A walk around my garden

27 May '06 4:52 am

Jack, your tour is so real - let me say how much I've read and re-read your descriptions. And your patient dog-friend, waiting for a walk, so natural for us gardeners who garden with animals. C'mon, hurry up, he's saying. You know I am in England at the moment - I am missing my dog Rusty so much. I have even taken to patting unknown dogs at railway stations. Hopefully this will not lead to anything unpleasant!

Real gardeners take and show photos of their gardens at all times of the day - or year, too. That's why I reckon the pix that you and the other forum friends post are so superior to pix in the glossy garden magazines. Thankyou for letting me peep into your amazing, real garden. And a large dog-hug from me for Stompie! And a warm welcome to your mom and dad! Cheers, from rainy, wet, blustery London - until next Tuesday, that is!

27 May '06 11:46 am

Wow Jack...more great piccies!

You have a really nice-looking place. It's the sort of place that anyone would be thrilled to walk about in. I especially liked the arches and the very last shot back up at the house. That perspective really completed the tour and was the foto that was the most enlightening for me...it sort of brought the whole walk together somehow.

Apart from your enchanting foto's of the gardens and arches...my eyes fell upon those great round things upon a bench.Were those pots, balls... or a couple of the Mouraki Bolders that you absconded with the last time you were in Nieuw Zeeland? Heh heh.
Thank you again for aquainting us with your lovely estate.
p.s. Some pictures gave the feeling of being on the grounds of a chic villa. So nice.

28 May '06 1:43 am

Thank you all for your comments! Sjoerd, your last comment makes me laugh. No, this is not a chic villa. But at the same time I do realize that I am incredibly lucky to be able to do all this on little more than a teacher’s small salary.

This is perhaps a good time to pay tribute to the man who has helped me more than any other to make this possible. And I must admit: if South Africa was not a country with cheap labour and poor job opportunities, much of what we have would not be possible. Also – as I realized when I was in Europe – European taxation would make it impossible for a man of my income to live like this! We usually have several labourers on the farm. They are almost totally illiterate and mostly quite willing to do the right thing, even if sometimes they just don’t understand what is going on in the white man’s mind, leading to some frustrating misunderstandings. Inevitably when one finds someone more literate and more aware they end up moving on to better paying jobs, and I have helped and encouraged them to do so. In fact one young man who used to work for me during his school holidays is now an aircraft technician and owns a house in Johannesburg. When he comes to visit his parents – labourers living on the neighbouring farm – he sometimes brings his wife and son and pops in for a visit.

But Frans Seale (see - ha - leh) has been my right hand man. When I started building my cottage in 1989 I asked our foreman to find me an assistant. Two days later he arrived with Frans. He met him passing by in the road. Frans was unemployed, having last had a seasonal job in a tomato canning factory 40km away. He seemed to me too old and overweight for the tough building job I had in mind. I asked if he could dig foundations. Very quietly he replied: ‘I can try.’ His foundations were perfect; works of art. And Frans stayed. Any job demanding unhurried patience and a good eye he would tackle and complete perfectly. Don’t get him to work too much with others, don’t make him a manager. But give him a (verbal) list and enough time and he will quietly, proudly and joyously get the job done.

Long before the cottage was finished I started planning life after the building. I asked him to take cuttings, showed him how, and waited. Only afterwards I found out that some of the cuttings he’d been striking were from plants that really don’t lend themselves to such propagation… I would often not get to the farm for as long as six weeks at a time. I always knew that Frans would look after things as well as I could myself. And Frans obviously loved the quiet rural life.

