39th Street Garden
Tuesday 22 July 2008 - Filed under Gardens
I drive by this garden once a week, and I’m dying to get my hands on it. It has all these beautiful mature trees and shrubs, casting dappled shade over the entire yard. It looks like a master gardener lovingly assembled the garden years ago, and then they both aged gracefully together, and the gardener isn’t able to get out there and keep it up. Still, the original vision was so strong and sustainable that it still looks good, just ready for a little clean up. I’d be quite happy if my garden kept itself up this well when I’m old. I wish I could befriend the residents and get a crack at the job. I would love to get over there and prune the dead branches and limb up the trees to open up the view a little, sweep up the dead pine needles, and lose the lawn entirely and let moss take over as the ground cover.
My favorite view of the garden, down the side yard, under a mature Southern Magnolia and Copper Beech
I’m torn whether the broken urns flanking the front walkway should be replaced, or if they add character
Even the dead wood on the trees is sculptural
2008-07-22 » megan
22 July 2008 @ 7:11 am
You would have loved the garden at a house we looked at last year. It was once something spectacular that had become overgrown when it’s keeper aged and couldn’t care for it any longer. My mother in law is very knowledgable about plants and gardening and was in HEAVEN going through this yard. There was a wonderful surprise around every corner and it was just begging to be uncovered and brought back to it’s glory.
It was a little bit sad and a little bit like being in The Secret Garden.
22 July 2008 @ 10:07 am
This will undoubtedly get me banned from a serious gardening blog, but I love that decayed, neglected look. Anyone who’s seen my front yard knows it; start with a bunch of well-chosen and lovingly tended plants, let them reach their maturity, then ignore them for a decade or so. Whatever is left, that’s my idea of nature in full glory. Think of the money saved on gardening tools, the callouses and blisters avoided. Give me gardening by procrastination any day.
I think I know that house, by the way. I walk past it every week — one of my favorites, too.
22 July 2008 @ 3:11 pm
The broken urns have to stay. They totally fit in with that ancient/forgotten feel of the whole place.
23 July 2008 @ 9:00 am
Crissy – You totally GET me. I love that. This is EXACTLY like the secret garden.
Bill – Gardens that age gracefully are the best. The trick is to distinguish between well aged and unloved, but those that pull it off are brilliant.
JustinS – It’s true, they’re really required.
23 July 2008 @ 9:25 am
Update: your mom and I drove past that yard last night. (I know, sounds like I’m trash talkin’) Those urns definitely have to stay, I’m with Justin.
30 July 2008 @ 6:16 am
[...] Very awesome plant if you ask me… Sambucus Nigra. Looks even darker in the dark. Oh and… Megan @ Nestmaker is guilty of stalking too… she is honest about it also. The proof is here. [...]
15 August 2008 @ 8:33 am
NM,
i just had to comment on that broken urn. It’s great and would be even greater with a little flowering plant stuck in there. what do you think?
15 August 2008 @ 9:00 am
fred – I’d love to see it with a little fern peeking out the side, but one that looked like it self seeded.