My house is a 1910(ish) era home and I have been trying to create a garden that is historically accurate to the age in which it was built. There is evidence around the yard that there was, at one time, a lovely garden out back. There are cracked and neglected cement-covered field stone flower beds and a retaining wall on each side of the lawn that, I believe, used to anchor a wrought iron fence. I am an extremely new gardener so I hope some more experienced plant people can help with out with some advice for what exactly I should be planting. Obviously, I will only be planting perennials (buying annuals seems like a waste of money to me....and being unemployed, I don't really like wasting my cash on things that die and don't come back). My most recent trip to the nursery produced these results: One Hosta plant, one Hydrangea Annabelle (big white blossoms), one sage plant, and one Astilbe Milk and Honey.
Note the scallop-top wire fence behind these plants. I am pretty sure this fence is either original to the house or added very soon after it was built. I have looked around for this type of wire fencing and most people seem to agree it was popular in the 1920s and 1930s. It also seems pretty expensive to buy. I've only thus far found it at fence supply websites that specialize in reproduction fencing. It's everywhere around my house (most houses in the neighborhood have some scraps of this fencing, still clinging to the rotting posts they were originally attached to).
Anyway, back to plants. I also bought a Hibiscus which, I realize isn't exactly authentic (I live in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan which is extremely cold in the winter) but I just love the big, beautiful blooms. This guy will definitely be a indoor/summer patio plant only.
Anyway, back to plants. I also bought a Hibiscus which, I realize isn't exactly authentic (I live in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan which is extremely cold in the winter) but I just love the big, beautiful blooms. This guy will definitely be a indoor/summer patio plant only.
I am looking for suggestions for more authentic, period-accurate plants. I am thinking: Hollyhocks, Sweet William, Delphiniums, Foxglove, and maybe daisies too. There seems to be a lot of information out there for "Cottage Gardens" which, to my understanding, are gardens typically found in older, established cottage homes in England. I think this is sorta the garden-genre I am shooting for. Anybody have experience with this? Suggestions greatly appreciated! Along the fence line (pictured above behind my plant purchases) I really want to grow a massive Wisteria hedge, but we will need to totally rebuild and stabilize the fence before I plant a Wisteria as I hear they can be prolific growers and can completely overwhelm a flimsy fence.
As I mentioned above, I live in a northern climate and all through June this flower (below) was growing everywhere! All the local people call them "Blue Pine" since they tend to be a blue/purple color (although I have seen them in pink and white too) and are reminiscence of a pine tree in shape. But I think they are actually "Lupine." I am going to find a wild patch next spring and plant them somewhere in my budding garden as they seem to easily grow just about everywhere around here.
As I mentioned above, I live in a northern climate and all through June this flower (below) was growing everywhere! All the local people call them "Blue Pine" since they tend to be a blue/purple color (although I have seen them in pink and white too) and are reminiscence of a pine tree in shape. But I think they are actually "Lupine." I am going to find a wild patch next spring and plant them somewhere in my budding garden as they seem to easily grow just about everywhere around here.
One last thought on historic gardens: My neighbor has a whole line of roses growing on their side of the retaining wall. The neighbor is not any sort of gardener and they are quite wild. Does anybody have suggestions for an antique sort of rose that isn't too susceptible to problems? Here are the roses on my neighbors property. You can see the edge of the retaining wall, separating our property in this picture too. Thanks for anybody who has input! I really appreciate it, since I am so new to gardening!