He is of the Balobedu tribe, famous for being the tribe of the Rain Queen, Modjadji. A few years ago a new Rain Queen was ‘crowned’ in mid-winter, and a strange, unexpected thunderstorm (a summer phenomenon) swept through the area during the ceremony; last year she died, leaving only one female heir aged two years… so we are all uncertain when the next Rain Queen will be announced, and many people, white and black, say that is why our rainfall patterns have been so unpredictable of late…
One of Africa’s most mystical figures, the Rain Queen is said to have been the inspiration for Rider Haggard’s famous novel ‘She’, the story of a mystical and powerful African queen. Read more about her history at http://www.tzaneen.co.za/ice/modjadji_history.htm

I am certain that this background goes some way towards explaining Frans’ almost mystical serenity, and some of his strange habits and little rituals. His son, who worked for me for a short while, then went off to study to be a sangoma or ‘witch doctor’ and a source of immense pride to his father.

I have just one problem with Frans. He has never quite understood the link between names and labels. As long as a plant has a label, all is well. The result is that we have had some strange losses, some mystery seedlings and trees – and I can’t let strangers loose to choose plants in my nursery. But mostly, safely locked away in his non-reader head, is a vast store of information about the plants and the activities on the farm. I ask him, he taps his temple, his face contracts, and then he either shakes his head in sad bewilderment, or he smiles proudly and gives the answer. And it is seldom wrong.

Last week as part of my walk through the garden, I took a portrait of him after he had planted Raubritter. Here it is!

28 May '06 5:14 am

My God, how immensely I was touched by your human contacts, and the way you express yourself in the written speech! I was there with you , watching the beautiful face of this wonderful old man, Frans! Isn't he a sweet old man! His face shows patience, wisdom, and modesty. I just loved the way , Jack , you described your human feelings and thoughts about these lovely men , who have worked and have been working for you! Isn't it so immensely enriching this respectful human contact with other people, coming from other cultures and habbits!!! I think everything has to do with true, unconditional love, finally

4 Jun '06 10:56 pm

I’ve been setting and marking exam papers. Time to reward myself with a walk around the garden... This is part two of the detailed walk around: we’ve made our way down through Alfred’s Arches and down the steps. On our right there is now a Viburnum hedge behind which the Jewel Garden will one day (hopefully soon) start happening. It will be like a stage set, enclosed on the three upper sides by this hedge; a small, paved, symmetrical tiered garden you look into from below, with blue, purple and red flowers. Originally it was supposed to be complete for my 50th in September. In front of us is the Spout, the jet of water seen through Alfred’s Arches from the front door (Use your imagination, please!)

Below that – in the even more distant future – is the Autumn Garden: one looks down past the Spout on an informal semi-circular garden of clumps of annuals and herbaceous perennials backed by Lagerstroemia indica (Crepe Myrtle or Pride-of-India trees): pink crepe flowers in high summer, smooth, pale, mottled stems and richly varied autumn leaves – all together one of my favourite plants. (They form the autumn background to the photo of the Ellensgate Gdn from the living room window; the first pic of the first‘walk through’ posting.) It is called the Autumn Garden because of its sunset colours, with the focus on an autumn crescendo to go with the leaves. Now look at me: two paragraphs about gardens that don’t even exist yet Rolling Eyes

We had just come down the steps. Let’s look back up at the front door – the pic I ended my last post ('part one') with. Now let’s look perpendicularly across. There is a step down between two clay pots planted with Abelia ‘Francis Mason’ onto the Rosemary Terrace. When we had a grader on the farm some years ago, my dad offered to level this terrace, so that it slopes down but not sideways. I have planted rosemary cuttings on the right to form a hedge. On the left there is an earth cutting. I’m quite happy to plant the matching rosemary hedge against it on that side, but my father speaks of building a wall. (I’d rather use the cash elsewhere, quite frankly!) Meanwhile there has been a summer long hiatus...

At the far end, on a brick plinth, is the largest and most extravagant Italian clay pot I have ever bought, with four cubes of Abelia ‘Francis Mason’ around it. At the moment they are almost as tall as the pot; previously they were too low and I have grown them taller this summer. Now they need cutting back. The pot has not yet been successfully planted. It contains a long-suffering variegated privet at present (boring!) Before that an artistic composition of mixed planting ala Powis Castle’s pots (high maintenance and insufficiently artistically executed!) Any suggestions – low maintenance, little irrigation, pale colour? It is seen throughout summer against the solid green of the Acer buergerianum (Chinese maple) avenue behind it. I’ll do a separate post on them. I’m rambling enough already.

