Monday, November 27, 2017

Back to the Garden Bloggers Fling and our stop at the garden of Peg Bier

Let's go back to last June's Garden Bloggers Fling shall we? Today we'll visit Peg Bier's garden in Tyson’s Corner, Virginia.

From our Fling itinerary: "Peg is a local gardening legend. In her words: “It is not the wow factor but the smile when some small discovery is made.  Tucked behind this roadside garden and somewhat secluded are a small waterfall, miniature plants and Fairy gardens where discovery and imagination are stimulated!

As you walk down the gravel driveway where all things love to seed, you are greeted by an overabundance of container gardens, pass through a weedy lawn (no chemicals) and beyond to the wooded area and pathways that lead to further discoveries.  Regardless of the time of year there is always something of interest that draws you on.

The garden has evolved according to the needs of the family, four children, their spouses and twelve grandchildren. It is a place to be, to reflect and a place to gather.  It was never intended to be a showplace or a display garden but a refuge for family, friends and visitors.”

There was definitely a sense of discovery as you walked through the garden.

Around every corner there was a stylish vignette or special plant.

I'm sure there were plenty of flowers, but it was also a foliage lover's paradise.

Such luscious Hosta leaves...

Autumn fern and ???...

Every inch planted.

There is a house too, which blended right into the garden.

I don't think I would have been able to resist the temptation to plant up the pockets in the driftwood. They're just too perfect.

This shrub captured my attention for quite awhile. I love green flowers and even though I was pretty sure these were the "after-flowers" I was still intrigued.

I asked everyone who passed by for ID, even hunted down Peg herself, I got nothing! Once home I took to the magic of Facebook and the PlantIdents group, had the answer almost immediately: Abelia mosanensis.

I eventually managed to move on, couldn't let a shrub mystery keep me from seeing the rest of the garden...

What great center-point. In my mind the entire garden radiated out from here. Of course that might only be true in my mind.

Surely Alpinia zerumbet 'Variegata' (Variegated Shell Ginger) isn't hardy here? Yet a few tucked in the ground.

A fenced section of the garden, deer must be a problem?

I don't think I ever heard the actual size of this garden, obviously it's on the large side.

Somehow I managed to not take a photo of the sunken patio off the back of the house. You can just make out the steps on the left-side of this photo.

And a little more here.

That's a wrap on my coverage of Peg's fabulous garden. I still have a few Fling stops left to write about, and if you're thinking this "Fling" thing sounds like fun — it is! If you've write for an active blog there are a few spots left in Austin, TX, in May of 2018...

Weather Diary, Nov 29: Hi 55, Low 45/ Precip .56"

All material © 2009-2017 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

20 comments:

  1. Autumn fern and Nandina ???
    Peg's garden has a Northwest feel to it. Enormous variety of plants, with emphasis on leaf color texture and size. Among many groovy vignettes, I was adoring the one in the first picture: is the ground cover Yerba buena by any chance?

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    1. I was going to say "Nandina" too -- just a very small one. :)

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    2. Yerba buena - I'm unable to confirm or deny... but yes I agree about the NW feel, and Alan agrees about the Nandina.

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  2. Looks like a peaceful place to gather and enjoy! So much to find around every corner. I'm always in awe of such large and fabulous spaces.

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    1. I am sure you could fill up such a large space quite quickly, and well. Wish you could have been on this Fling, there was lots to love.

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  3. Between you and Pam, I have a LOT to learn about photographing these tour gardens. You always capture interesting vignettes I miss, like you did here with the driftwood-hosta combination. I'm surprised by how often I missed the opportunity to show how the house sat in the garden too. I loved that sunken seating spot but only caught a fuzzy photo on my phone after the last battery in my camera gave out.

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    1. Perhaps this just means you're enjoying them in person more? Taking them in with your eyes rather than your camera?

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  4. I love the humble attitude but the garden sure looks like a showpiece as you have photographed it.

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  5. I love seeing June gardens after summer is over, and this wooded one looks amazing! Just my style too I think. (Deer can't be too much of a problem with all of those intact hostas)

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  6. Wow, quite the garden. Love that Hakonechloa and Begonia combo. Just perfect and not one I would have thought of.

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    1. That combo stuck with me for quite awhile and I'm still trying to figure out where I could add that Begonia. Many warned me of its "late to the party" tendencies, which is concerning for a cram-scaper such as myself...I'm not good at leaving empty spaces.

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  7. I wish I could cultivate your sharp eye Loree-I never even saw that Abelia (nor would I have know what it was if I had ) and the same for several other combinations and plants in this post. I didn't get a pic of the sunken patio either -I think it a was full of people .

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    1. The garden was so big Kathy, there's no way you could have seen everything!

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  8. I can easily imagine the 12 grandchildren playing hide 'n seek in this delightful garden... and what about an Easter egg hunt? Dozens upon dozens of eggs would be needed with all of the hiding spots available!

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    1. Right? 12 could easily disappear and I'd be finding eggs for months after the hunt!

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  9. Loree, nice to see this sprawling and lovely garden again, this time though your eyes. You have a knack for capturing great shots that reflect the garden's essence.

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  10. Nandina in the autumn fern photo? I think you are looking at a young wisteria plant, presumably an accidental seedling that is getting ready to spread its wings. Look at the long shoots it is starting to send out.

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  11. Great overview of this garden. I think you are right that the back garden radiates out from that seating area with the orange chairs.

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