Night - Gothic Gardens-2013

Night - Gothic Gardens

The Night Garden or Gothic is not about mystery, fear and wickedness. Now to some it might be, it just depends on the individual and their personal type of garden theme they are trying to make for themselves. 
There are some that may make their night gardens about mystery, fear & wickedness... But from the most part, I found that when it comes to the Gothic Gardens day or night - it is all about loving the dark, moon, stars and combining a variety  of shapes, plants, colors with shadows to the garden.
They are special kinds of flowers that bloom only at night and they release their perfumes into the

cool night air only in under the stars and moon. 

Tube Moonflower 

Evening time or even later into the night can be a wonderful time in your garden. You just need to find the right kind flowers, plants, foliage, and other Nature or Gothic themes, to ensure that your garden will be a special place at night too. 
When you decided to make a night garden, choose a place that is most visible when there is no light when the sunsets. You can choose a space only for your night flowers, while in another area of the garden you can put your daytime flowers and plants. 
The Moonflower is is born to glow in the Gothic night time - it opens

The Oenothera Moonflower - In its Yellow and Pink 

when the sun has completely  gone down and will stay open until sunrise. 
Each flower will only last for a day. So if this flower sounds intriguing  to you, it would probably be a good idea to plant quite a few of these beauty's .
The Moonflower is refer to a group of flowers that belong to the genus Ipomoea and get their name from their large, fragrant flower, which pop open at night. Moonflower is a lender vine closely related to the morning glory. although moonflowers do not have the hallucinogenic properties of morning glorying. The vine always coils clock wise even in the southern hemisphere. They come in a variety of colors some white, yellow, pink and silver. Most of the moonflowers all grow on vines. The best way for the Moonflower to grow is on either a trellis, fence and hanging baskets are great too. They say that some of these vines can grow up to 20'...
There is The Oenothera which is a beauty and comes in Yellow and Pink. These flowers are great for the late afternoon till early the next morning blooms.
The Yellow flowers are first to bloom into the twilight then the Pink there after. There are Purple ones too. These blooms would work really well in a Gothic theme garden with the purple colors. 

"Brandywine"Foam Flower Tiarella-Silvery Flower

When you make your night garden, try to add other type of plants that don't necessarily have to bloom during the night. You should also be aware of the blooming seasons to extend the beauty of the colors in your night garden. Historically white flowers weren't the favorite in the night gardens because they are to prominent, so instead you could choose silver colors if you like-
For a night bloom that doesn't shine too much as the pale yellows, whites, and pinks for a more Gothic feeling if that is what you are looking for in your night garden.

The Silvery fragrant flower of the Native ''Brandywine"Foam flower Tiarella - These are excellent for ground cover and they have shiny green leaves that turn bright Red in the fall. 
The Rhododendrons - Silver foliage - Blooms of Silvery White and Blue Tulip flowers-

These night flowers will get you that more Gothic look to your night garden, with their silvery bluish tulip flowers.  












The Black Knight Morning Glories -

These will look great in hanging baskets & fancy pots that you pick out special for your night garden.
















The Black Pansies -

This is another great flower for an Gothic theme garden.










The Dragon Coleus-

This is a great foliage that easy to grow & great as a ground cover. It's colors are deep purple's and blacks so, this to would be another great plant for a Gothic theme garden.


 




Black Tulips-

These beauty's would be another great addition to any Gothic garden that you make . They have Beautiful deep purple colors with black Gothic look-










1) Evening Primrose-

Evening Primrose is a plant from the Onagraceae family origin - which is indigenous to Northern America, but is now found in Europe, Asia, New Zealand and Australia too. The beautiful yellow beauty is named the Evening Primrose because the flower blossoms only at night. The plant is famous medically. Its seeds, leaves and oil of the seeds and root are used in many different medicines. It grow 3' by 5' tall Flowers are .078 to 2" wide.




2) Night Bloom Water Lilies-
 Night Waters Lilies are quite beautiful. And if you have a pond in your garden they would be a great addition to your garden. These are Tropical night blooms and as you can see in a pond like setting they are quite beautiful. The water lily of deep crimson red, pink and purple, would work very well for either a night or Gothic garden. The blooms will open in your pond with the dark cool evening breeze, bringing a beautiful mystery to your garden. And with the backdrop of the dark ripples of the dark water with these blooms floating in your pond, you will have a most special night garden.

