Planting the Terrace Urns at Skylands - Part Two
On Friday’s blog, I posted photos of how we started to plant the terrace urns last Wednesday, even though it was raining. Being so close to the water, you just never know what the weather will be like. Anticipating yet another rainy day on Thursday, we were pleasantly surprised when the sun was shining brightly in a very blue sky. We were able to finish the planting and I am very happy with the way all of the urns look. I think they will fill out quite nicely as the summer progresses.
1 I'm standing on the large upper terrace off of one of the bedrooms, overlooking the large terrace below.
2 The opposite side of the upper terrace overlooks the woodland and a diverging pine needle covered path.
3 Uncle Carlos, as the Frenchies call him
4 Mike, who works at Skylands, was planting giant, velvety kalanchoe plants in this square lead pot. This is one of a pair of pots.
5 Here's the other lead pot complete with an underplanting of a type of silvery dusty miller.
6 Ryan McCallister, my Bedford gardener, cared for these tropical plants all winter long. He is a very hard worker with a lot of energy.
7 Farfugium japonicum planted in a Gertrude Jekyll-style urn. Gertrude Jekyll was an influential British horticulturist, garden designer, artist, and writer.
8 Handsome G.K. loved wandering around on the terrace.
9 One of two fierce-looking cement sculptures
10 A faux bois urn planted with a lovely medinilla magnifica and another urn planted with a giant chartreuse begonia
11 The same giant begonia under-planted with silvery dichondra and purple oxalis
12 A giant Eric Soderholtz urn planted with green alocasia and a type of dusty miller
13 A sunny look at the trough of medinilla magnifica
14 This faux bois urn is planted with agave and geraniums. Ryan propagated these plants from cuttings over the winter in the Bedford greenhouse.
15 More of Ryan's propagations - Echeveria succulents
16 The terrace is really transformed with all of these plantings.
17 Agave and baby tears
18 A sunny glimpse of the western terrace with hanging baskets of Christmas ferns and urns planted with farfugium japonicum and cycads.
19 Ryan shot this agave casting an amazing shadow.
20 When Skylands was constructed, so many wonderful details were incorporated, like this built-in stone bench.
21 Another view of the terrace and the water beyond
22 The staircase leading down from the western terrace
23 Beneath the western terrace is a reclining woman called La Riviere, a 1935 bronze by French artist Aristide Maillol.
24 Another staircase adorned with wild Maine violets
25 A closeup of these plants
26 Ferns grow so well in this damp, cool environment.
27 I love the design of this magnificent curved staircase.
28 The flower of lady's mantle
29 The feathery plume of Rodgersia podophylla 'Smaragd'
30 A good look at one of two French glazed terracotta sphinxes that are positioned on the terrace steps during the summer.
31 Another urn with medinilla magnificas
32 This very accurate sun dial was built above the terrace entryway. However, during daylight savings time, it's an hour behind.
33 A beautiful purple clematis
34 This type of allium looks like fireworks in the garden.
35 The circle drive in the front of the house is lush with ferns.
36 Flanking the front door are two giant copper urns planted with kentia palms.
37 A peaceful reflecting pond in the woodland
38 Lady slippers in the sun
39 Attractive Japanese painted ferns are a soft shade of metallic silver-gray with hints of red and blue. Ryan was happy to see that his plantings from last year were spreading so nicely.
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Martha Tweets
Well Martha, you and your crew have done it, AGAIN!!! Everythng is soooooo beautiful!!!!
Gloria G!!
Posted by: Gloria | June 18th, 2012 at 12:48 am
Good morning Martha, amazing photos! I love love the Progress on your terrace, everything looks beautiful. I want to wish you an amazing summer.
We had an amazing weekend, it was my son's birthday on Saturday and Father's day on Sunday. I would love to share some photos of the cakes I baked for them
http://flic.kr/s/aHsjA2vVFG
http://flic.kr/s/aHsjA2xmyW
Posted by: Rowaida Flayhan | June 18th, 2012 at 1:54 am
One of the best spots on earth, Martha! I dream of seeing it one day.
Posted by: Andrew Ritchie | June 18th, 2012 at 6:39 am
I happened to stumble on your blog after seeing a tweet you had sent out yesterday. The photos are beautiful. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Dave W. | June 18th, 2012 at 7:13 am
Hi Martha,
I have to tell you that first thing in the morning I check out the Daily Wag and then I go to your post. When you have pictures of the farm in Bedford or Skylands in Maine, they are so beautiful, it just starts my day out on a very good note. I can't get enough of them. Thank you so much for sharing your homes with us.
Karen
Posted by: Karen Tracy | June 18th, 2012 at 7:51 am
What a contrast between Friday's pictures and today's. The views from the upper terrace are stunning Martha. You have a very interesting mix of planting pots. I have to say I didn't know what "faux bois" meant, so I looked it up, faux wood. I learn so much from you! Thank you for the close up of the french glazed terracotta sphinx, very interesting!
