Tag Archives: Cosmos

Chanticleer, A Pleasure Garden

Posted on October 23, 2023 by Dallas Garden Buzz

October 23, 2023

My heart is beating fast just thinking back to my four hours at Chanticleer in September. The history of the garden is interesting because without philanthropic foundations like Chanticleer’s, we wouldn’t have the opportunity to visit such awe inspiring gardens. This historical information is taken from their website.

The Chanticleer estate dates from the early 20th-century, when land along the Main Line of the Pennsylvania Railroad was developed for summer homes to escape the heat of Philadelphia. Adolph Rosengarten, Sr., and his wife Christine built their country retreat in 1913, remodeling and expanding to make it a permanent residence in 1924. In 1990 following the death of Adolph Jr., the entire Chanticleer estate was set up as a foundation for the education and enjoyment of the public.

Thirty five acres are open for exploration.

Map of Chanticleer Garden

The teacup garden, named for this fountain is reinvented every year. This year’s design was taken from historic Persian gardens with silver and variegated plants. See Starla on the left in focus!
I am not sure the name of this garden but loved the yellow foliage and the large leaves of the banana below.
Asparagus for days! A truly inspiring asparagus border located next to the vegetable garden.
The ruin garden, notice the firestick plant in front, flanked by cactus, agave and euphorbia and an espaliered magnolia holding up the wall(so to speak).
The dry garden reminiscent of a Mediterranean garden and also looking very Texan. This garden of agaves and Yucca rostrata with many self -sowers, like Mexican feather grass, echinacea, poppies and asters; faces the same challenges we have at Raincatcher’s. Edit, edit for beauty.

The Serpentine beds-an inventive way to celebrate agriculture. Sweet potatoes are planted in these large swaths and were recently harvested. Yes, sweet potatoes can be beautiful.

The great lawn below the main house, part of Minder woods, is planted with blue, purple and orange flowers. Cosmos, Zinnia ‘Queen Lime Orange’ and asters, Russian Sage and blue salvias along with lusty dahlias.

My favorite pot with an other-worldly bromeliad, brownish-green Hoffmannia roezlii, caladiums and purple at its feet. I couldn’t name all the plants but plan to have this in my garden someday.

Ann Lamb, Dallas County Master Gardener Class of 2005

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Sunny Yellow Flowers For Fall Beauty From Raincatcher’s

Posted on October 15, 2018 by Dallas Garden Buzz

Our yellow flower tour starts as the cheerful yellow daisy like flowers of zexmenia welcomes visitors to the garden.  It is hard to go wrong with this native plant. Zexmenia asks little beyond a sunny spot with a bit of room to spread.  Butterflies and bees are frequent visitors to the lasting display of clear yellow flowers.

Zexmenia

One need not go far to see the bees enjoying the fuzzy round blooms of the golden lead ball tree. This small tree, native to Texas, has been blooming for months.  The flowers are a bit out of the ordinary and always attract attention.

Fall is the time for the tall yellow cosmos to shine. It is true the tall plants may fall over in wind and rain and it can be over ambitious in seeding itself.  But, no plant is perfect and isn’t it a happy sight? It is well worth overlooking a few things—and bees and butterflies really do love it.

The fast growing well adapted argentine senna is literally covered in lovely yellow flowers.  Some sennas bloom for a short time and seed out to an alarming degree. This one doesn’t. The flowers last for a long time and seeding is not a problem.  If that isn’t enough to make it a favorite—it is also a host plant for those pretty yellow sulfur butterflies.

This yellow rose is part of the trials to try and find plants that resist rose rosette disease.  Let’s all think positive for this little plant with flowers in such a delicate shade of yellow.

Esperanza cannot be left out of any list of favorite yellow flowers.  This plant was almost given up for lost in the Spring—what a come back it seems to have more bright yellow flowers than it has leaves.

Don’t forget that vegetables can be as pretty as they are delicious.  This yellow okra flower is a perfect example.

If your garden could use a little sparkle or if you want to do more to provide the nectar pollinators need to live,  add some , or all, of these lovely yellow and you will do both.

You can see all of these plants at Raincatcher’s garden at Midway Hills Christian Church.  Garden work is on Tuesday mornings and you are always welcome.

Susan Thornbury

Pictures by Starla Willis

 

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What I Like About August

Posted on August 19, 2014 by Dallas Garden Buzz

Walking through our hot, August garden last week, here are some of the things I saw and loved:

Cosmos Growing High into the Sky

Cosmos Growing High into the Sky

Garlic Chives in Bloom

Garlic Chives in Bloom

And from my garden at home:

Orderly Okra

Orderly Okra

The tag that came with this plant reads:

Okra, Jing Orange

60 days. sun. drought tolerant. Lovely pods area deep reddish orange and quite colorful. This Asian variety produces lots of flavorful 6″pods. Unique. Pick pods when young and tender. (I recommend picking at  1.5-2″)

For an okra recipe you will love, click here.

For more about what’s blooming in August, click here.

Ann

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