Let us return up the steps, through Alfred’s Arches and turn left into the Japanese Walk. Notice the pics I’ve taken since the actual walk, showing the Nandina domestica in all their glory. In the centre of the wisteria pergola (called Louis’ Arbour after the friend who inspired it with tales of a childhood wisteria arbour) is the entrance to the Anniversary Garden.

I must try to describe this pergola’s shape. How? A bite taken out of the long side of a rectangular biscuit? It is (like all pergolas!) long and narrow. But it is narrower in the middle. The side facing the garden is curved inwards. In addition it is on ground sloping to two sides, so the one deep side is much taller than the other – by over a meter. And the front pillar is nearly 5m tall. Building this pergola was my bête noire – building my stone cottage was easier – and quicker! It is built of sequoia wood (American redwood) harvested on the farm – we call it Sequoia Farm. But the spans are huge, and keeping things square and steady was a mission. However the tallest of the four wisterias ends the summer 3m above ground, and next summer I will have to start training onto the horizontal!

I’m not certain how it came to be this shape. Probably because this largest of the formal areas was first conceived as an oval garden, with the pergola on the upper side and a formal pond of similar shape on the other side. But why when I decided that was too complex did I keep this odd shape?! We built the foundations 8 years ago, and that kind of tied us down. It took a long time for the rest of the design to be resolved. It was the passage of time that decided it would be a golden rose garden for my parent’s 50th anniversary. And a sudden revelation which sorted the central axis with 90 degree turns at the end of the curved path, so that the three paths meet at a central focal point on the opposite end of the garden, dividing the garden into four triangular beds. But what focal point? We moved two massive rocks to be the focal point, symbolic of ‘The Parents’. By the time they were suitably grounded they were much too insignificant. I bought a beautiful ball shaped Indian metal vessel for The Mother for Xmas to stand with the rocks. She loved it and insisted on a place for it in the living room. More and more I feel it should be a plant that gives the focus: a simple crenellation in the still growing hedge perhaps? A tall thin conifer? A weeping standard rose? (Is there space?)

The central path is edged in rosemary. This winter it will be trimmed into squared off hedges and lose its lovely youthful hummocky look. The side paths were edged with yellow and mauve irises. The moles decimated them, and The Mother complained of having to climb over them when picking or dead-heading. So they have been moved to the long front bed, the centre of which is that troublesome focal point. This winter we are laying discarded polytunnel sheeting (courtesy of a friend) in strips on the ground between the roses and covering it with stepping stones and a smooth yellow-brown gravel. It will simplify both access and – especially – weeding! Possibly pots of colour could be placed on the gravel – this first summer there were the most wonderful mauve self-sown petunias amongst the roses. Perhaps in a slightly more orderly fashion this abandon could be repeated. (Orderly abandon? Get real, Jack!) I must add that a wonderful little indigenous plant with delicate pinky-tip sized blue-mauve flowers and wiry stems made itself totally at home amongst the rosemary plants. It is called Wahlenbergia undulata and I DO hope it decides to stay! And for good measure a few wild buttercups amongst the rosemary contributed to the overall yellow and mauve theme which dominates the garden.

Having said so much, I might as well comment on the roses. I have had mixed results. Some choices were just wrong. Others were disappointing. There has been an alarming amount of die-back on some bushes. But I don’t spray for pests, and I didn’t foliar feed as often as I should have, and in this very wet summer the weeds were a major problem among the still young roses – despite four major clearings.

