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| Hacienda Cusin allele walk- just beyond the blue door |
Today was a good day to be a gardener – at Hacienda Cusin,
in Ecuador.
in Ecuador.
The day started with the scintillating walk to breakfast
from the El Monasterio where me — and the Landscape Design Alumni group (LDSA)
garden designers are living. Here, there
is carved wooden doors, antiques, “a baroque altar,” hand-painted murals and a
secret door…
from the El Monasterio where me — and the Landscape Design Alumni group (LDSA)
garden designers are living. Here, there
is carved wooden doors, antiques, “a baroque altar,” hand-painted murals and a
secret door…
The spicy, sweet scents of jasmine and eucalyptus “blows me
kisses” as I step through the gates to cross the bridge where I’m “handed off”
to the beguiling honeysuckle – who it seems also reminds me to look up to the
cloud-kissed Andean mountains standing sentry in the near distance.
kisses” as I step through the gates to cross the bridge where I’m “handed off”
to the beguiling honeysuckle – who it seems also reminds me to look up to the
cloud-kissed Andean mountains standing sentry in the near distance.
The walk through the cobblestone allee was already like
“moving meditation” accompanied by all manner of whizzing insects and buzzing
birds, (oh those streaking emerald and sapphire hummingbirds!) to serenade the
walk.
“moving meditation” accompanied by all manner of whizzing insects and buzzing
birds, (oh those streaking emerald and sapphire hummingbirds!) to serenade the
walk.
I always say, every great garden tells a story – and our
goal here is to better tell the story of Hacienda Cusin through its ornamental
gardens. And what a story it has to
tell.
goal here is to better tell the story of Hacienda Cusin through its ornamental
gardens. And what a story it has to
tell.
But like all beauty queens, the garden beds were ready for
their makeover.
their makeover.
We begin the day fueling up with coffee by the fire in the
Casa Cusin’s well-appointed sitting area, before enjoying a full, delicious
breakfast of local yogurt and omelets made with local cheese – the area
bordering Hacienda Cusin is known for its dairies and its rose nurseries.
Casa Cusin’s well-appointed sitting area, before enjoying a full, delicious
breakfast of local yogurt and omelets made with local cheese – the area
bordering Hacienda Cusin is known for its dairies and its rose nurseries.
Then it was out to the gardens to work. The team of women worked on the allee border
garden again today. The men worked in
another area, preparing the garden beds for the agapanthus that will soon be
planted there. Gus also found a tarantella there! He killed it inadvertently while working the
beds (thank goodness, too.)
garden again today. The men worked in
another area, preparing the garden beds for the agapanthus that will soon be
planted there. Gus also found a tarantella there! He killed it inadvertently while working the
beds (thank goodness, too.)
The allee walk leads from the main areas of Hacienda Cusin
including the restaurant, biblioteca/library, and reception to the El
Monasterio. It also bifurcates the wider
expanses of lawns there where receptions can be held. There is a big wedding
this weekend!
including the restaurant, biblioteca/library, and reception to the El
Monasterio. It also bifurcates the wider
expanses of lawns there where receptions can be held. There is a big wedding
this weekend!
From a garden design standpoint the borders are rather
unique in this way because they are seen from both sides, not just the front,
as is the case with most garden beds.
Therefor the design needs to be determined from both sides. This means tall in the middle – and leveling the plant heights down
accordingly on each side of the bed.
unique in this way because they are seen from both sides, not just the front,
as is the case with most garden beds.
Therefor the design needs to be determined from both sides. This means tall in the middle – and leveling the plant heights down
accordingly on each side of the bed.
The allee has an overarching canopy of trees filled with
bromeliads and orchids.
bromeliads and orchids.
In turn, the
tree cathedral “ceiling” affects the amount of sunlight on each border bed that
affects the amount of water and soil composition. Taking all this under consideration was
necessary to determine the beauty makeover of the border beds.
tree cathedral “ceiling” affects the amount of sunlight on each border bed that
affects the amount of water and soil composition. Taking all this under consideration was
necessary to determine the beauty makeover of the border beds.
We garden mujeres designed the borders to feature more
swaths or groupings of plants. We did
this to create drama, to draw the eye to a more calming sensation vs. a more unconscious
jarring sensation created by different plant types laid out staccato-like.
swaths or groupings of plants. We did
this to create drama, to draw the eye to a more calming sensation vs. a more unconscious
jarring sensation created by different plant types laid out staccato-like.
We removed the big ferns that were hiding the lovely stone,
Asian-inspired lantern at the end of an allee artery; pruning the tall aloe
that stand at attention on either side.
Asian-inspired lantern at the end of an allee artery; pruning the tall aloe
that stand at attention on either side.