3) Moon Flowers-

The Moonflower - flower name is Ipomoea - are called Moonflower because they bloom in the moonlight. These are beautiful flowers and come in Pink, Yellow and white. The flowers quickly open at night and last the entire evening. Then they will close when the first light of the sunrise touches the delicate petals.







4) NightGladious-

These beautiful blooms are a Creamy Yellow flower with the most wonderful spicy fragrance. It is usually grown in dense areas with heavy rainfall. These flowers are also found in late spring and early to late summers.
Its name comprises to two words-
Night and Gladiolus. Gladiolus is a word of Latin origin which means Sword. 
Parts of this flower is poisonous and can cause the skin irritation and allergic reactions... 
This flower is attractive to butterflies and bees. 

5) Four 0' Clocks-

These beauty's of the night blooming flowers are tender perennial flowers. They will bloom in spring and summer time. 
These tiny gem's are available in a number of colors ranging from red, yellow pink, blue and white. The need for full sun exposure to glow and start blooming at 4pm hence got their name-
They are excellent hedges and barriers for your night gardens. And have and outstanding fragrance when they open at 4pm. 





6) Saussurea Obrallata/ Brahma kamal-

The Saussurea Obvallata is also known as the Brahma kamal. It is a beautiful night blooming flower named after the Hindu God Brahma. It is native of China, India and Burma. It Blooms only Once a Year!  And it has many medicine uses. The flower grows in the high mountain tops and cold areas. The flowers heads are actually purple and are enclosed in layers of greenish - A yellow boat shape covers it in a papery subsists  in nature. Strange but beautiful.




7) Dragon Fruit Flower-

These flowers are native to Mexico and Central & Southeast Asian Countries such as Vietnam and Malaysia. They are also produced in Taiwan, Israel, and Southern china. Its plant has a Beautiful flower which only blooms at night.
The flower starts blooming around 7pm and will reach it full bloom and glory at 12-night. 
I would image it is quite a sight to see if one is so lucky to. But for all of us who can't see this gem of a bloom, I hope you all enjoy the photo.
These flowers give blooms against the it large deep green leaves which with its magnificent bloom flower it can be a stunning addition to your garden, along with its fruit too. Although it is a rare one. 

8) Dutchmans - PipeCactus-

This is my last flower that I found for you all for your night gardens. These large Epiphytic Cactus native from Mexico to Brazil. In nature the plant can reach up to 20' in height - The dark green branches are lanceolate, and can accumulate to 3' in length  to 4-5" wide. They are said  to be very easy to grow and when in bloom very showy as you can see in the photo's I've provided for your readers. 
The Flowers will open when in late evening and close at sunrise. Its best to plant in late spring toe early summer. The flower can grow up to be 11" long and 5"wide. And the blooms are very fragrant. 
Keep them in a greenhouse during the winter months.  

I hope all these ideas will help you create a wonderful night garden for you all on your own. Some of these flowers you will be able to find at your local nursery with plants and flowers. But others are probably too rare to find in any local nursery. I just thought it would be fun for you to see some of the beauty's that are out there. I have tried growing MoonFlowers once by seed and it didn't work out because of all the squirrels we have. The just dug them up thinking that was food. I personally would try the full plant if possible. 
Note.. None of these photo's are Mine.
Wendy.  

Great Masters 1900

Great Masters 1900
Claude Monet- His Garden Waterlilies 1900-

I've always loved the Great Masters of Art and one happens to be Monet. I have always loved the use of color in his paintings. I studied Art History when I was in Collage and I do very much remember Monet Works. One of my favorites is his Garden- Waterlilies -1900. I loved this one like all of them because of his brush of colors, light, reflections and transparency's that all come together with many colorful spots of color to create these masterpiece's. I love Waterlilies to because its based off his very own Garden and like myself, I too love my own Garden!

My hummingbird Garden!

It is said waterlilies is his most darlings of his works-

When Monet settled in his home in Giverny in 1883, this is where

he transform his garden. According to the seasons is

what he would plant in his garden for his paintings.

