And now the new one. A woodland that I am just beginning to "see". I have had some tentative paths in my head, have been walking them since spring, some primary ones at least. And yesterday some fellows spreading dirt for me also spread out a huge pile of woodchips, to my directions, to define these earliest woodland paths. What fun it was, directing the Bobcat operators, on-site designing on such a large scale.

The woodland begins to become a garden, it is like magic what a path can do. I was almost euphoric. I like the Jens Jensen-esque simplicity of it. Who knows, maybe even I can reform, LOL. And I didn't even need Sue's tape measure ;o)

& As usual, your photo's are beautiful!

And I have to comment:

...."even though it is September"......

In my garden, September is one of the bloomiest months of the year. Though I have said it before, I'll say it again, I firmly believe that gardens which peak later in the season have more lasting effect throughout the season. The two borders above(from my "old garden") have a May lull after the bulb season, enough June bloomers to be effective, then have a gradual crescendo from July and August into September and October. I wouldn't have it any other way.

"Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood"

Is that one Sweet Autumn clematis growing on the fence? I can't get that plant to thrive for me.

Do you have a picture of your variegated Sanguisorba right now? Mine has turned into a flopping monster of at least 6 feet in part shade-not at all the plant I envisioned. I remember seeing yours back in July growing at a manageable size in considerable shade. So far no bloom yet either.

Sue

I am planting some more hemlocks as screening plants, and you would be proud of me -- I have spaced them 15-18 feet apart, irregularly staggered. They are not planted yet but will be in a week or two. I had to pace out the spacing though -- your tape was only 12', too short ;o).

That sanguisorba actually looks pretty good right now. It is just starting to make flower buds. A bit lopsided, but I will take a picture of it. Some of my other sanguisorbas growing in full sun get very tall and floppy. So far, I like straight S. menziesii best, though I can see that it might seed a bit too much.

I am amazed about the paths too. After the trees and the contour of the land, they are the defining element in a woodland garden like this. It's funny, I too thought of that Robert Frost poem looking at the fork in the path. And I just knew when I walked this space, over and over, that there would be a fork there. It will make a loop in the back of the garden, so the two forks will become one.

I have had some second thoughts about this whole undertaking in the past few months, selling and building, leaving my garden, all of it. But once I saw these basic paths laid out, I knew I was doing the right thing. Now to just convince my wife of that....

Lisa

One of my 2 patriarch black cherries, and the one that will be the primary focal point of the garden behind the house, was hit by lightning in a bad storm a week ago. I could see this giant gash in the tree from the road, easily 500' away. The bark was ripped of the tree, about a foot wide by 3-4" deep by 40' long. The arborists on the trees forum tell me it should be OK. And it could have been much worse. Still very sobering to see what can happen to a tree that is easily 150-200 years old. Yes, weather can often affect and even shape a garden in ways we don't expect.

All part of the saga I guess.

I loved the paths, they just invite you to take a walk. It will certainly be interesting to see the gardens develop.

Just beautiful.

After our July weekend, seeing your property and the Wilkens' garden, I decided that the degraded woodland near our house really needs to be turned into a woodland garden. This winter I will start working on clearing out the scrub trees such as buckthorn and honeysuckle. And you are right, the paths really seem to move it from the unimaginable to the possible. I now know what step two needs to be!

On a slightly different note, we hosted a tour of our wetlands a couple of weeks ago and right on cue, a couple of blue herons landed in a dead tree on the far side of the wetlands. Last week, a strong storm (possibly the same one you had) took down the dead tree. Yes, it was a dead tree, but still sad to lose the perch for the herons.

V.

One of my favorite inherited beds is a large mass of Leucoethoe fontanesia "Rainbow". It is wonderful to look out at those red tips in the snow in February.

Andrea

Most if not all of the woodland farther from the house will be"gardening" stewardship, removal of invasives (there aren't many, happily), "gentle augmentation" of the understory with plants native to eastern North America.

Lisa

What do we bet he's been out in the garden?

Thanks for the pictures.

Sue

:o(

As far as the new garden, and house, well that is a very long and complicated story, beyond the scope of the forum (though I might put a post on the Idylls, check there). Let's just say that I have been and am going through some major life upheavals, and I have not as a result really gotten started on the new garden. Maybe never will, at this house anyway, though I know I will again have a garden. But for the first time in nearly 25 years, I have been without a garden this year. It is very strange to reflect on that. There is a big void, though I have to say that not having that huge amount of work has been a very appealing thing. So maybe a smaller garden will be in my future.

Anyway, Hi Sue and all and thanks for bringing this back up and letting me, too, look at it again. How life can change without us sometimes expecting it. Makes us all want to really appreciate the present....smell the roses indeed.

David

Eden

My garden now contains many of the plants you've recommended. My agastache and helianthus are glorious right now. Over the summer, George (EGO45) talked me into buying a Salix purpurea "Nana" simply because you suggested it!

Thanks for checking in. We all miss you here.
Virginia

Monique

Drema

I have saved several for reference...you have touched so many lives with your garden, you should be very proud.

I hope everythings gets resolved in a satisfactory manner for you and you can get back to gardening, even a tiny one. It is great therapy, as, I am sure, you know.

Best wishes from the lower Midwest.

gld