Buzzing over to a new garden
Like this bee on blue mistflower (Conoclinium coelestinum ), I’ve been buzzing around the garden, dividing a few plants and taking down garden decor, all while keeping the garden looking good for prospective buyers. (Hello? Are you out there? The stock market may be scary, but it’s a great time to buy a house!)
One fact has come to my attention. I have way too much garden decor. With half of it stuffed in the greenhouse, awaiting the move, I realize that the garden looks just as good, if not better, without it.
Do you notice anything missing in this photo? Yes, the trampoline has been disassembled and put aside for the movers. Just look at how big my back yard looks now! I have been patiently waiting for this play space to open up so that I could put in a new garden here, but I’m leaving before that day arrived. Ironically, my next back yard has only one open spot (the rest is thick with trees, pool, patio, and deck), so guess what? The trampoline will be haunting my garden design again very soon. Sigh. (The redwood playhouse is for sale on Craigslist Austin. Anyone?)
Ah well, kids do grow up fast, and they deserve a play space. It’ll give me more time to dream. These bold, Big Bird-colored flowers are yellow bells (Tecoma stans ), also known as esperanza. They won’t be coming with me.
But the oxblood lilies (Rhodophiala bifida ) will. I like them in combination with the cool cream-and-green stripes of the sparkler sedge (Carex phyllocephala ) behind them.
I’m also bringing along a division of this mystery muhly grass. I bought it from either Natural Gardener or Barton Springs Nursery years ago, and all I can remember them telling me was that it was some variety of native muhly.
I’ve grown Lindheimer muhly, Gulf muhly, and pine muhly, and it’s not any of those. I’m stumped. This one is only about a foot-and-a-half tall, with a pinkish-cream inflorescence that adds another one-and-a-half feet. Its modest size, restrained growth, and lovely seedheads have scored it a place in my new garden.
Alongside the greenhouse shed grows a collection of divisions and slow-growth plants that I’m taking with me. These are a native palmetto (Sabal minor ) that will be perfect for a shady area in my new garden and a couple of divisions of a variegated yucca (Yucca flaccida ‘Bright Edge’).
Inside the greenhouse, a horror-show of garden doo-dads I’m taking with me. Avert your eyes!
See, even the bottle tree is coming with me. I took it apart and will reassemble it at the new house—eventually.
Little by little, I’m saying goodbye to my garden. I’m touched that so many of you have commented to say a fond farewell to it also. May Dreams Carol even wrote a farewell post for Green Hall Garden. Thank you, friends!
All material © 2006-2008 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
You MUST take the blue bottle tree with you. 🙂 And I was going to say, but you beat me to it, your kids won’t be young enough to want to play on the trampoline for very long, I promise you that. One day they’ll be 29 and 25 and you’ll be sitting there, scratching your head, wondering when THAT happened. 🙂 Your yard looks great and I’d think it would be a great selling point.
Thanks, Nancy. I just couldn’t leave the bottle tree behind. Well, that and I wasn’t sure it would be appreciated by potential buyers. Not everyone “gets” a bottle tree. 😉 —Pam
I will miss seeing your garden, but I’m just as excited about watching you grow a new one. I love your oxblood lilies next to the Sparkler Sedge. That is a great combination. MSS is sharing some of her oxblood lilies with me and I will have to remember how pretty they look with something variegated. And I think you should view your stash of doo-dads as a badge of honor — just think of all the shopping and planning and designing it took to accumulate all that quaint stuff. Repeat after me, “stuff is good!”
Stuff is good. Stuff is good. Stuff is good. I’m trying, Diana, but when one is faced with a move, stuff suddenly seems a little overwhelming. 😉 I’ve purged an awful lot of stuff lately, but it just keeps coming out of the woodwork, so to speak. Still, I know that it will all help to make the new house feel like home. Enjoy your passalong oxblood lilies. MSS is determined that everyone in Austin share in her bounty. It’s wonderful, isn’t it? —Pam
I don’t see the dovecote in the shed. Is that to stay? The muhly grass has a pretty seedhead and I’lI bet it doesn’t reseed. The best things rarely do. Only the miscanthus and the stipa. We are all dying to know what you will be inheriting. Will you be doing a big overhaul? The composition of your photos is wonderful but I would like to know what kind of point and shoot camera you have that gives such clarity to the photos. I still don’t know how to take photos of thin plants. The background is always in focus and the subject blurred.
You have sharp eyes, Jenny. The dovecote is staying, along with the large container plantings, which are just too big too move. I look forward to showing you the new-garden pics. It’s actually quite nice looking—well, except for a knoll of Asian jasmine. I don’t really know what I’ll be doing just yet. But I do think it will be very different from my current garden because the house and the terrain are so different from the current place.
