We’re back today with Sharon Danovich Lupone, visiting her garden in Pittsburgh, where she likes to create spaces that remind her of her favorite gardens in places like Charleston, South Carolina.
On the back patio, the brick wall is decorated with intricate ironwork and a planter mounted on the wall.
A water feature Sharon designed is a centerpiece of the patio area. The water surface is decorated with floating water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes, Zones 10–11 or as an annual). Water lettuce is a great addition to water gardens as an annual in cold climates, but it shouldn’t be grown in frost-free zones, as it can become a serious invasive weed.
This climbing rose (looks like the variety ‘Fourth of July’) was trained to grow up the ironwork on the patio.
And this Euonymus (Zones 5–9) was trained up the brick wall. If you look carefully, you can see the guide wires that are there to train the euonymus along. Once it is all filled in, it will produce a diamond pattern of green against the bricks.
A joggling board sits on the patio. If you have never heard of joggling boards, you are not alone. They are a Charleston, South Carolina, specialty and are somewhat like rocking chairs; instead of rocking back and forth, however, they joggle from side to side.
A smokebush (Cotinus coggygria, Zones 5–9) by the patio is covered with the clouds of airy seed heads that give it its common name.
A long shot of the patio area
The patio stairs, leading down into the lower back garden
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Comments
Love your water feature & that smokebush.
So pretty. Patio area is to die for:)
Your euonymus espalier is going to be amazing, I can see your vision of what it will become!
So surprised, as I scrolled down on the photo with the smoke bush to see it is huge, I was expecting some about 4 or 5 feet tall, what a great specimen.
And I just love the brick patio, fountain and seating area, so peaceful looking and if only we could hear the sound of the falling water.
Sharon - I adore your pond and brickwork. Thank you for sharing!
Loving the planter on the brick wall!
Sharon, If you like Charleston, SC gardens you should try growing osmanthus fragrans (common name: tea olive) in your garden. If you’re able to tuck it into a protected area it will be less likely to get frost damage and you will be delighted by its wonderful fragrance when it blooms. I grow it in my Seattle garden, zone 8b and it graces us with blooms (and fragrance) in the fall.
Sharon, you have truly created gardens that evoke the Charleston spirit - I admire your creativeness and adventurousness in making gardens call to mind those of a more southern hardiness zone! You had a dream and have made it happen - in spades! Congrats!
So refined and lush. A beautiful oasis.
Just when I thought your garden couldn't get any better, we see these beautiful spots. You have impeccable taste!
Oh so charming and lush! Love all the wall pieces on the brick and would love to see how the euonymus fills out! Simply lovely!
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