Garden Photo of the Day

Catherine’s everchanging garden in Virginia

The fish pond with water lilies and an overhanging weeping blue atlas cedar.

Todays photos are from Catherine Jamieson in Arlington, Virginia. She says, “I’ve lived here for 36 years and had a wonderful gardening mentor who lived next door in the early years. She helped me plan for the long term and I’ve been at it ever since.

I love mirrors in the garden! Cryptomeria, ‘Chindo’ viburnum, ‘Vanderwolf’ pine.

The gardens have been through all sorts of transformations and I plan to continue to grow with the gardens. I’m a retired psychologist who got involved with the National Garden Clubs in retirement. My formal landscape and gardening training have been through their programs and last year I qualified as a Landscape and Gardening Consultant.

Front view of the pond, including the stone heron who keeps the live herons away. Note another mirror under the Japanese maple. The low fences are training devices to keep my two big Labs out of the pond and beds. The fences were there from the time they were tiny pups and they still respect the boundaries even though they can easily step over them.

I definitely think about my gardens in “rooms” or sections and they each have a different feel for me. I write a blog every now and again about landscaping with dogs because I think people imagine that you can’t have both dogs and a “nice” garden. Our two big Labs share the space successfully and freely.

Pinus parviflora ‘Fukuzimi’, which will grow down over the boulders. The low fences here serve to remind dog walkers that there are better placed to “get busy” than in my garden.

I’ve been playing with mirrors a great deal and am enjoying the reflective aspects throughout the garden. I also like to play with sculpture and whimsey and there have been plenty of times when I’ve gone way overboard. I often need an editor. As they say, I live in the garden and just sleep in the house.”

Beautiful, Catherine! I’m especially in love with your metal edging barriers–they’re all so pretty!

Side border fence, custom designed and forged wrought iron twigs and leaves, with Clematis ‘Etoile Violette’

Keep sending in photos of your gardens, everyone!

East side allee with bay laurels, ‘Green Giant’ and ‘Spring Grove’ thujas, ‘Nelly Foster’ holly, ‘Zuni’ crape myrtle.
Note another mirror behind the ‘Acoma’ crape myrtle brinks. Variegated vine that drapes over the lighted Japanese lantern is fallopia.
The structure behind the pond is a dog kennel.

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Comments

  1. perenniallycrazy 08/13/2014

    Gorgeous Catherine! So many interesting trees and shrubs. I especially love the weeping blue atlas cedar.

    Talk about having your cake and eating it too =).

  2. User avater
    meander_michaele 08/14/2014

    I have to confess, Catherine, I am completely captivated by how your weeping 'Blue Atlas' cedar almost seems to be a giant water bird as it reaches out towards your stone heron...a beautiful mirroring of elements. And speaking of mirrors, your use of them in the garden makes for some fun and unexpected views...ha, although, come to think of it, I'm not sure I'd want to catch sight of myself when I'm in worker mode....which is almost always. That's why I loved and so identified with your last sentence!

  3. user-1020932 08/14/2014

    my kind of garden,,,,,,,my kind of plants / i would live there as well. i loved everything about your garden

  4. NCYarden 08/14/2014

    What a stimulating garden - eye candy everywhere. I love the tremendous mix of plants. This is a great space - I'm surprised you don't sleep out there as well.

  5. Spring_y 08/14/2014

    Everything in this garden is so beautiful and I simply love the fences; they're striking.

  6. greengenes 08/14/2014

    Beautiful pool setting! Its all so great! Year round interest for sure, Catherine. They say that gardening is therapy. We all need a little or a lot of that! Job well done! Yes, we all live in our gardens and go in the house to sleep! Thanks for sharing with us! Happy gardening!

  7. User avater
    Tim_Zone_Denial_Vojt 08/14/2014

    Wonderful. After the great garden, I am struck by the cool, custom metal fence. Thanks for sharing.

  8. user-7007145 08/14/2014

    Lovely!!! I can see all the joy!!

  9. User avater
    HelloFromMD 08/14/2014

    Hi Catherine,
    I belong to a federated garden club in Maryland. So nice to get to know other gardeners. I love your mature garden with the conifers and Japanese maples. I especially like the stone walls before the fish pond. I agree with Michelle that your iron fences are lovely and really enhance your garden. Tell us more about your labs. Do they have their own spot of shade and area to dig?

  10. arthurb3 08/14/2014

    Beautiful!

  11. GrannyMay 08/14/2014

    Catherine I love the beautiful fence "reminders" placed strategically here and there. Yes, dogs will respect boundaries once they have been taught to do so. Also love the side fence with the stone steps and the clematis, the east side evergreen allee, the glimpses of reflection, the weeping cedar over the pond, and in my favourite photo, the jungle look of the cryptomeria, viburnum and pine! My dog and I would by happy to live in your garden too!

  12. sheila_schultz 08/14/2014

    I love your gardens Catherine. They are not only beautiful, they have a peace about them... and each of your fences are works of art. You obviously know some very talented artisans.

  13. annek 08/14/2014

    Your gardens are so lush and full. I loved seeing all the different textures and shades of green. Your plantings flow so well and certainly show your skill at design. The metal fence barriers and the lovely stone edging adds beautiful detail. You are a true garden artist!

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