As for the camera, it’s a Canon Powershot S3 IS, and the macro setting is pretty nice. If I put it on the custom setting, I can use a super-macro feature that gives me my best close-ups. I’ll bring it to the next Austin blogger get-together and show you how it works. —Pam
Seeing all that stuff piled up like that makes me realize how well you integrated it all into the garden. It never looked kitchy or crowded. Yes, it does look better now that the trampoline is gone, but the alternative is having the kids play baseball back there (as they are doing on my tiny lawn out back, the horror). The Muhly grass is a must to take along if you can’t replace it because you don’t know what it is, but I bet if you left the Oxblood lilies, somebody in Austin would give you more. Hang in there, your house will sell, eventually. I just hope it’s sooner rather than later. I’m sure you’re going to miss Green Hall, but I’m going to miss seeing it too.
I wouldn’t dream of leaving my oxblood lilies behind, MMD, but I know the new owners will still see some next fall because I won’t find all the bulbs. It’ll be a fun surprise for them—the kind I hope to find in my new garden. —Pam
Pam, Would you accept that for some of us…Your garden is iconic! We so familiar with your garden from your wonderful photos and posts, that I am convinced that most of us could recognize Green Hall from a vignette taken out of context! I wonder what each of us would take from our own gardens if we were moving? Gail
Oh my, thank you, Gail! Well, it’s good that I’m moving on before everyone gets bored with this little garden. 🙂 I think that would make a good post topic—“What I’d take if I were moving.” —Pam
I’ll miss seeing this garden I grew to love from pictures, but..on you go! I know everyone can’t wait to see what’s next!
Thanks, Linda. I’m very eager to see what’s next. I appreciate your willingness to follow along and find out too. —Pam
Hi Pam, you have been busy! I too am excited to see what you will be inheriting at the new place. Will it be the same style as you have now, or more woodland? I agree that you should take the muhly. I had one very similar that I left in Texas that was purchased at a special native plants nursery now defunct. The shorter height and width made it perfect for so many spots. I have ordered oxblood lilies and now know to look for a variegated grass to go with them, thanks!
Frances, I expect the new garden will be different in style. The house is a ranch rather than the farmhouse-Victorian style we have now. The property is more wooded, hilly, and rocky. Plus I have an affinity for contemporary style that I might like to play with a little. I like plants (and clutter) too much to ever go minimalist, but I might try for a more structural and formal style next time. Or I may get over there and decide to do something else. Who knows! —Pam
Got here too late to see your old garden (I’ll go back and look now, though) but look forward to seeing the next one. As for your garden art, no horror show there – it looks like a very restrained and tasteful collection. I like the flying pig! Good luck with your house sale.
Glad you like the flying pig, Karen. It’s one of my craft-fair favorites. Thanks for visiting, even if it is right before I move. I hope you’ll come back again soon. —Pam
Oh Pam, I feel your pain! I remember taking apart my garden when we moved from Detroit to here in Columbus. It was raining, and the movers were packing up the garage. I kept running in with another garden doo-dad, covered in mud. When I picked up a pile of beach stones and threw them in a bucket to be packed, I am sure they thought I was quite insane. I saved so many plants to take with me, but in the end only two survived, a daylily divided from a friend’s garden and one lonely hosta. I cherish them still. We drive by our old home now and then when we visit Detroit, and one day I’ll have to nerve to stop and ask if I can take a cutting or two! Can’t wait to see what you can do with your new space.
What a shame that only two plants survived your move, Robin. But at least you had your garden do-dads to help the new place feel like home. It’s brave of you to drive by your old house. Did the new owners keep your garden? —Pam
I’m glad we got to enjoy your garden at the Spring Fling. I know it must be such a chore for you to be moving all of it. And I hope you feel excitement for the possibilities at your new place.
The Spring Fling ended up being a good send-off for my garden, little though I guessed at the time. I do feel excited about the new place. Only a few more days. —Pam
I laughed at your “Big Bird” colored flower comment. It certainly is a bright yellow. Isn’t it amazing how many things we collect over the years? So much of it we could do without but we don’t realize it until we have to move it, LOL. I hope your lovely garden and home sell soon. All of this dire talk of the economy may not help you right now though. Hopefully things will turn around soon, for everyone’s sake.
There’s nothing like a packing day (or week) to make you realize how much stuff you have. Ugh. It’s time for a big garage sale! —Pam
Aww… as much as I’m going to miss Green Hall Garden, I am kind of giddy to see what you do next in your new space, Pam! It will be so much fun to follow along. 🙂
By the way, I’m really glad that you’re taking your bottle tree with you. I don’t know why, I just am.
