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.
Strolling thru the JC Raulston Arboretum last Monday… I was drawn in by the warmth (70 plus degrees) — fragrance permeating the air.
As a gardener I find myself looking down more often than up, but my eyes scanned the Carolina Blue Sky in search of the source of the wafting vapor of scent.
Magnolia stellata or Star Magnolia. A small tree 10-15 ft tall and 10-12 ft wide – a lovely addition to a small landscape or winter border – hardy zones 4-8.
But today it was all eyes skyward!
The swelling buds of Magnolia stellata “Waterfall” — resembling fuzzy pussy toes – so delightful!
The softest blued pinks of the delicate unfurled petals — charming.
The thick buds of ‘Scented Silver’ were starting to burst forward– it’s sweet scent luring me closer.
By Wednesday all the buds had opened.
Yet with cold winds blowing in, I knew I was lucky to have captured the show… as they say “Here to day, gone tomorrow.”
Enjoy – living the EntwinedLife
Jayme B
NC Certified Environmental Educator
Have you ever thought about where our garden plants come from?
In the year 1768, Captain James Cook… then 40 years old, set out as commander of HM Bark Endeavour .
English: Captain Cook, oil on canvas painting by John Webber, 1776, Museum of New Zealand Tepapa Tongarewa, Wellington (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Captain Cook and his crew were the first to circumnavigate New Zealand.
The voyages were tough, the scurvy rampant, the Tahitians wiling, the thrill of adventure and discovery. These adventures always included a number of scientists, surveyors, geologists, physicians and surgeons, naturalists and botanists.
Risk of making it back to England was not good, as ships usually returned with less than half their crew – the call of adventure and willing patrons for King or Queen and country had it’s allure.
In reading some of their logs, many of the adventures would make today’s society blush!
Botanicals were important cargo, whether for feeding the crew, curing the crew, or making new discoveries in medicine. Advances in textiles for clothing, or securing a much sought after spice, or medicinal solution. It was the prospect of a lush bounty of botanicals that launched ships and planted the conquering flags of Motherlands.
This voyage in particular, English naturalist and botanist Joseph Banks (25) his assistant, Daniel Solander (35) a Swedish naturalist and botanist. Together they collected, measured, sketched, documented and preserved samples of over 350 plants from their explorations of coastal New Zealand.
After leaving New Zealand, Captain Cook dropped anchor & landed in 1770 – in a beautiful bay near what is now Sydney Australia – which they named “Botany Bay” – you get the picture:
” It’s all about the Plants!”
This is the motto of my beloved JC Raulston Arboretum named after dearly departed botanical adventurer J. C. Raulston.
245 years later horticulturists are still hunting for plants. Their tools and technology might have changed (more on that tomorrow), but the mark of adventure is the same.
Why do arboretums, botanical gardens and growers mount expensive expeditions?
Simple… the thrill of the hunt. The opportunity of finding a cool specimen growing in the wild – to test to see if it will grow and thrive in a different climate, elevation, ecosystem. The opportunity to bring a new plan to market or genetically match the Pangaea heritage – our continents created as one, long ago.
Some of today’s horticultural advernturers include: Dan Hinkley, Ted Stevens, Barry Yinger, Tony Avent, David Parks, Mark Weathington, David Creech, Todd Lasseigne, Brian Upchurch, Bill Barnes, Liu Gang, Takayuki Kobayashi, Yamaguchi-san, Suzuki-san, Dr. Fu andTeobaldo Eguiluz.
Stay tuned for the next installment of The Mark of Adventure…
Enjoy – living the EntwinedLife
Jayme B
NC Certified Environmental Educator
Often there comes a time… when you just have to step away…
For the past 3 years every holiday we celebrated was in a nursing home; many of our family traditions had to be put aside.
Although wonderful to be spending it together, it was never private; visits seemed far too short or confined.
There is only so much decorating one can do in a shared room with limited space.
But there was nothing like the smile on my Mom’s face when the new Seasonal wreath appeared for her door, or a tiny Christmas tree which I decorated in all of her favorite colors was revealed!
Color co-ordination – pleasing to Mom!
The tiny tree was a gift from my friend Barbara – who’s husband had died. Barbara understands the kindness of little things to delight, and the space restraints in these times of transition. Continue reading
Let’s continue our walk around the Entwined Gardens to see what is in bloom.
Gaillardia aestivalis var. winkleri ‘Grape Sensation’
Purple Texas Firewheel
In its third year in the garden, it has increased to make a nice drift. This was acquired from the JC Raulston Arboretum annual plant distribution a few years ago… they are correct when they say ” Membership has privileges.”
Not only do members get cool free plants, they also have access to all the wonderful lectures from some of the top horticulturists in the nation – online.
Hedychium – Ginger Lily
This one is so fragrant, one bloom will fill the house. It should have been finished long ago…. but I am happy to find it! This was a division shared when a group of Master Garden Volunteers were working on a installing “The Water Wise Demonstration Garden” at Lake Crabtree Park about 12 years ago.
Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Endless Summer’
Because we had a lot of rain this summer – it was the best year we’ve has for Hydrangea. The bushes were loaded with blooms. I have had about 1 giant bloom a week for the last month!
Nicotiana tabacum, N. alata
Flowering Tabbacco
Just one little clump still blooming… charming little stars & still fragrant.
Prunus laurocerasus ‘Otto Luyken’
Otto Luyken English Laurel
This is a plant that I’ve been adding around for the dwarf size of 4′ x 4′ is great.
