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Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Green Animals Topiary Garden Rhode Island

Green Animals Topiary Garden

During a recent visit to Rhode Island I had the pleasure of visiting the Green Animals Topiary Garden in Portsmouth. This small country estate consisting of seven acres of land overlooks Narragansett Bay and was purchased by Thomas E. Brayton in 1872. Mr. Brayton was the treasurer for the Union Cotton Manufacturing Company in Fall River, Massachusetts from 1879 to 1920. He hired Joseph Carreiro who was responsible for creating and maintaining the topiary garden. Carreros son-in-law took over and continued to develop new topiary upon Mr. Carreiros death in 1945. Upon Mr. Braytons death in 1940 his daughter Alice inherited the estate and resided there until her death in 1972. Alice Brayton known for her love of horticulture named the estate after its unique sculptured green topiary. Green Animals Topiary Garden was left to the Preservation Society of Newport County and remains today under their care as a historic landmark.

There are more that 80 pieces of topiary throughout the gardens and one of my favorites were these two teddy bears made of yew (Taxus). The topiary animals are made of California privet and yew while the geometric figures are from California privet and English boxwood.

Here is the mighty lion made of California privet and surrounded by annuals. The beds are planted with annuals that change with each growing season.

Gardener Joe Carreiro designed these driveway arches as an entry to the garden.

The garden houses two arbors, one draped with Magnolia x soulangeana and on this arbor with Grape (Vitus vinifera).

A beautiful perennial border garden shows the colors of late summer. This area was re-designed and replanted in the fall of 2004.

This beautiful Dahlia Display garden is a joint project between the Preservation Society of Newport County and the Rhode Island Dahlia Society. Blooms from this garden are entered into the Dahlia Societys annual show in early September...

and you can see why.

Here is the full garden to give you an idea of the size.

The framework of the garden is made of boxwood and privet hedge.

The topiaries were started in 1901 in a nursery then moved to their present location in 1912.

Every year Green Animals hosts several events and is visited daily by tourists. I truly enjoyed visiting these wonderful gardens along with the mansions of Rhode Island. I hope you enjoyed the virtual tour as well.

As Always...Happy Gardening!

Monday, March 3, 2014

A Little Garden Music Garden Tour 2010 Presented by the Bay Area Friends of Fine Arts and Sayville Garden Club

Garden Tour June 2010

We were so honored in being chosen as one of the garden participants for the June 19th, 2010 BAFFA (Bay Area Friends of the Fine Arts) and Sayville Garden Club Tour," A Little Garden Music". The garden tour turned out to be a great success. The sun was bright in a clear blue sky just as we had hoped for. As delightful music lingered throughout the gardens and the garden artist painted away, our guests enjoyed the sights and sounds around them. We were very excited to have so many wonderful people join us to see our garden that we were so happy to share! We took many photos so here is a peek.

Garden Musicians (BAFFA)

Garden Artist (BAFFA)

Garden Art Painting

Garden Artist

Backyard Garden

Gardening Club

Musicians (BAFFA)

Frontyard Garden

Garden Musicians (BAFFA)

Garden Artist

Backyard Garden

Patio Garden

Backyard Garden

Backyard Poolscape Patio & Garden

Garden Sitters

Front Driveway Garden Entrance

Garden Sitters

The garden tour was certainly a memory which I will never forget.

Thank you for visitng and As Always...Happy Gardening!

Thinking Spring Color in the Garden Part III Perennials

The rains are coming down in the northeast and the daylilies are poking their heads up through the soil so it is time to talk about perennials.

When it comes to combining perennials, colors from opposite sides of the color wheel combine the best. My favorite combination is that of purple and yellow. The cool color of purple ‘Maynight ‘ Salvia or blue Nepeta ‘Walkers Low’ combine beautifully with the warm yellows of Coreopsis ‘Zagreb’ and Daylilly ‘Stella D’Oro’and also go along with the yellow-orange color of Gaillardia Goblin. Combine purples and yellows along with the deep maroon color of Barberry ‘Royal Burgundy” and you have an array of color which one cannot resist.

Salvia Maynight

Another favorite is heuchera or ‘Coral Bells’ which is known for its deep burgundy foliage throughout the season and dainty white flowers in Spring which closely resemble baby’s breath. There are many varieties of heuchera but the one which I find to be most hardy in the Northeast is Heuchera ‘Palace Purple’ which tends to hold up better here with our severe winters. Heuchera goes beautifully along with coreopsis, salvia and nepeta as well as with grasses.

Coreopsis Zagreb

Another suggestion for combining perennials with grasses would be the combination of Sedum ‘Brilliant’ with dwarf fountain grass, coreopsis and perhaps a weeping evergreen as a focal point. As far as sedum is concerned, there are also many varieties but I prefer the ‘Brilliant’ for its more vibrant pinkish color and shorter stature as compared to ‘Autumn Joy’-but it’s a matter of opinion. The ‘Autumn Joy’ or even the Spurium ‘Rose Glow’ would also complement grasses nicely in the garden.

Hosta Patriot

If you prefer the woodland look or have shady conditions then the ole reliable hosta comes to mind. There are so many varieties of Hosta to choose from and it is virtually indestructible. Also if you separate them with a sharp spade in early spring they will re-grow quickly to form a perfectly circular shape as if they were never touched. One of my favorite varieties of hosta is ‘Patriot’. It’s deep green foliage edged with a creamy white border makes it a welcome guest to brighten up even the darkest of shade gardens. It does very well here in the Northeast and goes beautifully with variegated liriope, heuchera (coral bells) and astilbe. Other favorites are ‘Francee Williams’, ‘Blue Cadet’ and ‘Golden Tiarra’.

Gaillardia Goblin

There are so many perennials to choose from for the garden. I have tried to focus on varieties which are hardy in the Northeast and which are my all time favorites for long bloom time, abundant color and dependability.

Heuchera Coral Bells

After years of experience as a designer I find these to be the most reliable and have enjoyed them in my own gardens for years and will continue to enjoy them for years to come.

In future articles I will focus more on the uses of combinations of perennials in the cottage garden as well as the incorporation of perennials along with evergreens and deciduous plants for everlasting beauty and enjoyment. For a complete gallery of perennials mentioned in this post visit: Perennials .

Happy gardening!

Author:Lee@ A Guide To Northeastern Gardening Copyright 2010. All Rights Reserved