Living in historic homes means caring for, respecting the past. But making the place work for today. It also can mean wresting with huge challenges of parts of the past we find appalling today.
Jenks discusses gardens he’s designed for today on site from Antebellum to Mid-Century Modern. Enjoy slides, stories of wresting with the past.
And get a peak at his new book, which describes modern life on his families 1750 era farmstead near Aiken SC.
When I first meet with the owners of Blue Poppy Farm, we stood surrounded by endless turf. They said, “We ride the horses into the woods around here and it’s so beautiful out there. ” Can you make this look more like that?” The transition will take years. The long term goal includes Sandhills meadow… Read More
There’s a patch of paper whites and snow drops in our pasture that’s older than I am. Just behind the little shed that’s been pony shed, goat shed and now donkey shed. Those are the kinds of bulbs I want in my gardens. From a practical stand point, because they come back, they thrive and… Read More
Mixing old farming with new scientific understandings, we use soil building plants, composting, no-till gardening to constantly build our soils. Mixed into our organically managed lily farm fields, veggies, flowers and fruit trees do work — and add taste and food to the life of our farm (and our farm crew and family).
In our garden design business, we use many of the same techniques to build soils in backyards, tiny courtyards, urban parking lots and even rooftop gardens. Join Jenks for a look at how good soil building practices on the farm can be transferred to home gardens.
In our fields and gardens, we have some crinum lily in flower from April first all through the summer all the way to mid November. A different lily for every month. In our book, Gardening With Crinum Lilies 3, there’s nifty chart showing what flowers when. Always for the beginning of July, we have a… Read More
In the 1920’s, architecture and gardens changed a lot. Some people, rich people especially, began to incorporate modern conveniences into house and gardens of traditional styles. In Columbia, an entrepreneur built his dream house. It’s in a style that was popular in more industrial cities and in England. It was of a style that looked… Read More
“Over the past decades, our plant pallet changed in ways other than you might expect. Plant explorers and breeders bring new plants into nurseries. They, as well as garden designers, decorators and all sorts of cultural leaders, become the tastemakers, slowly changing which plants we can get hold of…..One slow, huge change, tracks our shift… Read More
I’d like to introduce you to three fellas who keep our website running. They are important in our life. And in your life too. Without the guys who do tedious, frustrating and creative web stuff, I couldn’t focus on growing good bulbs, nor could you read about or buy them for your garden. What’s behind… Read More
When a horticulturist (or anyone) comes up with a new plant, they get to name the plant. Older, more genteel generations named plants to honor their wives or Alma-matter. Think of Azalea ‘Mrs. G.G. Gerbing’ or ‘Clemson Spineless’ Okra. When I found a special crinum, I got my first chance at naming. Decades ago, I’d… Read More
