News about The Home Depot Garden Club and Images of my Farm
NEWSFLASH! I just joined The Home Depot Garden Club! I’m very excited to become part of a community that loves gardening as much as I do. I can’t wait to share with the Garden Club my favorite planting ideas, photos, and recipes, and tips for using my Martha Stewart Living seed and tools from The Home Depot. With so much coming to life in my gardens, now is the perfect time to get started! Click here to find out more!
After returning from Morocco on Saturday, I went directly to a wedding in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. My publicist, Susan Magrino’s stepson, got married to a lovely bride. After returning to my home late that evening, I stayed put all day Sunday and got to enjoy the farm. Late in the afternoon, the sky was putting on quite a spectacular show for me and I grabbed my camera and took some amazing photos. Here they are for all of you to see and also updates from around the farm.
1 On Sunday afternoon, the skies over my Bedford farm were beautifully crazy, as photographed from my house terrace!
2 The clouds looked rather menacing, but there were still blue patches peeking through.
3 At one point, all that was green began to glow and the grass became a bright chartreuse.
4 A wonderful view looking east
5 A view looking towards my stable - The Cross River Reservoir is beyond in this direction.
6 Turning in the other direction, the sky revealed so much more blue.
7 Another view of the long pergola and the equipment barn beyond
8 In the vegetable garden - An early planting of spinach
9 Many varieties of peppers, all grown from seed were being planted.
10 Ryan, my gardener, planted an assortment of peas along the inside perimeter of the fence.
11 Each section of fence has a different variety of pea. This one is an edible pod snow pea.
12 Four different varieties of potatoes have also been planted in the vegetable garden. Potatoes grow from whole potatoes that have been cut into sections. Each section must have at least one eye.
13 Before planting, the cut edge must air dry and scar over. Otherwise, the potato section would simply rot in the soil.
14 Katahdin is a well-known Maine potato that has moist white flesh and thin skin - It is excellent when baked.
15 These potato sections have stems and roots and look quite ready for planting.
16 This is the perennial border alongside the vegetable garden. The white feathery flower is Aruncus dioicus - Goat's beard or bride's feathers.
17 What a gorgeous contrast of colors - purple allium, scarlet Oriental poppy, and fuchsia peony.
18 Here's a better look at that peony.
19 And another
20 These globe-like allium flowers are supported by very long stems.
21 A papery white peony
22 A huge salmon-pink Oriental poppy
23 Digitalis purpurea, or Common Foxglove - The heart medicine, digoxin, is extracted from various plants of this genus.
24 The bluish-purple bloom of a Japanese iris - This type of iris grows wild in Japan.
25 This is the shade garden next to the greenhouse. It is thick with hostas, ferns, and epimediums. The vine growing up the tree is a climbing hydrangea.
26 Aquilegia, or Columbine, are also interspersed in this shade garden.
27 Columbines are popular in cottage gardens and are sometimes referred to as 'Granny's Bonnet,' as the shape of the bloom resembles the mob caps old women used to wear.
28 The delicate looking columbine is actually quite a hardy perennial that grows for many, many years.
29 Lamium maculatum 'Variegatum,' or variegated spotted nettle - This ground cover's silvery-green foliage can really brighten up a garden bed.
30 A closer look at the beautifully patterned leaves of lamium
31 Last autumn, we experienced a hurricane and a freak October snowstorm and lost several trees. Ryan has been planting in those bare areas. A fir tree once grew here and now it's planted with a variety of different Soloman seal.
32 Here, Ryan is planting Triosteum himalayanum, a rather odd, herbaceous member of the honeysuckle family. It produces greenish-yellow flowers that turn into red fleshy fruit in late summer and autumn. This plant was found in China in 2000.
33 Here Ryan is planting a Tricyrtis ohsumiensis x flava, or a hybrid yellow toad lily.
34 In spring, the highly attractive leaves are shiny green with purple spots and mottlings. In fall, the plants produce large upward-facing deep yellow flowers. I can't wait for that!
35 This is the newest greenhouse at the farm where a large portion of my tropical plant collection was stored for the winter.
36 Those plants have all been moved outdoors. Next to the main greenhouse is my citrus collection and beneath the shade pergola are all the shade-loving tropicals.