I love the blue glossy elongated leaves, and the overall vase shape. Not a lot of pruning required. The only drawback is that they do catch leaves, so every so often must give it a shake which counts as aerobic exercise. A friend just gave me three more… am I feeling lucky or what?
Rosa ‘Don Juan’
This beautiful climber scambles up the stone wall on the front of the house.
Rosa ‘Radrazz’ PP#11836
Double Knock Out.
I also have yellow, and a single light pink in bloom.
Rudbeckia hirta
Black Eyed Susan
Another last Hurrah… but charming and delightful nestled into an Abelia. Perhaps that’s why they are there, the deer haven’t found them.
Salvia microphylla ‘San Carlos Festival’
San Carlos Festival Sage
This one keeps on going & going… a great hummingbird attractor during the season. Starts blooming in May and still going strong!
There are also some surprise blooms of Serrissa and Spirea ‘Ogon’ so diminutive but so delightful, but didn’t have a maco lens for my camera to do them justice.
Verbena
This charming little Verbena by Proven Winners… just love the shades of peach… is still hanging on in a container…
I hope you enjoyed the this little Garden Bloggers Bloom Day stroll.
Taking the time to walk around the garden with my camera, always provides me with ideas for improving or editing the garden.
Enjoy – living the EntwinedLife
Jayme B
It’s too darn HOT.
Two years ago, at this time, we were toiling through the southern summer to ready Entwined Gardens for the September Raleigh Area Garden Conservancy ‘Open Days’ Tour 2010.
I think of the garden as a work in progress, so that year when folks asked, ”Are you ready for the ‘Open Days Tour’”, my comment was, “Is anyone ever ready?”
Looking South @ Entwined Garden
There is no amount of primping, editing or fluffing to get ready. There are the endless lists of projects one is motivated to have “ready for The Tour” – which is a wonderful motivator to bring the garden to a new level. Inviting unknown visitors from a national tour to a private peek into your personal paradise can be quite unnerving.
I had always planned in my mind that the last few weeks would be the time to make clever additions so that anywhere the eye travels would be perfection… “A fluffy, spiky & roundy” for pleasing balance, a nice piece of artwork for the eye to land, and great for photography.
Alas, a month before the tour, the domino effect of the economic crisis crashed down on the computer industry . All around divisions of many – up to now successful companies jockeying for IPO’s – were suddenly wiped out, including one my husband worked for. The dream of garden perfection… disappeared into a new reality as we tightened our belts for the long haul of uncertain economic times.
Enshalla – breathe, let it go, offer it up to a higher power… breathe again.
Ours was a fortunate reality… I was lucky – to have so many wonderful friends lend a hand to help in a summer of intense heat & drought.
Mitzi’s Banana adds color and punctuation!heat & drought. !
Then it seemed like Miracles began happening… My friend Mitzi who is an incredible plants woman would call & say, “ I just stopped by Campbell Road Nursery and they are giving plants away. The have huge tropicals – Bananas and Elephant ears are marked down to a Dollar each!” The next morning the Garden of Eden arrived in the back of a Prius! We walked around and added appropriate interest & it worked! I was grateful and wrote notes to the nurseries whose end of year sales had helped – the norm for them end of the year, but to me it was a lifesaver. This was after all a fundraiser for the national Garden Conservancy and the JC Raulston Arboretum – and if folks were going to drive 45 minutes or more to visit, I did not want to disappoint!
Throughout the week leading up to the weekend tour, friends – The Border Babes – arrived to lend a hand, and deliver all kinds of enhancements and moral support and hugs… it was unbelievable.
Two days before the tour, another friend who was new to gardening, asked if she could come & learn. I said “Sure!” Diana saw some of the “art” I had collected from Home Goods as placeholders for the Dream Art. Aware of my now fading dream, Diana said, “I have some things that might work. I’ll be back in about an Hour…” She came back, another Prius – loaded with the most beautiful statues, from Artist – Frances Alverino .
I was hoping to acquire an Alverino as a gift for my Husband’s Sept. Birthday and to celebrate the Tour. Diana had 6 of these sculptures for me to borrow. Talk about letting go and the higher power provides!!! Our garden was beyond what I dreamed for the Days of the Tour!
It is a delight that this year I can stay perched inside enjoying the gardens with the miracle of central air. From the House, one cannot see any weeding to be done… not that there isn’t any mind you… just pure enjoyment of colors and textures.
Sweet sweeter for a baby using Bear Hugs.
So will take advantage of the joys of cental air and KNIT!
Yes, all a part of our Entwined Life!
Found a delightful soft baby sweater, elegant soft and couldn’t resist it at one of the local yarn shops. It comes with enough for an infant kimono sweater, includes instructions and 2 cute bear buttons. How easy! I had enough yarn left to make a little hat too!
The Yarn is by Plymouth – Bear Hugs.
Cute as a Button!
So I will relax with my yarn and my thoughts of my wonderful friends and their bear hugs of generosity and how being grateful does make a difference.
My thoughts are also with the generous hosts who are this year prepping their landscape art for this years’ tour… what a gift to be inspired by these great gardens large or small… each grateful for the friends that lend a hand, give a hug, each Gardener’s own vision of Paradise created.
Maynard Garden Pagoda
This richly layered garden paradise’s pagoda beckons visitors to sit and contemplate the view at the Maynard Garden Open Days Tour 2012
Come join us in Raleigh September 15 & 16!
Garden Conservancy ‘Open Days’ Tour
Joy!
Jayme B
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