Moonlit Formal Gardens

Top 2. Oct 3, 1998 11:37 PM

» Carol Wallace - Isn't that the absolute best thing about writing about your gard

Isn't that the absolute best thing about writing about your garden, Kirk? It makes you look at everything in a new and different way. <img src="http://www.suite101.com/userfiles/79/rhubarb.gif" alt="rheum" align=left>

Carol
virtually gardening

-- posted by Carol Wallace

Top 3. Oct 5, 1998 12:36 AM

» Kirk_Johnson - I am surprised at how well my orange roses show up in moonlight,

I am surprised at how well my orange roses show up in moonlight, they aren't deep orange, but they also aren't pastel, and the color really stands out.

Kirk Johnson
Garden Design

-- posted by Kirk_Johnson

Top 4. Apr 2, 2000 11:16 AM

» bindweed - The Moonlite Garden

Kirk thank you for directing me to your article. It was Great.

I hope we can stimulate some passion for these flowers of the night!

Jojo suggested some of the following plants in her own White Garden. I hope other people try on some of these lovelies.

"Zantedeschia aethiopica (Calla Lilies). This is flanked on both sides and a bit behind by Acanthus mollis, which is not all white, but the tall spires of flowers are mainly white and the purple keels should be invisible at night." YES, YES, YES!

"C.'Guernsey Cream' which is supposed to be Ivory in colour. We'll see what is really and truly is in June or so." (My own C. armandii -- is in full riotous color at the moment!)

"A white garden can have lots of other colours in it and still acheive it's goal. ... I don't beleive a white garden has to be all-white."

Sometimes I think we worry too much -- some of the colors may not mix all that much anyway. My own gut feeling is that the Acanthus is later than the Calla and the Clematis and at this very minute I realize that had done what I often do, answer without listening.

I was thinking about using Acanthus spinosus, which I use A LOT! This later blooming Acanthus goes great with Lillium formosanum and other later blooming Lilies -- stretches into the hydrangea season and H. paniculata is also great with it! Pastel Achillea is nice in the foreground.

Jojo's Acanthus mollis would definately be in her blooming group. Both are valued for their architectural qualities as well as their bloom. I would definately use it! Pulmonaria angustifolia, mertensia, Corydalis might also be nice with it, if you lean towards the blue!

Both Acanthus would be of limited use to some gardeners -- hardy to Zone 7.

Two other hardier suggestions for the White Garden would be Aster ericoids 'White heather', Boltonia's as well. Cimicifuga simplex 'Brunette' also sold as purpurea sometimes (usually seedlings) Plum - Purple/Black foliage that bears spires of white flowers that at that time are simply are the most fragrant thing in the garden. The white flowers are born on black spikes, much like the white flowers on my favorite black mondo grass.

The pollinator for this cimicifuga, happens to be a gray/black hornet or wasp. Seeing their similarily marked bodies sucking on these flowers is a near fractal experience of perfection!

I believe the builders of these great Islamic garden's would have appreciated this!

Herbert Senft
Visit the friendly Pacific Northwest

-- posted by bindweed

Top 5. Jan 20, 2006 11:57 AM

» HeatherUK - Re: I was just out in my moonlit garden. I can see colors in moo

No posts on this thread for several years, but i just wanted to say, that having spent a whole afternoon and half the evening trawling the web for info on moonlight gardens, this site with Kirk Johnson's article was the only one with unique and interesting information that no others had. Many thanks!
Heather B
Hampshire UK

-- posted by HeatherUK