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The 2024 Garden Year

January 19, 2024 January Our year started with snow, ice and frigid temperatures in mid-January. Our temperatures stayed below freezing for almost a week. I think it was the most consistent cold that we've experienced since moving here. Fortunately, it was a dry snow so there wasn't too much damage. Once again, we almost lost the azara and I'm afraid there would have been some breakage if I had not kept knocking the ice off. February 14, 2024 February In past years, it seems that inclement weather seems to hit around Michael's birthday in mid-February. After the January snow and ice, this month was actually quite tame. Nothing exciting to report - mostly birdwatching . Early flowers like hellebores, cyclamen and crocus begin to bloom in mid month. March 3, 2024 March I got into a walking routine which I'm happy to report I am continuing this year. You get to the point where you feel guilty if you miss a day. I do miss days occasionally but I'm learning that ...
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The View from Above


We've spent most of the last two days working on an arborvitae next to the house (that is another post!). I was up on the roof this morning in order to trim part of it and took some aerial shots while I was there.

The photo at the top and the one below is looking out over the front garden. I am standing just right above the front door.

 

(Above) The area to the left shows the garden directly in front of the living room windows. The only plant here when we moved in was the 'Bloodgood' Japanese maple at the top left corner.

(Below) Looking down on the center area of the front. To the left is the painfully slow-growing Sourwood tree (Oxydendrum arboreum) that was planted the first year. It is now only 7 feet tall and very little horizontal growth. The large Japanese maple on the right is 'Skeeter's Broom'.




(Above) The area to the far right next to the driveway. Cotinus 'Royal Purple' (Smoke Tree) is on the upper left and the 'Esk' maple is to the right. The Japanese maple in the foreground is 'Sango Kaku'. The tall columnar conifer is White Pine (Pinus sorbus 'Fastigiata'). Sassafras tree is to the right along with Ceanothus 'Black Diamond'.

(Below) On the side of the house at the bottom of the driveway you can see the arborvitae hedge on the far left that we are working on. Next to the garbage bins is Catalpa bignoinoides 'Aurea'. The yellow clematis on the arch is 'Bill Mackenzie'.


 

(Above) - Now to the back garden - this area is the terraced lower slope. The large tree on the right is Katsura and on the left is Eucalyptus.

(Below) - The center portion of the back garden. The tree in the center is Nyssa sylvatica (Black Tupelo).





The only section I wasn't able to get was the Pan Garden which is located to the right in the above photos. I can't get to that part without stepping onto the deck roof cover and I was afraid to do that. I hope you enjoyed the aerial tour!

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

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Comments

  1. C. C.September 14, 2021 at 2:23 AM

    I’ve always yearned to see your gardens from this perspective, thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  2. chavlinessSeptember 14, 2021 at 7:59 AM

    What a fun tour, like being in a hot air balloon: I enjoyed this most unusual perspective of the garden. I never realized you grow eucalyptus, and a beautiful specimen at that. It's one of my favorite trees although not the first one that comes to mind when thinking of PNW trees.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Phillip OliverSeptember 14, 2021 at 8:09 AM

      It has been amazing. I brought it home in a little quart pot and it is now 10 feet tall. It grew so fast.

      Delete
  3. Lisa at GreenbowSeptember 14, 2021 at 9:02 AM

    A good perspective of your garden. So much has happened in such a short time. Your penchant for collecting handsome plants and knowing how to show them in such a splendid fashion makes your garden a delight to view from any angle.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Kris PetersonSeptember 14, 2021 at 12:57 PM

    Your garden is remarkable from any viewpoint. I'm amazed at how good everything looks as summer grinds to its end, especially give the horrific heatwave you experienced earlier. I've been tempted to get a drone to photograph my garden - I won't walk the roof and I don't want my husband (who suffers from vertigo) up there if it can be avoided.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Phillip OliverSeptember 14, 2021 at 7:53 PM

      I would like to get a drone too although I would be afraid I'd crash it. The roof is quite dangerous. I hate the pitch of it.

      Delete
  5. Dorothy BordersSeptember 14, 2021 at 2:11 PM

    What a gorgeous garden. I am full of envy.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Barbara H.September 14, 2021 at 6:49 PM

    Well, I shouldn't be so amazed having seen your previous garden and followed along with this garden, but the aerial perspective shows just how much work you have done on what was probably a very plain yard before. Maybe there should be a drone in your future to do yearly perspectives? Well done, Phillip.

    ReplyDelete
  7. julesSeptember 14, 2021 at 7:48 PM

    These pictures will be useful as a reference in the future, to give us some perspective when you home in on certain plants.
    Stunning!

    ReplyDelete
  8. danger gardenSeptember 18, 2021 at 9:34 AM

    Wow, great photos! Your garden has changed so much since you held the bloggers swap there years ago. I wish I were brave enough to get photos of our garden from this perspective. I do not do heights.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Karin / Southern MeadowsSeptember 19, 2021 at 5:17 AM

    What a great way to view your garden! I'm so impressed with all the color and texture you have incorporated in your beds. You've inspired me to try to look at my garden this way. I may need to use a drone.

    ReplyDelete
  10. RobinLOctober 10, 2021 at 4:06 PM

    You know how much I enjoy your garden on any given day, but those overhead shots made me gasp with an “Oh wow!” Beautiful doesn’t even begin to describe everything you’ve done there. Be proud, very proud.

    ReplyDelete

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