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Today in the Northeast, we’re expecting scattered thunderstorms and partly cloudy skies, but so much continues to flourish here at my Bedford, New York farm.
The scenery changes rapidly from day to day, week to week, especially this time of year with all the glorious late spring blooms. If you follow my Instagram page @MarthaStewart48, you’ve seen some of the recent photos I’ve shared - the lush trees, the colorful blooms, and all the fresh green foliage at every turn. The gardens are magical.
Enjoy these photos.
When I first moved to my farm, it was a blank slate. Over the years, I’ve planted thousands of trees, shrubs, and plants. Here are Japanese maples planted in a garden near my tall and majestic bald cypress trees. Everything is so lush this time of year.
Behind my long carport not far from my Winter House are the blooming “Miss Kim” Korean lilac standards. The upright, compact lilac blooms later than others extending the season with pink and lavender flower clusters.
The little flowers are not only beautiful but amazingly fragrant!
Near my Basket House, I decided to plant heuchera. Heuchera is a genus of evergreen perennial plants in the family Saxifragaceae, all native to North America. Common names include alumroot and coral bells. This is a ‘Northern Exposure Silver’ Heuchera. The burgundy foliage becomes heavily frosted with silver, forming a dense mound.
This is ‘Northern Exposure™ Sienna.’ It is long lived, hardy, and rust resistant and adds a pop of bright color to the shade garden. New leaves emerge green, then transform in summer to burnt-orange with yellow edges. And see the bright pink flowers and stems above the compact foliage.
I also have lots of Cotinus. Cotinus, the smoketree, or smoke bush, is a genus of two species of flowering plants in the family Anacardiaceae, closely related to the sumacs. Their smooth, rounded leaves come in exceptional shades of deep purple, clear pinkish-bronze, yellow, and green.
The hostas are so profuse with their varying leaf shape, size, and textures. Hostas have easy care requirements which make them ideal for many areas. I have them all around the farm.
This is Syneilesis – a tough, drought-tolerant, easy-to-grow woodland garden perennial that prefers moist, well-drained, slightly acid soils. If in the proper environment, syneilesis will slowly spread to form an attractive colony.
This is Pulmonaria, or lungwort – a beautiful, versatile, hardy plant. Lungworts are evergreen or herbaceous perennials that form clumps in the garden. The spotted oval leaves were thought to symbolize diseased, ulcerated lungs, and so were once used to treat pulmonary infections. The flowers are on short stalks that appear just above the foliage and have gently nodding heads.
Epimediums are long-lived and easy to grow. Epimedium, also known as barrenwort, bishop’s hat, and horny goat weed, is a genus of flowering plants in the family Berberidaceae.
This is blooming lady’s mantle, Alchemilla mollis. It’s a clumping perennial which typically forms a mound of scallop-edged, toothed, light green leaves. In late spring and early summer, the plant produces chartreuse blooms.
Known botanically as Podophyllum peltatum, this plant goes by various common names. “Mayapple” is used most often, but among its other nicknames are “duck’s foot” and “American mandrake. Mayapple is a native woodland plant that is widespread across most of eastern North America. This herbaceous perennial of mostly unbranched 12 to 18 inch tall stems are topped with umbrella-like leaves.
And this is Solomon’s Seal – a hardy perennial native to the eastern United States and southern Canada. These plants produce dangling white flowers, which turn to dark-blue berries later in the summer.
Japanese painted ferns are beautiful mounds of dramatic foliage with luminescent blue-green fronds and dark central ribs that fade to silver at the edges.
In contrast are the ostrich ferns – a light green clump-forming, upright to arching, rhizomatous, deciduous fern which typically grows up to six feet tall.
And popping up above its own green foliage are the columbine flowers. The columbine plant, Aquilegia, is an easy-to-grow perennial that offers seasonal interest throughout the year. Its flowers come in a variety of colors, which emerge from dark green foliage that turns maroon in fall. The bell-shaped flowers are also a favorite to hummingbirds.
Above my azaleas not far from my stable are several paulownia trees, which are broadleaf and deciduous. The flowers are pale violet and grow in 20 to 30 centimeter long panicles. The scent is a lovely vanilla fragrance.
