Pages

Saturday, October 27, 2012

Garden visitors



Surprised, I was, a few weeks back to get an email from Noel Kingsbury saying he would be in the Philadelphia area for several days, and would like to drop by.


When we moved to Federal Twist in 2005 and I recognized I'd be gardening in a very difficult place, my hope for the future came from two books by Noel Kingsbury--The New Perennial Garden and Planting Design: Gardens in Time and Space (written with Piet Oudolf). In the first, I learned about naturalistic gardening, in particular about planting into rough grass. In the second, about the three kinds of plants--competitors, stress tolerators, and pioneers or ruderals (more accurately, three primary growth characteristics shared, to various degrees, by different plants) and about prairies--the enormous numbers of plants in a square yard of natural prairie, for example, compared to the much smaller number of plants in a square yard of cultivated garden. My selection of plants was, of course, also affected by his popularization of the Oudolf plant selections.

Noel Kingsbury and me (the one in the cap with his mouth strangely open) accompanied by towers of dried Inula racemosa "Sonnenspeer."

Kingsbury is a scientist, and an extraordinary writer, so rather than oversimplify, I refer you to his books for more details. Needless to say, they were of enourmous value to me making a garden in the woods of western New Jersey.


So I was certainly gratified to have Noel Kingsbury visit last weekend. We had a walk around the garden, then lunch, then a second garden walk. In between, Noel got out his computer and showed me images of the amazing plant communities in Kyrgyzstan, where he visited this past summer.

Checking out the asters.

Just before Noel's visit to Federal Twist, I attended the 29th annual Perennial Plant Conference at Swarthmore, where he was the first presenter of the day. I had read and referenced his books so many times I had little to learn, but I hope others "got" his message--that we need to pay attention to how plants grow in nature to have more successful gardens, that we, in effect, can create artificial ecosystems that make our gardens more self-sufficient and, though not labor-free, certainly lower maintenance. (By the way, the Swarthmore conference is a tremendous conference, and the Swarthmore campus, also known as the Scott Arboretum, is extraordinarily beautiful. I give it the highest recommendation.)

Amphitheater at Swarthmore

I also met a neighbor from nearby Frenchtown at the conference. Well, I didn't know we were neighbors, until I heard a woman behind me mention Frenchtown, and on asking discovered she was Helen Grundman, also a garden designer. Helen and her husband Bill, a forester and organic plant care expert, dropped by for a garden tour mid-afternoon.

The conference was full of surprises. During a break, while I was looking at a dried plant arrangement on the stage, a guy approached me saying, "James?" It was Michael Gordon, a cyber friend who I've been in touch with for several years via the blogosphere but had never met. Michael, from Peterborough, New Hampshire, has a blog called The Gardener's Eye. An optometrist by profession, Michael is also an accomplished garden designer; he designed all the public gardens in Peterborough, as well as his own very polished garden. Michael was traveling with his friend and well known garden writer Tovah Martin, and with garden designer Maude Odgers, also from Peterborough. So several hours after Noel left, Michael, Tovah, and Maude arrived to see the garden in a beautiful just-before-twilight light. It was almost dark when we got back into the house and had coffee, drinks, and cookies, and a warm, pleasant conversation before they left for the long drive back to Connecticut and New Hampshire.

So my unusual day of garden visiting leads me to two conclusions:  (1) I think I should attend more good garden conferences (and meet more people of a like disposition) and (2) I should have more garden visitors, preferably from midsummer to fall, just before sunset.

Is the Garden Conservancy listening?

*Photos of Kingsbury and me were taken by Phillip Saperia. Unfortunately we forgot to take pictures of our other delightful visitors.

45 comments:

  1. So lovely, and I'm not surprised that Noel wanted to see your garden - I've also wanted to see it for what feels like "for years". And if you allow, I'll be there when I get to the North American east coast next time. There is so much I would like to learn. I've always thought that when I get back to my garden in Sweden (hopefully, one day...), there are so much inspiration that I've got from your gardens that I would like to use in mine.

    Many tropical greetings, Liisa.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lisa, I guess you live about 10,000 miles away now, so far away it's hard to imagine. I'd certainly love for you to come visit. I would even hope to get to Sweden to see your garden one day. Now that you're in Singapore, you seem to be really getting around. I'm enjoying your reports.

