14 Times Martha Stewart Went Overboard With Gardening – And It Totally Paid Off
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Martha Stewart is nothing if not grand, and she’s certainly doing it in her garden. On a quest to make the perfect garden, Martha has drawn on strategies as extravagant as her plant collection choices or as dazzling as her garden layouts which leave the average gardener speechless. That’s not to say her methods are over the top, but her vision is nothing short of inspiring. Sometimes, a garden that looks like it was planted in Eden is the result of bold choices, and sometimes it’s worth going all in.
So, let’s take a look at some of Martha’s best times when she took her gardening to an entirely new level and got it absolutely right.
A Peony Patch Like No Other
Well, Martha Stewart’s love of peonies is well documented, but she didn’t just plant a few. Martha planted an acre of peonies creating an entire field of them ensuring the landscape was a pastel wonderland every spring. Hundreds of these iconic blooms make the garden look like a dream, not a backyard. Even the most seasoned horticulturist bows to her dedication to this floral favorite and its timeless elegance adds a bit of spring garden color magic.
Dahlias on Display
I love dahlias and Martha loves them a lot. She wasn’t satisfied planting a few plants; she planted rows and rows of these things, covering quite a bit of her garden. Her dahlia garden goes from deep purple to bright yellow each fall. It has become a pilgrimage site for dahlia enthusiasts and photographers alike, and a bit of overabundance can create a lot of beauty.
The Natural, Magical Allée of Linden Trees
If you’ve ever seen a photo of Martha’s famous linden tree allée, you’d probably agree that it’s straight out of a fairytale. Martha followed her signature style by planting a whole row of linden trees and moulding them over the years to make a tunnel like path. The trees have grown increasingly enchanting and imposing, bunched to form a green canopy that makes her garden feel grand in the most majestic way. This allée demonstrates the ease with which a casual line of trees can be developed into an extraordinary garden feature through a bit of thought and care.
A Cutting Garden Florists Would Jealous Of
Martha’s cutting garden is exactly what most of us dream about, a garden that provides fresh flowers, only Martha’s takes the concept to an entirely new level. To grow flowers for only the bouquets, she designed a special zone for flowers, and planted zinnias, cosmos, lilies. It’s this space she uses to fill her home with fresh arrangements every day, and to take care of any impromptu events she might be hosting. For someone who just loves fresh blooms as much as she does, it’s definitely worth it, but it’s an elaborate setup.
Rare and Unusual Fern Collection
Martha developed something of a passion for rare plants which resulted in an extensive collection of ferns. It wasn’t just any ferns, either—she went out of her way to get rare and unusual varieties unlike those you’d find in home gardens. They give these lush green beauties a whole lot of texture and depth to her landscape and prove that going the extra mile for rare plants can help a garden stand out in a unique way.
Chicken Coop Garden Sanctuary
Martha’s chickens don’t have a simple coop. Instead, they exist inside a sanctuary, flowered, shrubbed, stone-placed. So much of the charm of the coop comes from its painted, calming tones, and it’s nestled into a lush, well maintained area that could function as a zen garden. And it’s the sort of setup that makes you wonder if the chickens know just how fancy their home is.
The Orchard for Every Apple Lover’s Dream
Martha didn’t plant just one or two apple trees when she decided to plant them. She built an entire orchard, full of several types of apple trees. Every fall her orchard is full of fruit that she uses for everything from pies to preserves. It’s this mini-orchard that reflects her approach to gardening: why not have an apple paradise when you can have an apple paradise?
Over-the-Top Vegetable Garden
Martha’s vegetable garden is not basic. As always, she’s taken it to another level, with meticulously organized beds of heirloom tomatoes, crisp lettuces, and herbs so ready for a farmers’ market you’d not believe that she’s grown them herself. Her vegetable garden does more than feed her household; it’s simply stunning and a testament to what good planning and a dash of ambition can achieve.
A Herb Garden That Would Cure Anything
It should come as no surprise that Martha’s herb garden is big, as she loves fresh herbs. Her herb garden is sprawling, almost mini botanical garden, with an impressive selection of herbs: lavender, thyme and rosemary. Not only that, it gives her a wealth of culinary ingredients, and brings a calming scent to her property.
All Seasons Reclaimed Greenhouse
Another of Martha’s boldest moves was putting a reclaimed greenhouse in place to grow plants all year round. She didn’t just purchase a pre-made structure like the average backyard gardener does. Instead, she found an old greenhouse, rescued it and repurposed it for use as part of her garden. She was able to grow exotic plants, and extend her growing season — a commitment that has paid dividends with stunning results.
The Pollinator Paradise
Martha’s garden isn’t a show garden; she’s also thinking about the environment. Pollinator friendly plants are also a nod to sustainability. Any space filled with milkweed and echinacea flowers also attracts bees, butterflies, and other important pollinators. A pollinator paradise reminds us sometimes the best gardens are those for nature, too.
Lavender Fields Forever
Martha chose not to stick with meager patch of lavender, but rather took up acres of it, creating a scent teaming with soft lavender that brought to mind Provence. The air by her property smells of lavender each summer. This luxurious field doesn’t just look or smell beautiful: it represents Martha’s dedication to bringing the garden experience into a space.
The Iconic Boxwood Garden
Perhaps her most iconic plantation garden might be Martha’s boxwood garden. Her property was given a formal elegance reminiscent of European estates by the series of boxwood hedges she designed and then had trimmed and shaped into intricate patterns. This garden feature shows dedication because boxwoods need continual cutting to keep their shape, as this Better Boxwood article attests. The result? The timeless garden that acts like a thing from the past.
Pond Perfection With Koi Fish
Martha didn’t only built a pond, she built a sanctuary. They have a small pond as well, with water lilies, a carefully selected stone arrangement, and a bunch of koi fish that would make most fish lovers jealous. This is a serious piece of water feature that helps completing her garden though adding a serene part to it. Martha wouldn’t have a pond unless it was grand.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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