you during ‘Open Days Tour’… You’re more than welcome to try out all the chairs and benches and relax.
Enjoy – living the EntwinedLife
Jayme B
NC Certified Environmental Educator
Garden Conservancy Regional Representative
JC Raulston Arboretum Volunteer
Plant Collector’s Garden – Designed To Inspire…
This manicured ray of sunshine reflects the personality of inspirational lecturer and UNC – TV Host Bryce Lane and his ‘behind the scenes leading lady’… Sue Lane!
A virtual horticultural classroom & plant collector’s garden – designed to inspire…
I had the pleasure of hearing a talk by Bryce Lane over a decade ago, at a Master Gardener meeting…
The topic was “Soils”…
As a city /suburban gal from Chicago, I was new to getting my hands dirty. I had no earthly idea that there was a field of study called Horticulture or Plant Science… but on that day, after Bryce’s lecture, I came away inspired…
In an hour, Bryce made soil sound so fascinating. We were all so “fired” up about dirt! I had only wished I had heard that talk before heading off to college, I might have chosen Horticulture Science as my major. But instead that lecture changed the way I thought about well… everything! It is the source, the root of the plants we grow, the food we eat! What happens in the soil stays in the soil…I had no idea it could be so down right provocative!
Bryce Lane has received so many awards for teaching and inspiring at NC State University, I can just see him blushing as he reads this.
He is also a sought after speaker/lecturer with talks such as:
- “The Birth of a Greenhouse: A history of manipulation!”
- “Gardening on the Edge: Latest Trends in Gardening”
- “Is it Warm in Here?” New Approaches to Gardening in our Changing Climate
- “You’re not From Around These Parts”: Gardening With Native & Exotic Plants
- “Eliminating Murder: How Not to Kill Plants!”
Bryce shares two Emmy awards with his Garden – the co-star of his virtual classroom on his weekly television program – “In the Garden With Bryce Lane” on UNC TV and his high school sweetheart Sue Lane.
They welcome you to the Lane Family Garden
How long have you been gardening at this location
30 years!
What is the first thing you did on the property?
Removing over 100 Liriope that were planted everywhere! I gave them to the the person who sold me his house for his new home!
How much time do you spend working in your garden?
Varies significantly, 5 to 20 hours per week. Less now that it is established.
Do you collect plants and if so what?
Depends on the month… I have been through many plant stages… Japanese Maples, Datura and Brugmansia, Colocasia, Heuchera, Dwarf Conifers, etc.
Any favorite Garden tools?
AM Leonard soil knife and Felco pruners are the bombs!
What is your mulch preference?
Cheapest, most available and what suits my mood at the time of year. I have used pine straw, hardwood bark, yard waste, compost, and soil conditioner.
Anything new added to your garden?
Driftwood piece from family vacation this past June at Emerald Isle. Fished it out of the ocean with my 4 year old Grandson Ellis.
If money were no object what would you add or do differently?
Water element maybe, I might find 5- 50 acres!! Actually my garden is the perfect size.
What is your first memory in a garden?
Mmm, let me see… Mom’s rock garden growing up in Massachusetts.
What is it that got you started gardening?
A part time job in High School at a Garden center…fell in love with plants… the rest is history.
Where do you go for inspiration?
Bible, nature, other gardens all over the world, other gardeners
Do you have a favorite Garden you’ve visited?
No, not really I love visiting them all, however, if I had to name one I would name one not created by humans…Bristlecone Pine forest at the Inyo National Forest in California.
Do you have a favorite Garden Book?
Not really. Cut my Horticultural teeth on Donald Wyman’s Gardening Encyclopedia
Who is your Horticultural Hero? Or Garden mentor?
Can’t really name one…so many have influenced my horticultural development… JC Raulston was my colleague, mentor, and friend.
Describe where you most often sit in your garden or looking out at your garden.
A few places, Our sun room looks out into the garden so sun room time on Saturday mornings is special… feel like we are sitting out in the garden. The patio is also a great place to sit. Kitchen window is also a great vantage point.
How much time do you spend just enjoying your garden? And what type of things…
See sun room time answer. Anytime I am in my garden working or otherwise, I enjoy it!
Do you have garden wisdom’ to share?
In gardening “disaster spells opportunity”. And as gardeners we need to honest with ourselves about how much direct sun we actually have!
Perhaps we’ll get an advance peak at the latest featured Plant of the week!
Hope to see you in the Garden of Bryce & Sue Lane!
Proceeds benefit the Garden Conservancy and locally the JC Raulson Arboretum!
Enjoy – living the EntwinedLife
Jayme B
NC Certified Environmental Educator
Garden Conservancy Regional Representative
JC Raulston Arboretum Volunteer
Artful Entertaining… A peak into Peggy’s Retreat.
Strolling up the driveway, in what once had been a shade garden, under a high canopy of trees… let there be light! Sometimes Mother nature offers new opportunities for planting. This indeed this is the case, where new beds & plants establish a colorful welcome to the Titus Garden – designed for artful entertaining.
Winding around to the side are two pairs of stunning gates commissioned by Peggy. The moment you step through, lush foliage & soothing sounds of water lull you in; paths beckon… time to relax, suddenly you are a world away… the hidden rooms will be revealed it’s all like a nurturing hug as you peak into Peggy’s Retreat.
Peggy, do you recall your first memory in a garden?
Picking pink roses off of my grandmother’s Dorothy Perkins climber that covered the entire end of her front porch when I was about 8 or 9.
What is it that got you started gardening?
My mother was a gardener, and this was one of the few things we both enjoyed doing together.
How long have you been gardening at this location?
17 years
What was the first thing you changed when establishing Peggy’s Retreat?
I pulled out or cut down as much Ivy and Wisteria as possible.
Where do you go for inspiration?
Garden magazines, “Curb Appeal”, and the Australian landscape designer on HGTV – “The Outdoor Room” with Jamie Durie ; nurseries & my imagination.
Do you have a favorite Garden you’ve visited?
The Singapore Botanical Garden.
Do you collect plants and if so what?
Shade plants of all types.
Anything new added to your garden?
Redecorated the gazebo to make it more intimate and inviting.
Describe where you most often sit in your garden or looking out at your garden.
In my gazebo. Often I take a book and a glass of wine out and read for an hour or so in the evening.
Any favorite Garden tools?
Good gloves and my two in one trowel and garden claw.
What is your mulch preference?
Triple shredded hardwood. I actually hate pine straw.
How much time do you spend working in your garden?
Between March and October I average 20 to 30 hours per week.
How much time do you spend just enjoying your garden?
I like to entertain in my garden, anything from a casual dinner party to a large cocktail party for 50+ people, similar to the political fund raiser that I did on Sept. 8.
A generous & creative host to many causes, Peggy makes it all look easy and effortless.
Won’t you visit ? Proceeds go to Garden Conservancy and locally JC Raulston Arboretum!
Enjoy – living the EntwinedLife
Jayme B
NC Certified Environmental Educator
Garden Conservancy Regional Representative
JC Raulston Arboretum Volunteer
EntwinedLife 