Garden of Helen Yoest – Helen’s Haven

Fine Gardening Blog – December Inspiration

December 2, 2009 By HelenYoest 9 Comments

…The evening was amazingly quiet. Of course, I have no point of reference since I rarely go into the dark. I usually spend my winter evenings inside, waiting it out. I don’t do dark well. I wait, in anticipation, for the Winter Solstice, the one day I am a pagan….

For the full story, please visit -Fine Gardening – December Inspiration – ‘Tis the Season for Evening Lighting

Helen Yoest is a garden writer and coach through her business Gardening with Confidence™

Follow Helen on Twitter @HelenYoest and her facebook friend’s page, Helen Yoest or Gardening With Confidence™Face Book Fan Page.

Helen also serves on the board of advisors for the JC Raulston Arboretum

Filed Under: Garden of Helen Yoest - Helen's Haven Tagged With: Fine Gardening, gardening, Helen Yoest

Why I Garden

November 21, 2009 By HelenYoest 14 Comments

Why I Garden

Finishing up after a day in the garden, a glass of wine in hand, I sit hard on the back porch chase. Ah, I say a little more loudly than necessary. I thought the need to express myself mattered only to me. It’s the sound of a good day in the garden.\’a0 At the sound, Lily perks up. She knows by the sound, I’m available.

From the moment born, Lily has loved flowers. Perhaps it’s her destiny. A smart girl at nine, she knows I may not put a puzzle together with her, and knows I definitely won’t play card games of any kind, but she has learned to ask me to stroll around the garden, something I’ve never refused. Today is no different. Even without the taste of my first sip, I happily agree to join her.

Taking her little hand in mine, we start our journey before ever leaving the stone floor of the covered porch. As Lily points out a humming bird and butterfly, I find I’m watching Lily as her eyes brighten up at the bold colors of the wildlife entering the garden. Her delight is my delight. And so we begin our evening walk

As we journey down the garden path, we pretend we are the wildlife entering the garden. We see what the birds, bees and butterflies see. We go to plants that entice us to take our noses and bury them deep in the flower’s nectar.

We share stories of friends, foods, and flowers. This time together is uninterrupted; we cannot hear if the dryer buzzer blares or if the phone rings. We are alone. It is our special time together. As Lily chatters, I reflect on why I garden.

Gardening provides me relaxation, creativity, beauty, and the satisfaction of knowing I’m making a difference in the one little plot of land that is in my care. Without the garden, the kids wouldn’t have secret spaces to venture into or value the earth in her abundance.\’a0 First hand knowledge is second nature to them. Even though I gardened for decades before the kids came along, I now garden for us. For these moments.

My mind comes back to the reality of Lily’s chatter as she asks me, Do you think my hair makes my head look like a triangle?No way, I said. But if it did, you would be in good company, do you see the shape of the Praying Mantid’s head? Here’s one; look closely. And so it goes on our evening stroll.

Why I garden was submitted to M.A. Newcomer over at Idaho Gardener for a contest. Head on over HERE and give her your reasons to garden. It was fun figuring out why I garden.

This is my second of these kind of blogger writing contests. The first was at Garden Rant for their 99 word fiction contest. I wrote
Nature’s Way, Simplified. I didn’t win anything, but sure did enjoy writing it.

<Helen Yoest is a garden writer, speaker and garden coach through her business Gardening with Confidence™.

Follow Helen on Twitter @HelenYoest and her facebook Friend’s page, Helen Yoest; or facebook Like page, Gardening With Confidence™

Helen is a field editor for Better Homes and Gardens and Country Gardens magazine and she also serves on the board of advisors for the JC Raulston Arboretum.

Filed Under: Garden of Helen Yoest - Helen's Haven, Garden Wildlife Tagged With: Idaho Gardener, Why I Garden

Helen’s Haven Fall Woodland Gardens One and Too

November 18, 2009 By HelenYoest 5 Comments

Woodland Bed Too 'a0Due to the shade, the box are taking their sweet ole time connecting

Back of the property, xeric, interesting. Helen’s Haven has two Woodland Gardens. Both are small gardens. Woodland Garden One is xeric and sunny. Woodland Garden Too is xeric and shady. One is on the North side of the Crinum Bed and Too is on the South side of the Crinum Bed.

Ok, enough for the location. Now I will bore you with the history, well, at least Too has history.

Because of the shade, when I first developed this garden, I thought it would be a great location for Hostas. That worked for a while until I stressed over watering them. They were in the “water sucked up by the pines zone” so I was forever hauling water to them. Of course this was before our infamous drought of 2007. You would think the worse drought in 100 years would wise me up, but no. It was voles.

