Earlier this month, while I was in Massachusetts visiting my son, I took advantage of the fact that he had to work the day before his surgery, and took off, leaving Nigel in my dust, to visit Deanne Fortnam, who writes the blog
Fortnam Gardens. I knew that despite living and gardening in New Hampshire, Deanne had lots and lots (really lots) of Bromeliads, and as a new convert to tropicals like that, I was dying to see them (not to mention the rest of her garden). Fortunately, it wasn't far from where we were staying to Deanne's house. Thanks to the Google iPhone app, I found my way there easily.
She greeted me at the door and happily showed me around.
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| A white branch of her variegated Brugmansia |
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| Not a Cotinus -- amazingly, a Euphorbia! |
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| Euphorbia cotinifolia flowers |
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| Blue pots massed on the driveway, with a massive Furcraea as a centerpiece |
I looked up from those blue pots, across the front expanse of lawn, and gasped. The entire border pictured below is composed of potted tropical plants in hot colors (which if you've been reading my blog lately, I am right now highly enamored of). Some of these plants -- the red banana and the deeply veined elephant ear in particular -- are enormous, taller than me (I'm a shortie, but still).
I immediately fell in lust with that orange Bromeliad.
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| A match made in heaven |
The sun was bright that day, but that orange Bromeliad outshone it!
From there, we went around the right hand side of the house into the back garden, where this lovely patio, also surrounded by Bromeliads in pots, awaited.
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| Love those striations! |
Running along the back of the house is a shady border with this leaf casting, painted by Deanne. I learned later, while we sat eating lunch, that Deanne is an artist. Amazingly, she initially failed her certification because of a lack of color theory knowledge. I don't think she needs to worry about that any more.
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| These three lush Begonias hang just above. |
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| A sweet pond and waterfall which Deanne and her husband Doug built themselves |
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| Hey! I recognize that plant! I bought one last winter. |
To the right of the pond, another border full of potted tropical plants. This view is actually through her sun-room window. Imagine having that to look at as a view through your window!
This border in the back garden is the home of Deanne's Bromeliad tree, which I've read about on her blog. I wondered how it was made. Each Bromeliad was removed from its pot, the roots wrapped in moss and then wired to the tree. I don't have enough Bromeliads to make something like this, but some day...
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| A flowering Tillandsia tucked into the Bromeliad tree |
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| Touches of art everywhere -- and a good aphorism to keep in mind, since my son's surgery was coming up the very next day. |
Further back, under the tall trees is a shady area where Deanne has been fighting the predations of voles.
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| A fern among the Ligularia with an enormous mouthful of a name -- Athyrium filix-femina 'Cruciato cristatum' Dre's Dagger |
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| A charming garden shed |
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| I love the touch of "Old World" charm that this colorful, weatherproof art brings to the garden. When you turn your head, you can see the real thing, only better. |
Thank you, Deanne, for feeding me lunch and for being such a lovely and welcoming hostess! You must come to the PNW so I can repay the favor.
