In the southwest corner of Chester County PA, neighboring the small town of GAP, lies a decade and a half old development. Among the twenty odd homes that make up this particular community, sits my Mother’s.
It was early June. I arrived in the late morning. This time I carefully approached as to not miss the driveway. It is tucked among a plethora of perfectly coiffed shrubs and hedges, making it hard to see from certain angles.
After our initial greetings, Mom immediately sets to making our coffee. We are both avid java drinkers -- not only for the taste but for the tradition and ceremony. Coffee drinking has always been a part of visiting back to my Mom’s childhood. She sets a tray of dainty cups, an elegant creamer, and cloth napkins. My Mother does everything in a formal and elegant way. She carries the tray to the terrace off the back of the house where we sit to enjoy our coffee. “I never have enough time to do all the things I want to do in my yard” she laments as we look out toward her gardens.
Although Mom chastises herself for not being able to get to everything she wants to do, even the most seasoned gardener would be envious of what she has created on the two acres of the six and one-half that comprise her property. Even the prettier lawns and yards in the area pale in comparison.
She and her husband bought the house when the development was new and the landscaping was minimal. With a creative eye, and a love of gardening my Mother brought her passion to life! Using a rather banal area of land as a canvas, she created a lush oasis of living color, texture and shape. A nod to times past, inspired by formal gardens but with a relaxed feel, it is the perfect landscape for an impressionist oil painting.
As we were talking, Mom remembered that the vegetables needed watering. So I walked with her down to the vegetable garden. Everything looked as gorgeous as ever! Accented with deep reds and a brown shingled roof, two windows and a two-panel barn-style door, the potting shed which sits in front of the vegetable garden, could be straight out of a fairy tale. Cascading vines hang from an iron planter on one side. At its base, a cutting garden surrounds the shed on three sides. At one corner of the flower bed, a St. Anthony statue -- which once stood in her Mom’s yard -- blesses the garden and serves as a sweet memory of my Grandmother, Antonetta.
As we make our way to the back of the shed, I see the wooden placard that was a gift to my Mother from my nieces and nephew. It is slightly obscured by the growing vegetable plants but still visible. Inscribed are the word’s “Nonna’s Garden” (Nonna meaning Grandmother in Italian and pronounced |nawn-nah| ). Here grow tomatoes, zucchini, eggplant, cucumbers, peppers and onions. A bit of a conservationist, Mom sources her water for the vegetables as often as possible from a barrel that collects rainfall.
After watering the vegetables, we walked around the grounds. My Mother, proud of her work, enjoys playing docent, pointing out the different species of plants, new shoots and flowers in blossom!
Mom’s house is not far from neighboring homes on the left and right but the back opens up to a large grass area that backs up to a retention pond and wetlands. Two sides of the property are lined with Arborvitae and Leyland Cypress trees which provide complete privacy and a sense of seclusion.
This oasis holds interesting stories about Mom’s many green treasures. In parable form, she recited the story of the three-inch pine tree that Starbuck’s had been giving away to customers one holiday several years ago. Unable to resist something she could plant, she took one. It now stands six feet tall and holds a perfect Christmas tree shape.
Mom recounted the tale of the little seedling her Aunt and Uncle had found by the Schuylkill river in Philadelphia. They had planted it in their yard in the city but they soon saw it would grow much too big. Knowing my Mother had lots of outdoor space, they gave the tree to her. It is now enormous both in width and height. It towers over the wooden swing, and sits not too far from the property’s resident apple tree -- creating an interesting vignette!
A cement bird bath is situated near the swing. It’s not only a lovely aesthetic but it’s a functional piece that draws birds of many varieties. There is also the tree she purchased from the national arbor society 12 years ago. At that time it was small enough to be sent by regular mail. It is now a full-fledged, one story high mulberry tree. It germinated and the result is a second tree -- equal in size, shape and beauty. Together with the original, it creates a shaded arbor - under which my Mom has a seating area that evokes the 1920s. One can imagine women in white flowing summer dresses sitting there sipping tea from china cups.
Toward the center of this verdant canvas is a large stone planter that is filled with herbs -- mint, parsley, basil, sage, chives and lavender. As we walk toward the front of the house and meander along the side, we are met with a rainbow of colors. Mom planted red knockout and orange hybrid roses, as well as David Austin yellow and pink roses which grace the arches over the stone steps she had installed some time ago. These steps and the arch conjure up images of Roman gardens.
Besides the steps, tucked among a bevy of water plants, sits a small pond. Mom’s hope is to make the pond habitable to small fish that will make it their home. Mom is constantly thinking about what needs to be done, and how things could look even better. Her quest is to create the perfect sanctuary!
As we take time for a second cup of coffee again from the terrace behind her house, my Mother advises herself and others who share her passion to “make sure you take time to sit back and take in the beauty; savor not only what you see, but the scents and sounds of the garden not just in the growing season but during autumn and winter as well.”
A Think B.A.R.E. Creation ⒸAuthor: Carolyn Francesca, Contributor: Cassatt copyright September 2017