      Delete
  2. How wonderful for your guru to visit. The gardening conferences sound excellent, there isnt anything like that in the Uk as far as I am aware, wish there was. Connecting with people via the internet is great but then to meet up in real life is so much better.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Interesting that you say that. Noel said the same, that there are no conferences like this in the UK. They are quite common in the US, so I think perhaps our garden culture isn't as deprived, compared to yours, as I had thought.

      Delete
  3. Somewhere in our future, is a garden on False Bay - sandy soil, sea breezes, town-sized. There I aspire to follow your Federal Twist artificial ecosystem principles, in a Brooklyn-sized garden.

    Would love to hear something of what Noel said about your garden? Might he blog about it??
    Diana

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Diana, I'm not sure what Noel thought. I didn't ask. In an email after the visit he did indicate he liked it, but I didn't push for specific reactions. Most of his questions were factual or technical. I can only say that he took two quite deliberate walks around the garden, one on arrival, and one before departure, which I interpreted as interest. He did express pleasure in seeing how his ideas were implemented in a continental climate, and he seemed particularly interested in a garden in the midst of woodland, which apparently is unusual in England. Perhaps I should have used Anne Wareham's approach and asked for one thing he would change in the garden. To bad I didn't.

      Delete
    2. Dear James, Google is your friend ...
      http://noels-garden.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-view-at-federal-twist.html

      am now going to read, what Noel said!

      Delete
  4. That's quite a day. A superb day in fact.

    You really should open to visitors, mutually rewarding.

    Surely your place would be a prime candidate for Garden Conservancy, particularly with the Open Days garden visiting program.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Working on it, Rob. Both Michael's and Maude's gardens are on the Garden Conservancy open days. Not sure about Tovah's garden. I can see that having visitors all day could be quite wearing. But it would also make me attend to some garden improvements, mostly infrastructure, I've not gotten to, what with dividing my time between the city and the country. But I should be grateful for my blessings. Actually, more that infrastructure improvements. I want to add loads of Aster tartaricus and monkshood for very late color. The blues are magnificent with the fall foliage colors.

      Delete
  5. I'm with Diana! I would like to hear some of your visitors' comments on your garden, its design and plant selection.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rachelle, see my comment to Diana (see Elephant's Eye comment above). I think my plant selection has evolved quite a distance from an Oudolf type of plant selection, and it was never intended to emulate an Oudolf design approach. That's because my local conditions require quite a bit of experimentation to see what really thrives at Federal Twist, what plants can compete effectively, and what kind of communities develop over time. Noel is very much interested in creating an artificial ecology in a garden as perfectly suited to local conditions as possible. When I call my garden a wet prairie, I'm referring to developing just such a artificial ecology. The result is somewhat unpredictable, depending on climate, soil, light, and other variables.

      Delete
  6. What a conference plus the chance meetings of those you mention - even though I'm not really into perennials, but like-minds on broader hort topics. I seem to remember seeing Christy Ten Eyck on that conference roster, or maybe another nearby - just can't fit much in. Your conclusions make sense. Sunset garden tours...yes, and sunrise ones!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. David, yes, Christine Ten Eyck did present at the conference. I was rather blown away by her work. Extraordinary! And she was a wonderful presenter. I absolutely loved her and her work.

      Delete
    2. I thought she was a engaging speaker. I was especially inspired by what she has done in public spaces. Dave, her work reminded me of some of the gardens you have profiled--definitely in the spirit of the place.

      Delete
  7. Oooh, I am immensely jealous. Of course, your garden is absolutely worth the attention. I plan to visit it myself one day if you'll have me. I've long thought that you and your garden were some of the world's best kept secrets. You ought to be at the conferences or writing or hobnobbing with the world's finest garden minds because you are a worthy peer.

    Congrats on a big and well-deserved day!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Come on up, Thomas. You're welcome anytime (but try not to visit right after this hurricane passes through). Certainly one of the advantages of an almost all perennial garden is that it all comes back next year, even after being flattened by a "Frankenstorm." I read that Inula racemosa 'Sonnerspeer' (one of my most rapidly expanding plant populations is that Inula) was one of Wolfgang Oehme's favorite plants. Did you work at all with him while you were at OVS? Thanks for the compliments; I'd certainly like to meet you, maybe walk the Highline with you next spring.

