Art-Inspired Gardening
ERIC NOTICES THAT THERE IS CLEARLY AN ELEMENT TO HER GARDEN THAT SEEMS
ART-INSPIRED. The gardens and art appear married. Jan explains that art
is at the center of who she is. And, she's found that art and gardening
create an absolutely perfect marriage. Gardening allows her to explore
and create with an artists eye, then take that inspiration home and
recreate it in a watercolor painting.
Click here for more info
Hillside Home and Garden
THE FIRST HOME AND GARDEN IS A HILLSIDE LOCATION. Thus, this yard
presents a lot of unique challenges. The owner has incorporated some
wonderful hardscape elements, like rock walls and little vignettes
throughout, which allow one to wander through the garden and see
different levels of color and texture. There are also many beautiful
focal points in this garden.
Click here for more info
Raised Beds
JAN AND ERIC START AT THE TOP LEVEL OF THE TERRACE GARDEN. Here they've
installed some raised beds. These raised beds offer space for a variety
of plant material. They've included vegetables for edibles but because
this is an artists home they've added plants that provide color and
inspiration for Anne and her students. This garden has a wonderful
combination of annuals and perennials.
Click here for more info
Plants That Offer Fall Color
FALL CAN BE A TRICKY TIME TO FIND PLANTS WITH A LOT OF COLOR. Jan has
done a great job of incorporating a number of nice, fall blooming
plants. The Rosemarinus officinalis is stunning. Many don't realize how
colorful Rosemary can be and it's a wonderful aromatic herb. And, it
looks fantastic. There are various groundcovers throughout the garden.
Isotoma fluviatilis and Sedum are two and they offer a variation in
texture. The Sedum 'Herbstfreude' (Autumn Joy) is just now coming into
its fall bloom and looks great.
Click here for more info
Creating Living Spaces On A Hill
JAN AND ERIC ARE NOW AT THE BOTTOM OF THE GARDEN LOOKING UP. It's
always interesting to see how a designer will take a challenging site,
like this, with a really steep grade, and create something new and
exciting. Eric thinks the way it has been put together is fantastic.
The rock walls have taken what was a steep incline and carved little
vignettes where people can dine and meander through the many layers of
the garden. They also make it manageable because they've created nice,
flat tiered areas that are then conducive to little individual gardens.
Click here for more info
Lithia Springs Resort
LITHIA SPRINGS RESORT AND GARDENS IS UNIQUE in that it's tucked in the
hills of Ashland and removed from the hubbub of the city. When visitors
come here they feel as if they have stepped into a little sanctuary. It
has 4 acres of landscaping and open spaces which allows them to host
many different special events. It is a lush and tranquil setting with
neat plants everywhere.
Click here for more info
The Grape Arbor Area
THEY NEXT CHECK OUT THE GRAPE ARBOR where there is a wonderful blend of
ornamentals and edibles. This is one of Jan's favorite spots. It has a
beautiful lawn area that is fenced with the beautiful grape arbor. Jan
has incorporated a lot of edibles into this area. The Vitis vinifera
(Grapes) are table grapes but additionally they have special things
like a thorn-less Rubus fructicosus (Blackberry) and Rubus strigosus
(Raspberry). In this area Jan gathers edible flowers that are used as
garnishes for some of the dishes served to guests. Eric notices another
under-utilized ornamental, Humulus lupulus (Hops) which is also an
edible.
Click here for more info
Walkways
ERIC NOTICES THAT EVEN THE WALKWAYS ARE ATTRACTIVE and lined with
beautiful plants. And the pathways are nice and curvy which invites
people to take their time, meander through the garden, to really take
time to stop and smell the roses. That is by design, they like for the
guests to walk down the sidewalks, brush against the herbs and
ornamentals and enjoy the fragrance. Accordingly they've integrated a
lot of Lavendula (Lavender) and Rosemarinus officinalis (Rosemary),
Melissa officinalis (Lemon Balm) as well as some English Rosa. Some of
the Lavender is getting quite old, getting woodier, and as well, they
had a lot of snow this past winter and some of the plants were damaged
by the snow. They feel, at this point, they're not lending themselves
to the aesthetics of the garden and they're in the process of replacing
some of these plants.
