An Old World Feel in Savannah

 

I am in Savannah this week and I'm trying to peek in to as many private gardens as possible! Like Charleston (my all-time favorite), there are many private 'courtyard style' gardens located throughout the maze of cobblestone streets.  If you are in need of great ideas for small spaces, look no further! Check out amazing detail found in this setting below! Take ideas and share with others - but put your personal spin on the landscape to make it your own!

Need Some Vertical Action?

Clematis

 

The clematis is a wonderful vine that covers plenty of mailboxes across the South. I have mine growing up some lattice underneath my deck. There are several colors & varieties to choose from  - purple being the most popular color. The variety I have is called Nellie (or Nelly) Moser and is easy to grow, producing large, flat flowers 6 to 8 inches in diameter with distinctive, white petals. This clematis blooms from May to late June, with a second, less profuse bloom in mid-August. 

Noteworthy characteristics: Will grow mostly anywhere with support. However, if your planting it in the full sun, try and protect the base of the plant (root area) with some shade.

Care: Grow in fertile, well-drained, soil with abundant organic matter. When growing it against a shady, north-facing wall or fence, paint the surface a light color to reflect sunlight back to the plant. Prune only if needed, as it blooms on the previous year's canes. Plant with the top of the root ball 3 to 5 inches below the surface and provide strong support.

Begonias, an Excellent Choice for Sun or Shade!

Without a doubt, adding a few begonias to some large containers in the Spring will guarantee you months worth of brilliant color . . . without any work on your part! If you'll use a container mix (which retains moisture), you won't have to worry so much about watering. The traditional begonia likes full sun but the Dragon Wing begonia loves the shade (or patial sun). I plant three to a container, sit back and enjoy! They will last until the first frost.

Traditional Begonias

Dragon Wing Begonia

Dragon Wing Begonia

Creative "Garden Art" Worth Considering

Adding a few interesting objects throughout the garden can be fun. Once you figure out the right place to locate the art - which is critical - your friends will enjoy rounding a corner to find a small hidden statue or a re-purposed chair! Let the art reflect your personality and you'll be fine!

An old iron dinner bell (still works great!)

Okay, the bird bath is the art, but Murphy steals the show!

Small stone angel tucked into some marigolds

An old chair (sans wicker) painted blue makes a great planter!

Galvanized Tin Watering doubles as an instant Fountain!

A Few August Tips for the Home Gardner

Cut back faded annual flowers by half, then water and lightly fertilize with liquid 20-20-20 or equivalent. A second season of blooms will begin to appear in two weeks.

Collect seeds from hosta, iris and blackberry lily to save for planting next spring.

Remove faded crape myrtle blooms and dry seed clusters now. With a little water and fertilizer, you may get more blooms in September.

Fertilize roses with 1 tablespoon of 10-10-10 per foot of height now to stimulate some new growth. As the weather cools, you’ll get roses for the fall.

Adding Yellow . . . Easy & Low Maintenance!

If you need to add a bright yellow POP of color to your flower garden, consider the Rudbeckia  (commonly referred to as Brown Eyed Susan). It's a slow spreading perennial that begins to bloom when so many other flowers have ended their run. They love the full sun, but will bloom in partial shade as well. I have mine grouped around a large weeping willow tree and they thrive under both conditions (sun & shade). They are easy to divide and share (or relocate in the fall). Add some great yellow color to your yard this Summer.

Creating a Focal Point

There are times when a large stand of grass could use a "little something extra" to catch your attention. And creating a focal point - a place for your eye to land - may be just what you need. A great way to add visual interest is by creating a simple bed (round seemed to work well in this case) using a landscape stone. I placed a birdbath in the center and surrounded it with some low growing hollies (which adds nice greenery all year). And then I finished it off with flowers. If you don't want to update each year, simply add perennials!