The Story of My Garden

Elena Lapitsky

I never grew up having a garden but I was surrounded by beautiful gardens, old parks and an amazing nature which, I believe, was always my inspiration to seek beauty around me. Being born in the city founded in 13th century and located on Baltic Sea, created many unforgettable images in my head: some mysterious even spooky, some so beautiful and intriguing that makes one wonder how can someone create this, some so full of color that takes your breath away. There were old churches quietly standing in the corners or along curved ancient side streets that no longer serve parishioners but turn into artists workspace. During summers the doors were wide open so one can peek inside but next to them can be a very dilapidated old building leaning to one side where people still live with red geraniums on the windows sills. The contrast images surprised my mind and taught me to “see”. Museum Of Nature was right next to my house with annual flower shows that I used to go, botanical garden was a place to spend time in a middle of nasty winters, picking amber by the sea after high ties was a routine activity, even jumping from one floating ice piece to another in early spring in roaring waters of Baltic Sea after a long winter was dangerous and, at the same time, beautiful-it’s allowed you to see a few hundred years old tall pine trees along the sandy beach under cold rays of timid spring sun.

What could I grow, living in two rooms in communal apartment with my parents and a younger sister?! This concept can’t even come to my head. At the same token, fresh flowers were always on the table and two window sills always had my mother’s plants. I grew up with house plants, thanks to my mother, it was her escape from city life into a small but lively addition to brick buildings. I guess the green beauties remind her about her early life in Ukraine where everything grow without much work because of extremely good climate not like it was here, in my home town Riga. Now I understand why I have more than 60 houseplants, not counting my orchids!

My Garden came later into my life. It happened after my first house in the US. I needed beauty, I needed color to live to be happy, to feel complete! That was 40 years ago and it never stopped and it never will!

Gardening is my second passion, the first was teaching. Both are extremely creative, both have no limitation in its own creativity, both “swallow” you completely, there is no escape, you living your dream! In last 20 years before my retirement I taught Russian language at Boston College and every minute in between I was in the garden.

Now, it’s only my garden, so it’s became my number one. I have learned a lot about myself and why my garden looks the way it’s. After so many years I had realized that most of the gardens that I saw growing up in Latvia are influenced by English gardens at least in their forms, not necessarily in its context. They are climatically different.

What do I want from master gardening class? I guess, more systemic knowledge on how to and why. Also, it will be very satisfying to meet people who live to garden, who see the world through the beauty of a garden, who can’t spend a day without being surrounded by nature.

Now is a great time to learn, winter is here and only evergreens are standing, everything else is asleep, we can fill our heads with colorful ideas and beautiful dreams so we can meet the spring, nature awakening, with new creativity.
 

My garden didn’t start on paper, most of it started because of necessity; look straight at the house along the driveway, this border was created after tall and double oak tree had been removed because it proximity to the house and based on Feng Shui, the tree was blocking the air flow/energy to the front door. And on practical reason: too close to the septic tank, and also, it was impossible to grow any grass under the trees (there were a few more smaller trees here that were cut earlier). After that a gigantic Hicks yew bush was removed few years later but the grass still could not put it roots here no matter how often we tried to improve the soil. Only after that I started a garden/border along the driveway. The space in front of the house is a little more formal with spiral symmetrical topiaries; after all it’s an entrance to the house where formality is expected.

To the left of the house is an “Alpine hill” which originated as a garden before anything else after I have discovered a big and interesting rock formation (one third from the top). On trellises which is the entrance to “Alpine hill” is autumn clematis and to the right huge Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’ (boy, she put up a show!). Boxwood, azaleas, rhododendrons, yews and two pink dogwoods (at the top and the bottom) surround almost like a sculpture impressive rocks. I try to keep this area as natural and bold as possible as it could be in nature. The stepping stone pass takes you to a flat area, the only dappled shade area on my property. It took many years to create this space. It was hidden by big trees and all imaginable undergrowth, in addition, it was tangled with vines; if you look up you see how high from the ground is the white fence. It is the highest elevation on the property that you see from the street even so the back yard is twice the height but this one is the steepest. It took me years to conquer this hill and turn into a flat area at the bottom, framed by hosta, irises, lilies and sage on every side. In spring the blue color is dominant here, irises put a beautiful display. In front of you are a wide bottom terrace and 4 narrow terraces vegetable garden above the big boulder in the middle. The huge rock was discovered during clearing (you could only see the very top of it when I started), literary step by step with a shovel and many, many bloody scratchers all over my body! The best prize for this is a small hosta that planted itself inside a big split on the rock. It can’t be more natural! The fruit trees came much later.

