Sketch image from a garden planting plan recently created for a GardenAdvice client
21.01.2024 - 22:01 / backyardgardener.com / Frederick Leeth
Lately, I have noticed that the mail-order garden supply catalogs are full of Asian-themed garden accessories such as pots, traditional bamboo fences, and stone lanterns. This seems to go along with the trend toward Asian-inspired minimalism in home décor. In California and the Pacific Northwest, traditional Asian and Asian-inspired gardens have been popular for years. Can a national vogue for Chinese and Japanese gardens be far behind?
Probably not, and that’s a good thing. At a time when the urge to indulge in conspicuous consumption leads some people to jam suburban lots full of waterfalls, follies, gazebos, and monstrous outdoor cooking appliances, a little minimalism can’t hurt. The traditions of Asian gardening, which are inextricably linked to various religious, cultural, and aesthetic philosophies, go back thousands of years. Asia is also a horticultural treasure trove.
Western plant hunters have been bringing back specimens from all over the continent ever since Europeans first went East in search of the rare and costly. The nineteenth century was a particularly fertile time for these plant hunters, and they obtained many of the species that we take for granted today.
The Asian garden of today is more about philosophy and contemplation than ostentation, but it wasn’t always that way. Conspicuous consumption is neither new nor native to America. It was already going strong during the reign of the Chinese Emperor Yangdi in the 7th century AD. Yangdi’s garden, according to historical accounts, had trees that were covered with silk flowers during the winter, mechanical figures that sailed in boats along specially constructed canals, and a mix of real and artificial lotus blossoms floating in the water.
Fortunately,
Sketch image from a garden planting plan recently created for a GardenAdvice client
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Although insect pests and plant diseases are generally easy to control in the flower garden, animal pests are not. For one, much of our wildlife is protected by law and can’t be indiscriminately eliminated. You may have variable success with repellents, depending on your location or timing. If the animals are not very hungry or population pressures are not too great, repellents may be enough to discourage invaders. But then again, there’s no guarantee that they’ll work.
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One of the greatest drawbacks to successful gardening is badly drained ground. Wherever water lies in the ground at a depth easily reached by the roots of most cultivated plants they do not thrive, except where the water is constantly on the move, such as the bank of a river, brook or lake; there many plants will flourish. There are some wild plants that succeed in soil that has reached a water logged state, but generally such land is useless for gardening, farming or forestry purposes unless steps are taken to free it from superfluous moisture.
February marks the transition from winter to spring. Although the chill may persist, promising signs of the upcoming new season are scattered throughout. Bulbs cautiously break through the soil, and daylight gradually begins to appear.
We’ve been to our fair share of local Manchester parks and gardens, that’s for sure! But which do we recommend?
We’re visiting with Bonnie Plikaytis in north Georgia today.
When you go to the Philadelphia Flower Show, it helps to take along the right attitude. If seeing gorgeous, high concept gardens full of the most fashionable flowers makes you feel insecure, then take yourself elsewhere. If you need a massive dose of color, fragrance, humidity, and horticultural inspiration, then the Philadelphia Flower Show will be perfect for you. On my calendar, it officially marks the end of winter. It also reminds me of everything that a garden can be—provided you have a forklift, a crew of ten, at least $20,000 and the ability to make crocuses, roses and hydrangeas all bloom simultaneously.
You can grow many types of Alocasias in water. It's easy and you don't need soil. Just change the water every week or so. There are many to choose from. Some have big leaves, some have leaves that look like a stingray, and others have different colors and patterns. Read about them below.
Gardening jobs are just like any other job; sometimes, they seem daunting. Where to start? What is more daunting than starting with a weed-filled field?
In the ever-evolving tapestry of horticulture, 2024 brings forth a new chapter as gardens undergo a transformative journey guided by the latest trends. From the integration of nature into outdoor spaces to the tech-savvy approaches that are revolutionizing horticulture, this year's garden landscape is a canvas of innovation and sustainability. Join us as we delve into the heart of these trends and explore how they are changing the way we imagine, cultivate and experience our gardens. Step into a world where sustainability meets aesthetic expression, where technology blends with the natural, and where each garden becomes a unique testament to the creativity and conscientiousness of its caretaker. Welcome to the garden trends of 2024 – a celebration of greenery, diversity and the limitless possibilities that bloom in the outdoors.