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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 proactive approach to her vegetable garden, fruiting trees and vines, as well as her Italian heritage.
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| | 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. | |
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| | Passion Flower 'Lavender Lady' | |
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| | 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. | |
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| | 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 were carefully calculated. All beds are on a drip irrigation system. Grapes, artichokes, persimmon, pear, plum, citrus, herbs and edible flowers all grow within reach. | |
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| | Our design also accommodated Barbara's two miniature Italian Greyhounds. Gemma wants to know what's in the basket? | |
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| | Keeping an eye on the salvia that the humming birds adore. | |
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