37 The dump truck is used to move large tropicals.
38 And so is the loader of the John Deere.
39 A very large fig tree is set into position.
40 A bismarkia palm - These pots are really heavy!
41 The courtyard of my home has filled up nicely.
42 The tropicals have been well-positioned around the center focal point of the courtyard, an antique cement bird bath.
43 This area I call the 'sunken garden.'
44 Two phoenix roebelenii, or pigmy date palm, flank the walkway to the Summer House, which is where my library is.
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Congrats on joining The Home Depot Garden Club, looking forward to reading about your ideas and recipes. Gorgeous photos and beautiful flowers.
I can't wait to read your post about your trip to Morocco, a beautiful country rich in hospitality and culture.
Posted by: Rowaida Flayhan | June 5th, 2012 at 1:22 am
Ah yes, just waiting for my staff arrive to give instructions for planting the property.....ah yes here he is it's my husband
Posted by: Linda | June 5th, 2012 at 1:34 am
Oh glorious photos of the farm...how nice that you enjoyed an at home day.
The boxwood hedging around the walkway of the Summer home looks very full and lush...do you trim it regularly or just allow it to get very full? I am not sure when i want to trim my true dwarf boxwood...it is in its second year and is starting to get quite full.
Thanks for sharing your photos of all the interesting things happening and growing in your wonderful space.
Posted by: Sherey | June 5th, 2012 at 1:43 am
such lush greenery!
Posted by: liisamarja | June 5th, 2012 at 4:00 am
Thanx for spectacular photos of nature show. We are waiting for pictures of Morocco trip as you always show us much about LIVING around the world.
Posted by: ann | June 5th, 2012 at 5:25 am
Skies Over Bedford
Awesome
Awesome
Awesome
Karen
Posted by: karen tracy | June 5th, 2012 at 6:27 am
I always enjoy and learn so much every time you share pictures and commentary from the farm. Why not make a book, Martha? Provide a layout of the farm and details on the evolution of your vision for the property and your plans for future projects. You inspire us with your creative vision.
Posted by: CJTaylor, Broad Creek, MD | June 5th, 2012 at 6:39 am
Oh Martha, the sky looks so dramatic over your farm, you've taken some beautiful pictures! The flowers in the perennial border by the vegetable garden are so pretty, and the courtyard is looking very nice with the tropicals, which by the way I love your choice of pots. Very exciting you've joined the garden club at Home Depot. I tell everyone who will listen about the quality of your line there! Thanks for the update.
Posted by: Cindy F | June 5th, 2012 at 8:50 am
When are we going up to Maine? Haven't been there for a while.
Posted by: Gretchen | June 5th, 2012 at 9:05 am
Hi Martha, How nice that you had a safe trip back to your beautiful Bedford farm and was able to spend an entire day enjoying the the fantastic nature you have there at your farm! These photos are some of your best and I will enjoy seeing and reading even more through the Home Depot Garden Club that you have joined! I will need to joint it also because we will be so lucky to get even more delightful information on gardening etc. from you! Thank you so much for all you do for us and you make me so happy everyday with all the blogs you share with us! I have your original Martha Stewart Gardening Month by Month book and it is awesome covering your farm at Turkey Hill! Having a book about your Bedford Farm would would be great, also! How fun that you went to Susan Magrino's stepson's wedding-must have been wonderful! I was so happy to see you on the Today Show yesterday and you sure did some nice craft projects! I thank God that sweet, little Francesca finally had the button removed from her eye and she looked so cute in the photo on today's Daily Wag blog with no cone around her head any longer! Sharkey looked very happy, too that her sister is better! Hope you have a great time in Tokyo and can't wait for your blogs about your latest trips! Have another great day! Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | June 5th, 2012 at 9:14 am
Enjoyed pics of your farm. It's all very beautiful and well-kept.
Posted by: Vivian Price | June 5th, 2012 at 9:48 am
Martha,
Thanks for sharing this blog.