Click here for more info
The Pond
IT'S THE POND. On a hot summer day it doesn't get much better than
this. It has shade, peace and tranquility. It also has a special place
in Jan's heart because her father designed and did most of the
installation of this pond. And when she says pond-it's actually a
creek. It incorporates 3 separate pools as well as the waterfall at the
top. It has a natural feel with the water coming out of the rocks,
gurgling down and into a larger pool and at the very end a herd of Koi.
Click here for more info
LINKS:
Jacksonville, Oregon
Lithia Springs Resort and Gardens
Garden Smart Plant List
Complete transcript of the show.
Just because winter weather is coming doesn't mean we can't have some
gardening fun. In this episode Garden Smart visits two charming,
historical towns with fantastic gardens in southern Oregon.
Jacksonville, Oregon is a town rich in history and tradition. Terri
Geig is a proud resident and President of the Chamber of Commerce.
Terri is wearing a victorian outfit typical of those worn in times
past. The women wear this type clothing several times a year for
special events. Gold was discovered in Jacksonville in 1851 and the
town sprung up shortly thereafter. The town is in almost the same
condition today, actually better, than it was at that time.
Jacksonville has received historic landmark designation for the entire
town, thus they take great care of the buildings. They have over 100
buildings on the Register. The people in Jacksonville are wonderful,
they've come here to live because they want to live like their
grandmother might have lived. There's a lot of patriotism, a lot of
volunteerism and everyone tries to help one another. There is a sense
of community pride that's palpable. This is evidenced in the beautiful
buildings, even the wonderful plantings throughout the entire downtown.
The many gardens that line the streets are readily visible upon
arriving in town. Equally impressive are the private gardens. Jan is
the creator and caretaker of many of these gardens.
Eric next visits with Jan. Jan has had a passion for being outdoors
most of her life. Her Dad inspired in her the love of gardening and has
been gardening since childhood. The past 25 years she has lived in
southern Oregon where she has had the opportunity to work in some
really unique, private gardens. She relishes the opportunity to add
detail and specialized caretaking to these gardens. Jan feels very
fortunate to be involved with some very special people and their
gardens.
ERIC NOTICES THAT THERE IS CLEARLY AN ELEMENT TO HER GARDEN THAT SEEMS
ART-INSPIRED. The gardens and art appear married. Jan explains that art
is at the center of who she is. And, she's found that art and gardening
create an absolutely perfect marriage. Gardening allows her to explore
and create with an artists eye, then take that inspiration home and
recreate it in a watercolor painting.
Top
THE FIRST HOME AND GARDEN IS A HILLSIDE LOCATION. Thus, this yard
presents a lot of unique challenges. The owner has incorporated some
wonderful hardscape elements, like rock walls and little vignettes
throughout, which allow one to wander through the garden and see
different levels of color and texture. There are also many beautiful
focal points in this garden. That is because the owner, Anne Brooke, is
a wonderful artist and uses her landscape as inspiration and subject
matter. Anne wants plants like the Lace Top Hydrangea, Peonies and many
others in the garden because they add inspiration for her and for her
art students. Jan feels fortunate to have been able to paint and study
with Anne both in her studio and in these gardens.
Top
JAN AND ERIC START AT THE TOP LEVEL OF THE TERRACE GARDEN. Here they've
installed some raised beds. These raised beds offer space for a variety
of plant material. They've included vegetables for edibles but because
this is an artists home they've added plants that provide color and
inspiration for Anne and her students. This garden has a wonderful
combination of annuals and perennials. Zinnia elegans is one of Anne's
favorite plants for her paintings. They offer color that extends
through the season. Even though they've had some heavy rain the past
few days the Zinnias are holding their own and offering a lot of autumn
color. They do add a lot of color late into the season.
The beds are easy to maintain and easy to amend. Thus, Jan adds a lot
of compost during the winter months. As well, the plant material stays
contained, making it easier to work through the beds. And they stay
warm. Because the sides are elevated which wouldn't occur in a flat
garden, the sun is able to heat the sides. This means the soil warms
quicker in the spring and with the sun hitting it it stays warmer in
the fall. Raised beds are a great way to add a few weeks to the growing
season. Jan feels that they can actually carry the winter greens for
another month or two. Jan lines the interior of the raised beds with a
screen mesh. This helps avoid the possibility of critters popping
through. Many have trouble with moles and voles and other types of
critters, this helps eliminate that problem.
