Miller Nature Preserve

Sunday, April 29, 2012

Miller Nature Preserve

Today I am going to share with you a wonderful outing that I experience with my good friend Noreen.  This past Friday, we toured some of the Miller Nature Preserve located in Avon, Ohio on Route 83.  Even though it was quite chilly at 49 degrees, the sun was out and made the outing much more enjoyable.

Miller Nature Preserve rests on 78 acres of wooded land in the heart of Avon, Ohio.  Much of the property was donated by longtime Avon resident, Buddy Miller in memory of his late wife Alice Fowles.  A Visitor Center is nestled between trees and the winding French Creek and includes a cafe (The Orchid Room), a gift shop and a demonstration kitchen for cooking classes.  The highlight of this preserve (which is what we came to see) is the 5,000 square foot conservatory, the first in Lorain County.

The outside is quite impressive with newly landscaped conservatory, butterfly house being built next to it opening in July, 2012, outside seating on a stone terrace, a bridge over the French Creek, etc. 

Lunch was very nice, we just had a salad with grilled chicken.  They offer soups, salads, sandwiches and a couple of desserts.  The lunchroom was full of couples of all ages.  This would make a nice outing for a garden club group.  You can reserve tables in the cafe.

Upon paying our $2.00 to gain entrance into the consevatory, we proceeded inside and were truly amazed by all the beautiful tropical and desert plants.  They have a wonderful cactus collection at the entryway on all four sides.  A path winds around the inside so that you can view the tropicals up close.  Every plant was pristine and very well cared for. Two small waterfalls were installed, also. There was a groundskeeper inside who was tending the plantings.  He was very congenial and we enjoyed our rousing discussion on plants with him. 

Bromelioids, huge Banana Trees, Anthyriums, Orchids in bloom, exotic Begonias, different types of Pothos, Philadendrums, even a Pitcher Plant (Carnavour Species). There were so many different plants that it is hard to list them all here.   At the end was a Bonsai display that extended itself outside in a protected courtyard.  Amazing!

If you are planning a trip to this part of Ohio, or, live in the area, this is well worth your time to come an visit. 

Here are just a few pictures from our visit.  Hoping that you enjoy them!

Until next time.  Garden Gate Designs.  Be sure to visit my ArtFire shop at: www.gardengatedesigns.artfire.com

New Additions

Friday, April 27, 2012

New Additions

These are some new additions to my ArtFire Shop.  Enjoy.  If you are curious about them, and want to know more, please check out: www.gardengatedesigns.artfire.com
Garden Gate Designs.

"Forget'Me'Not"

Friday, April 27, 2012

"Forget-Me-Not"

This year I decided to try some new plants in my garden.  Today I would like to feature Forget-Me-Nots, or Myosotis sylvatica.  The variety that I purchased was pink blooming. 

These are really considered bi annuals as the mother plant dies away after reseeding the garden with its babies from seed.  The plant know as Sweet William has the same tendancies.

It is primarily a ground cover or border plant for your woodland shade garden.  They need moist soil that is humousy in nature.  The plants are bushy, foot tall, with fuzzy, tonge-shaped leaves that are dappled.  They bloom in the late winter early spring needing cooler temperatues to thrive.  The  bouncy airy blossoms that come in colors of blue, pink and white kind of look like brunnera blossoms.  They seem to float in the air.

I used to have blue flowering Forget-Me-Nots" at my former home in my shade gardens.  They always did pretty well and succeeded in multiplying every year.  I like ground covers and have several plants that act in that way.  Hopefully this plant  chooses to like my garden for its new home and multiplies.

Until next time.

Garden Gate Designs

www.gardengatedesigns.artfire.com

Garden Entryway

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Garden Entryway

Today, I would like to feature my Garden Entryway Trellis.  I consider this to be the entryway into my "secret shade garden".  I purchased the arched trellis about 12 years ago from a discount club in my area.  It was such a good purchase at $200.00.  Most trellises of this kind run over $300.00 for the same kind.  It is made of heavy vinyl and has slats going up the sides for your vines to grow on.  When we originally had the little garden installed and the sandstone pathway, I had the contractors install the trellis.  The did footers with cement, insuring its permanent place in my garden. 

