Gardens at Bayonne

Farewell 2016!  Greetings 2017! Seven generations ago the Bayonne name began on a journey in this country.  As quoted by my friend Neil deGrasse Tyson:  "It's time to get going again; come with me!" Fascinating things are happening everywhere and the camellias and  hellebores are in bloom in Southern Georgia!  I even witnessed redbud (Cercis canadensis) in bloom at the entrance of one of our county's high schools! Camellia Japonica "Jupiter" Helleborus "Double Pink" Here at Gardens at Bayonne, we have embarked on the "quest" to display color in the garden all year round!

What began as a long-awaited ride on the Greater Orlando area's commuter train attraction, a subtle recommendation, just over a year, the seed was planted that we consider riding the SunRail, currently servicing twelve stops from Volusia County, Orange County and ending through Downtown Orlando. Representatives from Gardens at Bayonne embarked on an adventure that began with the impressive train ride from Debary, Florida. We toured the bi-level car, the upper level, which was richly equipped with tables and warm, plush seating was pleasant to look at and comfortable for a longer journey.  We used the free WiFi and had no difficulty hearing the other party on our phone calls with the train in full throttle.  The sleek, high-tech MPIMP32PH-Q diesel locomotive moved smoothly and swiftly (averaging more than forty-five miles per hour) from the Debary station, our starting point, through Sanford, Lake Mary, and then to the Longwood station. The discussion between our pa...

About a year after we moved to Ciel Sur Terre from a neighboring suburb of Atlanta, Georgia, I was presented with the October 2001 issue of Taunton’s Fine Gardening for which I still treasure and proudly display the periodical to this day in one of our many “reading stations” about the home.  Of particular interest, is a feature article entitled “Pleasing Rhythm Makes a Garden Sing” by Richard L. Dubé, APLD, landscape designer and author, who effectively employs rhythm in landscapes and provided the inspiration for my “Blue Notes” post.  Mr. Dubé superbly demonstrates his point that “A “well-orchestrated” garden design is akin to a well-written musical composition.”  Artfully presented sketches help define musical terms he translates into garden design, including;  4/4 time, syncopation, cadenza, largo, pianissimo, pizzicato and forte.  This article is the most inspiring blend of music and gardening I have ever read.  An absolute must read for the gard...

Music has always been an integral part of our family’s life; weaved neatly into our casual gardening process and today, more than any other time; we find that connection to the combination of sounds producing beauty of form, harmony, and expression of emotions, with and by creation, is inseparable from growing things.  For example, the emergence of a tiny seedling—say that of the prickly Cynoglossum amabile, or ' Chinese forget-me-not ' seed, from its rugged, captive protection, escaping its covering, then propelling its embryonic tip, violently struggling to break the ground above towards the lights’ energy source becoming more comprehensible when coupled with the sound of the movement of the earth, the gentle whisper of the breeze that cause the syncopating rhythmic sway of the tiny plant, almost as if the composition were written specifically for that one tiny organism.   And when considered with the surrounding “like” seedlings, growing in unison, a symphonic mast...

Its Spring in the Gardens at Ciel Sur Terre! In many parts of Georgia, the month of April means pink lady's slippers ( Cypripedum acaule ) are in bloom . Starting around April 9th through about May 6th, these beautiful plants are in bloom. They are listed as "protected" plants by the U.S. Department of Agriculture with "unusual" status code for Georgia. In many other parts of the United States, pink lady's slippers bear "endangered", "rare" or "threatened" status codes. Nevertheless, because these particular plants grew voluntarily on private-owned lands, they are not subject to the restrictions of wild species. The Curator at Ciel sur Terre has shared this plant with Pike Nursery and Turnipseed Nursery in hopes propagation of the species can become commercially successful. Lots of color suggests spring is underway at Ciel sur Terre. The month of February was abound with yellow from daffodils and forsythia. But right ...

W inter or the solstice of December 2008 in the Lower South (according to Southern Living Plant Zones -USDA Zone 8) brought the frost that turned most of our gardens into shambles. But with the breaking of those precious terra cotta pots we promised to never buy again, ushers in the anticipatio n of the March Equinox and the greening of long-awaited Spring. In late January, jewels of early blooming daffodils and cuttings of forsythias (for forcing) may be found. The workhorse of the winter garden plants are the Hellebores. They tolerate almost full sun to almost full shade. Dense shade tends to reduce flower production. Generally they enjoy slightly neutral to acidic soils. They will tolerate dry shade. These wonderful plants may also be in bloom in the southern garden through the winter. Pictured at right is Helleborus x hybridus or commonly called Lenten Rose . During these frigid days of the winter solstice, the lifeless wilted leaves of agap anthus gives way to the beauty of t...

Beginning January 31st through April 19th 2009, our Nation's Capital hosts the works of Vaughn Sills at the East Gallery of the United States Botanic Garden. African-American Gardens of the South promises to document a "...disappearing way of using and relating to the land--spiritually, visually, and pragmatically--that has been traced back to West Africa." This year, Gardens at Bayonne will present topics and forums presented by African-American Gardeners in connection with "A Sower Went", our quarterly gardening newsletter. Welcome to the Gardens at Bayonne. Enjoy and Grow!