      Delete
    2. Thank you for the invitation--I'll take you up on it one day.

      Yes, I got an opportunity to work with Wolfgang quite a bit. He was a plantsman's plantsman. I would frequently try to pull from him nuggets of design philosophy--I was desperate for mentorship. But he always had trouble verbalizing what he did so well. The knowledge was in his hands as he laid out a planting (which was one of the most remarkable sites I've ever seen: a 70 year old man carrying more plants than any crewman, laying them out faster than I knew possible). Any time I showed him a planting design I did, his comment was almost always the same: bigger, simpler, bolder. Which is probably still advice I need to keep.

      The firm as a whole did a good job of imbibing Wolfgang's methods, but you could always tell which gardens Wolfgang did himself. There was a life, vitality, and quality to them that the others lacked. To be honest, my experience of your garden (through photos of course) comes pretty close to that feeling.

      I still love the cerebral quality of formal perennial borders and the great tradition of classical garden design. I feel I have so much to learn from that tradition. But I'm more drawn to plantings and places that have a spirit, the je ne sais quoi of nature and personal expression. That to me is far more interesting than "pretty."

      Delete
    3. Thomas,
      How fortunate that you had that opportunity to work with him. I like that advice--bigger, simpler, bolder. I agree too when you say you're more drawn to places with a spirit, je ne sais quoi of nature and personal expression. Have you seen the new book by Rory Stuart named "What are gardens for?" I have the feeling you will resonate to it.

      Delete
  8. James,
    Great to finally see your garden in person. I have been following your blog long enough to know the garden pretty well. It was a delight to actually walk in it. I was worried we were going to arrive too late but the light was perfect. Maude, Tovah and I loved the garden. Thanks for being the consummate host. Regarding the Garden Conservancy, "build it and they will come!"

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Michael, I am so very glad you saw my name tag and introduced yourself. It was great to meet you and Maude and Tovah. Phil and I thoroughly enjoyed your visit. I only wish it could have been longer. I know you've made visits to NYC and other places in the vicinity; I do hope you'll let me know when you're going to be in the neighborhood so we can visit again.

      Delete
  9. Your garden photos always makes me want to "be there" and here you are inviting us! We just returned from Longwood Gardens and we guess that you are not far from there? We were planning to make another visit to the gardens in that part of the world in May 2013. We will check in and see what you are up to then? If you are ever in Maryland and the DC area, give us a hoot, tweet, or i-something and come visit us! Best to you,

    ReplyDelete
  10. Thank you, Shenandoah. I just checked and we are 1 hour 42 minutes from Longwood. May is extremely early for my garden. Because I burn it and cut down what remains in March, you'll only see some plants beginning to emerge, maybe some of the native irises I've planted to get some early interest. But you are certainly welcome. My garden really needs to be seen over a season because the changes are so dramatic, from virtually nothing to giant plants 7 or 8 feet tall, some grasses even taller, so come in May, but come back later. I do want to get to the DC area to see many gardens. We had to cancel a trip planned for this fall, so maybe next spring.

    ReplyDelete
  11. How fabulous...I'd have been a nervous fool if Noel Kingsbury visited me..hahahaha! I echo everyone above in saying I'd feel honored to get to see your garden in person :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Like I said, Scott, welcome any time you come east, though I imagine you'll want to spend your time in NYC, not western NJ.

      Delete
  12. Quite the day, and quite the visitors. I guess I was lucky to visit before you became famous.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ha, ha, Les, not quite famous yet. I guess I "positioned" myself by making my garden using what I learned in Noel's books, and his concept of communities of plants living in an "artificial ecosystem." That sparked his interest, I think. I call my artificial ecosystem a simulacrum of a wet prairie.

      Delete
    2. "Wet prairie" and "artificial ecosystem" make perfect sense to this ecoregion nut!

      Delete
    3. Yes. The idea is it tends to be self-sustainable, requiring minimal intervention and maintenance. That's the goal, anyway.