Overall, I got colour rather wrong. The mauve’s all work: the startling Rhapsody in Blue, St Katherine and Violetta. The pure yellows work, of which Austin’s Molineaux has been the best rose in the garden. Some of the others are known by local names. South Africa, of which I have written before, (KORberbeni) is really too orange, but it is so magnificent and willing that I forgive it. But then there are those shades which, despite all my caution, are too apricot, and introduce a note of pink. In addition I argued if mauve + yellow = Julia’s Rose, add those wonderful modern ‘brown’ roses. But they all look technicolour amongst the yellow. And then there are some yellows that fade to a parchmenty cream. If I were to do it all again I would restrict myself to ten varieties, instead of the over thirty I have used. Too often the lesson I refuse to learn!

And that really is enough of a post. We can complete the walk through the garden on another occasion!

4 Jun '06 11:18 pm

You have really inspired me. Your garden is wonderful. What a terrific way you have made use of the space you have. Beautiful flowers everywhere, and special places of personal interest and reminders.

It's a really wonderful garden. Exclamation

Christopher

5 Jun '06 6:22 pm

Oh so inspiring Jack, but how is a person to get any gardening done when you keep posting such interesting stories and pics?? Ha Ha Very Happy

6 Jun '06 11:32 am

Good Grief, Jack...you really do have a garden to die for don't you. This second narrative description and pictorial array is even better than the first. There is something cosy about it. I save reading it until the absolute end of the day when there is nothing else to do, then after my shower I put on the comfy evening clothes, brew-up a cuppa tea and ensconce myself in front of the compi and begin the marevlous journey into your garden...sipping tea and nibbling on a biccy as I go; the silence of my wonderment punctuated by "ooh's" and "ahh's".
Aside from the apparent beauty and variety of your gardens, your enthusiasm and appreciation of your own handiwork is something that I perceive as we are guided along. Your passion is clearly apparent. Passion in gardening is as necessary as water and air to us mortals.
BTW...what are those little, purple flowers that I see by the left urn ands gatepost of the Rosemary Terrace?
Thanks again for this posting.

6 Jun '06 9:15 pm

Jack!

I really appreciated -again!- your narrative style and vivid descriptions! I fell in love with your Violetta Rose and the two --very artistic!-- photos, no 9 and no 23! Thank you so much, for dedicating so much of your precious time and your bright brain to us!

8 Jun '06 6:38 am

I follwed directions, started exploring your posts, and just lost a work hour to your garden, which is nothing but the highest of compliments! I will justify taking time to write now, simply because I am on my first cup of coffee and not yet awake.

First though, I have a good friend in South Africa, quite the city gardener and pond maker, and I wanted to send you link to his photos, but should do that privately, so email me directly at jenny@wavestonegroup.com sometime! Next, here I am a complete forum newbie who understands that I must give back, after enjoying everyone's posts, photos and sharing spirits, but bear with me on learing to post pix, etc. OK? I am so busy this month with critical stuff that it will be hard to get something of interest to you, but I do want to share our place with you all too.

Now, Jack's place is stunning, and again my favorite style of gardening...a loose but thematic approach that is somewhat self-dictated by the essence of the garden or land that is already there. I am sooooo enamoured by the flow of your place, Moosey's and any land that gives up secret treasures when you take the time to explore down paths and around corners. I am particularly taken with your gates and framed views of distant garden vignettes. Too many wonderful things in both gardens to comment upon with the time I have today, and other posts cover all of the nice things I would say anyway!

Now, my contribution to come will be on the set-up and progress of our land, so here is a brief teaser: We have 6+ acres in Central California, a mile up from the coast, with a bit of ocean view here and there, especially from our treehouse we built last year in the Douglas Fir forest. The forest is small, just 100 trees, but has its own climate, with year-round blue jays, etc. The upper meadow above it is chaparrel, with scrub oaks, quail and rabbits, and bobcat and coyote visits. It borders more of the same across the property line, and the neighbor's land, untended and far from his house, has beautiful, poisonous mushrooms each year that we go visit. This meadow is also next to the start of civilization and our neighbors on much smaller lots.