I have flame honeysuckle and two kinds of clematis growing up the sides.  By placing chicken wire over the top, it insures that the vines will be able to grow over the top.  In the early summer, it is quite beautiful with all the blooms lasting until the end of summer.  The hummingbirds that frequent my garden love it.

I always cut the vines down in laate Fall.

Hoping this inspires some of you to try a trellis in your garden!

Until next time.

Garden Gate Designs

www.gardengatedesigns.artfire.com

Blue Denim, Lucious Lemon and Yummy Orange Creamsickle

Sunday, April 22, 2012

Blue Denim, Lucious Lemon and Yummy Orange Creamsickle

New listings in my ArtFire Shop as of today.  Come check it out at: www.gardengatedesigns.artfire.com

Garden Gate Designs

"RED DRAGON"!

Sunday, April 22, 2012

"RED DRAGON"!

I have a Red Dragon Japaneese Maple Tree in my Shade Garden that I want to share with you today.  This little beautie is only 2 feet tall and 2 1/2 feet wide and I purchased it three years ago for $25.00.  At the time, it was probably about 1 1/2 feet tall at best. 

This is the perfect little Japaneese Maple Tree for a small place that is in the shade.  The leaves are a Mahogany Red when they come out in the early spring and fade to a more subdued shade by late Fall.  They do not keep their leaves in the winter time. 

This species has an umbrella like shape which is very flattering in the garden.  You can also trim them to keep them that shape.  As a very slow growing specimen, reaching only about 4-6 feet in height at maturity, it is perfect for a small spot in your garden.  I plan on trimming mine to keep it small, under 4 feet.  Underneath the little tree I have Sweet Woodruff that blooms white in the spring and creeps, making a ground cover eventrally. 

I had looked for a Japaneese Maple Tree for quite some time for that garden to give it some heigth interest, but the usual cost of $150.00 and up was very cost prohibitive.  We have a Marc's Discount Store in our town and they always have closeouts and great buys on garden plants outside.  There were only 5 little trees left when I discovered it about 3 years ago for $25.00.  What a bargain.  And, it is strill thriving in my shade garden.  One of the best purchases I have every made!  Enjoy the pictures and infor.

Until next time.

Garden Gate Designs
www.gardengatedesigns.artfire.com

Memory Stones

Friday, April 20, 2012

Memory Stones

Just wanted to share with you my Memory Stone that I purchased to honor my Mother after she passed away almost 9 years ago.  It used to be in my back garden before the deck extension.  Last year I gave it a place of honor in my side shade garden and placed hostas around it.  One of them is named Striptease.  My Mom had a ribauld sense of humor for all things of that nature and when I saw the Hosta at a local Garden Center I just knew it was perfect to remember her by with the stone.  

My Mother is were I acquired my love of nature and gardening.  She always had pretty gardens at the two homes I grew up in and a wonderful collection of house plants.  Some of the plants in my garden and in my home are from her last home after she passed on.  I have a red hot poker plant in the sunny spot up front and a beautiful Cala Lily Like Hosta in my shade garden that was in hers.

There are all kinds of Memory Stones that you can purchase if you are so inclined.  They really add another dimension to your gardens.  Mother's Day is next month and they do make wonderful gifts for your Mom whether she is still with you or not.

Rest in peace Mom.  You are forever in my heart.

Until next time.

Garden Gate Designs
www.gardengatedesigns.artfire.com

My Heart Bleeds for You

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

My Heart Bleeds for You.

Bleeding Hearts abound in my Shade Garden, from the old fashioned kind to chartruese green leaves with pink flowers to dark green leaves with white flowering hearts.  I wish I had more room for some different, new varieties, but, my little shade garden can only accomodate so many. 

For the last three years, I have had to divide them because they have gotten so big.  Averaging 2 1/2 feet around, they take up a lot of space.  The heart shaped blooms come out in the early Spring and bloom until end of May.  Foliage will stay nice until the hotter summer days of July and August turn the leaves yellow, then they start to dye down. 

