Part 1: Oklahoma Gardens and Adventures

By Kim Charles

Jesse Rhode shares with us his Oklahoma garden and escapade , set out in a serial publication of vivacious pic as well as descriptions .

“ The story of my garden is actually two stories ; and more to the point , two garden :

One is of a garden which we of late had to pass on . Due to greener pastures ( wordplay intended ) of a financial nature , we packed up mansion and garden and relocated . I was very sadden to leave such a special and unique place , as well as the acquaintance and tangency we had establish . But , it provided some materials and ideas for our second garden , which is still very young and most certainly a work in forward motion . We ’ve a long way to go before our beds , perimeter and orchards are “ done ” , and “ finishing tinge ” are days away . I ’ll just label these efforts as “ Job Security . ” ( Now , if’n I could just get a paycheque for said efforts ! ! ! 😉 I ’ve also asked for a heavy dose prescription medicine of Patience . )

Our first garden is one of hilly challenge and panorama . Literally . Many do n’t realise that Oklahoma has mountains , but , we do indeed ! In fact , geologically speculating , the tail close of the Appalachians do not peter out in Georgia/’Bama , but curves and resurfaces West of the Mississippi ( I LOVE type that name ! ! ) in the Ozarks and Ouachitas of Arkansas , Missouri , and Oklahoma . The Mighty Mississippi river system have cloven the miles and elevations between . And , just like any honorable mount story , this one has a log cabin at it ’s heart ! !

When we first moved to the site just after the Y2 K panic attack , there was the cabin , a very low I. F. Stone wall , a circumvent Bermudas weed lawn with a end of the aboriginal woods cradling the home site . The large pines which were there were harvest and used for the paries and frame of the cabin , just like in days of olde . We had three neighbours….two brothers who ranch kine and therefore exculpate the forests , and the Ouachita National Forest was our third boundary . ( Oh , and by the fashion , it ’s say : ( ah)-Watch - east - taw . ) For those reviewer and traveller who are familiar with this neck of the woodwind , we were less than a mile from the western terminal of the Talimena Scenic Drive , and our scene where dominate by curve Stair Mountain , where the drive summits and follows the ridge . I immediately began planting “ the bones ” of the next gardens with tree and shrubs , as well as the enticing perennial and shiny annuals . Having just moved out of the DFW metroplex where I get wind about container gardening while renting apartment , I was in Hawg Heaven by now having REAL soils in which to implant ! ”

As the Bermuda sens was vanquished and exiled to ever further quarters of the realm , the bones grew and sheltered us from the angry summertime sunlight and almost ever - ceaseless zephyrs and gusts . ( Remember , this is Oklahoma ! ! 😉 ) I used the strengthening off-white ’ branch to pay heed and grow many basketed treasures . ( Tradescantia sillamontana , aka : Gossamer Plant on the left in 3/4 ’s sun ; Lepismium cruciforme , one of the rainforest cacti , in 1/4 sunshine on the right . )

I ’ve never shake off the “ plants in containers ” use from my Big City years , and it require a freestanding hand truck incumbrance just to bring my Apartment Garden to this location from the Metroplex!So to harbour my cherished children , I elected to bite the smoke and spring for a desirable and enjoyable enclosure against the sub freezing temperatures . * ( Y’all can see the irregular and partial solution in the ground .. which worked … .. kinda … .. for a while … )

I eff our wrap - around porch , and took full advantage of that feature article to maturate and showcase much of our massive container garden . We fling one yr and buy a very large Coral Bark Japanese Maple for the front corner of the Porch . ( Acer ‘ Sango Kaku ’ . ) In this Amerindic Summer capture , it has n’t yet begun to change by reversal either it ’s leaves nor its barque . The lush foliation in the foreground are Anthurium ‘ Lazarz ’ and Crinum ‘ Queen Emma ’ . Plants here thrived in the Morning Sun / Afternoon Shade conditions . Many of us plant for butterflies , hummer , and/or pollinators to lure their animated colour amongst our more static hues , and I arguably choose colours and nectars before most other criteria of acquisition . Integrating these selections into a co - hesive and even pleasing view is both the challenge and the fun !

