A Fall Color Bonus

The Fall Color Tour to benefit the Chase Garden takes place this weekend and is open to all.  Spoiler alert - There are a few unadvertised gardens that will also be open this Saturday.  First is an inherited garden full of mature specimens.  The current owners, Bob and Kristi, are not gardeners but respect the vision of those from whom they bought the place and are preserving the garden beautifully.

The views from these gardens are breathtaking but come with  garden woes of  hostas  (roses, evergreens, etc.) vanishing into deer tummies in an instant, most likely just before a scheduled garden open, and hill stabilization (mudslides, you know.)

Scott's garden, which is right next to Lavonne's  is meticulously tended.  

Not a single leaf on the ground.  So clean was this garden that when we walked down from the back deck I felt compelled to pick up the couple of leaves that my shoes left behind.

The neighborhood deer have not found this hosta yet.  I understand that gardeners spray hot pepper sauce, bitter apple, and a variety of things, unpleasant to deer, on susceptible plants but don't know if that's what Scott did to keep this beauty from being someone's salad. Notice the fresh zinnia and dahlia.  

Reminiscent in form of an African Thorn Acacia (Vachellia tortilis) this Acer shows great pruning technique.

The juxtaposition of controlled and coiffed gardens with the wild abandon of nature makes these spaces especially interesting.

Thanks again Camille for being my tour guide and thanks Bob, Kristi, and Scott for allowing us to tromp through your beautiful gardens!