Bleeding Hearts need moist, enriched composted soil to really thrive well.   They also reseed themselves very well with lots of baby plants.  I hope everyone who has shade and who follows my blog will try some in their garden this year.  Such a joyful plant!   They are easy to grow.  I have included some pictures from my shade garden this spring.  Enjoy!

Until next time.

Happy Gardening, Garden Gate Designs

www.gardengatedesigns.artfire.com

Jack-in-the-Pulpits in My Little Garden

Monday, April 16, 2012

Jack-in-the-Pulpits in My Little Garden

I am so excited about findings two areas where Jack-in-the-Pulpits have come back in my shade garden.  Last Summer I dug up some left overs in my back garden that the garden club members did not dig out.  I found a few Jack-in-the-Pulpit tubors and planted them in two spots in my side shade garden.  They are kind of a finicky plant and I did not know if the transplant would be successful.  I had purchased the original plant some years ago and placed it in my back garden (the one that was replaced by an expanded deck area last year).  Well, to my suprize, I found 2 areas where they are coming up in my side shade garden yesterday while I was working in the garden.

The top picture also has a trillium in the forfront.  As the plant developes, I will post more pictures.  In my back garden, they reached about 2 feet tall.  After they bloom (the pulpit) the stem produces red berries all along the sides.  Then, they finally go back into the ground until next spring. 

If you should be so lucky as to acquire one of these plants, they need moist , rich soil, deep shade (do well as underplantings) and patience.  Composted manure should be mixed into the soil before planting and yearly, thereafter.  The little colony will grow if you just give them time.  The rewards are immense.

As for the Trillium, they bloom white (there is a yellow variety) three petal flowers.  A colony will form, also. 

Both of these plants are specialty plants and you can purchase them at local nurseries.  Do not take plants from the wild, as these are accustomed to the soil that they grow in.

Hoping you enjoyed today's blog entry.  Until next time. HAPPY GARDENING!

Garden Gate Designs
www.gardengatedesigns.artfire.com

New Additions!

Sunday, April 15, 2012

New Additions!

Here are my latest creations in my ArtFire Shop. I was a "busy little bee" yesterday.  It rained and turned cold outside.  Weather curtailed by gardening, so, I decided to stay in and be creative with my beads.  Hope you enjoy!  If you would like a further description of the above necklaces, please go to: www.gardengatedesigns.artfire.com.

Until next time,
Garden Gate Designs

What is a Bishop's Hat

Saturday, April 14, 2012

What is a Bishop's Hat?

Bishop's Hat or Barrenswort is an Epimedium.  I have two of these Deciduous and evergreen perennials in my shade garden.  Once established, they will thrive in a slightly acid soil well amended with organic matter. 

Growing from a dense network of underground stems, wiry leafstalks support heart-shaped leaflets that overlap to form foliage clumps.  New growth is a show in itself when it emerges bronzy pink.  Leaves become green by summer, but change again to reddish bronze in autumn.  In spring, wiry flower stems hold airy blossom sprays above the foliage, just above, or well above, depending on the species.  Flower shape varies from cup and saucer to saucer alone, some species have columbinelike spurs.

In my shade garden I have a Persian epimedium, E. pinnatum, which makes foot-high clumps of glossy leaflets that set off yellow blossoms.  I have had this plant for over 10 years now and it just keeps getting wider.  It is one of the first plants to bloom in my shade garden and the blossoms last a very long time (weeks).

I also have a small specimen of the rubrum culture.  It produces tiny star shaped flowers that are white with violet stripes down the middle that fade as the flowers get older.  This one is pictured below.   The top picture is my yellow flower one.

Once established, they will do well in a moist, shady location in your garden.

Until next time.

Garden Gate Designs

www.gardengatedesigns.artfire.com

Little Yellow Corydalis

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Little Yellow Corydalis

Corydalis is a wonderful little mounding plant to add to your shade garden.  It has gray-green leaves that are fernlike and has a close relationship with bleeding-heart (Dicentra).  The flowers, though, are distinctively different; small clusters of down-hanging, nearly tubular 3/4 inch long yellow blossoms dot the foliage for a lengthy Summer blooming period.  They start their bloom time in early Spring.

