Today we’re visiting Nancy Ridenour’s garden in Ithaca, New York.
When I moved into this home in 1973, it had very few gardens. The front yard had some established trees, and the backyard was a flat lawn with a marsh and cattails. Over the years, I transformed the yard into my own work of art that I call my “pocket of peace.” The yard is only 100 by 400 feet, but it has transformed into something unique that speaks of a garden much larger.
In 1980, I had the swimming pool filled in, using soil dug from the marsh in the backyard. The pool was directly behind the house and in disrepair. Over the years, I amended that garden with several perennials, some bushes, bulbs, and two walkways from stones found around the property. I also added two large sculptures to the garden that I made from flexible copper tubing. Some failures included not keeping up with the changing light conditions, resulting in plants such as clematis not doing well. The squirrels consumed most of the tulip bulbs, so I lost many. I had ordered many parrot tulip bulbs from Holland and have only a few left. Very expensive meals!
I had the pond re-dug and sculpted, which produced a large pond and three berms that gave the yard a unique topography. This photo shows a wide view of one of the berms.
The formation of berms lent interest to the backyard and allowed more plantings than would have been possible in the original flat yard. One reason for the pond digs was to remove cattails that competed with the lotus. This year, I had to have more excavation because the nonnative yellow iris took over the edge of the ponds and started to compete with the lotus. I need to keep better watch as to what plant is taking over the others in the gardens.
About 20 years ago, I planted six lotus plants (Nelumbo nucifera, Zones 4–8) in the pond. There are now over 500 plants that flower in the summer and provide a destination for many garden tours. I was introduced to the lotus while living in Laos, so finding it growing in Ithaca was a real treat.
Lotus is my favorite flower in the gardens and gives me great pleasure to watch and to photograph. It has been the major subject for my work.
In the backyard, I transformed a section of the lawn into a Zen garden, with gravel and a sculpture, along with a concrete bench. One failure has been that I did not treat any of the copper, and some pieces oxidized to a black patina.
A daylily (Hemerocallis fulva, Zones 3–9) blooming on one of the berms. Since I grew up in a florist family, I have been gardening since my teen years. Gardens were a strong focus for 4-H projects. My present gardens have been a wonderful connection to my past and my family. Over the years, the garden has been my artistic expression with both plants and artwork.
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Comments
I love everything about all of it...As gardeners we can all relate to planting the wrong thing in the wrong place...I can also relate to gardening being a connection to our past, and past family members now gardening elsewhere.
Nancy, thank you for showcasing two star plantings, which are each quite spectacular, although one quite exotic (Lotus) and the other so common (Daylily) we sometime overlook it. Great lessons from a garden made over 40 years.
What a magic garden Nancy, and your flower pictures are astonishing.
Nancy - I loved reading your gardening story. Your triumphs are marvelous and I empathize with your disappointments. Thank you for sharing your garden and photography with us.
What an amazing transformation. Thank-you for sharing.
That's a fabulous garden, and that lily pond must be nice for wildlife like dragonflies, frogs, birds...So beautiful!
I found your Pinterest page and added you!
I love your photography, and garden!
That is the perfect garden name for this garden Pocket of Peace!
What a transformation you have described. The photos of the lotus and daylily are really striking. Thank you for sharing. Curious what it looks like in other seasons....
Just a marvelous way to start my day! Your story, the transformation of your property, the beautiful photos have all put a smile on my face and energized my thinking. Do let us know what fall looks like for you and then how winter follows on and around your pond.
Yes, thank you for taking the time to share with all of us!
Love those berms.
What a paradise you've created - thank you for sharing your garden artistry. Stunning!
I absolutely love what you've done! Would love to visit next year ....
What a unique and exquisite garden you have created, Nancy!
The berms add so much interest...the lotus are breath-taking.
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