June 18, 2008

Step into my sunken garden

Outside my kitchen door, on the front side of my house, is a courtyard that I call the sunken garden, thusly named because of an area that you step down into.  The sunken garden receives sunlight most of the day and it’s a really great spot to grow heat-loving plants.  When it’s warm enough in the spring, the gardeners move these specimens out of the greenhouse, where they survive the winter, as they are native to tropical and subtropical climates.
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Welcome to my sunken garden.
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This is a cycad.  Often confused with palms or ferns, cycads are related to neither.
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The cycads are under-planted with colorful oxalis. 
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A colorful aloe – There are hundreds of species of this succulent, known for its medicinal effects.
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Agave Celsii – Agaves are thought to be cacti, but they are not related.  They have thick and fleshy leaves, usually ending in a sharp needle-like point.
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Another agave – this one sends off hair-like fibers.
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This is an aloe Zebra
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A lovely sedum in the succulent family. 
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Francesa is posing at the base of a giant agave.  Did you know that tequila is distilled from the sap of the blue agave?
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The underside of this agave has a beautiful ‘embossed’ pattern.
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another agave
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and another agave
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A cement snail adorns a trough of succulent hens and chicks.
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a close-up of hens and chicks
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These are Bismarckia palms, native to Madagascar.  Their fronds can get up to 10 feet in diameter.
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More blogs from my garden:

The cole crops in my vegetable garden, some photos from yesterday

Posted Jun 17, 2008


Tomato Planting at the farm

Posted Jun 12, 2008


Come look at the photo gallery I created of the beautiful peonies at my farm!

Posted Jun 10, 2008


The rhubarb is thriving in my garden -- come take a look!

Posted Jun 8, 2008


Come join the garden tour at my house! I love reading your comments --  please leave one!

Posted Jun 5, 2008


A cocktail party with Emeril -- come see my photos! What do you think about our partnership?

Posted Jun 3, 2008


Bedford Garden Map

Posted Jun 1, 2008


I'm shopping for trees and plants -- come along!

Posted May 27, 2008


Come see the lilacs blooming at my farm - are yours blooming? Please leave a comment and let me know

Posted May 19, 2008


White Asparagus Update!

Posted May 12, 2008


Heirloom Seeds and Seed Exchanges

Posted May 12, 2008


More signs of spring! Please feel free to leave me a comment

Posted May 6, 2008


Lovely Muscari In My Garden

Posted May 5, 2008


The new groundcover beneath the allee of linden trees

Posted May 2, 2008


A trip to the 16th annual Garden Furniture Show -- come see my pictures!

Posted Apr 29, 2008


Growing Asparagus In My Vegetable Garden

Posted Apr 28, 2008


Nature's Trees University comes to Cantitoe Corners

Posted Apr 25, 2008


Planting weeping willows in honor of Earth Day

Posted Apr 24, 2008


More from the Bahamas -- Holey Farm

Posted Apr 23, 2008


Planting shallots in my garden

Posted Apr 21, 2008


Daffodils on my farm

Posted Apr 11, 2008


Springtime activity at the farm

Posted Apr 4, 2008


Begonias in my greenhouse, have a look at my photos!

Posted Mar 28, 2008


Voodoo Lily

Posted Mar 25, 2008


The kumquats in my greenhouse

Posted Mar 10, 2008


Witch Hazel and photos from the farm

Posted Mar 3, 2008


Compost Tea, how refreshing!

Posted Feb 29, 2008


Come see the pussy willows in and around my home!

Posted Feb 14, 2008


My Water Garden

Posted Feb 12, 2008


My Cacti Collection

Posted Jan 28, 2008


Trees in Winter

Posted Jan 24, 2008


My New Coldhouse!

Posted Jan 22, 2008


Winter Pruning of Blackcurrants

Posted Jan 18, 2008


My Staghorn Fern

Posted Jan 14, 2008


New Tabletops from a Fallen Sycamore Tree

Posted Jan 11, 2008


Winter Tree Pruning

Posted Jan 8, 2008


Seed-Starting Blocks

Posted Dec 28, 2007


Succulent Propagating

Posted Dec 27, 2007


Winter Cheer, Amaryllis

Posted Dec 15, 2007


Burlapping My Boxwoods

Posted Dec 12, 2007


Repotting my Boston Fern

Posted Dec 8, 2007


The Martha Stewart Orchid

Posted Dec 6, 2007


Jodi - my head gardener (and her gloves!)

Posted Dec 5, 2007


Forcing Narcissi

Posted Dec 1, 2007


My Boxwood Room

Posted Nov 30, 2007


Where in the world is Dan Hinkley?

Posted Nov 29, 2007


How to Move a Tree

Posted Nov 27, 2007


George Bridge and My New Boxwoods

Posted Nov 14, 2007


My Gingko Tree

Posted Nov 12, 2007


What is Celeriac? Also, a Great Recipe From my Chef Pierre

Posted Nov 8, 2007


What do You Know About Garlic?

Posted Nov 2, 2007


Carole King and Fall Blooming Perennials in Bedford

Posted Oct 26, 2007