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The Pinkshell azalea, Rhododendron vaseyi, in bud beside Chanticleer's Pond Garden.
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Continuing our tour of
Chanticleer this week, we come to the
Pond Garden. Once you descend the
Gravel Garden's substantial slope, you come to the low point on the estate property. This is the perfect place for ponds and surrounding woodland.
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| The pump house for the ponds set amongst the shrubbery. |
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| At the top of the ponds is a wide grassy area and perennial border that will soon be filled with oriental poppies and blue irises. |
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| Iris, cattails, and bog plants of all sorts crowd the bank near the early-blooming Pinkshell azalea, Rhododendron vaseyi. If you are interested in azaleas and rhodedendrons, you will be happy to explore all of Chanticleer: their inventory list contains seven full pages of Rhodedendron species and cultivars! |
While it is easy to spend lots of time perusing the water plants, you will also be greeted with quite a show when you begin to examine the woodland surrounding these ponds in April...
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| Primula, Phlox stolonifera and azaleas rambling throughout the woods near the Pond Garden. |
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| Pink Rhododendron vaseyi and other flowering shrubs are surrounded by a carpet of woodland phlox, including Phlox stolonifera 'Sherwood Purple'. |
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| A copper beech tree (Fagus sylvatica) has new red leaves that are dotted along with the red blooms of Calycanthus floridus 'Michael Lindsey'. |
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| Rhododendron vaseyi, Bergenia cordifolia, and Phlox stolonifera 'Sherwood Purple'. |
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| Paved paths circle the ponds and give you a look into the surrounding woodland and exposed bedrock - it is all covered in flowers. |
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| Mr. Turtle was enjoying a beautiful April day in his luxuriant home. |
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| Perennial borders flow around this entire area, connecting the ponds right to the woodland. |
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| Pink candelabra Primula japonica bloom in a boggy place with the fluffy mounds of dwarf horsetail rush, Equisetum hymale. Iris, ferns and the large foliage of Asian Skunk Cabbage (Lysichiton camtschatcense) fill out this watery scene.
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Read more of the Chanticleer Series on WMG:
Beautiful! I love the blue phlox - it really stands out. The picture of the pathways with the exposed bedrock looks like something out of a fairy tale.
ReplyDeleteThe phlox was so beautiful... like a river through the woods. I love that rock too. :)
Delete~Julie
Love the phlox and primula. Every time you do a post on chanticleer I move it up on my list of must-see gardens.
ReplyDeleteGlad to help you out, Jason! :) I am really looking forward to going to Chanticleer again this year. I just want to soak it all in a bit more!
Delete~Julie
Phlox and Primula heaven. Many of these planting combinations could easily be transferred over to a small garden - it would not quite give the same effect but many of these plants are very worthwhile growing if you have the right conditions.
ReplyDeleteYou are right, Angie. I think even a few feet of woodland phlox would transform a small garden in springtime.
Delete~Julie
Such lovely plants, really taken with the phlox, such a good ground cover, maybe I could try some here.
ReplyDeleteIt does seem to covered quite a bit of ground in the shade. It would look great in your garden, Pauline! They use several varieties, all of which you can see on their inventory list.
Delete~Julie
Oh, it's so beautiful.. I dream of spring!!!!
ReplyDeleteThe scenes of this garden are so lovely!!!
Just what I needed to give me the strength to face another night of freezing temperatures---beautiful
ReplyDeleteWhen I look at the fabulous pictures in this series I feel like jumping in the car and heading to Chanticleer but I suspect spring hasn't found it's way to that garden yet either.
ReplyDeleteThis may be my favorite area with that cute pump house and that incredible pond....the drifts of woodland phlox are breathtaking.
ReplyDelete