More on Theme Gardens - Zoos, Dr. Suess and World Travels

Wiese Acres "Christmas Carol" daylily

There are a few more theme gardens at Wiese Acres, but I will introduce you to them over time, as they begin to produce all their glory for this growing season.  The snow is beginning to melt - slowly but it's melting - so I am hopeful that we will actually have a growing season this year...

Today, I want to mention some ideas for theme gardens that we don't have at Wiese Acres.  Yesterday we talked about the children's themed garden at Wiese Acres, that was designed around children using it, small statuary of children in various forms of play, and plants with a children's theme.  There are many other ways to create a children's theme in the garden. 

 

Tiger lilies and phlox - Wiese Acres gardens

A zoo garden, incorporating statuary of animals and plants, such as Elephant's ear (colocasia), Hens and Chicks,  Lamb's ears, Monkey flower (mimulus), Tiger lilies, Kangaroo's Paw, Turtle Head (chelone), Ostrich fern - the list goes on and on.  You can find a nice selection of hardy and warm zone perennials and annuals that will fit
the zoo animal theme. 

Another idea for a children's garden might be a Dr. Suess garden, incorporating some of the most beloved characters from Dr. Suess's many books.  There are a number of weeping and contorted trees and shrubs which can set the tone.  Contorted hazelnuts, twisted  and pruned Dwarf Alberta Spruce, and weeping cherry, or in colder zones weeping carragana, will make you smile.  Green and red zinnias can reflect green eggs and ham,  large football type mums or the seedheads of clematis can give you that shaggy hair look so often associated with Dr. Suess characters, and catnip can remind you of the Cat in the Hat.  Creeping rosemary can look almost like spiky fingers crawling across the surface of your garden.  A ground cover juniper can be trimmed to resemble a snuffleupagus.  Add to those plants a little bit of Dr. Suess whimsy in the forms of garden statuary and you can create a garden that is fun for children and adults alike.

Wiese Acres "Thunder Patch" daylily

On a more grown-up track, a traveling daylily garden might be a good fit for other daylily addicts like me.  A friend of mine created this garden using daylilies named after locations she's visited on her travels around the world.  She built a replica steamer trunk out of cedar, in which she plants annuals that are allowed to spill out of the trunks like swaths of fabric and then adds strands of "pearls" and other jewels that she purchases in bulk at craft stores.  This is surrounded by daylilies aptly named City of New Orleans, Irish Veil, Mandalay Bay, Hollywood Lights, Mauna Loa, Broadway Phantom, and many others.  It is a great way for her to commemorate her travels and share them with anyone who visits her lovely garden.

The possibilities for theme gardens are endless.  Simply think of what you like and then let your imagination soar!