Seasonal Contrast in the Garden #16

Seasonal Contrast in the - Gardens at Waters East

Mid - June

Postings in this ongoing series will show the same garden “area” and “objects” at two or more different times / seasons of the year.  The contrast will offer the viewer an appreciation of the beauty found in the same spot but in different months.  Some of the photos have never been seen before, others were collected from earlier postings in order to provide the needed contrast.  Each season has its own “feeling”, has its own  beauty.  Here are views of the Formal Garden throughout the year.

Enjoy

April

June - with chives in full bloom

September - colors

Foggy day in June

another foggy day

July

Steps & Path to the Formal Garden

January

February

February - five years ago

Reference Note:  If you check out the archives for this Blog, you will find a number of “contrast” postings in this series.  All help in understanding the gardens throughout the year.

NOTE:  All photos use in this posting were taken on the property of Gardens at Waters East.

If you wish to email a message or share photos of your garden please do that through this Blog site or with an email to:

www.gardensatwaterseast@Yahoo.com

Want a "Quickie"? Todau 5.17.15

“Quickies”

(All “Quickies” are photos taken and posted the same day)

These photos were taken in a walk around the Gardens at Waters East. - - 5.17.15.  As you can see, it is a very foggy day.   There are a couple of close-ups, notice the dew that has formed on some of the blossoms due to the fog.  Even on days like today, there is beauty and reflection in the gardens.

Enjoy

 Lake Michigan is just beyond those trees.

 Magnolia with dew

 Cushion Spurge

 Daffodil

 Daffodil - notice the drops of dew

 The bird in the tree is probably thinking -

"what happened to the sunshine"

 Tulip with dew

 Petasites japonicus - Dinosaur Food

 Taken at the Asian Patio Garden

 Bluebells

 Bluebells - up close

 Daffodil

 Fountain in the Asian Garden

 One final view of a foggy day

NOTE:   Since this Blog is meant to be an accurate journal of the gardens;

no photos are “staged”, “arranged”, or ”photo-shopped” in anyway.

What is posted – is what it here.  It is what it is.

If you wish to email a message or share photos of your garden

please do that through this Blog site or with an email to:

www.gardensatwaterseast@Yahoo.com

Quote - Helen Hayes

"All through the long winter, I dream of my garden. On the first day of spring, I dig my fingers deep into the soft earth. I can feel its energy, and my spirits soar."

Helen Hayes

 Ore ship in January

Lake Michigan

 Crocus

 Daffodils are now blooming

 Eggs in nest

 Salvia - May Knight

 Daylily with Marguerite Daisy

False Sunflower and Pink Mallow

NOTE:   Since this Blog is meant to be an accurate journal of the gardens;

no photos are “staged”, “arranged”, or ”photo-shopped” in anyway.

What is posted – is what it here.  It is what it is.

If you wish to email a message or share photos of your garden

please do that through this Blog site or with an email to:

www.gardensatwaterseast@Yahoo.com

Reference Note:  For a complete list of the ten (10) Principles of Design plus the special “Golden Principle of Design” used throughout Gardens at Waters East, check out the archive postings for November 14 – 24, 2010 and May 2, 2011.

THE TREE 2015 # 3 & 4

This is the third & fourth in the series – The Tree – Scotch Pine

Basic information on this special tree was written in the February posting: when planted, where planted, why planted, plant information and special design and trim information, etc.

Then two months ago, March, there were a number of photos posted on the bark of this Scotch Pine.  As you saw in those pictures, the bark is interesting with all the texture and pealing that occurs up and down the trunk.

These three photos were taken the day I returned from sunny warm Guatemala.

Hard to believe that it snowed that day - April 22nd.

This month is a “2 for 1” since I was out of the country for a month doing landscaping at a private home in Guatemala.  There was a recent posting on a small part of that project.  At this time, today’s posting will focus on the ongoing Spring and those plants emerging around the base of this chosen tree.  Later in the year there will be numerous plants having leaves some wide and some thin, some long and some short all in various shades of green. All of these variations add to the visual “texture” of this Asian Garden Patio area.  All hopefully complimenting one another - - and THE TREE.

 Here the hosta and other plants are beginning to emerge

 - April 29th.

 Here we see the most recent photo of the plants at the base of THE TREE

 - May 7th.

 Notice the Pasque Flower off to the right

 Close-up of the Pasque Flower

Here you can see  some of the Virginia Blue Bells in the foreground

photo taken yesterday May 7th.

NOTE:   All photos use in this posting were taken on the property of Gardens at Waters East

unless otherwise marked.

NOTE:   Since this Blog is meant to be an accurate journal of the gardens;

no photos are “staged”, “arranged”, or ”photo-shopped” in anyway.

What is posted – is what it here.  It is what it is.

Photo taken the evening of May 7, 2015

If you wish to email a message or share photos of your garden

please do that through this Blog site or with an email to:

www.gardensatwaterseast@Yahoo.com

Entrance Garden - Guatemala

While spending a few weeks in Guatemala during March and April, I took the opportunity to do a little “landscaping” at a friend’s new home where I was living.  The owner knew the place needed a little fixing up and he said to make it as close to zero maintenance as possible, with that in mind I came up with the following.  You can see the space as a “before, during, and after” project.

 The first view a visitor see - not good!

 The look as you approach the home.

Not too welcoming - I think you would agree.

It is very simple.  It cleans up the unwelcoming look that existed at the main entrance of the home.  It is pretty much zero care.  The homeowner likes it – and that is what counts.

 Getting the things together that will be needed

 Removing the grass was really difficult.

Very different than the grass where I live.

 Positioning Plants

A plastic sheet was  placed under the white stones

to help prevent weed growth.

The area gets the right amount of daily sunshine so the plantings should thrive and grow rather well.  In time the three clay planters will fill out and flow onto the white rock at the base.

 The tall plant on the right is Izote.

It is the national flower of El Salvador.

It is used as an ornamental, an edible, and used to manufacture textile.

Some of the plants started to bloom within days of being planted.  The colors add that little extra “pop” to the simple arrangement.

So this is how I spend my Winter vacation.  May go back and do more in the future.  I like the challenge of making it as close to zero maintenance as possible.  It is much different from the gardens I care for at Gardens at Waters East.  That being the case it was a good experience giving variety to my “garden life”.

Here is the final view - - -  

small area, outlined with brick, and pretty much ZERO care.

Your comments are always welcome.