What is between the lawn at the bottom and a rock is a “Parterre garden” with a little toad pond in the corner to your left and a compost pile behind the cement blocks to your right. Even so there is no palace near by or a window overlooking this garden but it can be enjoyed from the terraces above or when you stand in it. To the left of the main 4 terraces there are smaller terraces to accommodate white Kousa dogwood, perennials, spring bulbs, on the top of the hill to your right are gooseberries (closer to the shed) and red current to your left, there are grasses and lilies, irises and other plants that grow on the terraces as well. Between two big rocks in the middle is a pear tree (above the pond), on the opposite side of the big rock is an apricot tree (part of the alpine hill). Second from the bottom of four terraces have 4 grape bushes, along the old metal fence from the bottom to the top is Concord grape wines.  Terrace above the grapes has a peach tree and on both sides of the top terrace are two apple trees, between them I planted winter squash this year. In last two years I started to grow the rest of vegetables in containers otherwise it would be a three-meal course every day to always-hungry bunny population.

Now, lets go from the flat lawn area toward the street and turn left. You will see what I call “a passer by garden” which is along the street. Lets face it, grass doesn’t do well along the road: too much salt in the winter, too dry and hot in the summer (all front yard facing south), plus when its rain it washes off the soil from every yard on the street into drainage system (one at the end of my property is almost full with washed off soil). After I realized how much soil goes to waist I made this garden. I would prefer to give people smiles when they stroll/walk/jog along my street in appreciation of the beauty they are facing (the flowers look better than me when I garden in front of the house). There are daffodils, narcissi, snowdrops, grape hyacinths and irises in early spring, and then comes Oxeye daisies, I don’t see them here as a weed; I actually like them with the bright colors of roses. In the “passer by garden" and a “border” along the driveway I have 8 or 9 rose bushes (red, pink, white and in between). Different color salvias and day lilies, short and tall (some up to 6 feet), Liatris that didn’t do well due to bunnies, hollyhock, Russian sage, Monarda/bee balm (pink and lilac), Blue balloon flowers, penstemon, at least 3 feet tall and wide Amsonia with light blue flowers and soft leaves, purple lupine that reseed itself and all colors of peonies. Weeping Siberian pear tree adorn with small bell like flower in early spring.  A little later come goatsbeard, Echinacea/coneflower in different colors, heavy flowering limelight hydrangea, two in the middle, tall variety of Joe-Pye weed, milkweed and other flowers. On the top to your left in front of thick back border of evergreens (part of alpine hill) you see a new “addition” the space that I took of from the lawn this year, maybe 10-13 plants of Dalia (bunnies leave her alone!) are planted here. Behind this is an entrance to the pool.

But first lets look back to the front lawn. In almost middle of the front lawn there is a “centerpiece garden”, surrounded by stonework done professionally (my son). Here used to be 3 old oak trees. Years ago a very strong wind uprooted one of them. The other two had no chance to stay on their own because inside of the fallen tree were tunnels made by ants. Sure enough the other two were almost empty inside as well. So the garden was born with the same flowers that are in the “border and passer by gardens”. At the corner on “alpine hill”, facing the front lawn is a white weeping crabapple. I try to keep its shape as wide as I can; it’s create nice shade for hosta.

Lets open the gate to the pool area: flowerbeds on three sides surround the pool; there are roses and perennials that are in front of the house plus a few more: nepeta, larkspur, Montauk Daisy and many more. There are beautiful evergreens diagonally in front of you, Siberian Tuja and a little deeper is Hemlock; to your right ‘Star’ magnolia above the Japanese Pieris - all this was planted maybe 25-30 years ago. The soil must be exceptional here because the trees are very tall.

When you reach the corner of the house to your right I want you to stop and think, ”What is a Secret Garden?”

First of all, its something that is not possible to see as a whole, it’s hidden - it needs to be discovered because there is something at the end of the pass here and around this corner or behind the tree. Secondly, its not expected to exist in reality, it should be a lawn for kids to play; maybe some flowers here and there. Thirdly, where is the beginning and where is the end if this? You are on the middle of the hill, are there any straight lines/passes, how do I get from here to there? What is this house I see under wisteria? It is a mysterious place to wonder and discover. Go ahead, you don’t need me anymore! Sit down, there are places, enter the garden house, take a nap, find the most far away corner with many hosta and astilbe, or observe wild life around; say “Hi” to Mr. Frog if you are lucky to see him, he is enormous and green, taste some blueberries or raspberries if you find them, smell roses, touch silver Amsonia, find Asiatic lilies in bloom, and a little pond in the middle of “My Mother’s Garden”, where you might be greeted by a garter snake who guards the pond. Listen to the silence and forget where you are…

Use the opposite side to the pool area to exit the garden, there is a double gate to take you to the side garden. On your left is another shed, many more perennials; spring bulbs are hidden under the surface, grasses and hydrangeas on both sides and two (unfortunately!) deceased plum trees and again roses (total more than 40 throughout the property).

I hope you enjoyed your stay!   I hope my garden will see you again!

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I have one question for you: What is the shape of my garden?

Now you are invited to taste a few varieties of my jelly/jam even if you don’t know the answer

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Elena Lapitsky, 2023.