Nancy Bellaire shares photos from the White Flower Farm in Connecticut.
“These are pictures of the Lloyd Border at White Flower Farm in Connecticut. It’s named for the late Christopher Lloyd, a great English gardener and author. The border was designed by Fergus Garrett, head gardener at Lloyd’s estate, Great Dixter. The border is 280 feet long and 20 feet wide and is composed of perennials, shrubs, grasses, annuals, and tender perennials. It is bordered by a slate walk and a hedge of European Beech provides the backdrop for the flowers. Dazzling color came from sunflowers, cannas, dahlias, and marigolds. Unusual plants like castor bean added to the drama of the border as well as the bold blue grasses. Magnificent and used plants most of us can grow!”
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Comments
From these photos one can see where you get the inspiration for your own gardens The 2nd & 3rd. areas in your recently submitted photos would blend into this garden perfectly. Thank you & good luck, Joe
Joe, you know how to make me smile from ear to ear.
I know that there is not just one correct way to do something in a garden but, oh, my, this sure looks plenty perfect to me. What a wonderful tribute to the legendary Mr. Lloyd. I adore that slate border as it allows the tumble of plant material to really stand out...giving an impression of controlled sumptuousness. Had to be such a treat to see this in person, Nancy. Lucky you!
Hi Michaele, I was in heaven! There were other borders at White Flower Farm, too. Gorgeous place. Everyone should go visit and you can go home with plants too since it is a nursery.
It was my best most exciting garden trip ever. My husband and I drove 4 hours to Wave Hill and toured for the afternoon. Magnificent gardens with a view of the Hudson Bay. Then we drove to Conn. and stayed overnight. We toured Hollister House ( which has been featured in Fine Gardening) for the morning, and then White Flower Farm for the afternoon. They are a 15 minute drive apart.
* Michaels, you could drive up from Tennessee and see Green Springs Garden in VA, then in Maryland Brookside Garden, visit me, and stay overnight. then go on to Penn. for a day or two for Longwood Garden, Winterthur, and Mt. Cuba (all near each other) and then head towards Philly to see Chanticleer. Stay over in Wayne, Pa (an adorable town) visit Chanticleer before heading to Wave Hill.
*Is everyone ready? All of you from Tenn, VA, MD and PA we hook up and make the grand East Coast tour. We could even wind up in Maine and get a tour of Coastal Maine Botannical Gardens by William Cullina! Sigh, an incredible Christmas wish.
Let me know if you make it happen! :)
Wow! That all sounds fun!
OMG Nancy... now that would be a tour!!!
Apparently Ohio doesn't make the cut. :(
Just teasing.
Let me include over the mountain and through the woods.
Thanks for the chuckle. I'll be singing that all the way home from work today!
Oh, wow, that sounds like an amazing and very tempting itinerary. By golly, if our dog gives us permission, maybe we'll make some, if not all of it, happen! Not to gross you out out but I always have a White Flower Farm catalogue in the bathroom for "reading" time...ha, there you go...officially too much information. Sounds like you really made the most of your trip to CT.
The hot colours of the cannas and dahlias really pop. I don't have success with these, so for me, this is a maintenance garden and not in my growing zones....but it sure is beautiful, and that slate strip is a lovely walkway/mow strip. Just beautiful!
Thanks for sharing your visit. This border just screams "English". Very beautiful.
I met the gardener from White Flower Farm who cares for the border. She said that they did have to edit a lot, since many of the original plants couldn't perform in Connecticut. So the cool thing about this border is that it screams US East Coast great garden plants done with the sophistication of English horticulture. Tim, there were marigolds in this border. I loved that, The despised marigold elevated to great art. There were patches of annuals throughout the border to provide constant color against the changing palette of perennials. Big bold plants brought right out to the edge, see through perennials, whatever techniques you read about in gardening articles were there to see perfectly executed. Imagine the effort the staff of White Flower Farms goes to keep that place with the spacious lawns, old trees and conifers and then the borders looking magnificent. Hats off to White Flower Farm!
That is such great information, Nancy. However unkind that it may sound, I love that some of the original plants failed, because it gave the gardeners the opportunity to reimagine the border, creating a regional showcase that is inspirational and attainable. (With lots of hard work!!)
This is my kind of garden. Exuberant, diverse and poetic!
Wow! Drooling.....
Beautiful! I do like the inclusion of shrubs and grasses and a roomy border where the edging plants can sprawl. Great photos Nancy!
Thanks Nancy for sharing these beautiful photos with us. I so love the english style. I was fortunate enough to go to see Dexter house and gardens and met Fergus and other gardeners then. Its a beautiful sight for sure! White flower farm seems quite inviting and full of ideas! Sounds like you had a wonderful day! Merry Christmas to you and everyone else!
Hi Jeanne, you lucky thing. Please tell us more. I am so into Christopher Lloyd. I have 3 of his books. A favorite being 'Color for the Adventuresome Gardener'. To see his beautiful estate in person, sigh. Did you take tons of photos If so,please share!
Hi Nancy... yes i was fortunate to be able to see many gardens through the "Coopersmith"garden tours. I purchased one of Christopher Lloyds signed books, read it and then donated it to a garden club auction. I wish i wouldnt have but i guess life is full of wishes of past regrets and so we have to move on. I also saw Beth Chattos gardens, Sisinherst and a few other less common ones. But they had so many old plantings, foundation plants, beautiful rock walls, hedges and great old trees. So many beautiful houses too. Their borders were so full of color and textures too. I really began to fall inlove with the hydrangeas while there. Well it is well worth seeing and learning about all the work involved. You have a wonderful Christmas Nancy!
Merry Christmas, Jeanne. How did you like Beth Chatto's gardens?
Hi again! Merry Christmas to you too! Beth Chattooga was my very favorite place. I do want to go back some time. So inspiring and the kind of plantings I like. I hear she put in a dry garden area which she had only talked about when I was there. You can go online and check it out I believe. But it is so worth seeing!
Now this is a post that has to be read and viewed over and over this winter... so much to take in with so many possibilities for our own gardens. Fun that they are using marigold's, it's such a happy annual and so carefree! I'm glad it's slowly but surely making a comeback along with zinnia's! Thanks Nancy ;)
LOVE! the full and overflowing beds. Great job!
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