I’ve planted several American horse-chestnut trees around the farm. These two are at one end of my Boxwood Allée. Aesculus hippocastnum is a large deciduous tree commonly known as the horse-chestnut or conker tree. It’s easy to spot by its showy bright pink flowers.
Here is another American horse chestnut in glorious bloom. These trees have dark green, coarse-textured foliage that bring out the bright salmon pink flowers.
There are very few plants that can compete with a tree peony in full bloom. They flower from late April to early May but the season often varies from year to year. These are in my Summer House Garden.
This is one of the many tree peony flowers. Tree peonies do not die back to the ground in autumn. Like a rose bush, tree peonies drop their leaves and their woody stems stand through the winter.
Iris is a genus of 260 to 300 species of flowering plants with showy flowers. It takes its name from the Greek word for a rainbow, which is also the name for the Greek goddess of the rainbow, Iris.
And here is one of many, many lupines that I grow. Lupinus, commonly known as lupin or lupine, is a genus of flowering plants in the legume family, Fabaceae. The genus includes more than 200 species. It’s always great to see the tall spikes of lupines blooming. Lupines come in lovely shades of purple, pink, white, yellow, and even red. All my gardens are bursting with color and verve. They all look so great this year.
Developing any garden takes time, planning, and lots of patience.
Three years ago, I decided to create an azalea border along one side of the carriage road between my Summer House and my stable. I wanted to plant lots of colorful azaleas - a variety of unique specimens in shades of pink, orange, crimson, and white. I already have many azaleas growing and flourishing in this area, but I wanted to expand the collection. First, we planted about 170 azaleas on one side of the carriage road, and then another 200 on the other side. Every year, my gardeners and I watch how the plants grow and add more where needed. This week, we're planting another 104!
Enjoy these photos.
Azaleas are flowering shrubs in the Ericaceae family, which includes blueberries and mountain laurel. They are also all rhododendrons and members of the genus Rhododendron. This week, we’re planting a large selection of azaleas where they get lots of filtered sunlight throughout the day.
Many azaleas have two to three-inch flowers and range in a variety of colors from pink to white to purple, red, orange, and yellow. Azalea petal shapes range from narrow to triangular to overlapping rounded petals. They can also be flat, wavy, or ruffled.
When I expanded the azalea garden, I added a variety of different azaleas and arranged them by color.
The first step is to choose the locations for planting. I strategically place each specimen – keeping like colors together and always keeping the plant’s mature size in mind.
When buying azaleas, always select plants that are sturdy, well-branched, and free of insect damage or diseases. And, avoid plants with weak, spindling growth and poor root systems. Azaleas are generally healthy, easy to grow plants. Some azaleas bloom as early as March, but most bloom in April and May with blossoms lasting several weeks.
It’s also important to keep azaleas where they can be protected from midday and winter sun to prevent leaves from drying out and burning.
All our azaleas this year came from White’s Nursery in Germantown, Maryland. White’s Nursery specializes in azaleas as well as rhododendrons. It has more than 350 varieties of evergreen azaleas such as Glenn Dale, Bowie Mill, Satsuki, Robin Hill, and many others. In addition, there is a wide selection of deciduous and native azaleas, and some fragrant varieties.
Chhiring starts by digging the hole at least twice the size of the plant. Azaleas thrive in moist, well-drained soils high in organic matter.
Next, he adds a generous handful of good fertilizer formulated for new plants.
Scarifying stimulates root growth. Essentially, one breaks up small portions of the root ball to loosen the roots a bit and create some beneficial injuries. This helps the plant become established more quickly in its new environment.
Next, the plant is placed into the hole and then checked to be sure it is at the right depth and backfilled.
The length of azalea leaves ranges from as little as a quarter-inch to more than six inches. Leaves of most azaleas are solid green, with a roughly long football-shape.
There are still many more azaleas to get into the ground, but I am so pleased with this grouping. As plants are added, there will be less lawn to maintain. Some of the varieties include ‘Sunrise,’ ‘Cherry Red,’ ‘Phil Louer,’ and ‘Mary Lou Kehr.’
