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With more than 140 hydrangea plant life in their garden , Eric and Christopher Feml - Nelsen have been fondly dubbed “ The Hydrangea Kings ” by fellow gardener . Here , in their Upstate New York garden , two Adirondack chair create a quaint seating area in their “ Hydrangea Room , ” a stead for Eric and Christopher to enjoy one of their best-loved plant .
Featured in The Garden Conservancy ’s Capital Region Open Days , July 2024 .
When Eric and Christopher Feml - Nelsen move into their Upstate New York home in 2018 , they were n’t big fan of the landscaping on the suburban 1/2 - acre property , which consisted of grass and a twain spirea . Though they did n’t have a absolved film of exactly what they want , they do recall knowing “ this is n’t it . ” So , the twain manoeuver to their nearest garden centerfield where an employee reckon at picture of their garden , made a few recommendations , and walk them around to look at industrial plant . They forget that Clarence Shepard Day Jr. with two novel plants — but they also entrust feeling a little overwhelmed .
Taking it upon themselves to start doing some of their own garden inquiry , Eric and Christopher began devouring garden magazines , watching Gardener ’s World with Monty Don , and pluck up selective information via online content from Jehovah such as Laura from Garden Answer , Erin the Impatient Gardener , and more . Though the two had no formal garden training under their knock , their willingness to plunk into the horticulture resource available to them and attempt things out is what led to their gradual backyard transformation .
As they start chip aside at their garden , they protrude their Instagram explanation , GrowForMeGardening . “ At first , it was kind of like our journal , ” explains Eric . “ We were just taking pretty pictures and document our journey . ” Instagram viewers begin following along , and once Eric and Christopher turned the television camera around and started partake in their personalities , too , their followers come down in love with the people behind the photographic camera and their inspirational commentary as much as their garden .
Today , the twain has a noteworthy garden with a present-day bungalow aesthetic . We sat down and chatted with Eric and Christopher about what they learned throughout the process of designing their garden from the ground up .
1. Create a Statement at the Entrance
A courtly arch , 6 feet wide at the al-Qaida and 8 feet improbable at its high-pitched head , plug in two garden layer and suck visitors into Eric and Christopher ’s backyard .
Walking through the side yard of Eric and Christopher ’s home , visitors are greet with an impressive arch that beckons them far into the backyard and adds repetition , symmetricalness , and structure to the space . Growing along each side of the archway are Generous Gardener English climbing roses by David Austin accompanied by ‘ Betty Corning ’ clematis . Bobo hydrangeasground the archway , hit it more substantial at the bag .
When they sawthis archon headway at Gardener ’s Supply Company , Eric and Christopher immediately thought about putting it in this sunny area where it could link up two garden beds . Stones station in the weed break up the formalness of the lawn , add to the aesthetic .
2. Carefully Consider Textures & Colors
A close - up on a stunning combination in a louche planting bottom : ColorBlaze ® Royale Apple Brandy ® coleus(maroon with bright light-green - yellow edges),‘Queen of Hearts ' brunnera(dark unripe with a silver overlay),‘Peppermint Patty ' bergenia(waxy fleeceable foliage ) , andShadowland ® ' Coast to Coast ' hosta(puckered golden leaves ) .
When it comes to adding plants to their garden layer , Eric and Christopher explain that they do n’t necessarily be after out the full bed before they set about planting . That ’s not to say that a lot of thought and consideration does n’t go into the plan , though .
As they begin fill up a layer , the gardeners take into account how each new addition will add to the overall blank space . For model , each newfangled plant life must have a grain and colour that will heighten , rather than detract or overwhelm out , the plant that are already there .
In this shady garden seam , a variety of textures and colors abound . “ The flame nettle works very well with the golden hosta , ” Christopher say . “ But on top of that , the texture of the hellebore leaves complement the texture of the brunnera . ” Here , textures and colour are n’t repeated , so no feature film is lost next to another .
3. Add a Touch of Whimsy
Cafe lights on their garden arch , create a fairy garden vibe after the sun goes down , is just one manner Eric and Christopher break up the formalness of their space .
To Eric and Christopher , append subtle , impulsive particular makes the garden a fun place to search . “ Having coffee bar lights on the archway makes it like a fairy garden at Nox , ” says Eric . “ I also like footling things like ‘ nous ’ planters that look like they have fun silly hair coming out the top . ”
While the pair does love impart fun garden nontextual matter , they emphasize that in their garden they stick to keep the impulsive low - cay . “ Little element that pop out service to unwrap up the formalities , but we do run to go subtle with it , ” adds Christopher .
4. Create Garden Vignettes
In the foreground , maroon leaves of a Ruby Falls redbud tree diagram . A Campania fountain , palisade by light - purpleness Walker ’s Low Nepeta cataria , adds to the serene ambience of this outdoor seating area .
Eric and Christopher look at each domain of their garden as its own unequalled vignette that contributes to the big image . Here , framed by leaves of a Ruby Falls redbud Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree is a picturesque scene : the color and shape of the folio provide a gross direct contrast to the airy , purple - flower Walker ’s Low catmint . From this perspective , the redbud seems to put the Campania spring and seating area beyond .
“ When we approach each outer space of the garden , we suppose about how a vignette looks on its own , but we also think about how it check in with the remainder of the garden , ” says Eric . Currently , the two are consider adding a works to climb the legs of the pergola .
Listening to their mentation process makes it clear-cut that they are thoughtful about each new addition : They describe not wanting something too alike in color or grain to the plants in the same vicinity , but they do want to be certain that whatever they append serves to tie the small vignette together with the garden as a whole .
