Wednesday, January 13, 2008

Terribly cold in Northeast Ohio today. Minus 0 degrees tonight. Brrrr. This is the weather that makes me think about my beautiful shade gardens and imagining them coming up this Spring. Springtime is my favorite time of year. Still cool, but not cold and certainly not hot like Summer. Perfect gardening weather.

If anyone is curious about my Internet Shop Name Garden Gate Designs, I got the idea for the name from my Clematis/Honeysuckle Arbor that is the entryway into my large side shade garden. A few years ago, when we first moved to our current home, we had a landscape company come and build up the side garden and the small back garden that is off the wrap around decks to our home. We live on a large wooded ravine with a flowing stream going through it. There are small waterfalls all along the waterway and it is quite beautiful. The property used to be someone's farm and our home is built on the site of the old farmhouse that was on the property. The old springhouse was partially intact down by the stream. About the time we finally moved into our home, the roof of the springhouse caved in, so, all that is left are three walls. There are sandstone stairs going from what is our backyard down to the ravine. The landscaper restored the steps and brought up sandstone to build up the walls surrounding our backyard on the ravine. He also brought up enough sandstone to build up the two gardens and install a walkway through the large side shade garden. There is also a bump out portion by the arbor where I have installed a large iron bench. It is a great place to sit and read a book in the summer.

This spring I will take pictures of my gardens and post them here for all to see.

My two shade gardens are filled with about 25 different ferns, lots of different hostas, azaleas, Niko Blue hydrageas, epidemiums, several types of bleeding hearts, lenten roses, several types of Brunnera and a small Japanese Maple that I planted last Summer. Sure hope it survives the awful winter we are having. I have a small section for sun loving plants in front of the arbor before the shade gardens.

I would love to read comments from anyone reading this blog as to their gardens, if you are a gardener or not. Please feel free to comment back.

Until next time.