 

Some of the Flowers were transformed into his painting

Waterlilies 1900.

 



 

 

 

I thought I would add a little more to my Monet Garden Post. Since I found that It seem to have a few of you that love the grand masters of the old Paintings.. My Father had told me that when he and my mother had gone to Europe quite a few years ago and one of the main place they wanted to see was Monet's Home and his Gardens. My Parents actually got to go inside Monet home and around Monet famous gardens. In this post I will also add a few of those picture my father had sent me that he had taken from Monet house overlooking the gardens below. Here are those images;

The fun story about Monet that I didn't know is quite interesting and I wanted to share with all of you! My father emailed me the story and the pictures for me to share on my blog. [note: As a child I was always influenced by great artist painters and my father who himself would paint too]
Now for the Story my father told me!
It seems that Monet wanted his wife to have a spot of her own in his garden. So as the history goes- After Monet continue pestering for her to have a spot in the garden near their home in Giverny in the late 1900's his wife at the time, reluctantly gave in in planted what some says a small red flower area inside Monet Garden.

I found a little bit more info about how Monet spend his last years of his life. It was in a little town in Normandy, in the North Western part of France. His how Giverny and he spent most of those last years in his garden. How which is open to the public for all visitors. The head of these grand gardens as of now is Gilbert Vahe'. I my readings I found some other interesting questions & things that you might have not know about this grand painter. If you have any other questions I found a great link for you all too! 
I current gardens as the Person in charge of it 'Gilbert Vahe'' says is more or less the same as when Monet created the gardens himself many years ago. They have kept the spirit of Monet within the Gardens since his passing and when they were in their best in the 1900's. They say they look as if Monet has never left his gardens because they have studied his gardens so well. This means the type of techniques he used of flowers, seasons of planting and all the original flowers are mostly still in the gardens. Although because of the course of time some of his flowers, plants and some trees had to be replaced with more modern hybrids which are much more hardy that will live longer so that the Garden with live on for all to see.
They say as for the design of his garden that his created on his own, this happened over a long period of time.
Monet first bought the home where his garden would be in 1890 in Giverny, but Monet didn't live in his home til much much later til the 1900's, when he finally returned to his home and his idea's for his grand Garden..
In my readings, It was said that when Monet did decided to stay at his home Giverny , this is when he started his famous Gardens with his two sons plus the children of his second wife. Of course there is much more history on his personal life, but I am more forced on Monet's Gardens.
In the beginning of his grand gardens, you could say Monet had a passion for the Flower! All flowers. In 1922 there was the great international contest on Irises Flowers. Monet gave 500 gold francs for a prize. Then he used his garden to create new plants. Because we as artist's always go beyond our passions and Monet's was his Flowers in his garden which in turn became his paintings.
He continued on creating different kinds of flowers - Monet created the dahlia which Monet called 'La Digoinaise.' He also created many more different kinds of irises and also the poppy which he called the 'Moneti'. He also created many different roses too, but there is not written page or documentation of prove to this. It is only word of the gardens at the time when he created these beautiful roses...
But one never really knows?
In all my studies in College, Art history of the Great Artist I have never learned any of these personal facts about Monet and his Garden! I would think that it would be just as important to include all of these facts that I am writing to all of you my dear friends and followers in this post-ooo)
The other part of his garden that you may not know, has a good deal to do with  his paintings "Waterlilies".
This is where Monet had the Japanese bridge and pond put into his garden. To create his pond, there was many obstacles he had to jump thur, to get his pond, besides being forced to asked special authorization to create his pond.
Some of these problems he had faced to create the famous pond, was a road with a railroad tack that was slightly elevated on the area. And on the other side where he wanted his pond was a swamp or it was said a meadow. So what Monet had to do- He had the idea to buy a piece of the land adjacent to his property so he could create his pond. After he over came all the above obstacles, Monet began to dig his pond not one time but three times! The first pond, he found to be not big enough for his paintings.  So he extended it. He wanted to have exotic waterlilies and many other types of water lilies in his pond too. Monet liked the distinctive feature and effect that these type of flowers give as they sit just above the surface of the water. Also they have the most extraordinary colors. He found the waterlilies are the most beautiful flowers for his artist works in his paintings. There is much more on Monet and his creations of his pond, creating of his Exotic waterlilies, framed Japanese bridge too, but I felt that I have covered more than enough for all to get a more depth view of this most Grand artist Monet.

