Simple is as Simple does...in Garden Design and in Life

The art of art, the glory of expression and the sunshine of the light of letters, is simplicity.

~ Walt Whitman

Simplicity is a tender heart, a lilting song, a perfect form, a sweeping curve.

Simplicity offers us creative freedom.  It clarifies. As Plato said, "In order to seek one's own direction, one must simplify the mechanics of ordinary, everyday life."

Or as the Shakers sang, "'Tis a gift to be simple, tis a gift to be free....."

So incorporate the 7 aspects of the simple life (as I have defined them) to create a more fulfilling life or at least a fantastic serenity garden:

1. Choose Simplicity: choose the simple life deliberately; do not be distracted by consumer culture. Choose freedom. Arrange your life so that you are not too busy, too stressed, and too fragmented. Share your "true gifts" to the world . As Emerson said, "The only true gift is a portion of yourself."

from Christian gifts place

2. Sell Simplicity: serve the growing market for healthy, uplifting and sustainable products and services of all kinds — home-building, energy systems, foods, etc. Retrofit or design homes, cities, workplaces that are in accord with a simple life...sell anything that promotes spiritual development.

3. Operate from Simplicity: stress a kinship with others and develop a reverence for the community of life on Earth. Appreciate your interconnection with the web of life.  Balance your time in human environments with time in nature.

4. Live Simplicity: choose to live in a way that touches the Earth more lightly. Put whole eco-systems and healthy people up front and center.  "Choose to live simply so that others may simply live."

5. Design with Simplicity: Gandhi said, "My life is my message." In this spirit, surround yourself with an aesthetic that draws from Zen to the Shakers, Matisse to Masai. Celebrate natural materials and beautiful design.

6. Save Simplicity: Cut back on things that do not serve you and learn to live with less, however you define this.

7. Cultivate Simplicity: Approach life as a gift and cultivate your connection with all that exists. Look beyond appearances. A spiritual presence will infuse your life and awaken you to a world that sustains you. Savor your life in its unparalled richness.

If you follow these 7 aspects you will enjoy that garden of yours to the max....

remember in times of stress to follow Henry David Thoreau's advice:  "Our life is frittered away by detail... Simplify, simplify."

An October Flower Border - Fall Garden Inspiration

Pennisetum Hameln, Montauk Daisies, Canna Lilies and Lamb's Ears ' Helene on Stein' - Jan Johnsen

In my part of the world - New York State - October is when Mother Nature shines.The days are shorter, the sun is low in the sky, but the weather stays warm enough for the flowering plants to hang on.

 I always design and install gardens with October in mind because it is now when people have time to appreciate their grounds - it is too cold for the beach and graduations and summer parties are a memory. This is when people can stop and savor a garden. 

The design of Fall gardens is something I urge my students to master because these gardens prolong our enjoyment of Nature's gracious gifts.  And, more importantly, they quietly trumpet the siren call of the garden muse who is about to take her leave...but not just yet.....she sticks around to give it one last show....

Spirea Goldmound, Montauk Daisies,lantana, canna lilies

So in that vein, I am sharing and describing a little of what goes into making a autumn flower border... I know most readers simply enjoy the photos but maybe a few of you are interested in the 'gory details'. 

This was suggested to me by someone who wanted to know more about my landscapes and how I create them. It must be my Scandinavian background that allows me to discuss any and all things other than what I actually do day in and day out which is to create lovely, serene landscapes. 

the holly backdrop here hides a deer fence

The flower border shown above is at the bottom of a long, gradual hill - thus, water collected here in great pools after a rain. It was wet and soggy a good deal of the time. Many plants would not have lived in this wetness so I had large amounts of soil brought in to create a high mounded bed to left them above the damp conditions. This is the plant border on the right.

Additionally, we had a 'field' of subsurface pipes (set in gravel) installed in front of the border to catch and carry away the runoff. We then graded and laid sod to create a lawn atop the pipes.

Please know it is always about the grading and the drainage..the plants come later....

Farther uphill I planted shrub roses - 'Sunny' Knock Out Roses in a bed surrounded by boxwood - and beyond is another flower border featuring Nepeta, Japanese wind anemones.

'Sunny' Knock Out Roses planted this year - blooming in October

'Sunny' Knock Out Roses are three shades of light yellow / white...luscious.

Another of my 'fave rave' perennial flowers that is at its best in October (in my part of the world) is Japanese Wind Anemone...gently waving in the cool breeze. Its dainty flowers are the jewels of the flower world.

Honorine Jorbert Japanese wind Anemone

And of course some flowers of summer persist into fall and are actually more glorious now than ever...Lantana and Gomphrena (a straw flower that can be cut for everlasting bouquets) are two of these October performers.

White Lantana in October next to Blue Spruce globosum

close up of Gomphrena 'Buddy purple' with 'Jack Frost' Brunnera

and now that October is coming to a close...on to November!

Candlelight in October ....Cool Outdoor Lights

(from Ubud Hanging Gardens site)

Its October!