The voles moved in to munch these tasty treats. I evaluated the site and accepted the fact that I had shade, voles, and dry soil. It was also at the farthest reach from the garden hose. Hello xeric. I will accept you for who you are. Out of respect, I redesigned the bed to work around all the conditions – a design that would not require any attention from me.

What’s important about these beds is that I have to do NOTHING to them. The plantings in each don’t require water or if they do, I treat them with benign neglect. The one exception is the Illicium. I have it planted near a water source.

Voles were the best thing in the world to happen. Without the voles, I wouldn’t have evulated the watering needs as well and wouldn’t have decided to plant Hellebores. I love, love, love Hellebores. Always green, flowers in the winter, poisonous to voles.

I also like the look of woodland plants. Or maybe it is the look they become in a woodland setting.

I’ve written about aspects of Too in the past,. Actually, I’ve kinda ignored Too for a very long time with a hunkin’ Ligusrum in it. You might find this post interesting. Removing a Giant Ligustrum from Woodland Garden Too

Here is what I have in Woodland Garden One:

Oakleaf Hydrangea

Woodland Garden One

Aesculus flava, Buckeye

Agastache, purple/pink

Amophophallus, Voodoo lily

Amsonia ‘Blue Ice’

Amsonia ‘Blue star’

Callitropsis leylandii,Leyland Cypress

Camellia, Standard Grand Slam

Unknown variety Redbud

Cercis, Red bud

Colocasia, Black Magic – 2009 had enough water from above to make happy.

Cornus florida, Dogwood

Cornus sericea, Yellow twig dogwood

Diantius, Pink ‘Fire Witch’

Gaura lindheimeri, Colso

Hellebore, Hellebore hybridus

Hydrangea quercifolia, Oakleaf hydrangea
Iberis sempervirens, Candy Tuft Purity’

Lineria, Spice Bush

Magnolia Gandiflora, Southern Magnolia – Six Plants I can’t Live Without\
Mahonia, Mahonia

Nandinia domestica, Nandania

Panicum virgatum ‘Shenandoah’

Rosa ‘White Lady Banks’

Here is what I have in Woodland garden Too:

Woodland Garden Too

Abelia ‘Rose Creek’

Alocacia ‘Portadora’

Aspidistra elatior ‘Asahi’

Callitropsis leylandii, Leyland cypress

Castanea mollissima, Chinese Chestnut

Chrysogorum virginionum ‘Allen Bush’, Green and Gold

Dryopteris x australis, Dixie wood fern

Helleborus ‘Double Queen Strain’, Lenten Rose

Helleborus foetidus

Helleborus x hybridus, Pine Knot Select

Ilex ‘Southern Gentlemen’

Ilex ‘Winter Red’

Oastanea dentana, Chinese Chestmut

Rhodea japonica, Sacred Lily, Evergreen Hosta

Rhodea japonica, Asian Valley

Sanguinaria canadensis Bloodroot

Trachelospermum jasminoides, Confederate Jasamine

Trillium foetidissimum, Trillium

Rita’s fern

Hydrangea arborescens ‘Invincibelle Spirit’

Illicium Floridanum ‘Halley’s Comet’

Too looks puny in the image, but it’s not in real life. Although I will admit, it is still filling out…but looking good in my book.

Helen Yoest is a garden writer and coach through her business\’a0Gardening With Confidence\’99\

Follow Helen on Twitter @HelenYoest and her facebook friends page, Helen Yoest or Gardening With Confidence Facebook Fan Page.

Helen also serves on the board of advisors for the JC Raulston Arboretum

Filed Under: Garden of Helen Yoest - Helen's Haven Tagged With: Garden of Helen Yoest - Helen's Haven, woodland gardens

November 2009 Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day at Helen’s Haven™

November 15, 2009 By HelenYoest 14 Comments

We have yet to experience a hard frost in time for this month’s Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day. It’s late. So, I have more blooms than I should have. Helen’s Haven, in Raleigh, NC is holding her own, but definitely ready to be put to bed. While most of the fall flowers are still in bloom, some are looking a little sad.

Purple Basil

Camelia sasanqua 'Sestugekka' from Camellia Forest

'Moonbeam'

Rosa 'Rainbow Sorbet'

Verbena 'Homestead Purple'

Hardy Cycleman

'Hot Lips' Salvia

'Pretty Much Picasso'99' trial in Helen's Haven. A true proven winner

Osmanthus

'Miss Huff' Lantana

American Beauty Berry, Aster, Salvia

Oakleaf Hydrangea so pretty in the fall.

Burgmansia detail

Brugmansia Angel Flower

Purple coneflower
Unknown reblooming Iris. Somehow doesn't look natural in the fall landscape.

