Happy Monday GPODERS!
Thanks to Anne Echelleman of Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, the blog has a very special week. This February was introduced to Anne, a new garden built in Florida after moving from a large, different climate in Michigan several years ago (here: see the flowers in Anne’s new Florida Gardens). However, planting and maintaining her around her new home is not the only way to get involved in gardening these days. She is also the president of the local garden club. As president, she helps arrange their secret garden tours and shares very generously with photos of all five gardens featured on the tour this spring. Photos of the gardens of that day are stationed in Sunshine State, where we explore new “secret” gardens from this tour every day. This is what Anne has to say about the tour. And here are the first gardens we explore today:
I love great gardening! We wanted to share the Secret Garden Tour, the Garden Club’s finest event in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. We visited five unique gardens in the neighborhood. It was not visible from the street and ended with lunch in the garden. Proceeds from the event benefited local university scholarship funds.
Theresa Romero’s back is calm and peaceful, with imposing trees and grasses leading to a quiet lagoon. It was designed to honor the Master’s golf tournament. This uses Azaleas, which has already finished blooming. Note the Blue Plumbago (Plumbago Auriculata, Zones 9–11) and the Red Hawaiian Ti Plant (Cordyline Fruticosa, Zones 10–11).
Theresa created a lush border garden around the lagoon at the end of her property. Saw Palmetto (Serenoa Repens, Zones 8–11) brings a fan of pointy leaves and its tropical texture.
Florida’s intense heat and sun make the shade a valuable commodity, and plenty of mature palms and other trees on the property make it a shade oasis.
The more wonderful leaves bring color to Teresa’s garden. This looks like a pink Chinese fringe flower (loropetalum chinensevar. brum, zones 7–9) that produces bright pink flowers in spring. In this case, it must be a sparkling companion of the blue plumbago and Hawaiian Ti plants protruding from behind.
Towering palm trees add incredible tropical leaves and plenty of shade to this garden, but the interesting patterns and colours of palm tree bark are often overlooked. Some palm bark can look like scale, but I love the cool gray tone highlighted here.
Not only are these trees interesting shade producers, they also create a stunning privacy wall behind Teresa’s pool. Whether she is in the sun or relaxing in the shade, Teresa is in her private oasis.
One of the final views of the vibrant blue Pranbago and Ti plants looks stunning in a bit of colour. Teresa’s garden is a serene retreat, but with no colour or interest. What a great introduction to this tropical tour!
Have you ever enjoyed a garden tour this year? I know that many loyal Gpoders are also loyal members of the local garden club. We’d love to hear about the gardens featured on these very special tours and see more. If you open your garden on tours this year or visit exceptional neighbourhood gardens, consider sharing photos and photos of the garden that day. Follow the instructions below to send a photo by email or DM via Instagram: @girlherdogandtheroad.
We want to see your garden!
Do you have any photos to share? We want to see your garden, a collection of specific plants you love, or an amazing garden that you have had the opportunity to visit!
To send, send 5-10 photos (Email protection) With information about the plants in the photo and the location where the photos were taken. We want to hear where you are, the time you garden, the successes you are proud of, the mistakes you have learned, hopes for the future, your favorite plants, or interesting stories from your garden.
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