“When I discovered a new plant, I sat down beside it for a minute or a day, to make its acquaintance and hear what it had to tell… I asked the boulders I met, whence they came and whither they were going.” ~John Muir (Scottish-American naturalist, environmental philosopher, and advocate for wilderness preservation ; 1838-1914)
Hear, see, and enjoy the harmony and beauty of a “rock concert” in your own garden even in the coldest months of the year!
Gladly shared by Betty Hanselman Gardener’s wife (& garden aesthete
This beautiful Japanese Black Pine (“Thunderhead” variety) is being prepared for an out-of-state delivery. We look forward to seeing pictures after it is settled into its new home–a modern courtyard garden.We are honored to be able to share the delight of trees we have shaped and nurtured with clients outside of our locale! Gratefully shared by Betty HanselmanGardener’s wife
“What a severe yet master artist old Winter is…. No longer the canvas and the pigments, but the marble and the chisel.” ~John Burroughs (American naturalist and essayist in “The Snow-Walkers,” 1866)What artwork are you enjoying in your garden this winter? Now, during the last cold, leafless month of winter, can we help prepare your garden so that your garden is a masterpiece in every season? We’d love to hear from you! (717-653-1273)Gladly shared by Betty Hanselman Gardener’s wife (& all-season garden art advocate)
In 2002, at a Holly Society of America board meeting, someone suggested selecting a “Holly of the Year” as a way of introducing stand-out Holly varieties to the public, while introducing the Holly Society to growers and nursery owners. To be named “Holly of the Year”, a Holly would need to be available at a wide range of nurseries, easy to grow, and hardy in a number of USDA hardiness zones.
A year later, the “Holly of the Year” honor was given to the Ilex opaca ‘Satyr Hill’ (commonly known as the ‘Satyr Hill’ Holly). According to the Holly Society, the very first Holly of this type was discovered as a volunteer seedling and was developed by Stewart McLean at McLean Nurseries near Baltimore, Maryland. (Interestingly, the ‘Satyr Hill’ Holly received its name from the road on which the nursery is located!)
This beautiful Holly provides year-round interest with glossy, dark-olive evergreen leaves, tiny white flowers in the spring, and large, bright red berries which remain on the plant all winter long–until Robins eat them in the spring. (In its favor, this Holly is attractive to songbirds but not to deer.) The ‘Satyr Hill’ is a wonderful landscape plant and can be used as a striking specimen or grouped with other plants at the back of a mixed border. It is a vigorous grower with a compact, upright habit. It is hardy in zones 5 through 9, does well in full or partial sun, and can tolerate average soil as long as there is good drainage.
In addition to its value as a garden plant, the brilliant red berries, glossy green foliage, and longevity of the ‘Satyr Hill’ Holly make it an attractive choice for use in wreaths and other cut holiday arrangements. (In fact, I often use ‘Satyr Hill’ Holly clippings for our family’s Advent wreath.) For its many delightful qualities, we heartily recommend the ‘Satyr Hill’ Holly variety for your landscape.–Contributed by Betty HanselmanGardener’s wife (& evergreen ‘clip artist’)2
THE GLORY OF A WINTER DAY” In the rush of early morning, When the red burns through the gray, And the wintry world lies waiting for the glory of the day….”~Louisa May AlcottMay the glory of this winter day bring you joy! Gladly shared by Betty HanselmanGardener’s wife (& winter morning celebrant)
My use of the term ‘sense of place’ includes the ‘link to the site’ concept where advantageous, and the creation of a unique place with character strong enough to yield a separate memorable experience of natural beauty, especially where surroundings are relatively featureless (or worse). There are natural places that impressed me strongly, some more than 40 years ago; their character or ‘sense of place’ remains distinct in my memory, forming a lexicon of images which inform mood in my gardens. Similar to the creators of the original Japanese gardens, I am moved to discover the potential natural beauty latent in the combination of site, space, and materials available to me. I do my best to communicate this insight in a way that evokes a sense of belonging in an increasingly insipid, placeless, and impersonal landscape.How about your garden and home surroundings? Do they evoke a feeling of belonging and reflect the uniqueness of your location? If not, we invite you to call us to discuss how we might partner with you to bring beauty and a ‘sense of place’ to your outdoor spaces. Our number is 717-653-1273. We look forward to hearing from you and partnering with you! Contributed by James HanselmanGardener (and ‘sense of place’ advocate)