Ditto

Sheffield Pink Mum from my friend kk

Purple Salvia

Edgeworthia still in leaf with flower heads forming

Big leaf Magnolia with Knock out Rose

Quince

'White Ball' Butterfly bush

Proven Winners Snow Princess'99

Sedge

Echinacea 'Double Pink Delight'

Brizillian Verbena

Rain lily

Red Bed in November

Carolina Jassamine

Rosa 'Pink Peace'

Tropical Snail Vine

Verbena 'Homestead Red'

Nippon Daisy

Unknown Dalhia

Acer palmatum 'Sango-kaku'

Helen Yoest is a garden writer and coach through her business Gardening With Confidence™

Follow Helen on Twitter @HelenYoest and her facebook friend’s page, Helen Yoest or Gardening With Confidence™ Face Book Fan Page.

Helen also serves on the board of advisors for the JC Raulston Arboretum

Filed Under: Garden of Helen Yoest - Helen's Haven Tagged With: Helen's Haven Garden Blogger's Bloom Day

Fine Gardening Blog – November Inspiration

November 2, 2009 By HelenYoest 3 Comments

Amsonia hubrechtii

As the first frost landed on my car window, I knew I would soon be called into action. Even though the ground temperature kept the frost from the garden, the need to put the garden to bed for the winter was on my heels. I went about my winter preparations happily, in anticipation of what I hoped would come. I was ready. Without this first frost, we can’t officially celebrate the fifth season–an Indian Summer.

As I walked into the back garden, I knew right away: Today we will have an Indian Summer. It may only last a day, maybe two. It may come again next week, or not. Indian Summers are unpredictable. Perhaps that is why it is so important to celebrate the season when it occurs: Tomorrow may be too late….

For the rest of the story, visit my monthly column at Fine Gardening November Inspiration

Helen Yoest is a garden writer, speaker and garden coach through her business Gardening with Confidence™.

Follow Helen on Twitter @HelenYoest and her facebook Friend’s page, Helen Yoest; or facebook Like page, Gardening With Confidence™

Helen is a field editor for Better Homes and Gardens and Country Gardens magazine and she also serves on the board of advisors for the JC Raulston Arboretum.

Filed Under: Garden of Helen Yoest - Helen's Haven Tagged With: Fine Gardening, Helen Yoest, Helen's Have, November Inspiration

October 2009 Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day at Helen’s Haven

October 15, 2009 By HelenYoest 21 Comments

October GBBD at Helen’s Haven in Raleigh, North Carolina, reminds hardy, yet the rain and very cool temperatures of late are unseasonable. So far, frost is at bay. The flowers and seed continue to welcome the wildlife.

Part of Mixed Border into Herb Garden

Miss Huff Lantana

Knockout

October 2009 GBBD 066

Edgeworthia

Loropetalum 'Pizazz'

Ruellia brittoniona

Helianthus detail

White Ball Butterfly Bush

Rain Lily

Swamp Crinum - LOVE this

Proven Winners' Snow Princess'

Chrysanthemum 'Clara Curtis'

Clara Curtis

'Moonbeam'

Abelia 'Golden Anniversary'

Rudbeckia black-eyed Susan

Echinacea 'White Swan'

Echinacea 'Double Pink Delight'

Vignette

Overview of Red Bed

Helianthus 'Swamp Sunflower'

Red Homestead - not real impressed with its performance in my garden

Drummondii

Lycorius

Nippon Daisey

Autumn Sedum

Cl. Don Jaun rose

Unknown Butterfly bush

Muhly grass

Limelight hydrangea

Hardy Cyclamen

Society Garlic

Tansy

Still Zuni

Obiedent plant

Vinca

Helianthus angustifolia Dwarf swamp 'Low Down'

Purple cone flower

Zinnia

Leucantha

American Beauty berry

Aster Tartan

Bangel Tiger Canna

Cleome Seed

World Events Make Garden Trends. Follow The Tomato to Understand

October 8, 2009 By HelenYoest 24 Comments

GWA 020c
This essay is in response to a Garden Rant blog post by my friend Susan L. Morrison. Great post Susan…let the discussion continue….

World events make garden trends. Follow the tomato to understand.

My dad’s dad grew tomatoes because his dad did so in the Old Country.

My dad planted them, as a child during the depression, because he had to. As an adult, he grew them because they were symbolic of never going hungry. It gave him comfort to know if all else failed; he would have a tomato to eat.

I (the last of the baby boomers) grew them because I wanted to be with my dad. My dad was in the garden, so I was in the garden. My brothers, no; they were nowhere near my dad or dirt.