Posted by: KLBrown | June 5th, 2012 at 10:25 am
Hi Martha,
You always take such gorgeous, clear pictures. They are so nice to view but I like to Ctrl+ the flowers to make them even more 3-dimentional. You’re really good on your focus shots or whatever they are called where the background is blurred as in #s 26, 27 & 28. If I’d have taken a picture of the yellow columbine it probably would have been washed out, although I do get some really good shots occasionally when the sun isn’t bearing down. Your tropical plants look beautiful – I’ve had some luck with palm trees in planters and might get the pygmy palm next. My sister doesn’t like them but I do so I’m sure there will be a ‘discussion’. They look the best in three’s the way you have them and I’ve decided that pots are a good idea. I’ve started to put medium sized pots in the front yard which I think look nice in colors to accentuate the few flowering plants that I have. I’m always experimenting and I get a lot of ideas from you of course so thanks for that. Trish
~
P.S. I wonder where Celia Stock is – it’s been a while since we’ve seen one of her delightful poems.
Posted by: Trish | June 5th, 2012 at 10:47 am
Oh Martha...the tropical plants add such a unique feel to your home...like a vintage Caribbean feel....I give those gardeners a round of applause for their hard work.
I'll have to check out the Home Depot site for gardeners...
I have just joined "Your Garden Show". It is also a place for gardeners to highlight their gardens, get help, etc...It also is highlighting the planting of non-gmo heirloom seeds from Baker Creek. A movement towards the good old-fashioned gardens...I have posted about it on my blog.
Posted by: Nantucket Daffodil | June 5th, 2012 at 12:02 pm
Thanks for taking us on a walk around your lovely farm with the lens of your carmera. It is a beautiful property. I live on our 18th century homestead farm in an Amish settlement in Central PA. The local folks call me the "Martha Stewart of Big Valley" because I am a fan of your ideas and implement classic designs in creating my floral arrangements from the land. Check out my website at
naturaldesignsstudio.com.
Posted by: Sally Yoder | June 5th, 2012 at 1:49 pm
I read on Andrew Martha Moments blogspot that your home office products coming to the UK I am so thrilled and happy. Best wishes. http://marthamoments.blogspot.com/2012/06/marthas-home-office-coming-to-uk.html
Posted by: Rowaida Flayhan | June 5th, 2012 at 4:03 pm
I used this picture for my desktop back ground, looks very refreshing! Thanks a lot for sharing dear Martha...
Posted by: Hakan | June 5th, 2012 at 4:59 pm
Love your sunken garden! What unusual seeds did you start this year? I'm off to the Home Depot Garden Club.
Posted by: Candylei | June 5th, 2012 at 6:02 pm
I am SO glad you have joined Home Depot Garden Club. I look forward to all the info you can share with us. You are a very special person and lots of wisdom to share with the world. Thanks again!!!! Your farm is beautiful!!!
Posted by: Susan | June 5th, 2012 at 6:45 pm
It is a bit different from the "poor farm" that I was raised on but equally beautiful .
I am pleased that you have been this fortunate. Enjoy your farm!
Posted by: Rich Hoback | June 5th, 2012 at 11:13 pm
WOW !!!!! I wish I could see it in person !
Posted by: Charles McKenzie | June 6th, 2012 at 9:20 am
Just beautiful Martha !!!
Posted by: Kathy :) | June 6th, 2012 at 5:09 pm
It's fun to see your place "transform" into a tropical paradise! I guess I'm just used to seeing those plants out year round here in San Diego. Each year I have to pull out a voluntary palm tree which has sprouted. I have a trio of 3 and do not want a new one popping up each year. Funny how are challenges are different in each area of the country.
Posted by: Brenda Knowlton | June 7th, 2012 at 6:24 am
My lord, that view of the sky is absolutely gorgeous!! And your Bride's feathers are lookin' great! Happy gardening!! and good luck!
-Oscar Valencia
Posted by: Tree Service Queens | June 7th, 2012 at 1:01 pm
Love it that you joined The Home Depot Garden Club! It's a great site with lots of good info. Home Depot is a geat place for plants!
Posted by: Barbara Croson | June 14th, 2012 at 2:09 pm
Peonies are one of my favs...i miss seeing bright red poppies in my garden now that I'm in a condo. Your posts really help with the pleasure factor.
Posted by: may delory | June 14th, 2012 at 10:42 pm