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When
I met Barbara she informed me she had a degenerative spinal disease
that would put her in a wheelchair in the not so distant future. She had
always been an avid gardener and when she purchased her retirement home
she immediately started in on the garden by installing a large deck off
the kitchen with a roomy ramp. When it came to the ivy filled back
yard that surrounded the deck she decided to hire Green Alchemy to help
her put all her preferences in order. Aside from cultivating extravagant
hanging baskets and gorgeous bouquets of roses Barbara likes to
entertain and cook. Her cooking style is highly influenced by her
vegetable garden and fruiting trees and vines, as well as her Italian
heritage.
The
ramp drops you into the back garden where we designed a weave of paths
and island beds. Covered by a Silver Maple and a ancient Elm the gardens
dappled light plays with our additions of Francoa, Campanula,
Helleborus, Ferns, Periwinkle, Abutilon, Aquilegia, and all visitors. We
covered the arbor with Passion Flower 'Lavender Lady' and use it as the
transition point into the edibles area.
Passiflora 'Lavender Lady'
Typically
one bed of the vegetable garden is dedicated to tomatoes. Barbara
experiments with different varieties every year and seeds imported
directly from heritage Italian vendors often find there way to this
home.
The
raised beds we designed were framed with a bench style surround to ease
access. The surrounding ground was paved over to insure traction for
tight turns. The spacing and height of the beds was carefully
calculated. All beds are on a drip irrigation system. Grapes,
artichokes, persimmon, pear, plum, citrus, herbs and edible flowers all
grow within reach.
Our design also accommodated Barbara's two miniature Italian Greyhounds. Gemma wants to know what's in the basket?
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