Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
General Subjects => Alpines => Topic started by: ranunculus on August 25, 2010, 03:51:36 PM
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ANNE & JOE SPIEGEL'S BEAUTIFUL GARDEN
Edit by Maggi as intro to new thread:
This thread has been created from the pages on Crevce gardening...http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=4656.0.. (http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=4656.0..) where other pictures from Anne's garden can also be seen.
As promised ... a new thread of Anne's magnificent garden in New York State. Probably the finest private alpine garden that it has been my privilege to photograph. Hundreds more shots available, but I hope you can appreciate the quality and extent of this 'epic' undertaking - though few of us can imagine the effort and time invested by Anne (and willing workhorse Joe) in this truly splendid (and eternally ongoing) achievement.
ANNE & JOE SPIEGEL'S MAGNFICENT NEW YORK STATE GARDEN
A report and further images can be enjoyed at this link.
https://nargs.org/newsletter-berkshire-chapter-august-1 (https://nargs.org/newsletter-berkshire-chapter-august-1)
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I have'nt seen it in the flesh like Cliff has, but this really looks a grand achievement Anne ! :o :o :o
I'm very much looking forward to seeing it planted up ! 8)
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Wow!!!!!!!!
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Thanks Cliff, Luc and David. It was disappointing not to be able to plant as I went along but since I can't water, most things would have died. Waiting should be easy for gardeners (we plant bulbs, right?), but it's frustrating in this case. Now tackling the crevices on the cliff and starting to work on a ledge/crevice garden at the top. That one will take quite a bit of time, it's a much bigger area.
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The second crevice garden is finally finished. The last part is only partially planted because this has really been the summer from hell. Starting in the spring when we had record breaking days of heat, there has been nothing but that dreaded combination of heat (90s F), drought (2 months of no rain at all), and high humidity. Many of the western american plants simply go dormant but revive when some rain comes, the high desert plants thrive although some really dislike the humidity, and many other alpines simply go permanently dormant. Valeriana supina, thriving in the tufa garden at least 6 years, appears to be gone. It's one of my favorites. I'll do some planting in the new crevice garden in the fall and finish up in the spring.
Jiri's new crevice garden looks wonderful. The plants are really taking hold. More pictures, please, Jiri.
Anne, the garden look fantastic. Your signature block says "Steep, rocky and cold in the Hudson River Valley in New York State". Maybe it should say "Steep, rocky and hotter than Hades... and DRY" for this past summer season. I am assuming that you too got yesterday's and this morning's quenching downpours at long last. I too stopped planting anything, it was instant death sentence given the depth of the drought this summer, but hopefully the 4 days of cool overcast weather, the trifling amount of rain in days 1-3 but good amount of rain in day 4 will signal a shift in weather patterns, and we'll start getting rain on some sort of semi-regular basis, instead of no rain in 2 months.
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The second crevice garden is finally finished. The last part is only partially planted because this has really been the summer from hell. Starting in the spring when we had record breaking days of heat, there has been nothing but that dreaded combination of heat (90s F), drought (2 months of no rain at all), and high humidity. Many of the western american plants simply go dormant but revive when some rain comes, the high desert plants thrive although some really dislike the humidity, and many other alpines simply go permanently dormant. Valeriana supina, thriving in the tufa garden at least 6 years, appears to be gone. It's one of my favorites. I'll do some planting in the new crevice garden in the fall and finish up in the spring.
Jiri's new crevice garden looks wonderful. The plants are really taking hold. More pictures, please, Jiri.
Anne, the garden look fantastic. Your signature block says "Steep, rocky and cold in the Hudson River Valley in New York State". Maybe it should say "Steep, rocky and hotter than Hades... and DRY" for this past summer season. I am assuming that you too got yesterday's and this morning's quenching downpours at long last. I too stopped planting anything, it was instant death sentence given the depth of the drought this summer, but hopefully the 4 days of cool overcast weather, the trifling amount of rain in days 1-3 but good amount of rain in day 4 will signal a shift in weather patterns, and we'll start getting rain on some sort of semi-regular basis, instead of no rain in 2 months.
I guess David N must get quite frustrated reading this... ::) ;D
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.... What is this word "dry" ;D
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David,
Dry = not wet :o :o 8)
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David,
Dry = not wet :o :o 8)
As in humour! :D
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;D ;D ;D
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Dry=not wet, but that doesn't refer to the air. Over two months with no rain and high heat but also 97% humidity means that while everything around you is crisping and shriveling in the drought, you feel like you're living near the equator in a jungle. Really dreadful. We finally had some rain last weekend and some plants are already reacting, such as heterotheca jonesii, usually an all-season bloomer. It had simply stopped flowering and is now showing some blooms and buds. The one plant that has behaved normally (i.e. non-stop bloom) is Zinnia grandiflora. It's grown here in the lime bed and has spread nicely. The lime bed is steeply sloped and the zinnia has clustered at the bottom where it probably receives extra moisture.