The nights are getting dark but with an extra layer and some cool outdoor lights you can enjoy a magical early evening outdoors. Add some white mums, montauk daisies and white Japanese Wind Anemones ( Honorine Jobert) and - in the full moonlight - you have a captivating moonlight garden.

Montauk Daisies in October

White Mums look great next to dark green boxwood

Japanese Wind Anemone - Honorine Jobert

But if you have some extra money....consider the following lights for your garden:

The cool new OXO Candela Luau is a wonderful light that you can use on a leisurely nighttime stroll, place on an outdoor table or use indoors.....it is part table lamp, part emergency light, part night light, part flashlight, part candle and part lantern.

This rechargeable light stays lit for up to 10 hours and uses a dimmable, 50-Watt-equivalent LED light source inside. It features a durable, water-resistant polycarbonate housing with a stainless steel handle. Control brightness with a simple turn of the base.

A little expensive but .......

The Lucina Lantern (from Frontgate) provides a roomy interior for a large three wick 6" pillar candle or an arrangement of several size candles for an enticing glow.

If you like more earthy elements in your garden consider the smooth and sculptured Fire Rocks. (from Grandin Road)

Cast from concrete, these hand painted rocks add drama and flame to the garden. It uses Gel as th eflame source which burns up to 3 hours.

The elegant Atmosphere Lamps  are designed to thrive in the elements. These unique, weatherproof fixtures cast a warm, natural glow on outdoor rooms and patios. They plug into standard household outlets.

Solar Slate Step Stones  are made from natural slate with an energy-saving white LED light unit embedded in them. Place these solar lights flush in paths and walkways for added ambience and safety around your  garden. They  automatically illuminate during darkness because they are powered by an integral solar panel.

 

And lastly, consider the very cool new  Tomori  Seasonal LED Japanese Paper Lanterns ($26)...

It is the safe and modern version of the ancient Japanese paper lantern that uses LED lighting to create a multi-hued glow.  The lights subtly segue between 7 different colors to add an ambient glow to your space.

THESE ARE NOT WEATHERPROOF ...but they look so neat I had to share. This unique lantern is available in 4 traditional Japanese seasonal themes: Asagao (morning glory), Ume (plum), Sakura (cherry blossom) and Kouyou (fall leaves). 

Perfect for October.....

Paddington Reservoir Gardens

In March 2009, The City of Sydney opened the magnificent Paddington Reservoir Gardens.  It was a hit from the beginning, being described as a combination of the Baths of Caracalla and The Hanging Gardens of Babylon.  'Adaptive Re Use' does it again!

In August 2009, TZG Architects, Sydney and Paddington Reservoir Gardens were awarded Australia's most prestigious urban design award for excellence. Judges commended them for creating a unique, surprising, functional and totally engaging public park that has captured the imagination of residents and visitors.

And JMD Designs won the 2010 Australian Medal for Landscape Architecture from the Australian Institute of Landscape Architecture.

When the city decided to transform the defunct, roofed over Reservoir (it was Sydney's original water reserve) into an urban park, it was expected that the underground site would be capped and a new park be built on top. But the architects decided to expose and highlight the 19th century structure as a ruin and invite the public to wander through it.

the reservoir was roofed over and used as a parking lot in the mid 20th century

They wanted to reveal the dramatic spaces and the play of light that flits through the historic walls and vaults.

Lights spotlight the amazing stonework of the reservoir

Thus, a stunning sunken garden was established in the reservoir's western chamber and stairs were provided to allow people to descend into it. 

Here is what one visitor wrote of Paddington Reservoir Gardens:

"The space is REALLY nice. You think you will see the place in a short time (because its relatively small) but when you are down there you feel like relaxing and disconnect from the noise for a while; ... you don’t feel in a modern city at all. It feels peaceful and you will feel like sitting down and enjoying the surroundings."

Elizabeth Farrelly, architecture critic for the Sydney Morning Herald, said of the project:

"Everyone loves it. People hang out just for the pleasure of it, which is seriously unusual in Sydney… this is a world-class weave of ancient and modern and I love it too." (this is fromWorld Architecture News.com )
 

Someday I will visit this park.  If anyone has been there I would love to hear about it.

The Glory of Fall Colors - BRAVO!

Sugar Maple Leaves - The New York State Tree

"I can see clearly now, that the rain is gone

...its gonna be a bright sunshiney day"

~ Johnny Nash

There is no more glorious time than a sunshiney day in Autumn in the Northeast deciduous woodlands of the United States (and in Japan, the coast of East Asia and in parts of Europe).

Native Dogwood (Cornus florida) against a native Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum)

The native trees put on their cloaks of color and literally take your breath away... I walk along public trails near my house and exult in Nature's show.

Sleepy Hollow Maple Tree

Sometimes I want to literally stop and applaud, crying 'BRAVO!' to a particular tree or scene.

near Mt Kisco, NY

Wouldn't that be wonderful if we had crowds of people standing in front of a particular colorful sugar maple on a street applauding? Man, that would be outstanding....

In Japan, there is something like that in their Autumn tradition of viewing the changing color of maples. Called  "momijigari", which literally means 'hunting red leaves',  the Japanese people flock to places of natural beauty to see the short lived show of colorful leaves. Everyday the media announces a Momiji-gari forecast called the 'autumn tint front' and people follow this to see places of 'peak color'.

