Wednesday, November 29, 2023

Andrew Bunting's Belvidere, a Philly Fling garden

After departing Hedgleigh Spring (Monday's blog post) our next stop was Belvidere...

This front garden had multiple personalities depending on where you stood to take your photo. Above is the "swallowed by bellowing amsonia" shot. Here you can see the lawn.

And here that conifer lends an open, almost rural feel.

But the star that drew me in is definitely the big pot of colocasia.

Judging by the folks gathered in the distance I might have missed an introduction as we de-bused. What can I say? I was headed to the garden!

Charming, am I right? There's just no other word.

Two views from the driveway...


I was rather jealous of the vines, I'm in a strict "no vines touch the house!" relationship.

There were definitely more colocasia in this garden than I've ever seen in one place.


We're at the end of the driveway now and looking at the front of the converted garage.

An artistic gate and flower sculptures at the entrance to the back garden.

Unless I'm horribly turned around (which is a possibility) that's the back of the house on the right.

There was a terrific container plant collection on the back patio.


(I couldn't help peeking thru the shrubbery to this vignette on the other side, we'll see it again in a minute)

I think Jane had just snuck a peek at the bromeliad—Portea petropolitana —label.



Heading into part of the converted garage space now, of course I had to take in all the cool things along the sides of the pathway.



Inside...

The mannequin and watering can vignette had to be one of the most photographed of the Fling.

Ah the morning sunlight was magic...

This part of the garden—which was basically the bottom of an "L"—was primarily a vegetable garden and was the result of Andrew taking over part of a neighbor's lot. Lucky guy!

The table was pretty fabulous, I was itching to add a few more plants to the center planter.


Flingers to help you understand how large this space was...

More Flingers on the back lawn, it was a large lot, complete with a small pond.

The back of the house and yes, more colocasia. I believe the entrance to the area with the table was just this side of the clipped yew.

And that's a wrap on another Fling garden!
I just discovered this fun tour through Andrew's garden, check out the video here.

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18 comments:

  1. Some lovely foliage and colocasia's in this garden. That table is pretty fabulous. Maybe the mannequin is the AI gardening help(?)

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    1. Once AI starts to create actual gardening help then I might get excited about it!

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  2. This looks like such a great garden. I loved his video about creating the garden as I love "before" photos. As for last Monday, I have long been familiar with Charles Cresson for his plants but had not realized what a big space he had. I guess I've always seen plant closeup pix.

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    1. I haven't gotten around to watching the video, but I do love before photos. Thanks for the push.

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  3. Yes, it is so charming. I can't get over that table with the planter in the middle. The colocasia are commanding. I'm afraid of vines touching the house, but on that rock it is fabulous!

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    1. Do you remember photos that were all over the internet a few years back of a table made of pallets that had a planting area in the center? This table is like the grown up version of that.

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  4. I loved this garden so much, and how great to have an accommodating neighbor. The sense of enclosure and the patio at the back of the house were my favorite features ...oh and the front garden too. Definately one of my faves of the private gardens we visited.

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    1. I wish we would have had a little more time there, it was a fabulous garden and I feel like I just ran thru it.

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  5. "Charming" is a great term to describe the entire garden. I love that table and the converted garage. If only my husband would allow me to take over his garage workshop...

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    1. But then where would he create amazing things like your lath house?

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  6. I had gone online to read up on Alocasia, Caladium and Colocasia. I'm quite sure one will end up in a container in my garden next year! In photo 4, at the foot of the potted Colocasia, there is an amazing mossy stone basin... love that!
    I'm in a "no vines touch the house!" kind of relationship too: I'm limited to ground cover or no planting against the house, in case it needs repainting. In a stone house like the Belvidere it may be different.
    A table with built-in plants is the coolest!
    Chavli

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    1. Andrew would love for there to be a foot wide empty space between the house and the plants, but in a small garden that's so hard!

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  7. This looks like a fun garden, and the table is amazing. I'm still shocked that nobody minds the creeping fig slowly covering the stonework at my house.

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    1. Fingers crossed it stays that way! Mine is really happy on the patio wall, finally. Hopefully winter won't knock it back.

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  8. Somehow I missed where all these recent gardens are located. Are they in Oregon or somewhere else in the U.S.

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    1. Thanks for the reminder to repeat that kind of information. The clue is in the title of the post, Philly Fling. This one and Monday's post are from the Philadelphia area Fling that happened in September. The tiny gardens post that you commented on was from Thousand Oaks, CA.

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  9. What a sweet setting! 'Charming' is indeed a good word for it. My husband gives me regular lectures on vines on the house. I know he's right of course, but they serve the function of covering our ugly little house, so... The battle is ongoing - LOL!
    Anna K

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  10. Stonework and vines go so well together. Very art deco, almost Metropolis vibe from the mannequin, watering can installation.

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