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David,
Dry = not wet :o :o 8)
Ah! I understand now.
Ik begrijp nu.
Je comprends maintenant.
Jetzt verstehe ich.
;D
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Very impressive David !
droog = niet nat ! ;) ;D ;D
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David,
Dry = not wet :o :o 8)
Also means non alcoholic. Not a word you need to know David, in either sense. ;D
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David,
Dry = not wet :o :o 8)
Ah! I understand now.
Ik begrijp nu.
Je comprends maintenant.
Jetzt verstehe ich.
;D
Droge humor = English humour ;D ;D :-X
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Dry=not wet, but that doesn't refer to the air. Over two months with no rain and high heat but also 97% humidity means that while everything around you is crisping and shriveling in the drought, you feel like you're living near the equator in a jungle. Really dreadful. We finally had some rain last weekend and some plants are already reacting, such as heterotheca jonesii, usually an all-season bloomer. It had simply stopped flowering and is now showing some blooms and buds. The one plant that has behaved normally (i.e. non-stop bloom) is Zinnia grandiflora. It's grown here in the lime bed and has spread nicely. The lime bed is steeply sloped and the zinnia has clustered at the bottom where it probably receives extra moisture.
Zinnia grandiflora is really an excellent groundcover isn't it, a cheerful low-growing fine-textured plant and most useful for the long and late season of bloom. Maybe my start into gardening when I was 10, growing Zinnias for my grandma, was an omen of plant interests of the rock-gardening sort to come. I tried this species only once before, and didn't get it established. But seeing your photos, I will definitely try again. Thanks for showing this fine yet underused American native plant.
http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=ZIGR
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=ZIGR
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Mark, I grew this from seed and after being planted in the lime bed they sat for a couple of years before they decided to start growing. Since then I just let them propagate themselves. They start into active growth a bit late so are never trimmed until I see that they are really growing. They aren't trimmed back in the fall either.
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Significant and magnificent progress since we were there in May, Anne. It is extremely difficult (from any photograph) to judge the scale and extent of this mammoth undertaking - and doubly difficult when one realises that this construction summits a cliff and boulder garden of epic proportions. I will post a number of photographs that try to convey the beauty and majesty of this outstanding garden.
As promised ... some images of Anne's magnificent garden in New York State. Probably the finest private alpine garden that it has been my privilege to photograph. Hundreds more shots available, but I hope you can appreciate the quality and extent of this 'epic' undertaking - though few of us can imagine the effort and time invested by Anne (and willing workhorse Joe) in this truly splendid (and eternally ongoing) achievement.
ANNE & JOE SPIEGEL'S MAGNFICENT NEW YORK STATE GARDEN
A report and further images can be enjoyed at this link.
http://www.bnargs.org/NewsPDFs/2010August.pdf
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Absolutely stunning !!
I love the way the buildings having been built with stones as well as the colouring of the roof tiles seem blend into the whole vista .......
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Wow!! Every rock gardener's dream should be to have Cliff Booker come and photograph the garden. Beautiful shots, Cliff. Thank you so much.
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Many thanks Anne ... it is SO easy (and SO pleasurable) to photograph a garden as beautiful as yours. You have 640 other images winging their way to you as we speak ... enjoy!
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Congratulations all round - a fabulous rock garden which Cliff has captured so well in these photographs. Epic proportions, intriguing stairways and everything so perfectly blended into the landscape. I love the way troughs are integrated and the mats of phlox billow like a sea over the rocks.....can't wait to see more of your inspirational ideas Anne :D
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Many thanks Robin - it is such a pleasure to share the delights of this beautiful garden.
ANNE & JOE SPIEGEL'S WONDERFUL CLIFF, BOULDER AND CREVICE GARDEN IN NEW YORK STATE
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I'm really short of words !
What an amazing achievement ! :o :o
Many congrats to the gardeners for their hard work and the stunning result !
And you're right Anne, you couldn't have anyone better to picture your garden than Cliff ! Even with no buttercups there to be photographed ! ::) 8)
The Phloxes are out of this world !
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Well, my flabber has never been so gasted! Amazingly beautiful, a wonderful achievement Anne, and thanks to Cliff for the excellent interpretation ...more please?