I hope that you all Enjoy my addition to my post. I love you all my dear Friends and Followers Your Wendy with love..

Love ♥ *pEACE •∞¸.•´¸.•♪ ஜ۩۞۩ஜ¸.•´¸.• •∞ ♥ *pEACE

 

 

 

 

 https://www.fluentfrench.com

Mysterious of Gardens & Mazes

Mysterious Gardens for the people who love the Gothic way of life:

Did you ever wondered how it feels to be lost in a deep dark forest where you are so turned around that you don't know where North~South~West~and East are. or even how high up is? What if you got lost in a gothic garden that someone created for you? For example : what if you got lost in Harry Potters maze in the movie the Goblet of fire? It was a very magical garden that harry had to go into in the last game. But as the head master of the school said " this is a very different kind of garden. It is mythical and magical, but what you have to do to get out is how you look at  yourself. These mazes have away of taking over your mind. You must stay focus at all times of the maze can take you mind and you may never get out".

As I said its not only about getting lost! its also about finding yourself and giving yourself the opportunity to navigate your life. Risks are all around you when you walk in the labyrinth, and there are lots of life and death choices behind every turn as the unknown as you get deeper in the maze. Your unknown future is spread all over the mythical garden as you get in deeper and deeper.

In the last thousands years, labyrinths and mazes had a Big impact on the world of Gothic gardening themes and designs. Those maze gardens can be made by heavy rocks or high plants and trees, but one thing is certain they are beautiful and mysterious at the same time.

In the middle ages walking in a maze garden had a religious meaning. If you got the chance to evaluate  your life, by a  voyage and choices through the maze garden. Also going in the dark in order to find your spiritual enlightenment is another thing people would do in the middle ages with maze gardens. The dark and light themes are also associated with death and life creation. It was believed that ghost and evil spirits lived in the trees and plants that forged the amazing labyrinths. As the winds blows through the maze and dangerous animals are all around you possessed by those spirits who control the mysterious fields with their supernatural powers.

Gothic gardens that are designed as mazes have a special usage for hide and seek games. These games can serve the need to protect the castle against thief's and other vandals by mils and mils of dead end mazes. Think that you are a stranger that wants to enter the remote castle, not only that you don't know the area, you can also get lost and even die in the labyrinths paths. On the other hand, hide and seek games are well known as love games. Mazes are the perfect place of forbidden love affairs. A location where you can release your sins without anyone to know about it, only you know these remote spaces between the plants. 

As garden activities such picnics, field games and other social gathering became more popular, the height of the maze components reduced and was no longer than the height of your knees, in order to give the people a chance to socialize, communicate and see each others. The maze garden is so fun that you don't only interact with other people but also with the animal kingdom and the beautiful nature. Every tunnel has its unique plants and grass paths there for a reason and of different colours and shapes of nature is unfold every step you take.

Create your own maze garden in your backyard:

First you must draw the maze on a piece of paper. Pay attention to the maze style as the paths can be rounds of sharps, big or small, and the number of the dead ends can be also vary, all these factor determine the design of your garden labyrinth.

Where do you want to put your Gothic garden maze? if you are constrained by garden space its suggested that use choose a flat area, of a hill so you will be able to distinguish your maze from the other parts of your garden. You  should also be aware that use should reserve a part of your garden to a non- maze area, so it wont be difficult to enter and get out from your house. Gardening components: turf labyrinth, you can plant your own or you can buy  mowed turn in different shapes of circles and lines that you can combine. And of course you can do it all by mowing your grass in the shape of the maze, by cutting parts of it and let other parts of the grass to grow high.

Other nature beautify, you can add a stepping stones as a directions inside your maze. You can also create special areas in your maze. In each area you can grow a different vegetables or fruits and plant colorful flowers. Put big rocks or big trees in order to hide the rest of the paths of the Gothic garden mazes  and  to prevent people to cheat and cross the maze in the middle but going in a straight line and killing all your flowers. 

