Do you 'design' your own gardens? I have two that involved considerable thought AND planning! So, there.
In fact, I have one ever-growing strip along the perimeter of my property called the Impulse Garden. And, I gotta say... that's my favorite. There is absolutely no rhyme or reason to this garden. It reflects the little pretties I simply could not resist while skulking about my favorite nurseries.
But, it works. In doing exactly what a garden should do. It makes me smile.
So, here's your mission ~ should you decide to accept it ~ what flowers should we plant at the historic San Acacia Schoolhouse? (And, please keep in mind they cannot be toxic to horses.)
Last time I was down in sunny New Mexico, I was invited to plant a garden for my cowboy friend.
He's got the right idea. Because almost all horse owners are women. And, the hundred or so horse loving women who ride with them every week would certainly love some TLC given to the historic San Acacia schoolhouse that he owns.
Now... I could go on forever and a day about how I think it should be a crime that they use that amazing building to store saddles and such. I want to buy it! I want to live there! But, I digress...
Being boys and all... they get a little wiggy with petal pinks, lavender, and OMG! roses. So, I created this loud and proud garden in honor of the cowboys in search of their softer side.
Whaddyathink?
Here's the deal ~ It's still in the planning stages. So, please offer your 2 cents! Our only restriction is that it needs to be Red, Yellow, with some Orange. {Seriously??} And, non-toxic to horses.
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7 comments:
I'm not enough of a gardener to plan anything, but I do like the bright color scheme you have in mind. It'll liven up that old schoolhouse.
I have no clue, but I've got to say your post certainly perked up my snowy day! Those flowers will look absolutely stunning in that setting! (I'm an old New Mexico architecture fan...)
I am utterly miserable at planning too but I'll second that colour scheme in the hot New Mexico summer. it will really stand out.
I wouldn't know what plants are non-toxic to horses, but I'm sure you have that part figured out, Kate. But I do like your choice of hot colors--seems perfect for the Southwest and not the least bit feminine for your cowboy friend. The flowers you've chosen all seem to be low-maintenance, too, which I would think would be important as well.
I'm really going with your "impulse garden" idea. My impulse was to give up lawns and formal planting and go with wild and woodsy. If it's native and not weedy I encourage it...other wise death. It's a lot less work and is quite beautiful. :)
I'm terrible at planning anything, let along a garden. I just buy random plants I like and lump them all together in the same plot. It is how the small garden strip around my front porch came to have an old fashioned rose, 2 hybrid tea roses, tulips, daffodils, clematis, hydrangea, and strawberries.
I keep thinking I need to rip it all out and start from scratch to make a more symetrical, color coordinated, and coherent bed to frame and enhance the entrance of my house. But I'm busy and lazy, and that's a lot of work. *sigh* So I'm stuck with crazy-lady garden for now.
How nice those areas will look with your selection of flowers bursting forth and brightening up the schoolhouse! Perfect colors, too.
But I'm pretty sure those trees that frame the front door are not cottonwoods. I was looking over some of the photos I have from last Spring/Summer when the trees were leafed out, and the leaves are much too narrow to be cottonwoods. Plus those trees are multi-trunked and low growing, unlike cottonwoods which are very tall trees.
I'm not sure what species of tree they are but they have a lovely vase-like shape and their height seems to top off of at 15-20 feet.
~Lisa
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