The Gardens of Diana and Craig Plahn

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The Gardens of Diana and Craig Plahn Suzanne Mahler Hanover, MA Following two very steamy days of visiting the truly incredible Missouri Botanical Garden and multiple fabulous and diverse tour

1 The Gardens of Diana and Craig Plahn Suzanne Mahler Hanover, MA Following two very steamy days of visiting the truly incredible Missouri Botanical Garden and multiple fabulous and diverse tour gardens, we descended the steep, lengthy driveway on our way to the Plahn residence, wondering what might be revealed at the base of the slope. As we turned the corner, an astonishing panorama of terraced gardens overflowing with lush hostas, multicolored daylily cultivars, and stunning companion plants was unveiled, beneath a canopy of tall trees that offered a cool oasis and peaceful escape from the scorching rays of the sun. Diana and Craig designed and built their home in 1990, choosing the site for its wooded privacy. As accredited judges for the Orchid Society, their primary goal was to construct a small greenhouse in an open area for growing their prized orchid collection. Phenomenal stone walls were constructed during the first year to minimize damage from flash floods during heavy downpours, eventually leading to the transformation of their steep hillside, half-acre property into a series of layered terraces with meandering paths, creating garden rooms that feature a glorious blend of flowering bulbs, Japanese maples, perennials, succulents, and, more recently, a growing collection of dwarf conifers. A delightful, rock-lined water feature with a series of cascading waterfalls spilled into a naturalized pond bordered by weeping thread-leaf maples and handsome clumps of mature hostas. Statuary, potted and hanging plants, birdbaths, and artwork were tastefully tucked in among the plantings, further enhancing the beauty of their landscape.

As we traversed the many paths through the gardens, I was continually distracted by the diverse collection of companion plants.

hostas. In sunnier locales, spectacular multicolored daylilies stole the show, boasting voluptuous blooms with heavily ruffled petals, contrasting eyes, watermarks, and edges.

admiring their seedlings and named cultivars, taking copious photos of their fabulous collection. In a sheltered border just beyond the daylily seedling bed, a handsome clump of H.

2 As we traversed the many paths through the gardens, I was continually distracted by the diverse collection of companion plants. Heuchera, hellebores, ornamental grasses, pulmonaria, astilbes, succulents, and dwarf conifers were interspersed throughout the garden, offering pleasing textural contrasts to the broad leaves of the hostas. In sunnier locales, spectacular multicolored daylilies stole the show, boasting voluptuous blooms with heavily ruffled petals, contrasting eyes, watermarks, and edges. The Plahn s are daylily hybridizers, with their own registered introductions, and as a daylily enthusiast and former national display garden for the Daylily Society, I spent considerable time admiring their seedlings and named cultivars, taking copious photos of their fabulous collection. In a sheltered border just beyond the daylily seedling bed, a handsome clump of H. Hollywood Lights (at right) caught my eye, its large cascading, deep green leaves with appealing irregular chartreuse centers creating an elegant display. It was immediately added to my growing wish list of must-have hostas. Continuing on through the winding paths, I was drawn to the smooth, waxy, lime-green leaves of H. Fashionista (below); edged in white with deep red petioles, the contrast of colors was stunning Farther down the slope near the Plahn residence, I discovered a charming fairy garden, complete with an elegant statue keeping a watchful eye over the gathering of miniature and small hostas. Whimsical, colorful ceramic mushrooms were dotted among the delightful assemblage of different varieties, which included Blue Chip, Oreo Cookie Peppermint Cream and several members of the Mouse Ears family. The grouping of multiple cultivars illustrated the tremendous diversity of leaf shapes, colors, textures, and substance now available in the wonderful world of hostas, all in a compact space. Side-by-side, H. Snow Mouse and H. Royal Tiara were perfect examples, the former with perfectly rounded, thick blue-green leaves,

Just beyond, visitors were able to get a glimpse inside the small greenhouse, revealing the Plahn s passion for orchids, their first

3 typical of the Mouse Ears cultivars, boasting a creamy-white center, while the latter displayed elongated, pointed and twisted leaves with pure white streaks and a more delicate appearance despite its larger size. Just beyond, visitors were able to get a glimpse inside the small greenhouse, revealing the Plahn s passion for orchids, their first addiction to plants. Numerous species were displayed in hanging planters, on benches, and in a unique structure that held numerous individual potted specimens along one side of the structure.

4 Every pathway offered another fabulous collection of delectable hosta introductions. Sadly, like several other tour gardens, an unwelcome hail storm took a terrible toll on a large percentage of the hosta clumps, their leaves battered and shredded by the pelting ice. I cannot imagine the heartbreak and disappointment of the homeowners affected by the hail after years of preparation for the convention, but Mother Nature is unpredictable and most gardeners seem to accept the vulnerability of their precious plants to unpredictable weather events. Hosta Pocketful of Sunshine has become a personal favorite due to its heavy substance and cheerful countenance, and I could not resist capturing its image despite its lacerated foliage. This appropriately named sport of H. Rainforest Sunrise, with its spherical cupped and puckered green leaves and broad, bright yellow centers always makes me smile. Along another walkway, I discovered H. Magic Island (left), a mediumsized sport of H. Halcyon, with smooth blue-green leaves and creamyyellow centers, barely touched by the icy downpours, while the leaves of clumps on either side were completely shredded. A magnificent specimen of H. Spinach Soufflé glowed in the filtered afternoon sun with corrugated golden leaves splashed with green centers, while the heavily puckered foliage of Lakeside Blue Jeans still maintained much of its powdery blue color despite the intense sunlight and high temperatures. I could have easily spent the entire day in this extraordinary garden and still not discovered all the special treasures it had to offer. As I made my way back up the steep incline, a stunning bottlebrush buckeye offered one last memorable image of the Plahn s ongoing passion for gardening with hopes that I might return another day to further explore this incredible landscape.

THE GARDEN OF JOAN AND DAVID POOS

Roberta Chopko Boonton, New Jersey THE GARDEN OF JOAN AND DAVID POOS Just an ordinary garden behind a typical suburban house at the end of a cul-desac NOT! The Poos residence is situated close to the street