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Anne, great seeing Cliff's photos to see your garden in all its glory. Which phloxes am I seeing that are creating those swathes of pink and white, are they subulata varieties? I remember you're telling me some of the bright pink ones were Phlox borealis, one of my favs.
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I can only say WOW again.
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The next sequence from Anne's lovely garden ... and we haven't even looked at any plants yet!
Thanks for your very kind comments ... I know that Anne and Joe will really appreciate your superb feedback.
ANNE SPIEGEL'S BEAUTIFUL GARDEN
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Amazing....stunning....gobsmacking....I'm speechless...what a wonderful garden :) :) :) :) :)
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The first of the plants from Anne's gorgeous garden ...
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I'm really short of words !
What an amazing achievement ! :o :o
Many congrats to the gardeners for their hard work and the stunning result !
And you're right Anne, you couldn't have anyone better to picture your garden than Cliff ! Even with no buttercups there to be photographed ! ::) 8)
The Phloxes are out of this world !
Luc, there actually are ranunculi but they weren't in bloom when Cliff was there. (Ranunculus pyrenaeus, Ranunculus ficaria - many named forms - don't gasp in horror - they are well-behaved in a very dry garden, R. gramineus). The only reason R.pyrenaeus does well is because it will go dormant. during drought and then pop up again in the spring as if nopthing had happened. It is slowly increasing.
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Anne, great seeing Cliff's photos to see your garden in all its glory. Which phloxes am I seeing that are creating those swathes of pink and white, are they subulata varieties? I remember you're telling me some of the bright pink ones were Phlox borealis, one of my favs.
Phlox borealis, P.multiflora, P.schneewitchen, P. bifida, P. Herbert, P. Betty, (the last two are Dick Redfield's crosses) and many P.subulata hybrids such as "brittonii Rosea", "Ellie B.", "Crackerjack" etc. There have been many seedlings and they're allowed to stay if I like the colors. So it's become like a tapestry of many colors. Most of the named varieties came as P. douglasii, but now I'm seeing them called P.subulata, so your guess is as good as mine. These don't seem to go crazy like the P.subulata types I've seen - they're far more restrained and won't cover literally yards. You're actually seeing many, many phloxes that have grown together.
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I, too, am in awe of the incredible beauty of your garden, and property in general! It's absolutely magnificent, Anne!
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How utterly gorgeous! Much hard work to start with but what ongoing pleasure and reward to follow. And plants just LOVE all those rocks and crevices. If anything ever needed to be said in defence of rock gardening or crevice gardening, this wonderful place says it ALL. MAny thanks Anne and Joe, and to Cliif for the photographs.
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What a wonderful garden! Using natural rock in this way... cannot find words for it. Really speechless.
Cliff I really don't mind if you show the hundreds more shots.
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These photos are a joy! What a credit to Anne and Joe's hard work, Cliff.
I have to say, all that rock, set off with the house being so beautifully built of stone too, looking for all the world like a Scottish granite or rubble-built home.... just makes it seem especially appealing! 8)
When time allows I would like to pull Cliff's record of "Anne's Garden" out into a thread of its own..... with references back to the Crevice Garden thread of course.... 8)
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I think everyone else has said it all.
Looking forward to more photos.
Graham
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Thanks once again folks ...
Some more from this very special garden ...
ANNE & JOE SPIEGEL'S BEAUTIFUL GARDEN
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Fantastic flowerings in this magnificent rock garden setting...photo D is just perfect in the flow of plant with rock, like froth in a cove. It must be a wonderful garden to view from all those different angles and heights, totally 3D even from the kitchen window :D
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Thanks again Robin et al ... last batch for today ...
MORE FROM ANNE SPIEGEL'S GLORIOUS GARDEN
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Thanks again Robin et al ... last batch for today ...
MORE FROM ANNE SPIEGEL'S GLORIOUS GARDEN
Yowsa, I poked my eye on the first image!
Anne, is the Iris.jpg photo showing Iris cristata 'Dick Redfield'?
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really incredible anne! such a wonderful site-house and land are lovely--oh for such a wealth of rock and the energy to do so much with it! thanks cliff for adding the garden shots to anne's narrative of the building work, great to see mature sections..
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Thanks again Robin et al ... last batch for today ...
MORE FROM ANNE SPIEGEL'S GLORIOUS GARDEN
Yowsa, I poked my eye on the first image!
Anne, is the Iris.jpg photo showing Iris cristata 'Dick Redfield'?
I have that Iris somewhere - not sure if this is it but looks so from the picture. I know the thorns of the centaurea look lethal but don't you think they're incredilby decorative as well?