      Delete
  13. So much fun! I visited Michael Gordon's blog and viewed some lovely photos of your garden. It looks like it was a beautiful afternoon for a stroll in the garden.

    I think you hit the nail on the head when you wrote that you'd like to see "...more GOOD garden conferences." That is the difficulty, isn't it? One of the most enjoyable lectures I ever attended was Francis Cabot speaking about his gardens. He was delightful and so accessible--and afterwards I was able to look at photos of Les Quatre-Vents with new insight and enjoyment.

    I think your garden and its story could definitely be enjoyed by a wider audience! Please add me to the list of those longing to visit when I am next "in the neighborhood." I have family in Lancaster and Chalfont but, alas, no upcoming plans to visit them...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, thank you. I wish I could have heard Frank Cabot speak. I once received a garden award from PPA in Montreal, and one of the offerings was a visit by bus to Les Quatre-Vents. But I had to get back to work in NYC. That's one thing I still could kick myself for not doing. I'd invite you to come, but your name is "Anonymous" according to this comment.

      Delete
    2. Oh...Hey, I forgot to sign....this is Emily..

      Delete
    3. Hello, Emily. I have to agree that the quality of the conference is very important. I look at who the speakers are before making a commitment to attend. Socializing isn't my forte or interest.

      Delete
  14. I was worried about your Brooklyn garden, American geography is not my strong point, now I realise Federal Twist is in NJ. Stay safe, and let us know how your two gardens fare?!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Diana. I don't know South African geography well at all. We're in the city for the storm. Sandy left considerable devastation, but we are safe, have electricity, and even internet connection. Fortunately, our neighborhood is on a hill. But no one knows how long it will be before power is restored to hundreds of thousands in NYC and to millions in New Jersey. All subways and bridges and tunnels are closed so no one can go anywhere. The Federal Twist garden out in NJ, as Noel noted on his blog, is very much "temporary" and will return in spring regardless of what happens to it.

      Delete
    2. that is a more philosophical attitude than I could take to weather attacking my garden. Since you first showed us the Brooklyn garden with a huge tree down, I hope you are safe from fallen trees this time around.

      Delete
  15. Just hoping for the best for you and the gardens during Sandy. . . .

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Cindy. What a world we live in. I'm getting messages of concern from all around the globe.

      Delete
  16. James, I hope you (and both your gardens) are getting through the huge storm, I've been following the media during the day and thinking of you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Liisa. The storm has mostly passed. The huge amount of flooding, an inoperable public transportation system, infrastructure damage are the big issues now.

      Delete
  17. My. I am a fan of Mr. Kingsbury's, I very much appreciate his perspectives on the mixing of natives with their non-native analogues. Receiving a garden visit such as this is quite an endorsement of your work, like having Betty Crocker tell you your brownies are delicious. Congratulations! I hope your garden(s) and homes are well intact (or even repairable) after the tremendous storm. Best from the Northwest,
    Calvin

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks. We remained in Brooklyn for the storm. Hope the Federal Twist garden wasn't smashed, but it apparently got mostly wind, not huge rain, so it may even still be viewable, especially at sunset on a sunny day. I hope to find out this weekend, but getting out of NYC isn't easy and getting back in is even harder. Mr. Kingsbury is on to something, I think. It seems your Mitigation Plan would run counter to that, but I think now that you're on the roam for a new home, you're free of that constraint.

      Delete
  18. What a run of distinguished visitors passing through your garden! I am impressed that it still looks so good. Mine is just falling to pieces and looks sad and grey. I would hide and run away rather than have Noel Kingsbury visit it just now. Seriously, it must have been a privilege. I tend to keep away from garden conferences and the like but perhaps I should not. At the moment I have rather lost my energy and vision of what I am doing and it could be that I just need to hibernate for a bit or alternatively perhaps I need to converse with people who really get it. I shall consider it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I haven't seen my garden since Sandy passed. I can't get gasoline to drive out of the city, but since we didn't have a lot of rain, just huge winds, I'm hoping for the best. Winter is a good time for conferences, but I hear you don't have many like ours in England (though I'm sure you have lots of garden interest to do).

      Delete

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails