My love of porterweeds (Stachytarpheta) really began not in South Florida, where I currently live—and where these flowers are as commonplace as pigeons in Central Park—but way back when I was a landscape design undergrad at the University of Maryland.
I spent my first 26 years gardening in the temperate Mid-Atlantic climate of USDA Zone 7, and let me say: The Maryland gardener is a spoiled one. They can grow anything from the North that can handle a little heat (think peonies and tulips), plus anything from the South that can tolerate some frost (camellias, azaleas and so forth).
Fueled by this broad palette, as a practicing designer I made English-style flower gardens inspired by Gertrude Jekyll. In 2007, when I got a job offer in Miami that I couldn’t refuse, I thought it meant the end of my feminine floral designs. I could only envision my new landscapes looking like Jurassic Park, with oversized foliage and not much else.
But one of my class assignments at UMD had been to design a tropical-looking garden that would be fully winter hardy in Zone 7, which I executed with heavy use of hardy hibiscus and yuccas. About a year after moving to Miami, I recalled this old project and experienced a lightbulb moment: If I could design a tropical-looking garden in a cold climate, why not an English garden in a tropical climate? Thus, I began scouring every nursery in South Florida for anything that looked “Northern” to me—that is, fine-textured, herbaceous and with a heavy sprinkling of small(ish) flowers.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der May - June 2023-Ausgabe von Horticulture.
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Diese Geschichte stammt aus der May - June 2023-Ausgabe von Horticulture.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
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GAGA FOR GALANTHUS
As easy as they are irresistible, snowdrops boast a devoted and growing following
NEW PLANTS
Multiseason Marvels
BLUEBERRIES & CO.
Members of the genus Vaccinium provide sweet flavor, health benefits and beauty in the garden
AN ECOLOGICAL AGREEMENT
How three great minds think alike
Take It Indoors
Cs the growing season dwindles, _ potted cittus became a summer souuenir
ROOTED IN PLACE
LAYERING IS A PROPAGATION TECHNIQUE THAT TAKES A WHILE TO COMPLETE, BUT IT DEMANDS LITTLE EFFORT FROM THE GARDENER
AT HOME WITH PLANTS
Business travel and pleasure trips helped inspire this Cincinnati garden
THE GARDEN GOES DARK
Yes, gardens have their dark side. But-surprise! A garden's darkness can be good, not sinister.
LOW-WATER WONDERS
EXPLORE ONE PLANTSMAN'S DROUGHT-TOLERANT FAVORITES FOR EACH LEVEL OF THE GARDEN
Succeed With Succession- The best crops to plant throughout summer, plus how to time them right
The best crops to plant throughout summer, plus how to time them right. Once a crop like spring turnips or snap peas has finished, I tidy up the bed, amend the soil with a thin layer of compost and replant. Depending on the new crop, I may be sowing seeds or transplanting seedlings.