PHOTOS COURTESY JIM CHARLIER / JCHARLIER. COM
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At least 1,000 labeled hostas are the focus of Mike and Kathy Shadrack’ s garden. They have published numerous books about hostas with Timber Press, including the Encyclopedia of Hostas( with Diana Grenfell of London).
which country would they occupy? Ultimately a hillside in the woods and a house built over a creek( sometimes called“ Fallingwater Two”) won— and we won. Their vision and labor has produced a showplace garden you won’ t want to miss.
The garden contains more than a thousand hostas in the ground and in pots, including some rare and pricey treasures( one cultivar is registered as‘ Mike Shadrack’). All are labeled, as are the 300- some daylily cultivars. Kathy has planted more than 100 Lilium cultivars as well, mostly in pots that she moves in and out of the garden as they bloom since animal pressure is severe in those woods.
PLANTAHOLIC ALERT
Much of the garden spans a hillside terraced with stacked-rock beds that Mike built, but these two admitted plantaholics didn’ t stop there. Mike’ s created a miniature hosta garden, which you’ ll find along a path in the woods. Behind the house are extensive beds filled with many perennials, specimen trees and shrubs.
While hostas and daylilies were the impetus for this garden showcase, Kathy noticed a gap when tours started to be scheduled through August.“ We needed to focus on what blooms later. Phlox paniculata seemed to be stars. Now I have quite a scattering throughout the terraces, mostly in lavender, white and pinks. They’ ve self-seeded here and there over the years. Recently I’ ve added newer cultivars to bring in dark purple, magenta and coral shades. The phlox colors paint the late summer garden with a lovely watercolor effect,” she said.
SOLOMON’ S SEAL COLLECTION
The newest garden feature is Kathy’ s Polygonatum( Solomon’ s seal) collection, including many natives and newer hybrids mostly from Japan(‘ Tiger Stripes’,‘ Kon Chiri Shima’,‘ Goldilocks’ and‘ Fireworks’). There are talls, giants, dwarfs and minis for garden writers to discover.
Although some collectors’ gardens are mostly about the collections, with labeled plants all in a row, this garden is not that. The Shadracks’ designer brains took an overgrown woodland hillside and carved out an unforgettable garden. They have added art as well: Don’ t miss the 5-foot dinosaur or the bronze mouse sitting among the‘ Mouse’ hostas. Some art is whimsical, some elegant and some daring. You may have to search to find some of the statuary and carvings, as they’ re often hidden around a turn in the path. The art is just another reason to visit this special garden.
Stay tuned for more about the Buffalo area’ s other gardens and attractions. Mark your calendars: August 4 through 7 or 8, 2017.
Sally Cunningham is the GWA Local Arrangements Chair for Buffalo 2017. She says this is written with deep appreciation for organizers, helpers and for you— who won’ t want to miss this one!
REGIONAL EVENTS
REGION 1 February 11, Long Island Regional Seed Consortium’ s annual seed swap includes presentations, talks, panel discussion and information booths at Suffolk County Community College, Riverhead Campus, 121 Speonk Riverhead Road, Riverhead, New York,
March 11, Making Brooklyn Bloom: Connecting the Drops, at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. BBG’ s newly opened Shelby White and Leon Levy Water Garden inspired this year’ s conference theme. With a day of workshops, panel discussions, films and more,“ Connecting the Drops” will give special attention to water wisdom, interconnectedness and citizen action.
March 22- 26, The Boston Flower & Garden Show offers everything from garden displays created by renowned landscape professionals and some of the top local nurseries, to lectures and demonstrations by well-known garden writers and industry experts as well as a market offering thousands of plants along with the latest in gardening products.
REGION III Plan to visit flower and garden shows this winter. Complimentary press passes are available at many shows if you register in advance. See show websites for details.
• March 2-5, West Michigan Garden Show, DeVos Place, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
• March 7-8, Michigan Green Industry Association Annual Trade Show and Convention, Suburban Collection Showplace, Novi, Michigan.
• March 11-19, Indiana Flower and Patio Show, Indiana State Fairgrounds, Indianapolis.
The Indianapolis Museum of Art will hold several programs related to Orchids: Cultivating Beauty through March 5.
Chalet Nursery in Wilmette, Illinois, holds garden seminars at 11 a. m. Fridays and Saturdays. Upcoming topics include“ Couples Terrarium Workshop,” February 17 and 18;“ Winter Tree & Shrub Trimming,” March 10 and 11; and“ Spring Garden Care,” March 17 and 18.
Fearless Presentations will host a two-day public speaking workshop in Columbus, Ohio, February 23 and 24.
The MOSES Organic Farming Conference will be at the La Crosse( Wisconsin) Center, February 23 through 25.
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