It normally reaches a heigth of 12 to 15 inches high making this a fine foreground plant in locations where soil is always moist and high-branching trees cast light or filtered shade.

You should provide it with good, organically enriched soil that is steadily moist (but not soggy).  Under these conditions, volunteer seedlings will enlarge the planting.

I purchased a small plant about five years ago for my shade garden and the last two years it has produced babies.  This year I have donated some to my Garden Club's Annual Perrenial Plant Sale. 

When the weather warms up a bit, I need to purchase organic composted manure for my garden.  It is very rich and has a black like quality.  The whole garden needs to be enriched this year.  I have posted some pictures of the Corydalis in my garden.  Hoping you enjoy them and the information that I have provided.  Until next time.

Rosemary, Garden Gate Designs
www.gardengatedesigns.artfire.com

Palm Fern Finally Coming Up!

Monday, April 9, 2012

Palm Fern Finally Coming Up!

This morning I would like to share a picture of my Palm Fern in my shade garden.  This tall fern variety is so very different from most ferns that you will see.  It is tall and elegant and has tiny leaves that are short on its tall fronds.  They stand vertically throughout its growth period.  This variety dies back in the late Fall, unlike other ferns that will stay green in your garden all year long. 

I just transplanted it from my back garden that was given up for our deck expansion last year.  Just praying that it would thrive and come back this Spring.  So, without further adoe, here is a picture of the elegant lady.  I will post of pic of it when it is fully grown.

I purchased this plant over 10 years ago at the Hudson, Ohio Garden Tour.  They always have a plant sale at one of their Elementary Schools.   Along with that a cookie and tea sitting that is always nice.

Hope you enjoy the picture.

Garden Gate Designs
www.gardengatedesigns.artfire.com

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!

Sunday, April 8, 2012

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!

Just wanted to wish everyone that follows my blog and who occassionaly takes a peek a very Happy Easter Sunday.  Spring is reborn!

Here are pictures of my Lenten Roses that have been blooming for about 2 months now.  The smaller one is a hybrid that only had three leaf stems and hardly any blooms last year.  This year she has grown so much.  The before and after pic are here.

Lenten Roses, or Heliobores start blooming around Christmas, underneath the snow cover.  As Spring approaches, they have an amazing array of flowers.  I own an Apple Blossom variety as depicted by the larger one in the pictures.  It is slightly greenish in color.  The other is a hybrid.  Cannot remember it's name but it is almost black in color with dark leaves.  They have a mounding effect and should not be divided.  Hope you enjoy the pics.

Garden Gate Designs
www.gardengatedesigns.artfire.com

Early Spring in the Shade Garden

Saturday, April 7, 2012

Early Spring in the Shade Garden

For those of you who have followed my blog, you know that I always post pictures of my shade garden as it progresses through the season.  This Spring, my shade garden has lots of empty spots due to my Brunnera plants taking over the garden once again and having to get rid of many of them.  Once they are established in your garden, they will reseed endlessly.  So, now I have room for some new plants this year.  Maybe Astilbe?

My shade garden overlooks a beautiful ravine with flowing stream.  There are little waterfalls all down the stream, and the sides of the ravine have been naturalized by periwinkle, daffodils, and pachysandra.  This all blooms in the early Spring and is quite beautiful.  I have many wild animals that live in the ravine, groundhogs, squirrels, fox, opposum, raccoons, etc.  So many birds that come to my feeder stations.  It is just a idylic area to stop and stay awhile in. 

I have included a picture of the Mother Plant Brunnera.  At 2 feet around and 8 inches tall, she is quite a beauty.  Right now she is blooming away.  Unfortunately for me, all those seeds from the blooms will turn into little ones!  I will be tossing more as the season progresses!  They would take over my garden completely if I did not.

I have much to do yet in this garden if the weather ever get's into the 60's again.  It has turned chilly here in Northeast Ohio.  Adding organic material to the garden this year and weeding like crazy again.  Until next time, hope you enjoy my "little peace of heaven".

Garden Gate Designs
www.gardengatedesigns.artfire.com