July 8, 2006 [Saturday] 6th Annual Patchogue Garden Club Tour

The Savastano Garden My gardens are a lot like my stews. I put all the ingredients into them that smell good, taste good, look good, and contain a little added surprise for everyone. Each stew I make tastes differently. Each of my gardens has a different flavor, too. They are constantly evolving and each year I love that one the best. When my children were still living at home, the entire backyard went through constant changes from vegetable gardens, to play areas with a miniature house. As they got older, the backyard had a swimming pool and volleyball net and at one time the ENTIRE backyard became an ice rink. I decided to regain the territory and convert it into small little gardens when they left for college. Now the ENTIRE backyard is a big garden with many points of interest. We removed all the bushes in the front yard and turned the lawn into small gardens. I designed and my husband built the gazebo in the front yard. On the right of my front steps, there is a windy Irish walkway to the gazebo. I sometimes sit inside the gazebo at a little table and drink coffee in the morning. A huge bubble blew into my garden and landed on a cement stand that I love to admire through its perspective. If you look around the garden you will see many little surprises under flowers and near rocks. As you leave the gazebo you can walk under a vined archway and follow the Irish walkway to an arbor where you can sit, read, and enjoy the trumpet vines and flowers that adorn the planter. Now as you open the gate and introduce yourself to the gate-keeper, you will see a small garden to your left which leads to a deck with assorted hanging planters. You'll also see a small garden in front of you with one of my favorite trees, a Ginkgo, with it's fan shaped leaves that turn to a bright yellow in the fall. Continue to follow the Irish walkway you will be lead under a wild raspberry arbor. As you come out from under the raspberry arbor you will see and hear the sounds of a waterfall. You will notice that the waterfall empties into a dry bed of river rocks from Pennsylvania You'll also spot a small bog with some interesting water-soaked plants just waiting to be discovered. You can take the Irish walkway to another deck entrance or you can step onto the boardwalk and pass the beach grasses. Behind them are my hummingbird feeders. The boardwalk will take you to a Japanese arbor of interesting plants and chimes. As you go under the arbor you'll enter the meditation area. You'll circle a large birdbath with a statue of an angel who just landed there among the birds. You'll see a small water display to your right on a gravel plain. Look at the elevated garden around the white oak tree. Many are hostas that I have had and divided for over 20 years. But the smells to your left will make you float to a pyramid of fresh herbs. Touch the rosemary, smell chives, thyme, sage, and tarragon. Another opening for the deck is now in front of you. Look around, did you find the Jasmine plant? If you look toward the driveway you'll see another potted garden area for pole beans, lettuce, tomatoes and hot peppers. By the garage, is my holding area for plants. Along the fence I have my blueberries, where the most sun shines, they love the water from the yard next door. You can go to another deck and sit in the shade. While there listen to the water display and the chimes as you get tapped on the shoulders by the palms. Take a look around at all the hanging displays of metal, glass, ceramic, and comical relief's. To the left you will see another small front yard garden with a cement bench near a birdbath. This garden is for the birds. One of my favorite trees in this area is my golden chain tree. Walk around to the front yard and look at the small freeform gardens of perennials. I hope that you enjoyed my "stew" today. My garden philosophy is very simple. My garden has to do a tap dance on all your senses. I want my gardens to be creative, peaceful, adventurous, surprising, comical, musical, inspiring, tasty, entertaining, and welcoming.