If you missed the May 6th Garden Tour - Hella's Garden Part 2

This is Part 2 of Victoria Gardens' private garden tour from May 6th 2012. We will be hosting a virtual tour of all four gardens this whole week.

All photos have been provided by the lovely and talented, Jeff Stultz. 

If you missed yesterday's post, see Hella's Garden Part 1.

Hella uses unexpected elements that add both structure and levity to her gardens. Pictured above she uses a wooden ladder as garden edging creating rhythm and a sense of whimsy. 

Hella uses flexible cattle panels 25 feet long and 5 feet wide as simple an inexpensive arched arbors. Covered in Akebia and Clematis, this piece of humble pasture fencing transforms into a green and magical garden walkway. 

Tomorrow the virtual garden tour continues in part 3.

All photographs by Jeff Stultz.

If you missed the May 6th Garden Tour - Hella's Garden Part 1

On May 6th, Victoria Gardens hosted a private garden tour of four very different gardens. We'll start with Hella's property, which is extensive and playful with amazing plantings and specimens. With horse pastures, red outbuildings and meandering grass pathways, it is the upstate farm most people only dream of. Hella gardens tirelessly, and she was generous enough to share the fruit of her labor on this tour. Again, our friend and talented photographer, Jeff Stultz was kind enough to let us use his photographs of the tour, so if you missed it...enjoy a virtual tour:

We'll feature more of Hella's garden (yes, there's much more) tomorrow in part 2.

Epimedium 'Orange Queen'

Epimedium 'Orange Queen'

Zone 4

Grow in full shade to full sun.

Grows 8 to 10 inches tall.

Deer resistant and very drought tolerant, this woodland ground cover is delicate and delightful spring bloomer. But don't let the little fairy flower fool you, this perennial is tough and long-lived. It will naturalize, even in dry shade, like under a Maple tree. 'Orange Queen' produces many peachy-orange flowers and the foliage has orangey-red tint, especially in the spring.

Epimedium grandiflorum

Epimedium grandiflorum

Zone 4

Grow in full shade to full sun.

Grows 10 to 12 inches tall.

Deer resistant and very drought tolerant, this woodland ground cover is delicate and delightful spring bloomer. But don't let the little fairy flower fool you, this perennial is tough and long-lived. It will naturalize, even in dry shade, like under a Maple tree. Even after the flower fades, the heart shaped foliage stays attractive the rest of the season.

Epimedium grandiflorum also has medicinal properties and has been used in Chinese medicine for thousands of years. Epimedium is used in herbal medicine to treat kidney dysfunction and to increase sexual libido. Some of it's common names are: Horny Goat Weed, Rowdy Lamb Herb, Ying Yang Huo (no, I am not making this up) Bishop's Hat, Fairy Wings, and Barrenwort.

However: "According to the Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine, little is known about the safety or side effects of epimedium. However, use of the remedy for long periods of time or in high doses might be unsafe. Other possible side effects include vomiting, thirst, nosebleed, dizziness and a dry mouth. Additionally, consuming large quantities of these herbs could result in serious breathing problems. You should not consume epemedium during pregnancy, and it is unknown if it is safe to take when breast-feeding."


So we don't recommend adding it to your salad greens!


To read more visit: http://www.livestrong.com/article/413337-medical-uses-of-epimedium/

Happy Mother's Day!