Azaleas are generally healthy, easy to grow plants. Some azaleas bloom as early as March, but most bloom in April and May with blossoms lasting several weeks. The garden is full of color right now!
Some azaleas, including native types, can reach towering heights of 20 feet or more. Dwarf azaleas grow two to three feet tall, and many garden azaleas stay four to six feet in height with as wide a spread.
It is always a good idea to keep track of those varieties that do well in the garden.
The best time to shop for azaleas is when they are in bloom, so one can see their bright colors and forms.
These are white azaleas with dark pink striping.
And these are bold orange.
I am so proud of this developing azalea garden – I can’t wait until next spring when there are even more blooms to enjoy.
I'm always looking for ways to improve my gardens.
Earlier this year, I decided to change the garden near my front gate. I removed the remaining trunks of a stand of white pines that were battered by Super Storm Sandy in 2012. In their place, I decided to plant a group of medium sized boxwood that would add both color and texture to the bed. I called on my friend, George Bridge, who first introduced me to boxwood more than 20-years ago to help me select just the right ones. George is a leading grower and supplier of one of the largest collections of unique and mature plants, trees, and boxwood in the United States. George delivered and planted three beautiful American boxwood shrubs and they look just perfect.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
Here at my farm, it’s always exciting when new plants arrive. I enjoy designing outdoor spaces and watching the gardens evolve and flourish. Adding rich foliage is also good for the landscape – they improve air quality, absorb pollutants, and help purifying the air.
A couple months ago, I cleared this space of several tree trunks that had been here covered in beautiful climbing hydrangea. While they looked very pretty, it was time for a change.
I love boxwood, Buxus, and have hundreds of these bold green shrubs growing all over my Bedford, New York farm. We continued this border of small boxwood all the way around the bed.
Buxus is a genus of about 70 species in the family Buxaceae. Common names include box or boxwood. The boxes are native to western and southern Europe, southwest, southern and eastern Asia, Africa, Madagascar, northernmost South America, Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean. Boxwood shrubs are slow-growing with dark green glossy leaves arranged opposite from each other, making pairs. Leaf shape depends on the variety; some are round while others are elliptical.
George personally delivered three handsome boxwood shrubs. I knew they would be perfect for the space. Boxwood has upright, naturally cone-shaped habits making them excellent for planting free-form or for a sculpted hedge or border.
George specializes in collecting rare, vintage, and mature landscape plant material, including shrubs, hedges, fruit and ornamental trees, and even woody vines. His boxwood collection includes large, mature boxwood ranging from six to 12-feet tall and up to 80 years old. Visit his web site for more information.
The first of three shrubs is put into place. I wanted three here – one larger one and two smaller ones.
Our trusted Hi-Lo carefully lifts each specimen off the truck bed. George and his team meticulously wrap and lace the root balls for transit, so they arrive in the best condition possible.
George oversees every move to ensure the shrubs are placed just right.
Here, the Hi-Lo raises the forklift high up from the side of the carriage road and then gently lowers the boxwood into place.
Boxwood prefers well-drained soil with a lot of organic matter. Loamy soil or sandy conditions are best. Most boxwoods like some shade, but some varieties handle full sun exposure better than others.
In winter, these boxwood will also be covered in protective burlap to prevent snow and ice damage. Here is the last one getting lowered into the bed.
And here’s George with his team afterward – thanks, guys! They look just perfect where they are!
Once they are in place, the digging begins. Holes are dug twice as wide as the boxwood root balls, but no deeper. Once in the hole, the top of the root ball should be a half-inch higher than the soil surface.
The surrounding soil is sprinkled with a generous amount of fertilizer formulated to maintain deep, lush green foliage. The food is always mixed in, so the fertilizer does not have too much direct contact with the roots, which could burn them.
And then one by one, each boxwood shrub is planted in the ground. When necessary, always water boxwoods slowly and deeply. Overwatering can cause root diseases, while under-watering can cause stress.
Boxwood shrubs have shallow root systems, so proper mulching after they are planted will help retain moisture and keep the roots cool.
With the additional hosta plants and the border of smaller boxwood grown from bare root cuttings, I think the garden bed looks excellent. It was the right choice to make!
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