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ANNE & JOE SPIEGEL'S MAGNFICENT NEW YORK STATE GARDEN
A report and further images can be enjoyed at this link.
https://nargs.org/newsletter-berkshire-chapter-august-1 (pages 6-8)
Many thanks to Peter George, the Editor of the superb Newsletter of the Berkshire Chapter of the North American Rock Garden Society for permission to post this link on these pages.
Edit by Maggi when fixing broken link : and there is also an article from forumist Trond Hoy "Norwegian Wood" !
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May I also add my sincere thanks to Peter for this kind permission ?
You will see that the good folks of the NARGS Berkshire chapter are fortunate indeed to have a newsletter of real quality to enjoy. 8)
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Thanks again Robin et al ... last batch for today ...
MORE FROM ANNE SPIEGEL'S GLORIOUS GARDEN
Yowsa, I poked my eye on the first image!
Anne, is the Iris.jpg photo showing Iris cristata 'Dick Redfield'?
I have that Iris somewhere - not sure if this is it but looks so from the picture. I know the thorns of the centaurea look lethal but don't you think they're incredilby decorative as well?
I can admire the beauty of spiny plants from afar; one of my gardening guidelines is not to plant spiny plants, I hate getting jabbed. With my preoccupation with Epimedium there are some spiny-edge ones, the spines soft in fresh growth but becoming quite stiff and pokey when the leaves mature, so I do make some borderline exceptions.
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I'll be one of the ones going to Wisley next year prior to the Nottingham Conference and I'm looking forward to seeing a new crevice garden there.
Not too much happening in my crevice gardens at the moment but one astragalus is starting to rebloom, and a late blooming eriogonum has just started. Over three months with only one significant rain, sun, and high heat has inspired the westerners. Apart from the humidity they might think they were home.
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Not too much happening in my crevice gardens at the moment but one astragalus is starting to rebloom, and a late blooming eriogonum has just started. Over three months with only one significant rain, sun, and high heat has inspired the westerners. Apart from the humidity they might think they were home.
Nice ones Anne; I grew Eriogonum wrightii ssp. subscaposum years ago, and for me it grew almost like a small bonsai (the same way that some forms of E. thymoides can grow), a tiny upright twiggy bush, and cute but not overwhelmingly beautiful small light pink flowers that are spaced out in small sprays rather than the familiar pom-poms. Useful in a trough, particularly for the late flowering. Your Astragalus utahensis looking good there too, probably loved the heat and sun this summer!
Cool (cold) and overcast here, but still no dang rain!
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Back from Nottingham and finally over jet lag. Spring is starting here so I'm having two springs this year - how lucky is that?!! It was a wonderful trip and Conference. I took many, many pictures of the crevice gardens at Wisley and Pershore. The first things to bloom in the crevice gardens are starting now. The last picture is in the old tufa crevice garden, the first crevice garden I built.
Phlox pungens
Petrocallis pyrenaica.
Eritrichium howardii
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Magnificent, Anne ... and beautifully photographed!
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Thanks, Cliff. The Petrocallis pyrenaica is growing in a natural crevice little wider than the width of a knife blade. It took forever to prepare the spot and then to plant it, but the plant has survived extreme drought, sun, wind and deer. Crevice planting seems to offer excellent protection. No one would ever build such a narrow crevice but it has really worked in this case. It was wonderful meeting so many Forumists for the first time on the pre-Tour and in Nottingham. The Forum makes the rock gardening world so accessible. I'm so sorry that the post-tour to Scottish gardens was cancelled, especially after hearing Ian Young's talk. I would have dearly loved to see the Scottish gardens.
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Your little trio of plants are truly stunning Anne. Of course I drool over the Eritrichium yet it is the Phlox that really makes my heart race. :D I've looked at Petrocallis pyrenaica in seedlists and thought probably not, but now.... bring it on please. ;D
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Lesley, the Petrocallis pyrenaica has never lasted long in a trough here but seems to be quite long-lived since being put into a tight crevice.
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You are lucky to have two Springs Anne - it's wonderful to see your tufa and crevice plantings looking so pretty - it's hard to chose a favourite but the Phlox pungens is such a lovely shape and colour nestled in its home.
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And what's really great about this western dryland phlox is that after blooming and taking a rest, it will repeat the whole thing. Depending on the time of first killing frost itmight bloom as much as four times. The repeat blossoming is not usually as heavy as the first one, but is quite nice. Phlox kelseyi will also do this.
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For those wanting to know more about Anne Spiegel and her appearance at the SRGC Discussion Weekend - have a read through this thread to see what Cliff Booker thinks about her garden!