A GUIDE FOR ATTRACTING FAERIES TO YOUR GARDEN-2012

'A GUIDE FOR ATTRACTING FAERIES TO YOUR GARDEN'

Many plants will attracted butterflies, hummingbirds & faeries - Some of the gardens favorites of the faeries are bee balm, sunflowers, honeysuckle, fernleaf, yarrow, summer lilac, red valerian, daisies, cosmos, rosemary, thyme, purple coneflower, pincushin, scabiosa, fresh lavender & heliotrope, nasturtiums, pansies, snapdragons, blue columbine, foxgloves, and there are many more undoubtedly that you can use.  You can use what works best in your own gardens too. Another way I have found that helps your garden in attracting faeries -  Is attracting your tiny friends with birdbaths, birdfeeders, hummingbird feeders too. You see the faeries are attracted to all the wild life, mostly the hummingbirds, butterflies and small birds.They seem to enjoy the same habitat as the butterflies, smaller birds, hummingbirds, even the honey bee's. All the planted flowers that I have stated above & the herbs, you will find another great attraction for the faeries - faeries love the sights and sounds of the water & flowers. Consider adding a small fountain, waterfall or even a fishpond in your garden. Garden Art statues of faeries will also attract the wee ones. Shiny windchimes, gazing globes and colorful garden flags with bright shiny colors in them. All these things can help you entice gnomes , elves & faeries to come into your garden. 

~Don't forget that the wee ones(the faeries) are nature loving and enjoy their fun. Plan to leave part of your garden a bit unkempt. This small area will make fairies feel welcome. It doesn't have to be a very large space, but having this one little space will give joy to your fairy friends-

~More fairy's favorite plants & flowers~

Fairy's Favorite Plants & Flowers-

ROSES-

Fairies love roses for their smell & beauty. If you would like to make fairies welcome - plant roses in your garden & burn rose oil around your patio.

BLUEBELLS- 

Bluebells are loved by the fairies as well. Fairies often use the flowers to adorn their horses. Don't pick the bluebells or step on them. A field of blue bells may have much faery enchantment.

WILLOWS-

The willow is a tree with a distinct personality . It can be heard weeping at night, but most commonly, it uproots and follow lone travelers at night. There are also fairy  spirits that live in these trees.

ELDERS-

The Elder trees is a sacred tree to the fairies, along with the Ash, Holly & the Oak. It is said that this tree is the protector  of water spirits.

The Oak tree - Look for Oak groves, as fairies tend to love the Oak Tree *the most*.  If you find a Oak Tree.   The old Oak forest- you just might find a portal hole in the base of one of these grand trees. And find yourself in another world.

ASH-

This is a lovely tree that the faeries often use for wands- It has healing qualities too.

FAERY RING MUSHROOM-

Fairies dance all night long & in the morning, rings of mushrooms maybe seen. They are the boundaries of the dancing circle. Be careful not to step inside the circle , as you might enter the fairy Realm and you'll be stuck there for ever. 

FAERY FOOD-

YOU SHOULD LEAVE FOOD OUT FOR THE FAIRIES AS  A OFFERING  & GIFTS. IN SOME COUNTRIES, THE LOCAL FAERIES,, WILL BECOME ANGRY IF FOOD IS NOT LEFT AND THEY WILL CURSE THE HOME. IF MILK IS SPILLED YOU SHOULD NOT WORRY ABOUT IT. JUST THINK  IT IS AN OFFERING FOR THE FAIRIES, - THEY DON'T WORRY ABOUT SUCH THINGS- AT LEAST HERE IN THE US. 

FAERIE KIN-

Faerie kin can be divided into numerous classes or races. Faerie is a term for many different beings usually possessing strong magical powers. Many fairies have a human form but some have a animal  form too. They use these forms even now.

THE REALM OF FAERIE-

Where is the faerie realm? It is position is elusive. It is sometimes just over the horizon and sometimes beneath our feet! Yet there have been periods when faerie were to be in a  actual geographical place, it a parallel world, although even this has tended to shift a times. For instance, the Welsh first though it was to the north of their mountains, that had a faerie. And then in the mysterious rocky and misty west peninsular of Pembrokeshire coast. Later it moved to an island lying in the Irish channel of the Pembrokeshire coast. It was seen sometimes by sailors, & even landed on but would then disconcertingly and disappear. never the less, its Fae inhabitants were said to be frequent visitors to the markets of Laugharne and Milford Haven Avalon is probably the most famous of Fae islands.

