Iron Wrought Trellises Worthy of Passion Vines

Posted by hpotterblog on February 14th, 2012in Dianne Benson, Gardening Products, Trellis | No Comments

By Dianne Benson, author of Dirt: The Lowdown on Growing a Garden with Style

I have not yet met any single plant — let alone a vine — that is as awe-inspiring and heart-stopping as a passion vine (Passiflora).

Passiflora passion and trellises

If I had the pleasure of living in a climate hospitable to growing these exquisite creatures in the ground — I would have many more varieties than the four I now proudly boast.

But my four are just heaven…as they should be, given their highly graphic, if not religious significance (stamens are the Holy Trinity, corolla the Crown of Thorns, and so on).

One oversized, mauvey, multi-colored beauty resides in a biggish terracotta pot and grows at the sunniest end of the grape arbor on a rather graceless piece of lumber

The frilliest passion flower has the terrible job of scrambling over a deer fence which is impossible to beautify

But it is the remaining two passion vines that are much happier because they are growing — as they should be — on handsome trellises. As this emblematic, exotic plant sends out amazing curlicue tendrils (another Passion of Christ reference), its ability to climb on and arrange itself around a trellis is unsurpassed.

A trellis is better than a lattice or a fence

The framework of a trellis can be fanciful or straightforward, right-angled or tripartite, pillared or domed, intricate or simpl

The very best selection I can find is here at H. Potter where they have all of the above and more — there is one trellis with hanging bells that seems exceptionally delightful — style and garden sounds at the same time.

Made of strong iron, they are coated with a special finish that is not brown or green or gray, but a totally neutral color that fits perfectly into the garden palette — even when it is brand new and before it is covered with passion or any other vines.

The one pictured is the Leaf Trellis; the next that I have my heart set on are the Pillar Trellis or the Onion Dome. You will be thrilled when you see what a difference they make in your own garden. And what’s even better — some designs are now available at a sale price…treat yourself….

East Hampton, New York

19 September 2010

Don’t miss any of Dianne B’s garden ideas! For a free RSS or email subscription to this blog go to the upper-right section of the sidebar. Your email address will not be shared.

Shine On: Tropical Container in a Hamptons Garden

Posted by hpotterblog on August 14th, 2010in Container Garden, Dianne Benson, Garden Planters, Gardening Products | No Comments

From left to right: Dwarf Colocasia affinis 'Jenningsii', blue-leaved Melianthus 'Honey Flower', Alocasia 'Hilo Beauty', Hibiscus tilaceus 'Tricolor'. All exotics from Landcraft Environments, Mattituck, NY. In the ground: Xanthosoma albomarginata; dried allium - Allium oreophilum 'Agalik Giant' (from Odyssey Bulbs).

By Dianne Benson

What makes a garden shine?

As the climate is changing right before our very eyes, and stymieing our senses with its brutality and extremes, the bloom time is fleeting and lacks its good old stamina.

Here one minute and gone the next: so how to make our garden shine without the dependability of our wildest garden schemes…or even our most well-thought-out ones?

Introducing elements that are not dependent on Mother Nature seems to be the way to go.

Gazing balls are OK but perhaps too much a conceit for me.

That old deception of Garden Mirrors can be effective and one seems always so surprised and pleased to come upon it (especially when it is reflecting back your own unexpected image) ; but it is – after all – a trick, and though it is great at lighting up a dead-end situation — it doesn’t really shine.

The reflection from a pond or a pool and the sparkle of a birdbath are other ways to bring shine to the garden too; but I have just added something totally unexpected — A Shapely and Large Copper Urn.

I’ve plunked it down right in the middle of the Mysterious Tree Bed where the tulips were, the allium remain (though dried and lifeless), the lilies have come and gone, and boy — does it look great.

There’s something about the copper being the just-right metal to pick up the wonderful mélange of color created by the surrounding trees.

It reflects the greeny-whites of the Aralia elata above and the variegated Heptacodium below…the red tinges of Landcraft’s superb Hibiscus tilaceus ‘Tricolor’, as well as the surrounding glow of several Japanese maples: lion’s-headed, palmated (full moon, that is) and variegated.

Other metals that don’t rust or tarnish are either too precious (even Gold Plate would be out of the question) or are, and should be, reserved for garden tools: two of the Ten Garden Greats at DianneBBest.com are the essential stainless steel trowel and the high-gauge stainless monogrammed hand-made shovel.

Copper has such a significant presence in art and architecture because it is so compelling and variable —its beautiful red-brown sheen eventually oxidizing into a like-no-other-color turquoise/blue/green patina — makes it doubly perfect for the changing nature of the garden.

East Hampton, New York

14 August 2010

Watch a new video of this copper urn.

Dianne Benson, famed garden author and fashion designer, joins the H. Potter Knowledge blog as a monthly Guest Author

Posted by hpotterblog on August 11th, 2010in Charlotte Germane, Dianne Benson, Gardening Products | No Comments

by Charlotte Germane, Editor of the H. Potter Knowledge blog

Dianne Benson in her East Hampton garden.

Dianne B. and Hamptons style

Dianne Benson took her design flair from her Dianne B. clothing stores in Manhattan and transplanted it to her first garden in the Hamptons 20 years ago.

The novice gardener’s dramatic and highly personal planting style was quickly noted in the beach towns of Long Island, and reached an international audience with the publication of her cult classic book, DIRT: The Lowdown on Growing a Garden with Style. Packed with unusual plant suggestions and practical guidance for the gardener, DIRT is an essential. You’ll soon be able to buy an autographed copy of DIRT here at H. Potter.

The Best @ Dianne B.

Dianne B. also has a new online store, The Best @ Dianne B. She combines her passions for top quality and great value in her selection of the Ten Garden Essentials in tools and accessories for all gardeners.

Take a minute to see her custom-made Tool Belt, the engravable stainless-steel shovel, her favorite plant markers, and—well, if you’re like me, you’ll want all Ten Garden Essentials.

Every month Dianne B. will bring her distinctive garden design concepts and plant combinations to the H. Potter Knowledge blog. Her first post is coming up!

Subscribe to the blog now (on the upper right-hand side of this page) so you won’t miss any of Dianne’s lively posts.