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

The Murphy Garden and Open House I have been gardening here for 30 years. The property is constantly giving me new ideas. But I cannot deny my old stand by-daylilies. Daylilies provide instant gratification and a promise to bloom even under the most severe neglect. I began collecting them from catalogues, from a grower on the north shore, a daylily farm in Vermont and a garden club member who has a national daylily display garden. At present, I have over fifty varieties. To extend the flower season, perennials and annuals are planted among the day-lilies. As you walk along the west side of the yard, a brick path to my neighbor separates the flower garden from a flowering tree and shrub border. A path meanders through this border, an area that had once been overgrown with old Norway Maples and ivy. Leyland Cypress and flowering hydrangeas are planted along the fence to provide privacy. Beginning in February with the first blooms of the witch hazel, through May with over 1000 daffodils, azaleas, viburnum, and rhododendron, this new border gives me a tremendous amount of pleasure during the late winter and the gray days of spring. The vegetable garden planted with tulip bulbs each fall gives another splash of color in May. At the end of their bloom, they are recycled in the compost and the vegetables are planted. The vegetable garden is composted with seaweed from nearby beaches. The herb garden is located at the house for easy access. A small water garden in front of the porch provides tranquility and a diversion as one enters the side yard The stone path leading to the pool deck divides the shrub border from a shade garden that runs along the side of the house. Hydrangeas welcome you to the pool area Purple leaf sand cherries and caryopteris anchor the north end of the pool deck, junipers and lavender the east side. Buddleia ‘Lochinch” follow the property line. The raised beds hold blueberries, raspberries, a fig tree, rhubarb, and currants. The garden shed works best in the front of the house, as that is where the bulk of the work is. The privet hedge creates a “room” for my compost pile, firewood and things I need to hide. A small hedge of rosa rugosa creates some privacy and provides wonderful fall colors. The garden immediately in front of the deck is packed with daffodils, peonies, foxglove, daylilies, Montauk daises, a late summer blooming hydrangea, mums and for winter interest a winterberry. A gardening is all about anticipation. Always-new plants to think about and new areas to develop (no lawn?). Learning to garden with soil that is mostly sand and clay, loving to garden in spite of salt-water intrusion and occasional flooding are all challenges of seaside gardening.