Saturday, 30 May 2009
Open Garden Days: Jon Carloftis' Garden
Do you know about the Garden Conservancy's Open Days? If you like gardening and gardens, you should. It is a program that invites owners of beautiful private gardens to open them to the public one day a year (occasionally more.) Visitors pay a modest fee of $5 per person per garden. Proceeds are used towards the preservation of unique and special gardens that might otherwise be lost. A new directory is published annually. Some gardens have been opened in previous years. Others are open for the first time. Public gardens are listed, along with the private gardens which are the focus of the open days.
In 2009 the earliest garden to open, on April 3 & 4, was Fordhook Farm of W. Atlee Burpee & Co. in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. The last will open on November 1, in Westchester County, New York. And between those bookend dates are open gardens in Alabama, California, Colorado, Connecticut, and 19 other states. Gardens you're unlikely to see unless you were friends with the owners.
A friend of mine will have his Connecticut garden open on June 7. There's no talking to him right now, as he tweaks, buffs, polishes, and prepares his garden for the expected hordes. In fact, he's been rather preoccupied since last winter. Think it will only be folks who live locally who stop by? Sure, they'll be there. And so will folks who travel from several states over, perhaps making a weekend of it while visiting gardens away from home. I made a weekend of it, crossed state lines, but managed to return home at night, crossing the Delaware River into Bucks County, Pennsylvania while visiting 3 different gardens each day. Could have made it four . . . .
.
It rained on Friday but Saturday was delightful. Some clouds, some sun, pleasant temperatures and a light breeze.Over the river, along the road, through a covered bridge - I arrived just a couple of minutes after10:00 a.m. when the garden opened, and I'm first one there. When I said hello, was welcomed and asked where I came from, with a smile I was told, "You're a neighbor! Should have come with a cup of sugar." That welcoming comment set the tone for a very pleasant day.
.
Jon is clearly a man with a sense of style. The 1920s garage
is now a tool shed (though that seems déclassé for
so charming and attractive a workspace.)
Rhododendrons add vivid color as I step across the front porch.
Work boots rest on sturdy, bristle-y brush
in a metal tray, ready keep muck outdoors.
Especially with a smaller property there's a problem with honest horticultural lust.
"I'll have one of this, and that, and something else . . . . with spotty results.
John shows admirable restraint. The upper border is anchored with
five purple leaved Cotinus coggygria, against which blue flowers of
Baptisia australe, pink flowers and nearly black foliage of Sambucus.
The property slopes. Looking down over the upper border
to the back terrace and an inviting patio complete with table
and chairs enough for a couple of friends. Perhaps the candles
are left over from last night's dinner party for 30. Or maybe,
the candles are just part of the ambience, part of his style.
The patio is edged with sizeable planters, none of your puny,
red-geraniums-with-vinca-vines. These are home to trees
and shrubs, with a sense of the surrounding woods. Notice
the white house beyond the patio. That's the neighbor's.
While this is a relatively modest property, it is is certainly
larger than this one. Built in the 1850s, the farmhouse
is only one room deep. Which means that all the rooms
look out on the garden. And isn't that a nice thing.
As well, there is this wonderful tree house. It has
a double bed inside, with just about enough space
to walk around it. I'm wondering though, however
did they get the bed in there? Maybe it
was hoisted up before the roof went on. Don't care.
What I really want to know - Can I come spend the night?
Shades of Dr. Zhivago. A delicate line of river birch,
nine of them, delineates the lower parking area from
the garden with its English style borders and allée
of pear trees. A wonderful start to a day of open gardens.