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| Before the makeover |
The jade plants that were there seemed to cry out for more of
a presence; therefore we created a semi-circle out from the lantern with more
jade plants – repurposed from other garden spots.
a presence; therefore we created a semi-circle out from the lantern with more
jade plants – repurposed from other garden spots.
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| After makeover – clean view of sculpture – more jade plant grouping |
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| Linda clearing out the lantern garden |
Linda also planted Forget-Me-Not
behind the lantern in a pretty, clean exposure.
behind the lantern in a pretty, clean exposure.
I removed five St. John’s Wort plants
that were misplaced and really just didn’t look like they belonged amidst all
the other more tropical and semi tropical plants. Out they came, roots and all.
that were misplaced and really just didn’t look like they belonged amidst all
the other more tropical and semi tropical plants. Out they came, roots and all.
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| Me, & my St. John Wort “trophy” |
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| Gus and his St. John Wort “trophy!” |
Becca – our “bold border guru,” was superb at envisioning
the mass plantings that needed to be created and at locating plants from other
parts of the garden to be transplanted. Thus we pruned and cleaned one area –
such as opening up the specimen windmill palm that was being crowded with aloe –
all while designing and filling in another area. Smart gardening design – -and smart
horticulture, too.
I wanted to add some stones to a new fern and aloe
composition and it worked so much that it looked like it had always been
there. Nice.
composition and it worked so much that it looked like it had always been
there. Nice.
We also massed aloe in another opposite part of the border
allee to create an ornamental sweep as well as to place plants that didn’t need
much water on the “hot” side of the bed.
allee to create an ornamental sweep as well as to place plants that didn’t need
much water on the “hot” side of the bed.
Peg pruned up a giant Euryops chrysanthemoides species – a
yellow daisy-like tall shrub.
yellow daisy-like tall shrub.
Further down, Linda cleaned up the low-growing sedum, taking
out the vinca that threated to clutter the look (and worse to take over) and
then cleaned up the plants hanging over the cobble border edge. She was sitting on the path doing this.
out the vinca that threated to clutter the look (and worse to take over) and
then cleaned up the plants hanging over the cobble border edge. She was sitting on the path doing this.
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| Before sedum bed |
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| Linda cleaning sedum border |
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| After – Sedum border |
Not so long after, we saw a scorpion
there! We have learned from Gus, that
the scorpions like the walls and stone borders because it’s cool; the minerals
there bring the insects and food they eat.
But Yikes!
there! We have learned from Gus, that
the scorpions like the walls and stone borders because it’s cool; the minerals
there bring the insects and food they eat.
But Yikes!
So we also learned – no sitting on the ground to weed and
prune. One must have agility to move
quickly in case danger rears it’s lobster-like claws!
prune. One must have agility to move
quickly in case danger rears it’s lobster-like claws!
Becca moved some Kniphofia – Red Hot Pokers – to add color and height. Don’t you just love their
impressive color and sassy look? Those fluted bottlebrush tops remind me of a
Beefeater hat – but maybe a Beefeater from Jamaica!
impressive color and sassy look? Those fluted bottlebrush tops remind me of a
Beefeater hat – but maybe a Beefeater from Jamaica!
We are almost finished with this allee border. The day
before the team worked the first part – exposing the beautifully crafted stone
wall by pruning plants and removing some plants altogether and creating
low-growing plant compositions. I cleaned
and pruned the Crocosmia bed – but I pushed my health too far. I had yet recovered enough from the altitude illness
aka “Soroche.”
before the team worked the first part – exposing the beautifully crafted stone
wall by pruning plants and removing some plants altogether and creating
low-growing plant compositions. I cleaned
and pruned the Crocosmia bed – but I pushed my health too far. I had yet recovered enough from the altitude illness
aka “Soroche.”
But not before seeing the
gigantic beetle Amy discovered in her garden bed area! Wowsy.
We’re not in Kansas any more!
gigantic beetle Amy discovered in her garden bed area! Wowsy.
We’re not in Kansas any more!
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| Mel and the Beetle! |
I love, love, love the panko – blue agave bed composition
Amy created there.
Amy created there.
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| Amy and the Blue Agave composition |
I also received a tour of the incredible vegetable garden at
Hacienda Cusin that helps to contribute to the menu’s delicious homegrown
dishes. (More on this garden coming up.
It deserves its own feature – trust me.)
Hacienda Cusin that helps to contribute to the menu’s delicious homegrown
dishes. (More on this garden coming up.
It deserves its own feature – trust me.)
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| Teaser image from the Edible Garden at Casa Cusin |
We enjoyed a fabulous comida and later – a fiesta at the
gorgeous home of one of the Hacienda Cusin’s management family.
gorgeous home of one of the Hacienda Cusin’s management family.
Today, more garden bed work in preparation for the wedding
this weekend.
