The greeks like their oranges

 On our trip to Athens last year I took notice of the orange trees planted along public roadways. Not just in a few spots, but all over the city. Oranges were ripe and some were already on the ground. Oftentimes the orange trees were between sidewalk and building front or even sidewalk and road. Kinda cool to have an available snack at the ready any time they're ripe. Though with the minimal exhaust standards, not sure I'd find the oranges as tasty as rural, tropically-grown oranges.

The last photo below was taken over the fence at the new Acropolis Museum, just down the hill from the Parthenon. Inside the wall they were growing -- you guessed it -- orange trees. What museum grows and orchard?

Blyth's Song & Bird Gardens

 I've been on a lot of garden tours. More than the average Joe for sure. One of he most comprehensive and subtly fantastic residential gardens I've ever seen is on the KenTon Tour of gardens -- Blyth's Song 'N Bird Gardens in Tonawanda. Yes, it has an official name.

Located in a first-ring suburb, it's more city than suburb, but it's probably one of the larger lots - one half acre, all planted with meandering paths in a cottage garden style.

Vegetable gardens? Check. Cornfield? Check. Outbuildings & sheds? Check. Flower gardens? Check. Ponds? Check. Over-sized model trains? Check. Antique car? Check and mate!

It was a great garden to take in slowly just because there was so much to it. There are shade gardens, sun gardens, an orange and yellow garden, a huchera garden, grass paths, stone paths, gravel paths, and plank paths.

They participate in the KentTon garden tour, the National Garden Festival's Open Gardens, and have been generous enough to open their garden to bus tours. It just proves that graciousness and gardening go together like the three sisters -- corn, beans & squash.

If you get a chance to see this garden this coming year, it is worth the effort. It's located right on Delaware Road, it could not be easier to find.

A very full, but unassuming font yard. It's a narrow lot but VERY deep.

The urban cornfield.

Have you ever considered an antique car as garden ornament?

Just asking for some artist to paint it.

Meandering paths seem to go on forever.

My favorite garden feature -- a place for a nap.

Grass path and plank path intersection.

There are two trains this size. They don't run, they're just props.

In the back of the property, this pond sits in front of an old horse cart
and what looks like a blacksmith's shop.

A True Peace Garden

Back in August we visited Cecilienhof Palace, an English Tudor-style palace in Potsdam, Germany, not far from Berlin. This is where the Potsdam Agreement was negotiated, in July of 1945, and signed by Stalin, Truman & Churchill to end WWII. The Potsdam agreement settled the reconstruction of Germany, defined the borders of the entire Theater of WWII, included Germany's demilitarization, reparations and persecution of war crimes. Had to look some of this this up -- high school world history is so far back in my history at this point.

The conference was held here because Berlin was a shambles. This Palace, as with most palaces and large homes in Potsdam, were not damaged in the war. This palace in particular was sort of abandoned because, when it was built in 1917, the English Tudor style, inspired by English manor homes, was all the rage. You can imagine that, as WWII ramped up, all things English were on the outs and all things Germanic ruled.

It was built by Emperor Wilhelm II of Germany for his son, Crown prince Wilhelm. Compared to other palaces in the area, it's sort of understated.

Today it's a hotel, as well as a museum, with a couple tidy gardens surrounding it. In July of 2007, it hosted the G8 Summit, adding to it's pedigree as a meeting place for world leaders. It sits along beautiful Jungferesee Lake. Photo at top show he garden outside the hotel wing of the building.

Th entrance to the Museum portion of
the building.

We'd not planned a trip here specifically, but it was part of a bike tour we took through Potsdam which had us visiting many palaces, parks and gardens. Glad we did though. Hoe often do you get to stand in the same rooms and walk the same gardens as Stalin, Truman and Churchill?

Looking more at home in an English country-side setting, the massive house, with it's mass broken up with outcroppings, a courtyard, rooflines and sections, looked more like an English village.

The garden outside the restaurant.

The garden outside the restaurant.

Umm... anyone seen the hostas?

Seen at the Chelsea flower show. Can't quite imagine having this in my garden. To each his or her own.

Could Buffalo's biggest garden event happen in February?

The National Garden Festival could really use your support this year to help promote all the garden tours in the area, Open Gardens on Thursdays and Fridays, garden themed bus tours, talks & seminars and the Front Yard Contest between landscapers -- a complete makeover of an city block. And we'll be announcing a new kickoff event this year that you will NOT want to miss.

Heart in the Gardens is in recognition of all the gardeners that open up their gardens, yards and homes in the 14 different garden tours that take place between June and August. Nearly 900 gracious, big-hearted gardeners toil endlessly in their gardens almost year round, spending hundreds of dollars (and more) to be part of a garden tour. Generous members of the Western New York State Landscape & Nurseryman's Association make over an entire neighborhood -- (33 homes so far) for FREE! These are the real hearts in gardens.

Buffalo's known nationwide among gardeners for Garden Walk Buffalo. The National Garden Festival brings attention to ALL Buffalo Niagara's gardening assets and brings in more tourists and national media to benefit Buffalo and shed that rustbelt/snowbelt image. Attending the Valentines Day Hearts in the Gardens Fundraiser is one way YOU can help that effort.

The National Garden Festival does all this at no, or low, costs, with volunteers -- your financial support is always appreciated. Come to our Valentine's Day Fundraiser for great food, wine, beer and a silent auction of garden-based gifts and more.

It'll be the hottest place in Buffalo in February!

A formal garden in an informal world

Next year, if you have the chance, you've gotta' check out the KenTon Garden Tour (a first ring suburb of Buffalo). There are many great gardens on the tour -- including this formally laid out relatively new garden. It's hard to believe they fit this much structure, plant material and charm all in one small urban garden. The young couple living here were very proud of the garden AND the thought they put into it. I was very impressed.

The fairly unassuming driveway leads to to the hidden back yard garden.
The lattice fence dividers force and purposely placed pots force you to weave through to the back.

Looking back down the driveway to the road.

 At the end of the driveway, this lattice "wall" stops you, forcing you to go to the right.
You can see the white garden shed beyond. More on that in a second...

 And this is what you see to the right. Nice, huh? From this angle, it doesn't look too formal a layout.

As you stand directly behind the house, this is the view. Garden areas or
"rooms" are off to the left and right of this central path.

This shows the area behind the fence that was at the end of the driveway.

Looking back toward the driveway. Cripes. I need a backyard schematic for this garden!

The garden shed is a room with desk and daybed and french doors!

Behind the shed is this grilling/dining area.

And off the dining/grilling area, behind the garden shed is this compact potting area. Genius.

The dining area by the grill -- complete with topiary mural paintings.

Opposite the central path from the grill/dining area is a small sitting area with bench.

From any angle the garden looks lush and full and NOT formal.

Next year, I have to visit again to get more pictures looking back toward the house.

With anemones like these, who needs friends?

Mid-November these anemone were still going strong. It took them a few years to establish themselves enough to get to this point. Now I have to move them. This is smack-dab exactly where I want to put my new water fountain (details here). Now I not only have to find a new spot, but may have to wait for them to re-establish themselves to get back to this size & loveliness. We're not spending time in the backyard in November, maybe I'll replant them in the front yard so they can be admired appropriately by the public.

Barking up the right River Birch tree

I love my river birch tree. It's planted too close to the house (requiring diligent pruning), it's grown to almost completely shade my vegetable garden (requiring rethinking what vegetables get grown), it is in the way of the hot tub "mechanicals" (requiring contortionist-like skills for any hot tub repairs) and it drops friggin' leaves like it was made from them.

But how can you not like this bark?