Top
FALL CAN BE A TRICKY TIME TO FIND PLANTS WITH A LOT OF COLOR. Jan has
done a great job of incorporating a number of nice, fall blooming
plants. The Rosemarinus officinalis is stunning. Many don't realize how
colorful Rosemary can be and it's a wonderful aromatic herb. And, it
looks fantastic. There are various groundcovers throughout the garden.
Isotoma fluviatilis and Sedum are two and they offer a variation in
texture. The Sedum 'Herbstfreude' (Autumn Joy) is just now coming into
its fall bloom and looks great. Amsonia tabernaemontana (Bluestar
Cooper) is another fantastic groundcover. It's very colorful and has
beautiful blue flowers in fall.
Eric likes the containers and the stunning combination of annual
plants. Anne has chosen the cobalt blue containers because they're
cheery and work well with her art. Jan added some plants with primary
colors in the summer and they've extended into the fall. The Zinnias
and Salvia look great, the Geraniums add a splash of red. It's a great
combination.
One of the keys to achieving year round color in the garden is to use a
wide variety of woody's, annuals and perennials. The Antirrhinum
(Snapdragon) are putting on their last hurrah as the season finishes
off. As well, they're enjoying the last of the blooms of the Hydrangeas
and the roses are still showing a little autumn color. Additionally the
Geraniums and Sunflowers are still showing color. These look great
together, its a great combination of colors and Eric feels Jan has used
the different types of plants very well together.
One of the central focus points of this garden is the beautiful pond
and waterfall feature. This site was chosen to create an environment
where Anne and her students could come and paint. The sound, the music
of the garden, adds greatly to the ambiance. It's soothing. The green
bridge is unusual, it provides an architectural feeling. Anne did quite
a bit of research and it is an actual replica from Monet's garden. It
adds a lot to the garden both visually and with the sound. Very nice.
Top
JAN AND ERIC ARE NOW AT THE BOTTOM OF THE GARDEN LOOKING UP. It's
always interesting to see how a designer will take a challenging site,
like this, with a really steep grade, and create something new and
exciting. Eric thinks the way it has been put together is fantastic.
The rock walls have taken what was a steep incline and carved little
vignettes where people can dine and meander through the many layers of
the garden. They also make it manageable because they've created nice,
flat tiered areas that are then conducive to little individual gardens.
Plus it allows for some lawn areas which wouldn't have been available
with the slope. The grape arbor built into the patio area provides a
secluded, private area. And as the seasons change the color of the
grape leaves change as well. It adds real drama to the garden.
The large native trees add to the feel of this garden. They're unique.
They have some wonderful mature, region specific, trees. Pinus and the
Arbutus (Madrone) trees are setting berries which is a treat for their
migratory birds, which is especially important this time of year. These
huge trees provide a cool refreshing sense. Jan thinks it important to
incorporate some deciduous as well as evergreen trees because this is a
southern exposure, they provide needed shade.
Jan has shown us an example of how someone can take a challenging site
that's fairly small and create wonderful little nooks and crannies with
the end result being a beautiful, useful space. Jan next shows us a
larger area/canvas.
Jan and Eric next visit Ashland, Oregon another really neat town not
too far from Jacksonville. Ashland is a college town which brings its
own special energy. It's a well supported art community and home to the
Southern Oregon Shakespeare Festival which also makes Ashland unique.
There is a lot going on in Ashland every day.
Top
This garden is very different from the first and it too presents a lot
of challenges as well as opportunities. LITHIA SPRINGS RESORT AND
GARDENS IS UNIQUE in that it's tucked in the hills of Ashland and
removed from the hubbub of the city. When visitors come here they feel
as if they have stepped into a little sanctuary. It has 4 acres of
landscaping and open spaces which allows them to host many different
special events. It is a lush and tranquil setting with neat plants
everywhere.
Jan and Eric first look at the Iberis Candytuft and other silver
foliage plants that line the walkway to the front door. Here they
strive to let visitors never forget that this is a garden and the
garden meanders through all the spaces. Jan likes to tuck in surprises
everywhere. The entry way is an example. She has a miniature Cucurbita
(Pumpkin) winding through the fence which provides a welcoming feel.
Jan expands on the theme and incorporates some seasonal decor,
containers and big pumpkins into the area.