For Rowaida, very impressed with your cakes, especially you're son's!
Posted by: Cindy F | June 18th, 2012 at 8:02 am
Love it when you blog part two as we know the story never ends. Fathers Day made me think about my own Dad, who may have been a complicated man. He did say to me when he found our cousins calling my aunt names because she was born a little person, " Don't tease Maxine, because she is different and if it is in your power, don't allow others to do so." Words to live by.
Posted by: ann | June 18th, 2012 at 8:05 am
...Absolutely stunning Martha!! Thank you so much for sharing!! Have a great day.
Posted by: Walter H | June 18th, 2012 at 9:50 am
Hi Martha,
Now that’s what I call a terrace and what a view! I can’t even begin to remember all of the plants you guys planted but they sure look nice. Enjoy your summer there and I’ll pretend I’m on the upper terrace taking in the breathtaking view! Trish
Posted by: Trish | June 18th, 2012 at 9:59 am
Hi Martha, OMG! You and your wonderful crew sure were lucky to have such a delightfully beautiful day to finish planting all of those gorgeous plants on your outstanding Skylands terrace! Everything looks so awesome and I'm sure it will be even more beautiful as summer finally approaches! These photos are absolutely stunning and the views from your front terrace are out of this world and reminds me of viewing Puget Sound from my much smaller patio! We have had rainy, foggy, and windy weather a lot lately and yet we get beautiful weather like you had at Skylands once in a while! I finally finished planting yesterday and my radishes, spinach, and swiss chard are finally coming up! Can't wait for the rest of your great seeds from Home Depot to show up, too! Sure was fun to see Uncle Carlos, Ryan, F,S,&GK in your photos and they all looked so happy to be out in the sun at Skylands! Thanks so much for sharing this awesome blog again and can't wait to see more of Skylands as summer approaches! Hope you are having another great day! Off to see The Daily Wag where F,S,&GK are learning a schooner lesson! Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | June 18th, 2012 at 10:24 am
Dear Martha,
I just want to say that I so dearly appreciate a well designed & well built older home. The preservationist in me is so glad that you have the means to keep this treasure of a home in such fine condition. Thank you so much one more time for sharing.
Sharon Weinmann
Posted by: Sharon | June 18th, 2012 at 10:43 am
Martha,
Thanks for sharing this blog.
Posted by: KLBrown | June 18th, 2012 at 10:47 am
Dear Martha....the view from the terrace is breathtaking. The coast of Maine is one of my favorite places to be. I have been a fan of yours for soooo many years. I have gained so much from you over the years and have now passed along your wisdom to my twenty year old grandaughter. As a small child she watched you with me and began learning how to follow your lead. She has so much talent garnered from her "Martha Experiences." I admire you for your tennacity, strengths and gifts. Homekeeping has always been my passion and you have made a great contribution not only to me but my wonderful grandaughter Jamie. Thank you.....Thank you! Judy
Posted by: Judy True | June 18th, 2012 at 11:04 am
Just wanted you to know I love your new blog header...natural shingles...vibrant green....
Posted by: Nantucket Daffodil | June 18th, 2012 at 6:41 pm
So beautiful. Love to read about Acadia..
Posted by: Annie | June 18th, 2012 at 8:19 pm
Some wonderful plantings...and so nice that sunny skies prevailed during part 2 of the process. Such a dedicated crew and i'll bet they love being there.
Posted by: sherey | June 18th, 2012 at 10:38 pm
Thank you for the beautiful photos and all the information you share about the plants. It must be such a pleasure to return to each place in different seasons, and have those gorgeous views and all the growing things to look forward to. I also enjoy the photos of the statuary.
Posted by: Terry Covington | June 19th, 2012 at 2:12 pm
I especially love the sphyinx, and the stonework details. Incredible! Martha, will you do a blog post on your Maine Library (I think that's where it was - you mentioned it in another post). I always wonder if you have Robert McCloskey's fabulous books for children there celebrating Maine culture: "Blueberries for Sal" and "One Morning in Maine." I also wondered if you had Jens Jensen's book there "Siftings."
Posted by: Karen | June 20th, 2012 at 11:59 am
Hi Martha ! I'm a great fan of yours from years .used to read and collect all your Martha Stewart living magazines when I was living in Canada .now I read your blog. Quite often. The gardens look beautiful .you are an inspiration to all gardners and nature lovers!
Posted by: Pushpa | June 22nd, 2012 at 5:02 am
Hi Martha:
How beautiful and green everything looks! You don't know how lucky you are to get rain during summer season, I am from SOCAl where it never rains and by this time every year my plants are all burned from the sun and from the restricted water usage.
This is when I wish I lived northern Cal where everything is green.
Posted by: diana escobar | July 15th, 2012 at 8:09 am