Our house is nestled against the end of the forest, with views to this meadow, and a 6 tree redwood grove outside our living room window, so we can sit there and watch deer go by regularly. I have plans to turn the grove, and the curved flat area around it, into a true Japanese garden, since a berm sits above the grove and we have this naturally separate area to work with, bordered by ornamental fruit trees with burgandy leaves, and 2 Wisteria already growing on a small arbor. I have Japanese Maples in pots ready to go, once we clear out non-native iceplant and relocate our banana slugs and salamanders while we dig a small pond and start path/bridge/deck/teahouse construction. But this project is most exciting, and I did a mini zen garden at another house a few months ago, with great results. I will be following some true and traditional design principles, with care taken for color placement, symbolic compass point recognition dictating the direction water is to flow, which of the elements is emphasized in which direction (metal, wood, water, etc.) and so on.

We have the middle meadow, all weeds, and a dilemma on the best and fastest way to carve some space for wildflowers and veggies, since we are procrastinating on the hard work it will take to kill the weeds and protect anything from gophers. I envision a natural meadow with herb shrubs and sculpture, curving paths and benches, the occasional arbor, etc. But the deer, gophers and weeds are our main concerns.

Middle meadow is bordered by more scrub oaks and falls off towards a slope dominated by larger oaks and choked withy pesky but beautiful ivy, raspberry brambles and poison oak. Having extensively read about the best environment for the oaks, I know that clearing the ivy makes sense, and I have already spent days pulling it out of the trees to give them back their chance to live a long life, but the rest of the job is MASSIVE, and until then, the ivy chokes out most of the poison oak and IS a habitat for lots of animals who will be upset with any future change. This hillside countinues around much of our property and our lower meadow, and is where the deer, bobcats and coyotes hide and traverse. On a hot day, the shady hillsides are our retreat, and Cala Lilies pop up here and there, along with some ferns.

Lower meadow may get a large pond next year, since our downhill neighbor has the pro equipment to dig one in a day and he has one that is thriving with reeds, water plants, fish and bullfrogs we can hear from our place. I will go with native treefrogs instead, since we have them already and they will find a new pond easily enough. Lower meadow is ringed with Coastal oaks strung with Spanish Moss, and is large and sunny, but also weed and gopher filled. I want to make it park-like, but all natural, so it will get drought tolerant plants spaced naturally, and mostly shrubby things, nothing formal or small because it will just become a deer snack.

Around our house, we have front and back planted areas, masonry walls and steps and decks, some patio space. My challenge is to erase the former owner's bad personal vibe, chop out boxwood hedges and things that don't look right as our transition into the natural areas, and replant with lavender, rosemary, cut flower species, other herbs and groundcover, and keep it all wildlife friendly as well.

I have yet to plant a single new plant into the earth here, after almost two years living here. I have potted plants that want their freedom, but gopher control and irrigation comes first. My planting preferences are as follows...color and fragrance in every season, attract insects/birds/butterflies, carve out special areas to rest and relax in, have theme areas (fern garden, zen, cutting garden, edibles, sun and shade areas, oak and redwood compatible gardens that look completely native and amost untended, garden art/sculpture when it fits the area, some picnic and entertaining patios with arbors, and some secret retreat areas. And I am somewhat of a typical Santa Cruz wannabe hippy with mystical interests, so a moon and ceremony garden, and an outdoor alter would be nice, as well as a passion garden overseen by a goddess spirit is planned for outdoor art project creating parties.

I hope that piques your interest, and now I have sealed my fate with expectations to fulfill, and years of work ahead of me. All for now, work beckons cruelly.

Jen

A walk around my garden

I'm speechless

Tribute to Frans Seale

Oh, thank you , Jack!

A walk around my garden part two

I'm impressed!

Inspiring...

Jack, you are officially messing with my work schedule now!