The ephemeral nature of this magnificent show is at the heart of its eternal allure - miss it and you must wait a year to catch Nature's glory. So if you live anywhere near an Autumn wonderland please grab the moment...

 NOW GO OUTSIDE AND THANK THAT TREE....or at least clap.

Sugar Maple

for a great book on fall foliage:

 

The Magnificent Purslane - Edible Landscaping at its best!

What was one of Mahatma Gandhi's favorite foods?  and what did Henry Thoreau eat while residing at Walden Pond?  PURSLANE.

Purslane, long considered an obnoxious weed in the U.S., is, in fact, full of vitamins, minerals and fatty acids!  And now this overlooked gem - considered 'one of the most nutritious greens in the world' -  is receiving the attention it is due.

Usha Palaniswamy of the Department of Plant Science, University of Connecticut, reports that,

"Purslane is receiving much attention for cultivation by the United States Department of Agriculture as part of their effort to bring about a modification in the western diet with increased intake of fresh fruits and vegetables."

Purslane contains a high concentration of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), one of the highly sought-after Omega-3 fatty acids. It has several times the concentration of ALA than is found in spinach.  So throw away those fish oil capsules and grow your own Omega-3 fatty acids! It literally grows like a weed.

from Family Food  - click here

Addiitonally, Purslane stems are high in vitamins A and C.  And it provides all of this wellness with only 15 calories in a 100-gram portion (as compared with 76 in a boiled potato).

Purslane (Portulaca oleracea) is a member of the Portulacaceae Family and is also known as wild portulaca and verdolaga. It grows all over the world, often in disturbed soil in sunny areas.

This low growing, fleshy leaved plant is native to Persia and India and was said to have been introduced into Europe by Arabs in the 15th century as a salad herb. But it was actually widely used in ancient Greece where Theophrastus (in the 4th century BC) named purslane, (called andrákhne) as one of the several summer pot herbs that must be sown in April.  In traditional Chinese Medicine, it is used to treat infections or bleeding of the genito-urinary tract as well as dysentery. And the Japanese use Purslane as one of the seven herbs in their symbolic New Year's ritual dish called nanakusa-no-sekku (七草の節句). Purslane has been eaten for generations as a treatment for arthritis, inflammation and heart disease and to promote general good health.

WOW! and you always pull it up and toss it away, yes?

Purslane is a tender annual and a perennial in USDA zones Zone 9 -11. It has prostrate reddish stems and succulent leaves that are smooth, paddle shaped and about a half inch long.  It has tiny yellow flowers about 3/16 of an inch open when the sun shines, followed by small dark colored seeds. When foraging for purslane, watch out for spurge, a poisonous plant that grows in similar conditions to purslane. Snap a stem to confirm your identification. If there’s white, milky sap inside the stem, you might have picked spurge – discard it. Purslane stems are filled with clear water. Purslane stems are also thick, while spurge has a wiry stem.

Always check with someone who knows before you pull weeds and eat them.

Waterconscious gardeners will love its drought and salt tolerant qualities. Purslane has little to no disease problems in well-drained soil. You can pinch it back as it grows to maintain a bushy low plant.

Purslane provides cover to create a humid microclimate for nearby plants. Its deep roots bring up ground moisture that other plants can use, and some, including corn, will "follow" purslane roots down through the hard soil. Deep rooted 'weeds' like Purslane are extremely beneficial because they bring up needed minerals and nutrients from the depths of the ground.

This edible plant has a refreshing tart taste and grows from late spring to fall. I just pulled some up yesterday. You can eat Purslane raw in salads (it has a crispy texture and a peppery taste). It can also be sauteed as a side dish or boiled  - boiling will remove the tartness.

Bake it with breadcrumbs as a casserole. Use it in place of okra in recipes. Add it to omelets. Purslane is eaten extensively in soups and salads throughout the Mediterranean area. The Russians dry it and can it for the winter. In Mexico it is called VERDOLAGA. Star chef Steve Johnson has a Purslane cooking recipe for cucumber-yogurt salad (you can view his recipe for purslane at the Star Chefs Web site).

The wild Purslane is best for eating as the new cultivars are bred for flowers rather than taste and nutrition. But if you want to use the snazzy flowers of cultivated Purslane in your edible landscape try the new flowering series from Israel - Purlsane Pazazz. 

 Pazazz Purslane makes a great long lived spiller in combination planters for hot sunny spots. It is very forgiving, tough and needs little water. It comes in a variety of fabulous bright colors - Red Flare, Salmon Glow, Pink Glow and Ultra Pink. They all glow in an iridescent manner. But I wouldn't eat them.....

Thoreau wrote of Purslane:

 "I have made a satisfactory dinner off a dish of purslane which I gathered and boiled. Yet men have come to such a pass that they frequently starve, not from want of necessaries, but for want of luxuries."

 

 (so eat that Purslane!) - Jan

Here is a great video about Purslane from Green Deane (Eattheweeds -click here)