~a James Island garden~

Today I joined a friend for a tour of James Island and West Ashley gardens - it was a beautiful October day, warm, lots of sun - a nice breeze.  This was the first time I've gone on this tour (a driving one) - a look into about 10 different gardens, some controlled, closely maintained, with low diversity - one or two a bit wild and chaotic (reminding me of my own garden) - and then there were a few that just stopped you in your tracks, made you want to sit for awhile - to slow down and examine each leaf.  Actually, no - the beautiful ones made me want to rush home, to get to work, to divide and trans plant and weed and place a few plant orders and to be bold and plant a row of italian cypresses to separate the orchard area from the side garden...but tonight was the official kick-off to the Month of Birthday, and I needed to meet my fellow Scorpio friend for a beer and a toast out at the beach.  So for tonight - I'll leave you with images from my favorite garden, a place hidden on James Island, only a short distance from the Charleston Harbor - a garden that was cared for by obsessive and creative gardeners - it was simply a delight.

~~~~~

Comments

[Annie in Austin]

You mentioned the upcoming tour a few days back - I'm so glad all the other things in your life didn't stop you from seeing the gardens, Pam! (I doubt that anything can stop the Month of Birthday.)

We had Conservancy Open Days here in Austin over the weekend - Austin Garden Bloggers were out in force and we've been posting like mad. I went with Pam/Digging and it's fascinating to see similarities and differences in plants, design and materials between the garden in your photos and what we saw. One obvious difference is that decomposed granite works here rather than mulched paths and even the irrigated lawns aren't that green in Austin this year.

The bamboo encircled and supported by the Live oak(?)bough is a compelling image.

Annie at the Transplantable Rose

[Les]

Thanks for taking us along. It makes me regret that I was not a gardener when I lived there. I particularly liked seeing those ancient Sagos. I also liked the fact that this was not a "Charleston" garden. I watched one of those PBS garden shows where they visited the city and went to a well-to-do family's new garden done in the old style. It was amazing how much money could be spent making such a boring garden. With all that will grow in Charleston, I doubt they had more than six species with the most exotic being a Crape Myrtle.

[Pam]

Annie, I'll need to go and take a look. I was glad that I could go - it was a beautiful day, and of course - a day filled with gardens - how perfect is that? Much needed for sure. Oh, I loved the bamboo embraced by the oak branch too - it was just lovely.

Les, I've gone on one downtown garden tour - and my feeling was it was gardens maintained by hired gardeners - they were beautiful, but there was a flatness to them. I even found on Sunday's tours that it was evident when a garden was cared for by a plant-obsessed individual. This one was just spectacular - it has to be a bit protected (perhaps a half a zone warmer than me) - but I swear there was a 12' tall plumaria tree (in bloom!) in the ground. I'm still thinking about this garden - it was definitely 'out of the box' - striking!

[Frances]

Hi Pam, I like the concept of month of birthdays, because there are many or because you want to celebrate for a whole month or both? ;-> We have friends with a house in Kiawah and love to visit that area and work in the garden at her house together. That is some magical soil that can grow anthing. We bring home buckets of it for starting cuttings. The garden you featured does have a wonderful wild feel to it, like yours. The professionally landscaped look is not what I enjoy either. You can always tell a real gardener's garden.

Frances
http://fairegarden.wordpress.com/

[Blackswampgirl Kim]

Ah... theoretically, I shouldn't get along with you very well, Pam. Well, actually, I think that I should get along with you very well, when we do get along, that is... and when we don't agree, then watch out! (I'm an Aquarius. I have dated many Scorpios in my lifetime, which is how I know this. Don't ask me about my supposed relationship to anyone other than Scorpios, Capricorns, Gemini, or other Aquarians, though.)

In this case, we wholeheartedly agree. I love this garden! I love the wildness of it, the interesting pairings, the plants growing literally on the walls, the way the forms of the plants are shown off. It makes me want to rip my front yard garden up entirely and start over!

[Les]

Just thought I'd let you know that I was watching an episode of "Cultivating Life" where the subject was salt. They went to a garden in Charleston that looked so much like the one in this post, that I revisited and certainly it was the same one.

[Pam]

Frances, it seems that I have a number of friends with October/November birthdays, and over the years it has evolved into a full-month of celebration, hence The Month of Birthday! As for our soils - my Mother used to say that my soil is what she would buy bags of (in Virginia) to amend her clay soil - it's pretty amazing stuff. Kiawah is nice - a great place to garden for sure.

Kim, I had the same reaction. I came home to my own garden and wanted to start over. I think I will add a few more 'tropicals' and see if I can manage them here (I'm probably a half a zone or so colder than the garden in this post). The colors were wonderful - the texture, variegations - I could go on. It was a simply beautiful place.

Les, how interesting! I had the feeling that it was getting quite a bit of attention.

[kate]

I like the idea of a 'garden for gardener's' tour. The James Island garden is beautiful, judging from your photographs. What a treat!