Top
THEY NEXT CHECK OUT THE GRAPE ARBOR where there is a wonderful blend of
ornamentals and edibles. This is one of Jan's favorite spots. It has a
beautiful lawn area that is fenced with the beautiful grape arbor. Jan
has incorporated a lot of edibles into this area. The Vitis vinifera
(Grapes) are table grapes but additionally they have special things
like a thorn-less Rubus fructicosus (Blackberry) and Rubus strigosus
(Raspberry). In this area Jan gathers edible flowers that are used as
garnishes for some of the dishes served to guests. Eric notices another
under-utilized ornamental, Humulus lupulus (Hops) which is also an
edible. Jan likes this plant because it has chartreuse leaves and is
now fruit bearing. As a matter of fact they did some harvesting last
week, some brewing and they now have a micro brew, a summer ale brewing
in the potting shed.
The area is shady because of the grape arbor. But Jan doesn't want to
let any space go to waste, thus, they have some great underplantings.
For example, there are Hosta and Foxglove. In southern Oregon, because
they have extreme periods of heat Jan puts things like Delphinium
elatum in the shade. Even though it can tolerate some sun it tends to
hold its color better in shadier spots. She's integrated Euphorbia into
the area because she had a gopher problem, things were disappearing in
a hurry and she has learned that the root of the Euphorbia is a natural
deterrent to gophers.
Top
ERIC NOTICES THAT EVEN THE WALKWAYS ARE ATTRACTIVE and lined with
beautiful plants. And the pathways are nice and curvy which invites
people to take their time, meander through the garden, to really take
time to stop and smell the roses. That is by design, they like for the
guests to walk down the sidewalks, brush against the herbs and
ornamentals and enjoy the fragrance. Accordingly they've integrated a
lot of Lavendula (Lavender) and Rosemarinus officinalis (Rosemary),
Melissa officinalis (Lemon Balm) as well as some English Rosa. Some of
the Lavender is getting quite old, getting woodier, and as well, they
had a lot of snow this past winter and some of the plants were damaged
by the snow. They feel, at this point, they're not lending themselves
to the aesthetics of the garden and they're in the process of replacing
some of these plants. Oftentimes we don't think about fragrance in the
garden but it provides a whole new dimension, one we shouldn't
overlook.
Jan started her garden days here at Lithia Springs floral arranging.
Thus she still gathers a lot of what she grows here and it becomes a
part of the floral design inside. These gardens have a comfortable,
natural feel. Eric likes the way Jan has integrated plants, fragrance
and floral design. It's great.
Top
Jan and Eric next visit an area that's a favorite for Jan. IT'S THE
POND. On a hot summer day it doesn't get much better than this. It has
shade, peace and tranquility. It also has a special place in Jan's
heart because her father designed and did most of the installation of
this pond. And when she says pond-it's actually a creek. It
incorporates 3 separate pools as well as the waterfall at the top. It
has a natural feel with the water coming out of the rocks, gurgling
down and into a larger pool and at the very end a herd of Koi. If they
come in herds? The sound of the water is magical and the pond is
wonderfully designed.
They've tried to keep it natural looking, allowing them to invite a lot
of butterflies and birds. As well they have a variety of turtles and
frogs. They've used ornamental grasses and Bearded hybrid (Iris) as
well as Buddleia davidi (Butterfly bush). All attract many migrating
birds and summer butterfly. The Crocosmia bloomed all summer long and
makes a nice show. The large Populus tremuloides (Aspen) that flank
either side are impressive as is the grove of Aspens behind. They all
work together with the gurgling water to produce a sonic medley that is
really quite relaxing. This part of the valley tends to have a little
bit of a breeze in the summertime and sometimes a pretty good wind.
When that happens the Aspen make a music all their own, it's delightful
to come here and feel like you're a world away.
Jan tells Eric that she taught kindergarden for a number of years and
when she decided that gardening was where she should be it occurred to
her that it's really the same thing. It's nurturing from the ground up.
When she taught kindergarden kindergarden was the foundation for the
children, in the garden the same thing is needed. A foundation for the
plants. Start with a good foundation, soil amendments and a good
structural foundation and one can't help but be successful. Eric thinks
that's good advice from a great gardener.
Eric thanks Jan for her time and for sharing these beautiful gardens.
We've learned a lot about things we can do with small spaces, with
large spaces and a lot of valuable tips. Thanks Jan.
Top
LINKS:
Jacksonville, Oregon
Lithia Springs Resort and Gardens
Garden Smart Plant List
