WITH DETERMINATION, even the most grievous eyesore on a property can become a sparkling jewel. My own rose garden (above, click to enlarge) is proof of this fact. Here, where fragrant flowers flourish between ribbons of boxwood, and where classical fountains play soothing music, there existed, not long ago, something quite different:
When we bought this 176-year-old house in 2002, there were no gardens here. There was, however, bang behind the house, and in the perfect, sunny spot for a garden, a parking lot. Yes, a parking lot — completely paved with asphalt. (I’d show you the “before” pictures, but alas I can not find them.) Studying the offensive view from kitchen, office, and guestroom windows, a vision of roses, evergreens and fountains began to emerge. Two years later, we hired a contractor to remove every trace of blacktop.
A friend, Roderick Blackburn, who has authored many books on historic properties, drew up a design for my vision: Two 50-foot circles framed with the upright yew, Taxus hicksii, 8 boxwood-edged, hexagonal rose beds within, and two tall, classical fountains.
You haven’t lived until you’ve tried to dig in soil that was covered, for probably 20 years, with heavy asphalt. “Compacted” doesn’t begin to describe it. I rented a post-hole digger in order to make openings in the rock-solid surface for the edging plants — 190 yews and 320 boxwoods.
Unfortunately, after the yews were purchased, there was scarcely enough money left to buy sufficient boxwood. Consequently I bought just enough plants to roughly outline the geometric rose beds, and then tucked boxwood cuttings, clipped from the existing stock, in between. These rooted in only 6 weeks time, and within 3 years matched the stature of their parents.
The large sweeps between the boxwood and yew beds were planted with pachysandra. True, this “shade-loving” groundcover struggled in the blazing sun and infertile soil for a few years. Now, however, it thrives. I can tell you that plentiful moisture is the key to pachysandra success, if it is to grow under long hours of direct sun.
Now for the roses. I chose mostly David Austin varieties, including ‘Heritage,’ above, because of the glorious forms and fragrances they offer. A pick-axe was used to hammer out huge holes for each shrub. Then I back-filled the holes with –get this — Miracle-Gro potting mix. (Cheating, I know, but back then I didn’t have a stockpile of leaf mold.) How the roses prospered in the peaty formula their roots could easily penetrate! Since then, mountains of shredded leaves have been added to the rose beds annually, and now, 5 years later, the soil is friable, filled with worms, and very easy to dig.
I suppose the lesson of my parking-lot-to-rose-garden story is this: You can make a garden anywhere. All you need is a bold vision, a little determination, and an unflinching desire to turn an “impossible” situation into your own, special paradise of fragrance and color.
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Related Posts:
Boxwood Beauty the Easy Way
Are Roses Really Worth the Effort?
No-Fail Groundcovers: Pachysandra, Vinca Minor, Boston Ivy
Kevin, I'm in awe.
I planted some pachysandra 5 years ago, that I brought from my cousin's garden down in Ossining. It still is barely spreading at all. I have it under a big red maple. I gave it gobs of moisture and it won't even smile at me. Do you have any ideas?
Brigid O'Brien
Brigid – plantings beneath trees are difficult because of food-robbing roots. Build up the soil around the tree (or just pour good compost between plants) and believe me, your pachysandra will spread.
Love that top photo. Did you shoot this from a helicopter???
Adele – Glad you like the top picture. It was shot from my attic window.
I love the “you can do it attitude”! Your Gardens and home are BEAUTIFUL! I'm really looking foward to the Garden Tour this Saturday!
Kevin that is beautiful. What an inspiration you are. If I didn't live so far away, I'd come for the tour, too.
Just amazing! I'm in awe of all the hard work and patience to make your vision a reality.
Erin – Thank you for your nice words. Looking forward to Saturday's tour, too.
Carol – Stay tuned for the “cyber tour.”
Katreader – You are very kind. Thank you.
Kevin, I can't believe how much that garden has grown. You posted another picture of it last year, as I recall.
Kevin, when I first saw the photo my first thought was that it was Hampton Court or something — but it's your garden and it's even more amazing from that perspective! Mrs. Rochester has a lovely view from that attic!
Judy – Well, it's the least I could do for poor Mrs. Rochester!
I cannot wait to see your gardens Kevin…..Lucille
Kevin, what a spectacular picture. As one who remembers the sea of asphalt, I commend you for your vision and sweat equity to make this garden a reality. It is magnificent!
Lucille – I look forward to given you a guided tour.
Sue – Thank you. And, it's nice to have someone verify this garden was, indeed, a “sea of asphalt!”
Having witnessed the progression of your garden from parking lot to a jewel in the crown, I am so fortunate to visit often. I'm always in awe as to what you have created. This year the rose blooms are magnificent even though the heavy rains have washed away the blossoms. Kevin, you are truly an inspiration to us all.
Miracle Gro potting mix??? Kevin, I can't believe some of your tricks! My soil was not covered with asphalt, in fact it is a wooded site that I thought would be like pure compost having never been disturbed over time, just decomposing forest material. Wrong. Mostly river rock, and very little actual soil. I dig enormous holes for my roses because once the roots reach the outer limits of the hole, they might as well be in a pot. I also use a pick axe and a long pointed piece of rebar to pry huge rocks loose. Some holes have taken days to dig. It has occurred to me to use potting soil, but since I thought that would be a mortal sin, I have not yielded to temptation. Until now. If you, the garden guru, expert and writer of all growing things, can do it, then, I feel liberated. I have 4 David Austin roses waiting to get in the ground, and those tender roots will be wiggling their toes in Miracle Gro potting mix.
PS…I just read your post, “Are Roses REALLY Worth the Effort?” where you asked for our input. Mine is this…I only plant roses grown on their own roots because these don't require winter protection and spring removal of same. They are hardier and suckers are true to the rose you bought, not the root stock which could be privet or other tough shrub below the graft.
Annie – nice to meet you. Regarding Miracle-Gro potting mix…well, sometimes a gardener's got to do what a gardener's got to do, right? Today I use leaf mold.
Yes, good idea to plant roses on their own roots for all the reasons you just described. However, I still provide winter mulch to insure the ground stays frozen should we happen to have a warm-spell during winter.
Besides, all that added mulch does wonders for the soil!
Leaf mold? Do you have a post on that? I don’t see one. I also don’t see s post on composting. Er have a lot of trees that I take the leaves and dump in the garden or to the cows. Another question, do people ever send you photos for ideas?
caren – Thanks for asking. More on leaf mold here, and also under the category “soil.”
Best way to share photos is through my Facebook page. I’d be happy to see yours!