{"id":3191,"date":"2015-12-27T14:22:56","date_gmt":"2015-12-27T14:22:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.siteandinsight.com\/?p=3191"},"modified":"2015-12-27T14:22:56","modified_gmt":"2015-12-27T14:22:56","slug":"looking-ahead-to-2016","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/glenvillaartgarden.com\/fr\/looking-ahead-to-2016\/","title":{"rendered":"Looking Ahead to 2016"},"content":{"rendered":"

Two weeks ago I looked back at Glen Villa to see what I accomplished in 2015<\/a>. Last week I reviewed the gardens I visited<\/a>\u00a0during the year.\u00a0So as we approach the new year, the topic of today’s\u00a0post is almost inevitable: my garden plans for 2016.<\/p>\n

Announcing goals has positive and negative aspects. Seeing something that is clear in your mind become reality can be extremely satisfying, whether the transformation is in the garden or somewhere else, far removed. The prospect is exciting even when the amount of work involved — planning, executing and modifying as needed — is taken into account.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Will I accomplish my goals? The future is as misty as the view of Black Point, on Lake Massawippi, Quebec, here seen\u00a0partly hidden by tree branches.<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

The negative side to announcing goals comes when your plans don’t turn out as you expect. Or they don’t happen at all. Sometimes time runs out, sometimes money, sometimes the vision itself is unrealistic.<\/p>\n

But announcing goals, whether publicly or in private,\u00a0has a way of focusing attention. Deciding from all the many things I want to do which are really\u00a0important\u00a0makes me set priorities, something I am generally loathe to do.<\/p>\n

So here they are, TEN goals for Glen Villa in 2016.<\/h6>\n

1. The Cascade<\/strong>: I want to modify the plantings around the cascade so they are more in keeping with the strong lines of the new gabion wall. This means simplifying the number and type of plants I use. It also means improving the drainage and the soil in the beds themselves so that these plants have a better chance of thriving.<\/p>\n

We started this work in November. (Is it cheating to set this as a goal when I’ve already started?) We\u00a0removed the gooseneck loosestrife (Lysimachia clethroides)\u00a0<\/em>that was spreading too vigourously, the blue lyme grass (Leymus arenarius<\/em>) that was supposed\u00a0to spread but didn’t, and the ligularia (Ligularia dentata ‘<\/em> Britt Marie Crawford’) that had sulked for several years. We left in place the spirea that tumbles and sprays like the\u00a0water in the cascade itself and\u00a0the staghorn sumac and hemlocks that provide\u00a0a backdrop for the area. We improved the drainage and\u00a0repositioned the rocks before adding compost and good topsoil.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"The

The cascade looks bare with only the new topsoil. But thank goodness the gooseneck loosestrife is gone!<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

What to plant in the spring\u00a0in that big empty\u00a0section is the next questions. I tried Physocarpus ‘Summer Wine’ this year and it seemed to like the location, and — surprisingly — it wasn’t bothered by the deer. I liked seeing Persicaria micrcephala ‘Purple Fantasy’ in front of ‘Summer Wine,’, so I’ll probably add more of both. Still, I haven’t made up my mind, so if you have suggestions, let me know.<\/p>\n

2. The Egg<\/strong>: This area was among\u00a0the first I designed at Glen Villa. Some fifteen or more years later, it is in desperate need of a total rethink. I intended to do this in 2014 and in 2015. I’m determined to get to it this\u00a0time around.<\/p>\n

My problem is deciding what to do. Initially The Egg was a tribute to my origins in Virginia and I want to retain that connection. At the same time, I want to transform a generalized reference into a memorial\u00a0for my mother who was a Virginian through and through, proud of her family and proud of the communities she was a part of.<\/p>\n

I started work on this area in early December during the unusual spell of warm weather that extended the gardening season for well over a month. (Another instance of cheating? Or can I just\u00a0say I\u00a0jumped the gun?) I haven’t done much yet, only\u00a0cleaned up the area and levelled the previously sloped ground.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"This

