We moved out of our former home when our daughter, Mary, was two and Sarah was five months old. Shortly after that, whenever we would drive down Main Street in Huntley and pass our house, we would say âHi, old house, bye, old house.â
I donât know exactly how or why we started doing this. It just seems like a nice way to acknowledge a place where such fond memories were made. This summer, it is the 2-year-old that is behind the wheel of the car as we recognize the place where her Dad placed a large sign in the front yard proudly exclaiming âItâs a Girl.â
Depending on which way we are driving, I can catch a glimpse of three wooden trellises that my husband built. They are affixed to the east side of the home. The purple and white clematis that we planted in front of them add gorgeous color to that part of the home both in the summer and fall.
Vertical gardening is one of the hottest trends in gardening. The term âvertical gardenâ simply means to grow up as opposed to growing out. Vertical gardening can add an element of height to any garden, provide privacy, block unsightly views, and add color to small spaces. Vertical gardening maximizes the use of limited space. Maintenance of vertical gardens is often easier than traditional gardens because the plants are usually above the ground, which minimizes kneeling and bending over.
Vertical gardening can be done successfully with a wide variety of plants. They include: annual vines such as morning glory, perennial vines such as honeysuckle or clematis, vegetable plants such as pole beans, and shrubs such as climbing roses.
I find that the key to successful vertical gardening is a strong structure for the plants to grow onto or around. Wooden or metal trellises, pergolas, obelisks, arbors, and free-standing privacy fences all make great support structures for vertical gardens. There are also commercially-made vegetable vertical gardening kits available.
A trellis and a vine is the easiest way to garden vertically. It can dress up a bare wall with color and height. When considering planting a vine, it is important to note how the vine climbs. The method through which a vine climbs helps to determine the type of structure that it needs to be planted next to. Some plants have twining leaves and stems. They adhere through tendrils. Honeysuckle, clematis, and moonflower are examples this. These plants need something to wind around as they grow.
Boston ivy and Virginia creeper adhere through little disks. They are more appropriate on a brick wall or something that doesnât need to be painted. Boston ivy is the beautiful ivy planted in Wrigley Field. Other vines such as wisteria tend to curl around what they are growing onto.
If you are considering vertical gardening, here are a few plant options.
First Editions Honeybelle Honeysuckle (lonicera x browinii). This is a versatile, easy-to-grow vine for novice and expert gardeners alike. Its first flush of flowers is like a waterfall. It is exceptionally hard. It prefers full sun, but will take some shade.
First Editions Summer Cascade Wisteria (wisteria macrostachya âBetty Mathewsâ.) Blooming in June on new growth, individual flowers are borne on long, showy racemes and open as a lovely shade of purple. This is a vine that can easily cover a pergola, creating a cool, shady place.
First Editions Autumn Revolution Bittersweet (Celastrus scandens âBailumnâ). This is a breakthrough self-pollinating bittersweet. It has gorgeous orange/red berries in the fall. It does best in full sun.
⢠Kathleen Carr is the owner of The Growing Scene, Inc., a garden center and landscaping company. She can be reached by calling 815-923-7322 or tgsinc12@msn.com. Have a gardening question? Please contact her. She will address it in an upcoming column.
