Comments on: A gardener’s spirit

By: Susan Sims

Susan Sims — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 20:41:55 +0000

If you do make a rock garden, don’t make the fruit-cake berm kind. I can’t stand those. How about a tufa wall or an alpine house?

I’m on a bit of a rock garden jag, if you can’t tell.

No fruitcake? Bummer. I had my heart set on a berm… -kris

By: Dee @ Red Dirt Ramblings

Dee @ Red Dirt Ramblings — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 19:02:28 +0000

Beautifully written Kris. Beautifully said.~~Dee

Thanks, Dee. -kris

By: Layanee

Layanee — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 14:12:07 +0000

Kris: That is a beautiful tribute to a wonderful like. Let’s go to North Hill together next year. As for master plans, I say, gardens in the lawn! LOL

Layanee, I think a road trip is definitely called for. Just name the date. And would you settle for a meadow in our lawn? (I would!) -kris

By: Ginny

Ginny — Sat, 02 Oct 2010 19:21:07 +0000

This blog really hit a nerve. Well said, Kristen. I am a great admirer of Wayne and Joe’s books and have wished to visit North Hill for a long time. Your quote from the wonderful “Our Life in Gardens” gave me a shudder as we have left our beloved place this week. I picked the last ‘Abraham Darby’ rose and scooped up a few logs from the wood pile of the glorious lindens we are leaving behind. The first cold night we will have a ceremonial burning and say goodbye to 38 years of heaven and hell, peace and chaos, joy and sorrow. And on to the next garden!
I signed up immediately for the fall lecture! Bringing my daughters. xxx

Ginny, I should have added moving to new digs to my list… but I don’t believe your garden will die because you’re taking it (in spirit) to the new house with you. I’ve been thinking about you a lot lately wondering how the transition has been/will be. I’ll look forward to catching up in November if not before. -kris

By: Susan Sims

Susan Sims — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 16:48:48 +0000

Does the master plan include moving the rock garden? I was just looking through your posts about it the other day and it occurred to me that it would do much better in a different location away from shade and encroaching high-tides. Of course, from a curatorial standpoint, you may be compelled to leave it where it is.

I always think of the North Hill strain primulas as something I’ve always wanted to grow but am unable to.

Susan, the LAs on the team have the same thoughts you do about the Rock Garden. But it was Bessie’s (Van Wickle McKee) favorite garden and we can’t help but love it too for that reason, challenging as it is. Gail and I have given some thought to making another rock garden out of one of the Display Garden beds that has already been planted with plenty of rocks… -kris