    ~The final step in attracting faeries to come to your garden is very simple. Ask them to come to your garden. If you give conscious energy to this event, it will happen. And most of all BELIEVE.

I hope these photos and helpful hints that I've used through the years of having a hummingbird garden and faeries come visit my garden will help all that love the faerie realm - And the little jewels of the sky -

The Hummingbirds
Wendy~
Note: At the bottom of the page is Rosy my 
wild hummingbird friend-

Tips From the Garden-Drought-Tolerant-Gardening

Tips from the Garden-

Drought-Tolerant-Gardening

For today's tips from the Garden, I thought I would give some good tips for the oncoming summer, which I have heard that it might be a hot and dry one due to the climate change and because of all the intense weather we all have heard all over the world+the US. Also, I haven't done one of my Tips-from-the-Garden in quite a while. So in this post I will conquer the challenges of blooming a beautiful garden in either a backyard or porch in the Southwest or other dry regions. And it might even be here in the Northwest too, because of the climate changes too. 

First-you must choose the right plants when it comes to maintaining a Drought Tolerant Garden. These would be the type that live in an environment, that's a very dry region or is having a drought due a very hot summer. I did come with a few different drought tolerant plants that you could use in your gardens that I will write down for you all...
So here are a few of the plants you might think about:
Cactus -  'The Santa Rita Prickly Pear & The Tough Succulents like Agave.
Now -   For a little color in your Garden, you could try the 'Red Yucca' or the 
'Firecracker Penstemon (which is a hummingbird favorite).
Not only can these plants survive and thrive in the full desert sun, they can also withstand those freezing night temperatures that can get down to the teens. You should also check your local nursery on which is the best plants that will grow in your area.
Here is a list that works well in drought areas for Gardens;
*Yellow Columbine
*Bunny Ears Cactus
*Indian Paintbrush
*Green-flowered hedgehog cactus
*Russian Sage
*Tevas Blue Sage
*Wine Cup
*Agastache 
Troubleshooting with the Dry Soil- 
First of all, you need to figure out what the soil is like in your yard or what you can find to put  in your pots. Why?because usually  in Drought Tolerant Gardens, the soil tends to have high PH & low organic matter in your soil. What you'll need to do in helping the high PH levels & low organic matter in the soil is... Adapting the soil to these dry regions, which is so very important for your Garden to produce blooms or vegetables. One the best ways to help these

Challenges of the arid soil are by adding compost in small portions. [I have done a post all about composting and will put the link to it after this for you all to make your own compost bins. It is very easy to do. I myself have been doing it for years and just yesterday empty in out half way and got lots of great organic dirt and saved all my red worms for all the rest of the food scraps that will put in there]http://wendyjargonncom.blogspot.com/search/label/Tips%20From%20the%20Garden%7EComposting.
How you don't want to overdue on the compost because adding too much can lead to root rot. The dry soil is not used to the organic matter and you have to do this slowly. It can also lead to floppy growth, whereas mulching conserves moisture and suppresses weeds. Another idea would be putting rocks and gravel around the plants. In doing this It will also help prevent soil erosion. Note: I have been using compost soil for many years, so once you get the hand of how to use the moist dirt, then you can use it more often in most of all your potted  plants like I have done for the last 19years. 
Dealing with the Drought Type Garden-

As for watering in a Drought area, it's easy to take a wrong turn when watering your drought garden. You could either water too much or too little. To make sure your plants get the optimal amount of water, set up a drip irrigation, which allows moisture to seep slowly into the soil down deep into the roots. A drip irrigation system can be as simple as a punctured garden hose or milk jug. How to make your own; 

Here is a good link  birdandblooms.com/diymilkjug

Desert Gardens can be tricky, but not impossible.

I hope that you find some good tips for Gardening for

The upcoming spring and summer. 

Love you all 

Your Friend Always

WENDY