This photo suggests the oval shape of The Egg. I planted it with tiarella cordifolia that resembled beaten egg whites in the spring when it bloomed. Around the oval were wooden steps meant to suggest the egg shell. The woven wooden branches\u00a0you see in the photo above were the basket that held the egg. Some of the boxwood that circled the Egg is visible at the far right of\u00a0this photo. I’ll keep\u00a0it, perhaps leaving it where it is, perhaps using\u00a0it\u00a0in some other way.<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

I have a germ of an idea for the memorial that involves a bench and a tree and I hope the idea will become clearer as I ponder and plan. Boxwood, in my mind the quintessential Virginia plant, will definitely remain\u00a0part of the memorial, as it was of The Egg.<\/p>\n

3. The Gravel Garden:<\/strong> This was a new project in 2015. In 2016 I will evaluate the plants I chose, replacing whatever doesn’t make it through\u00a0the winter. I will add some brown-toned gravel to the grey gravel that is there now to make the area blend more compatibly with the stone walls of the house. I want to define the edge more precisely and I may enlarge the space. Zen-like rocks may find a place here, too.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"The

The sedum Dazzleberry is colourful. I’m debating whether it is too colourful\u00a0for this area. What do you think?<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

4. New Pots for the Deck<\/strong>: \u00a0In 2015 I simplified the plants on the dining room deck, moving\u00a0from an exuberant mix of colours\u00a0to a calm row\u00a0of boxwood. I want to extend this simplification to the deck on the other side of the house, replacing the hodgepodge of pots and plants there now with a cleaner, more modern approach. I envision metal pots,\u00a0irregularly shaped and angular, of varying heights and widths.<\/p>\n

The colour of the pots remains\u00a0a question. Currently I’m vacillating between grey\/black, shiny green or some other colour\u00a0entirely. Turquoise and mustard to tone in with the Chinese pot and the lions on the adjacent log terrace are possibilities, but I fear\u00a0those colours would limit\u00a0the plant choices. On the other hand, if I could find the perfect plants, the colour combination could be amazing.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"The

The arrangement is cheery and colourful but what I’m looking for now is something sleeker and more contemporary. I do like the spiky grass and will probably use it again.<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

5. A Fence for The China Terrace<\/strong>: For several years now, the deer have wrecked havoc on the plants I’ve used at the entry to The China Terrace. I need a fence. Over the winter months I will design something that fits with the idea of a Victorian era hotel, that also protects the plants and allows them to grow. A combination of wood and copper would be ideal since I’ve used those materials elsewhere on The China Terrace, on the window frames and staircase.<\/p>\n

Since the fence will cross\u00a0the path that leads into the China Terrace, I need a gate. I’d be delighted to\u00a0find an interesting one in some junk shop somewhere but more than likely I will have to design one\u00a0and have it made. Luckily, this is a job that my go-to guys, Jacques and Ken, can do.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"The

The white banister in the border used to be part of the imaginary staircase that led to the even more imaginary second floor of the hotel, Glen Villa Inn. The path leading into the China Terrace is on the far left of this photo.<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

6. The Lower Garden<\/strong>: The planting in the beds along the lake needs to be freshened up. Hydrangeas do well here and I want\u00a0to replace the old ones with newer varieties that will provide earlier and longer bloom. I want to keep the\u00a0Astilbe ‘Fanal’ and the Aralia ‘Sun King’ I planted last summer and will\u00a0group\u00a0them in and around the hydrangeas.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"The

The border looked ok even if a bit straight line-ish when the Astilbe ‘Fanal’ was in bloom. At other times in the summer it looked boring. The border in the background also will get a make-over. Here, as elsewhere in the garden, the plants need to be\u00a0deer-resistant.<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