Just in front of that Nipponese Maple is a elementary , empty-headed ole Bridal Wreathe Spirea . And , down the length of the front porch is an American aboriginal Red Buckeye . These Aesculus are n’t seen all that much , and I do n’t get it on why although they ’re difficult to source . Although they ’re precocious with their floral presentation , they ’re painfully slow growing . This was one of the first “ bones ” I planted upon arrival and it ’s now as tall as the cabin ’s roof . It always come into bloom just as the Hummers are return from their Central American Winter Sabbaticals .

Off the side porch , Salvia ‘ Indigo Spires ’ begin it ’s belated season blooming playing nicely with the flowering tobacco plant Tennessean , which entertain our olfactory senses . The rose doing a photograph - bomb is another delight for those who screw natural perfumes : Rosa x ‘ Wild Spice ’ .

My Wife ( and Best Friend and part time Boss … ok : Full Time Boss ) scored a very nice metallic element summerhouse from a wholesale box computer memory a few age ago….wish they’ld declare oneself it again for that same price … we could use another ! I grew truehearted nuance on the body structure . morning time Glory is a Hummer favourite , and this heirloom variety , ‘ Granda Ott ’ reseeded itself munificently … I only had to embed it once . The background tonal pattern in this early sunrise and early time of year jibe is my favourite Mimosa , ‘ Summer Chocolate’ … … expensive , but worth it ! !

The Hummers fought over the Porterweed we placed out every summer … and carted in every Autumn . ( Stachytarpheta spp . )

We bank upon ego seeders , native wild flowers , and semi - aggresive perennial to colour between the argument and satisfy the spaces . I once thought the Moth Mullien , ( Verbascum spp . ) was a native , but recently found out that like many of our kin , it was introduced from another continent and has naturalized here . We had both the White and the Yellow spires freely sprouting in our garden . The Rose in the background was a gift from a sister . It is NOT the miscellanea of tree rise she buy , but is the graft rootstock which was used . The trunk and top conk for some reason , but the source took over the show , albeit with a different introduction and coloring . She elect not to take it with her when she move , so she leave it to us ! ! Thanx , Sis ! ! !

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After a few short years of growth, the bermuda lawn defiantly began giving way to more interesting architectures. In this early spring view, I’ve added many, many more rocks from the site into dry stacked retaining walls and bed borders. (Perhaps I was a stone mason in a past life?) Redbuds (Cercis canadensis) are the State tree of Oklahoma, and there are some very nice selections becoming available and worth seeking. The Tulip or Saucer Magnolia (Magnolia x Jane) blooming on the left I encouraged into a multi-trunked specimen. The colour of its flowers match the native Redbuds. The smaller tree in the centre is a selected variety of Redbud named ‘Oklahoma.’ (NO, I didn’t make that up!!) Stage right, is another variety of Redbud labeled ‘Texas White,’ and is one of my favourites, albeit a treasure hunt to find them. The young pines in this picture I planted to one day replace the towers which were cut for the cabin. In the background, one can see a preview, or history, of what was and what will be. (Loblolly and Slash Pines.) In the centre is also a Vitex I’ve trained into another multi-trunked tree. It, the crape myrtles, and mimosas were always fashionably late to awaken from winter’s slumber.Although we had 16 acres to call our own, time and resources confined the intense horticulture to well less than a half acre, not counting the small orchard. The remaining we left as a natural refuge and invited in the local devas. (A nod to Findhorn!) But, as they say: Be careful what you wish for!

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Part 2: Oklahoma Gardens and Adventures

Through the garden gate in Gail’s garden in Oklahoma

Gail’s garden in Oklahoma

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