5. Embrace Evergreens
Eric and Christopher set a ‘ Troemner ’ cross spruce to provide year - round structure to this repeated garden layer .
When designing most of their repeated garden beds , Christopher and Eric take a gradual , organic approach — fancy what works as they bring each plant . However , when it comes to adding evergreen plant to their yard , they have been very strategic , spacing them out by choice and with a function . Some have been add to create privacy from neighbors , others to make the anatomical structure of a “ room , ” while several have been added to provide free weight in areas of the garden that need it .
“ When you look out at our garden in winter , you see evergreens and lots of clean , ” says Eric . “ I love them in winter , but I also love them in the produce season because they provide solid free weight . ” For representative , in a bed that ’s in the main flossy in texture , adding a Hinoki cypress tree trimmed into a bowling ball shape serves to mash the space .
6. Don’t Be Afraid to Experiment
In a lava rock planter , Eric and Christopher implant aSolenia Apricot begoniafrom Proven Winners . After falling in love with the plant , they plan to give it a lasting spot in hang shade baskets .
While Christopher and Eric are big believer in using plants you love as your foundation , they emphasize the lulu of trying new thing , too . One way they suggest doing this ? Plant them in container . container can be moved around to different region of the garden , so , as Eric says , “ They ’re low-toned commitment . ”
For example , last twelvemonth , the two receive plants from Proven Winners to evaluate and savor , many of them quite unlike from plants they typically gravitate towards . They placed these plants in container near nurture bed . When Eric bought seeds of centaurea to try out , those went in containers , too . “ When we spring up plants in coloring material we ’re not used to , we can keep them contained , ” says Christopher . This is often how they find their new favorites .
A few years ago , Eric wanted to try aPrimo ® ' Peachberry Ice ' heucherawith aMagic Show ® ' Ever After ' veronica . They try it in a container , and both gardeners ended up falling in love with the combination , which has now become a regular in one of their garden beds .
7. Include Vignettes with Contrasting Colors
Verbena bonariensis , with its clusters of over-embellished flowers atop long stem , complement a planting bed across the way , a hedgerow ofLimelight hydrangeas — creamy with a touch of lime green .
One of Eric and Christopher ’s strategies is to have colour recur throughout the garden for a good sense of cohesion . “ You need to regain the color you think look great together , ” says Eric . “ In our shell , we utilise good deal of purple throughout . With purpleness , we use lime putting green , peaches , pinko , creams , and megrims . ”
In improver to think about colors in their overall garden , they think about color within each vignette by pick a colour palette for the space then sticking to it . “ We make a compass point to bound a pallet in a sketch to a handful of complementary colors , ” says Christopher .
Although the couple make out including purpleness , it is important to notice that they are witting of position and endeavor to avoid drowning plant out in a sea of the same color . “ If you do that , everything conflate together , ” says Eric , “ but we want each plant to stand out . ”
8. Create a Hangout Spot That Fits Your Needs
A bottom containing two of Eric and Christopher ’s favorite plants — lime - green Limelight hydrangea and purplish catnip — lead up to their cozy seating expanse . A louvered pergola , Adirondack chair , and a gas fire pit offer a cozy situation to hang out in the evening .
When planning their outside seating surface area , Eric and Christopher customized their space to fulfill their demand . They really liked the expression of pavers interspersed with gravel , but they did n’t want the mess that usually comes along with it . To keep the infinite sizable , they choose for low gravel rather of pea plant gravel which has a sharper edge , so it does n’t typically roll around underfoot .
The pergola , purchase from Costco , has a louvered roof which they can keep unfastened for an airy feeling , or close to trap passion from the fire pit . Not wanting to uphold or stock a Sir Henry Joseph Wood pile , they opted for a gas flack pit . When asked if they expend meter out here often , the two say , “ All the prison term … as long as it ’s over 50 degree ! ”
MORE FROM CHRISTOPHER & ERIC’s GARDEN
Shimmery apricot orange give ofPrimo ® ' Peachberry Ice ' genus Heuchera , lavender pointy flush spikes ofMagic Show ® ' Ever After ' veronica , and deep purple foliage ofWinecraft Black smokebushcome together in this garden bottom of well - couple textures and colouration . In the container , bloom ofSuperbells ® Tropical Sunrise calibrachoacoordinate with the genus Heuchera , while asparagus fern adds texture andUnplugged ® So Blue ™ mealycup sagestands magniloquent . An Eastern redbud tree hovers above the scene , topping off the eye - catching vignette .
Bright greenish - blue needle of a Vanderwolf true pine ( popping into the frame at leftfield ) add coloring and texture to the west side of the garden . Beyond , Limelight hydrangea shows off its pinky - cream evenfall blooms .
A view from Christopher and Eric ’s backyard , looking back at their fire - nether region and pergola hangout spot with their terrace and home beyond .
The layer aright outside the arena which Christopher and Eric have playfully knight the “ Potager Garden ” features a vivacious combination of plants : purpleSupertunia Mini Vista ® Indigo andSupertunia Mini Vista ® Hot Pink , catnip , andVerbena bonariensis . Not only does this bed extend brilliant blush , it also attracts pollinators to this domain of the garden .
“ As a gardener , one of the most delightful and rewarding experience is witnessing the ever - change ravisher of your garden throughout the yr . ”
“ The gloss and aroma of flowers ? Nature ’s prescription for pleasure and stress easing . ”
“ Create environments where you could incur pleasure . ”
“ Do n’t be afraid to try out and have fun in your garden . Yes , there will be battle and letdown , but there will also be amazing triumphs and gorgeous upshot ! ”
“ Get a pot , some quality soil , and embed that seed with love . urine it on a regular basis , observe its development , and let the joy of civilize life cheer you . ”
