MinxterBLOOM

gardening for the most excellent Pam Kueber at RetroRenovation  Here is the second article I wrote for her on mid century MODEST landscaping:  climbers.  First paras are here; then follow this link to full article on to her website.

Ted Cleary of  Cleary Design emailed me after the hybrid tea roses article. We are both glad that roses as a landscape “tool” are coming back.  Let’s look at one of the easiest ways to use a rose in your Mid-Century Modest landscape: climbers and ramblers.

But first, what canvas will you place a rose against? The canvas is composed of your home and the green “stuff” near the foundation and close-in yard.

Backdrop Canvas

First, two words on architecture:  tight and loose.  Look at the tight residues of line-inspired landcaping from the 50s and 60s in the photo above.  See also the loose instinct of the 90s – present here also in the “waving” perennial border.  The original foundation beds next to the house under the windows are rectangles.  Azaleas planted in the 50s remain. Gone are the hugely overgrown Forsythia bushes that dwarfed both front windows.  To the left of the house is a huge, horizontal holly bush, also from the 50s.

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In other news, heeled in 12 rose slips (I AM INSANE but a rose mania, like other plant obsessions, is surely forgivable).  Will be moving in spring and the plant prep and triage begins.