Upon hearing that my New Perennial pond garden just won a 2020 Honour Award in Landscape Design, the highest such honour from the US-based Perennial Plant Association (PPA), I find myself lost for words.
I will instead let the garden speak for itself.
Many thanks to those who inspired this garden, its design, plant selection, and experimental flavour. Especially to my unofficial mentors and great garden friends, Piet Oudolf and Roy Diblik.
Thanks to the PPA and this year’s judges for recognizing my northern garden, and the story behind its making. Sorry we can’t meet in person this year at one of their fantastic symposiums to raise a toast, swap stories and seeds.
Such is the nature of 2020.
Let me also thank the patient readers of The New Perennialist and my Dutch Dreamer friends on Facebook and followers on Instagram. It’s a miracle of technology how we can keep in touch from all over the world in such difficult times.
Super special thanks to my wife Troy for her genius of seeing what I cannot. She also happens to be my most trusted editor for whatever I write. There’s no one with whom I’d rather be isolated in our northern cabin universe.
Human + Nature
Last but not least, let me also thank the multitude of creatures including dragonflies, bees, butterflies, moths, spiders, beetles, ants, toads, frogs, salamanders, bats, and birds who call my garden home and bring it to life night and day.
Stay tuned for stories of future gardens currently in the works. It’s what I’m doing to stay sane and keep all things growing.
Tony,
You are second to none in how you have journeyed through these past several years to reach this milestone. The garden does speak for itself so I won’t even try to capture it with a few adjectives.
I know I can trust in who you have become to continue to grow an international ecosystem of garden dreamers and proceed with mastering both your gardening artistry and technique. Plus you are a talented wordsmith.
I also love that your passion comes from a place of inspiring others to dream, create, and grow. With admiration, Fran
Oh, Fran. I’m truly, madly, deeply touched by your words. A thousand thanks. I’ll continue to try to make things and gardens happen.
Bonjour Tony & Troy! This garden is so beautiful. I’m so glad to hear you’ve won an award; bravo. And who is your photographer? These images are sublime, not only because of what they’re capturing. I hope one day to be one of a handful of artists on site, painting your garden. Til then,
Rea
Thanks Rea. Actually, I’m the photographer too (gosh, I completely forgot to credit myself. LOL) and it’s very much part of the experience of discovering the garden and how the design changes over time. I also use it as a tool to edit and change things. I now have a brand new arborist’s ladder that lets me photography from above… an amazing viewpoint. You’re welcome to come by one day to paint and hang out in the garden!
Wow, congratulations! What an amazing place you have created!
Dear Tony,
Congratulations! Your garden has a magical look to it. So lovely! I have been enjoying your comments over the years though I am not on Facebook so miss Dutch Dreamers.
All my best,
Paula
Thank you, Paula. Yes, it’s as if the atmosphere has created itself. A good sign in any garden. Sorry not see you on FB – I’ve been remiss on posting here in the current madness but this is a revival, so to speak.
Tony,
A wonderful garden, congratulations! You have truly captured nature in all its glory and subtleties.
Well done!
Cecilia
Congratulations, Tony. It’s a beautiful garden and I’ve enjoyed watching you make it be over the past few years.
Thanks so much, James. We had a few conversations along the way that really helped me to not only accept, but embrace the wilder side. Horsetail springs to mind, as it seems to spring everywhere else too;-) One of these days, I really hope to make it to Federal Twist and for you to return the favour.
Having had the chance to visit, I’m not surprised, Tony. Vision and dedication pays off!
Thanks so much. Like most writers, I think of myself as a constant procrastinator… but when I look back, apparently, I’m less constant than I realize!
Tony,
Long overdue to you and wife for your amazing efforts! Please tell the name of that black and gold spider.
Regards,
Bob
Thanks Bob. That beautiful spider has the most boring possible name: Yellow Garden Spider. The latin name is on the photo itself.
This is great news, Tony. Congratulations. The photos make me long to visit. One day, perhaps.
Thanks Pat. I welcome you to visit and to someday return the favour.
Congratulations and well deserved Tony! After all your theories on naturalistic gardening, they have come to fruition on the ground!! Gorgeous photos too!!
I love the idea of sharing more seeds at our future meetings! Let’s all bring seeds to share next time we meet.
Dear Tony, very well deserved! Your passion, perseverance and artistic vision really paid off. I also have to applaud your photography, very artistic!
Would love to see it one day!
Consider yourself invited. Thanks Hanna, knowing something of your own high standards, that really means a lot.
Congrats Tony! Your pond landscape is just beautiful.
Do you know of anyone who has been able to create a New PerennialGarden in dry shade?
Here in Portland, Maine, I have been able to make use of such lovelies as Actaea, Corydalis, Bottlebrush Buckeye and more, however It is difficult to find full shade plants for pollinators.
As an aside, I now have to treat my 12 hemlocks for Woolly Adelaide!
Thank you!
There’s no reason why not, but it requires specific plant choices. I have areas of my pond garden on the upper slopes that are fairly dry and I’ve had to adjust my plant choices. Sorry to hear about the wooly adelgids, there are treatments with dormant oil at the right times of year. I had them on a small Larix this year and sprayed it with insecticidal soap to remove them. So far, so good.
Tony, from the photos here, your composition and planting is art comparable to one of the great master painters. I am in awe. Thanks for sharing.
What an extraordinary compliment. I have been in the midst of trying to raise my level in both the design of my plantings and how I capture them.