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Roses In The Garden - a book review

Roses In The Garden by Ngoc Minh Ngo Photographer Ngoc Minh Ngo celebrates rose gardens throughout the world in this beautifully produced book.  The author photographed a total of 11 gardens across the globe (Italy, Morocco, Spain, USA, UK, and Japan). Beginning with the Italian garden Ninfa (often referred to as the most romantic garden in the world), her photographs have a dreamy quality that transports the reader to these exotic locales. Closer to home, Floret Farm in Mount Vernon, Washington, is included in one of the chapters. All types of roses are included in the gardens but the majority feature old rose varieties. Many of the gardens have roses growing in wild abandon, intermingled in hedge rows, spilling over walls and fences and surrounded by pastures and rolling hills. A pictorial index lists all the roses and the gardens where they reside. This stunning book was published by Rizzoli Books and is available on Amazon and in bookstores. Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, ...

April, the angel of the months...


“April, the angel of the months, the young love of the year.”
 – Vita Sackville-West

I like this quote and it is from one of my favorite people so I thought that would be a nicer title than my first choice - "Spreading Manure". 

Spreading manure is how I spent most of the weekend. What a beautiful weekend it has been. The garden is all of a sudden wide awake with no remnants of winter left.

I drove out to South Ridge Farms in Ridgefield on Friday and got a load of horse manure and later went back for another. Beautiful stuff -



Some of my favorite plants in the garden now...

My favorite lavender is 'Platinum Blonde'. It has never bloomed that much but the foliage more than makes up for that...



Magnolia 'Fairy White' - a new series of magnolias. I thought I would keep this in a pot but I am having second thoughts. I'd love to find a place in the ground. I'm looking and thinking...



Podophyllum 'Spotty Dotty' is just an amazing plant and looks better every year.



The rhododendrons are just beginning to bloom. This is 'Unique Variegated' that I bought at Gossler Farms a few years ago -



'Schipka' Cherry Laurel, probably the most overused plant in the region, but it does have some admirable qualities. I do love the flowers (so do the bees) and the fast-growing privacy screen it provides -



Viburnum davidii which some might argue is THE most over-used plant 



Barberry 'Orange Rocket' with the Red Currant still going strong in the background -



Daphne 'Carol Mackie' sooooo fragrant!



The pink dogwood was the only mature tree on the property when we moved in. Most years, the flowers have been erratic, sometimes appearing only at the top or bottom of the tree, but this year it is perfect -



Looking up the terraces, it looks a bit chaotic at the moment before the plants leaf out completely -



Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Comments

  1. Angel indeed! The horse manure is clearly making your garden happy. I've never seen that lavender before, dang that foliage is beautiful. The Magnolia doesn't even look real, it's so perfect. :). So happy for Spring!

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  2. Yes,! "Angel" smells better than manure! But, your garden will love it! Our pink dogwood did well this year, as well. Beats the spring when the blossoms never came out because it was too cold. I love watching your garden unfold each year, Phillip! Debbie

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  3. Your April garden is doing you proud, Phillip! I love that dogwood tree.

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  4. Viburnum davidii... Maybe it's over-used but only because it is so very hardy. Although ordinary in our region I love the cool fruit.
    The shot up the steps is great. It seems to go on forever.
    Chavli

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    Replies
    1. And the fact that it is a nice-looking shrub. I'm always surprised that many dismiss it.

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