7. The Upper Field:<\/strong> The Upper Field is gorgeous in early summer when buttercups\u00a0turn the field to gold. Later in the season part\u00a0of the field\u00a0turns purple\/blue, thanks to the Canadian thistle that seeded itself and continues to spread.\u00a0I want to encourage fewer\u00a0thistles and more colour, in mid-summer and later. Since part of the field is\u00a0quite wet, Joe Pye weed (Eutrochium purpureum<\/em>) should do well. We have lots of it elsewhere on the property so in the spring I’ll transplant as much as I can\u00a0and let it spread on its own. I’d like to add\u00a0other umbellifers — possibly\u00a0wild carrot or cow parsley or yarrow — and\u00a0something spiky\u00a0that will seed around as it likes.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"These

These wildflowers occurred naturally and I’m leaving them to\u00a0spread wherever they want. I’d like to enhance this free-flowing spirit by adding other natives or near-natives. Suggestions, anyone?<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

8. Art projects:<\/strong> I am working on two art projects. One should\u00a0be finished in January — I was hoping to have it ready for Christmas but that just didn’t happening — and its colour may affect my choice of colour for the pots on the deck. The second project, inspired by some ruins in the woods, will develop gradually over several years, although the outlines of the project are already in place.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"The

The mossy wall just barely visible is the starting point for a new art installation that I’m calling Orin’s Sugarbush. A sugarbush is the area where sap is gathered for\u00a0maple syrup.\u00a0Orin was\u00a0a farmer who worked on the property many years ago and this is where he made the syrup.<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

9. The Big Lawn:<\/strong> Transforming the Big Lawn into the Big Meadow will take several\u00a0years. 2016 will be a year of\u00a0experimentation. I intend to let the grass grow, to see what appears. Perhaps I’ll edit out some\u00a0of the more unattractive elements and replace them with native grasses or wildflowers, but I hope editing won’t be necessary since once you start, it’s hard to stop. Going\u00a0through\u00a0the transition phase without changing my mind will be difficult. It’s like letting your hair grow out after you stop colouring it — there’s a time when the roots look\u00a0so bad, you almost give in and colour it again. Changing this area without ploughing and replanting is a major challenge that will require determination and perseverance.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"watermark?\"

The mown strip shows where one path through the Big Meadow will go. There will be other paths, as well as a mown circle under the linden tree.<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

10. Garden Visits:<\/strong> No year would be complete without visiting other gardens, wherever they may be. I want to return to the Reford Gardens in M\u00e9tis, Qu\u00e9bec for my biennial\u00a0injection\u00a0of excitement — the result of seeing the work of talented designers from around the world exploring\u00a0exciting ideas in imaginative ways. I’ll be hosting\u00a0two garden tours in 2016. In May our small group will visit gardens in the home counties around London; in September I’ll be travelling to Scotland and the north of England, repeating this year’s successful tour with a new group of men and women.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Leaning

Leaning back on the grass atop one of the mounds in The Garden of Cosmic Speculation was an experience to remember. Almost cosmic, I could say.<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

Have you set goals for 2016 or do you decide what you are going to do as the year goes on? If you set goals or make lists — which for me amounts to almost the same thing — are you willing to share them?<\/p>\n

Let me share a\u00a0final goal, \u00a0that goes out to all of you. May 2016 be\u00a0a happy and healthy year, full of gardening pleasures!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Two weeks ago I looked back at Glen Villa to see what I accomplished in 2015. Last week I reviewed the gardens I visited\u00a0during the year.\u00a0So as we approach the new year, the topic of today’s\u00a0post is almost inevitable: my garden plans for 2016. Announcing goals has positive and negative aspects. Seeing something that is…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":12594,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[24,38],"tags":[517],"class_list":["post-3191","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-design","category-glen-villa","tag-garden-goals","category-24","category-38","description-off"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/glenvillaartgarden.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3191","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/glenvillaartgarden.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/glenvillaartgarden.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/glenvillaartgarden.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/glenvillaartgarden.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3191"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/glenvillaartgarden.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3191\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/glenvillaartgarden.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12594"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/glenvillaartgarden.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3191"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/glenvillaartgarden.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3191"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/glenvillaartgarden.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3191"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}