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Japanese Maples Fall Color

'Skeeter's Broom' is the most colorful maple in our garden. I have just returned from a 2-week trip to Japan. This was my first ever trip outside the United States. It was an amazing experience and one I will never forget. Japan was wonderful - they really have their act together and I think the U.S. could learn a few things from them. There was one disappointment on the trip - the fall color had barely begun there and was really just beginning as we left. That is okay because the gardens were still spectacular, and I got a nice shot of fall color when I got back. 'Ryusen' I missed a few things - our ginkgo had just turned a glorious color the day before I left, and the leaves were gone by the time I got back.  'Sango-Kaku' I came home to many leaves on the ground but still a lot on the trees. 'Osakazuki', a beautiful red maple always changed color very late and therefore doesn't usually last long. When I left there was no color but a few remaini

Wamboldtopia - where garden and art become one



Hearing the oohs and aahs coming from the front of the bus, I knew that we had arrived at the next destination on our tour - Wamboltopia. Nestled on a steep hill in a quiet neighborhood, this one-of-a-kind creation is the brainchild of stone mason Ricki Pierce ("Rock Pirate") and artist Damaris Pierce.


Wamboldtopia (named for the street it resides on) is quite a sensory explosion, filled with creative stone work, art objects, stunning plant combinations, water features, sanctuaries, and the list goes on. You can walk through it again and again and still find new discoveries. In fact, I was just looking at another blogger's photos and I saw things that I had missed.




Looking down from the top of the property. That is Ricki Pierce in the center.

Everyone wanted to know what the red rose was cascading from a rock wall. (Damaris Pierce told us that it was a gift from a friend and she did not know the identity of it). It looks like "Scarlet Meidiland" which I grow in our garden but I'm not positive about that.

That is one fancy doghouse!


Gothic touches abound!



I'm so glad we were able to experience this enchanting garden!

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Comments

  1. You got a unique perspective on the "wheel wall" along the stairs. This art garden was certainly a place of discovery.

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  2. Great photos. Every time I see some I wonder why I didn't see the same scenes. Your photos are so rich-looking!

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  3. Wow... this place gets the creative juices flowing!! Larry

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  4. Yes, love seeing this through others' photos, you found fun spots I missed. Super photos.

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  5. Beautiful shots. I did not know where the name came from so thanks.

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  6. Super photos, Phillip of a magical garden.

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  7. What an interesting place. I could wander around there for hours. Thank you for sharing.

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  8. I love seeing this fabulous fantasy of a garden through your lens, Phillip. Thank you.

    Frances

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  9. I was going into withdrawal today and your wonderful photos helped pull me through.

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  10. Wonderful photos. You really captured the spirit of Wamboldtopia.

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  11. You had views I did not see. An amazing garden that one could stroll for days and not see it all.... The Saint told me he found a kitty but I never saw it. Now I see it. Great pictures....

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  12. Like you say there is so much that one missed some things. It is an exciting place. I like the perspective that you photos show. Great job.

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  13. I so enjoyed seeing this unique place along with Christopher Mello's garden through your eyes, Phillip. Your photos are fantastic! It was a delight to meet you and Michael in Asheville. Hope all those new plants arrived home safely:)

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  14. Man oh man, wow. Mary

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  15. Is this open to the public, or by appointment?

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  16. Philip, thank you for this wonderful post, both in word and image!
    Much of Wamboldtopia revolves around our love story. The infamous red rose was actually a wedding gift, we had asked our guests to bring plants for our garden. :-)
    And the metal piece that is sitting on the old concrete bird bath pedestal was made by no other than metal artist Christopher Mello! The design is my own, a celtic knot with Ivy in its three stages that was originally planned as a tattoo, but that design changed. Ricki snagged a printout of the design and had Christopher cut it in metal as a surprise gift, to fit exactly into the center of the brick circle, which we also call the wedding circle since, you guessed it, we got married on it. The circle itself was Ricki's engagement gift to me in lieu of a ring (he knows I don't dig rings)... little did I know I'd be carrying bricks up for days in buckets - my arms grew a couple of inches that season. Not a single regret. :-)

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  17. Rosedale Garden, this is our private garden connected to our residences. We are currently sharing it with the public once a month on a Sunday afternoon,next one is June 10th from 1-4pm. Hope to see you!

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  18. Phillip, you captured some unique angles. This was a wonderful garden. We were so lucky to see it.

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