May has been an intensive month for gardening and garden touring, and we're only half-way through! I figured I'd better post my images from the Denton County Master Gardeners' tour (held every Mothers' Day weekend) before I hit the Garden Conservancy's Dallas tour tomorrow.
Many learning opportunities can be found on garden tours - how other gardeners create solutions to common problems, what plants are doing well or have become (too?) popular, etc. The Denton County Master Gardeners went the extra step to supply literature, experts and demonstration stations at each garden stop. My faves were square foot veggie garden (hello, raised beds) and the values of soil amendments, specifically compost and expanded shale. I use both of these products liberally when double-digging my new beds. Love 'em.
Here are a few more good ideas . . . .
Want a green roof without climbing a ladder and freaking out your spouse? Try birdhouse first!
Happy water lilies.
We all loved this huge white clematis, which we believe is Clematis 'Henryi.'
Another fave was this rose, 'Mermaid' I think it was. It was quite large, in shade and had super clean foliage and flowers. But the best scent of the day came from Rosa 'Veilchenblau' (not pictured).
Want an herb/veggie garden? Get a horse trough and plant away. Not everything has to be difficult. Really. I heard a lot of positive responses from touring gardeners about raised veggie beds constructed out of cinder blocks. Not the prettiest, but practical and economic. Not permanent either.
A lot of really lovely gardens have one thing in common, great vignettes. Makes for great pictures, especially if you keep it simple.
Happy koi.
Glad these bunnies haven't found my veggie starts yet. I'm sure this gardener and her grandchildren love their tea parties.
From the same beautiful garden as above. This lady has whimsy down pat.
And she probably hosts great parties. I know a few other gardeners who give Martha a run for her money. Of course I love going to their gatherings. One day (when the boy is older) I'll be a super hostess again.
Nothing says happy like a bed full of daisies!