It was a new era. We were rich (in that my dad had work, mom stayed at home to raise the family; we had no debt, owned our own home and we were loved.) My youth was between wars; neither war precipitated the need to grow a tomato.

I never grew tomatoes well; maybe I stuck one in the ground now and again. But it wasn’t for any altruistic reason. It was a tomato. It had no meaning for me. I was enjoying the peace and love stuff more than growing tomatoes.

I didn’t get the tomato thing. I got that my dad never forgot the depression. I wanted to grow pretty flowers. I didn’t feel the pangs of hunger that motivated him. That was his thing, give me ornamentals; give me peace and love. Peace and love are priceless. I can buy a tomato.

As my generation basked in the glory of the profits following the depression era, a new era was built on steady work and the power of compound interest, we didn’t want to GROW our own tomatoes we wanted to BUY them, because we could. We wanted to have pretty, manicured gardens around us. Tomatoes were bought just like a new sofa was bought. We wouldn’t think of making our own sofa, would we?

Now my kids look around and see flowers, pretty flowers, everywhere. As they became informed, they noticed I had no tomatoes, they wonder and asked why. I explained, that my generation (sorry, don’t mean to be speaking for everyone) didn’t want to grow food. We wanted to grow beauty our symbol of comfort.

Because of my kids, I tore up a patch of the front lawn and planted a veggie garden we now tend together. We grow tomatoes. As I harvest a fresh tomato, I think of my dad and his dad. I am hopeful my kids will never need to grow a tomato, but if they had to, they could.

My kids find their version of peace and love in the earth as a functional entity. Give to the earth and the earth will give back. Yep, if they want some information, they bypass by shelves of books and stacks of magazines for Google or Bing or RedZ. I do too.

I find comfort in holding a book or a magazine. But, I can’t and wouldn’t dictate that they hold the same value I do for the printed word. But maybe they will because that is where mom is and they want to be with mom.

As writer I wonder how to better communicate. I wonder how to best reach the new readers. I earn my living writing for magazines, blogs and I’m beginning my first book. I have to keep the future on my radar screen. I’m not alone. This wonder is being widely discussed. The what ifs abound. When I’m asked my opinion, I give my pat response for any query about the future and how I feel about it. My answer is this – I have no answer. The issues of the future haven’t been invented yet. In the meantime, I will evolve with the new generation and not hold onto my version of peace and love, but be ready to welcome theirs.

Vivre la difference

Filed Under: Garden of Helen Yoest - Helen's Haven Tagged With: Gen Y gardeners

Fine Gardening blog – October Inspiration

October 1, 2009 By HelenYoest 6 Comments

Tropical snail vine (Vigna caracalla)

……As I travel down the herb garden path, my legs brush Rosemary grown wide from the summer sizzle. The fragrance fills the fall air. A memory of a delicious meal of roasted chicken seasoned with Rosemary comes to mind. Reflecting for only moment until a butterfly catches my eye. In a dance that appears to be a fickle flutter, the butterfly finds the most desirable lantana flower. The musky scent of the lantana seems irresistible to the butterfly…..

Thought you might enjoy this piece for Fine Gardening Blog called, October Inspiration

Helen Yoest is a garden writer and coach through her business Gardening With Confidence

Follow Helen on Twitter @HelenYoest and her Face Book friend’s page, Helen Yoest or Gardening With Confidence’s Fan page.
Helen also serves on the board of advisors for the JC Raulston Arboretum

Filed Under: Garden of Helen Yoest - Helen's Haven Tagged With: Fine Gardening, gardening, October Inspriration

Helen’s Haven opened for 2009 Garden Writer’s Association private garden tour

September 28, 2009 By HelenYoest 5 Comments

2009 marked the first year the Garden Writers Association held their annual conference in Raleigh, NC. The conference utilized the new Convention Center in downtown Raleigh, where more than 600 garden writers from across the country and Canada enjoyed our southern hospitality, food, farmer’s market, arboretum and botanical gardens, and of course, the private gardens.

I was honored when the garden selection committee asked if my garden, Helen’s Haven, would participate on the garden tour.

Mayor Meeker spoke to an eager audience anxious to hear about the good goings on in our fine city. Raleigh was well received.

Pam Beck, our Chair for the local committee for GWA and Helen Yoest being intertained by Breat Heath of Brent and Becky's Bulbs

Pam Beck (always wearing a smile), our Chair for the GWA local committee and Helen Yoest being entertained by Brent Heath of Brent and Becky's Bulbs

G 149
Nataure's Garden 2009 Photo Shoot 106
Tour go-ers were also welcomed by the Raleigh Garden Club in way of cookies for each guest. Thank you Raleigh Garden Club!