welcome to evolving gardens

This is an up to date view of my gardens under construction. You may contact me directly to ask for additional information and subscribe to stay updated. My website and subscription info are located in the right column of the page. Double-clicking on the photos may enlarge them on your screen. Also don't forget to check out older posts (see archive at bottom right). Enjoy.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Water Garden at Stillwater


The following project is in the Clemson, SC area.  The before photos show what the site looked like when the homeowner (my mom) bought the home.  We started to work immediately on a transformation.

BEFORE: The "juniper slope" just outside the breakfast area windows

AFTER: vision + stone, water and much work = transformation

BEFORE (MARCH 2001)



AFTER (SUMMER 2010)

Tuesday, August 03, 2010

Sharon View Garden

This garden had a unique challenge.  On my first visit I thought: "Oh goodness, I have no idea how I'm going to improve the look of this awkward entrance". 
BEFORE
When the homeowners agreed that they were definitely going to remove the Victorian style door, I felt some relief.  Notice in the photo the sidewalk the is jammed-up flush with the long empty wall.

COMPLETED ENTRY
Changing the location of the entry steps solves one problem.  Borrowing the graceful curve of the bay window makes the new stairs fit.

DURING CONSTRUCTION OF STONE STEPS
 The above photo was taken during construction.  Hiring a talented stonemason added great value to this project.
YES...FROM AWKWARD TO AWESOME!

Saturday, January 30, 2010

Madison Park Garden

This garden has been many years 'in the making'.  The photo above shows an awkward path that was crying "help!".  The photos below show my transformation.  I decided to test my curiosity and ability in step building (I think I'll leave this work for the stonemasons).

Here is another place where stone steps worked in this garden.
BEFORE
AFTER

Wednesday, August 03, 2005

August at Davisport

OK, so we are experiencing hot summer highs in the 90's (degrees F) and the humidity makes one feel as if they are in a steam room, but there are many plants in my garden that are very comfortable. Click on the images to enlarge photos.

As you can see, there are advantages & disadvantages to gardening WITHOUT pesticides. Holes in leaves & flower petals go unnoticed when there are more important things to see.

Purple Coneflower 'Magnus' is an improved cultivar of our native prarie coneflower. The adjacent yellow-gold flowers are Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia 'Goldsturm').
This is a close-up of the flower of a Southern Magnolia cultivar called 'Little Gem'. This plant is considered by some a dwarf plant, but I believe the botanists who suggest this is just a slower growing selection of the South's famous native tree. If I had to name a plant that I could not live without, this would get my vote. It serves as a backdrop for my perennials and screens my neighbor's ugly metal garden shed. The dark rich green foliage is lush all year long.