I couldn’t leave such a funky garden ornament behind, Kim. Must puzzle new neighbors with my garden decor! —Pam
Congratulations on your new home Pam, and best of luck selling this one. I’ll miss Green Hall Garden, but I’m sure your new digs will be a wonderful new palette for your artful gardening.
Thanks, Linda. Leaving is bittersweet, but for me, anticipation of something new always wins out. —Pam
I’m so glad I was able to visit Green Hall and you last spring. It helps to make it all a little less sad. BTW, that “horror show” in the shed isn’t at all. It looked quite decorative to me. The trampoline will spur on your creativity especially in photos where you try to hide it. I can write that because I have my own giant play set to hide.~~Dee
Gee, I don’t even remember your giant play set, Dee. Truly I don’t. Your garden captured all of my attention. Alas, the trampoline will not be so easily hidden at the new house. Wait until I show you. —Pam
Leaving this beautiful garden is indeed bittersweet Pam but new pastures await you. Good luck with selling your house and hopefully to people who will appreciate your garden. 🙂
BTW when I saw all those blue bottles in your shed I thought that you were throwing them out. No such luck, you were simply storing your bottle tree! 😀
I thought about leaving the bottle tree behind, but I wasn’t sure it would be an asset in selling the house. So now I can easily make one at the new place. —Pam
It is good to see that you get to take most of what you want. It is a little scary to see all your “stuff” piled up waiting to be moved. No matter, a girl has to have her “stuff”.
Stuff sure does accumulate after a few years. I wouldn’t mind having a little less, actually, but it’s so hard to leave it behind. —Pam
I have to admit that knowing you are moving makes me a bit sad. Since I started reading garden blogs and writing my own earlier this year, your garden is the one I’ve most wanted to visit. For one, it’s in a climate quite a bit different from my own and your “style” is different from my own. In the short time I’ve been reading your blog, I like to think I’ve learned a good bit about design and plant pairings from your garden. Another reason I’d love to visit is that your garden has a “whole” feel to it – the photos of your garden so strongly invite the viewer to come in and wander. Everything works together, something I’d like to achieve in my own. Finally, you have so many plants that were new to me that I’d love to have in my own garden. So, I’m sad that I won’t see the garden in person, but I’m very happy for you to have your new home and a new garden to grow. And I look forward to seeing your Whale Tongue Agave (and your blue bottle tree) in the NEW garden. Oh, my, I do love your Whale Tongue Agave. I may never have one of my own, but between your inspiration and that of Craig of Ellis Hollow, I WILL have a blue bottle tree! Finally, a big THANK YOU for so freely sharing your garden and allowing me to enjoy it.
Kim, I am moved by your generous and thoughtful comment. Thank you so much for this. Your wistful tone makes ME wish that you had been able to visit my garden during the Garden Bloggers Spring Fling last April, and that I’d had the pleasure of meeting you.
A Maryland bottle tree would be a pleasure to behold. I hope you’ll post about it when you make one. They’re a fun addition to any garden. —Pam
I am sad to see the garden dismantled but now I am looking forward to seeing your new garden. I see a chain saw in your future. Nice to hear that the new place has a pool! Yippee. Love your blue post also. I have grown that Salvia but it never gets that big here in the northeast.
Ha—a chain saw in my future! Layanee, I’ve had the same thought myself, heresy though that is to suggest in Austin. And yes, we’re all very excited about the pool. —Pam
I hope you get a buyer soon – fingers crossed.
My thoughts are yours exactly, PG! Thanks for the good wishes. —Pam
I think the mystery grass is the native Big Muhly (Muhlenbergia lindheimeri). I have a couple of clumps of it, and yours looks identical to mine. I really like it because it tolerates partial shade, and doesn’t require much extra water. I’ve enjoyed watching your garden evolve, and I’m sure I’ll also enjoy watching as your new garden grows. Your plant combinations always inspire me!
Hi, Mary. Thanks for your encouragement. As for the mystery grass, no, it isn’t big muhly. I’ve grown that too, and this one is much smaller. Perhaps it’s a dwarf Lindheimer muhly—in fact, I think that’s what the nurseryman told me it was—but I can’t find any info about such a variety online, so who knows. —Pam
I still can’t believe you are moving. It is so much work. I am glad you got the agave out and ready for its next home(-: Target has two varieties of agave for 12 dollars which is half price. I am tempted. They are not the blue whale but they are pretty.
Yes, moving IS so much work, and if we’d known…well, let’s face it, we’d probably still have done it. But whew! 🙂 —Pam