Click here for IGC pictures at Historical society
IDYLLWILD GARDEN CLUB
Our Showcase: Idyllwild Area Historical Society ‘Village’ Gardens
A major component of our club’s beautification efforts in and around Idyllwild is the grounds and plantings at the Idyllwild Area Historical Society (IAHS). Many are already familiar with the excellent, maturing sections containing both lilacs, several apple trees and flowering perennials planted by IGC. Discussions with the IAHS President, Carolyn Levitski, have led to a more well-defined role for our club in building and maintaining gardens at the museum grounds.
Over the next several years, we will be improving the overall design,” bones” and framework of the gardens. The goal is an overall, coordinated landscape plan. Small sections within each garden area will be planted in an effort to harmonize with one another and emphasize a mix of perennial flowers and shrubs that are draught tolerant (xeric), offer multiple seasons of garden interest and, where possible, native to our area.
The gardens will become a central location within the village of Idyllwild where our neighbors, friends and visitors may enjoy a spot of beauty, learn by our club’s example what grows here in harmony with our mountain climate and appreciate an important contribution of the Idyllwild Garden Club!
In March 2010, design plans for the front gardens were presented and approved by the IAHS Board. Over the coming months, IGC will begin to create the hardscaping for the pathways and garden beds, deal with irrigation issues in a few areas, and then begin the installation of plants in the first of several major garden beds. On the following pages, you may view a grouping of plants and photos that have been proposed for a planting area within the gardens.
Xeric, Hardy Perennial Border (scheme #1) for Idyllwild Area Historical Society:
(Developed in association with High Country Gardens, Lauren Springer)
Included are Three (3) plants each of Veronica pectinata (Blue Woolly Speedwell), Agastache neomexicana (Hummingbird Mint/Hyssop), Penstemon strictus (Mountain Penstemon), Aethionema schistosum (Fragrant Stonecress), Salvia nemorosa “Caradonna” (Caradonna Sage), Penstemon barbatus “Elfin Pink”(Elfin Pink Penstemon), Dianthus “Firewitch” (Garden Pink). Two (2) plants each of Callirhoe involucrata(Poppy Mallow), Artemisia “Seafoam”(Curlicue Sage), and one (1) plant each of Centranthus ruber(Jupiter’s Beard) and Nepeta “Walker’s Low”(Catmint) for a total of twenty-seven (27) plants that will cover approximately sixty (60) sq. ft. This fits rectangular areas ranging in size from 12 ft. long x 5 ft. wide, to 20 ft. long x 3 ft. wide.
Mountain Penstemon (24”h x 36”w); western US native
Hummingbird Mint (Hyssop) (24-30”h x 18”w); southwestern native
Fragrant Stonecress (10”h x 15”w) Mediterranean native
Blue Woolly or Turkish Speedwell (2”h x 18”w)Very xeric (Asia Minor)
Saliva nemorosa, Caradonna Sage (24”h x 18”w); Central Europe & Western Asia
Dianthus barbatus, ‘Firewitch Pinks’(24”h x 15”w) Native to southern Europe but naturalized throughout US
Poppy Mallow (5”h x 24-30”w) Western and Central Plains of US
Curlicue Sage (8”h x 24”w) native of Southwestern US
Centranthus rubber ‘cocinneus’, Jupiter’s Beard (24-36”h x 30”w) Originally, a Mediterranean native; now highly naturalized in western US
“Walker’s Low” Catmint (18-24”h x 18”w) native of Asia Minor,
then introduced to England & US in late 1800’s.
“Elfin Pink” Penstemon (24”h x 15”w) Western US native
OPTIONAL PLANT:
Phemeranthus calicynum “Fame Flower” (12”h x 12”w) native to Ozarks,
A succulent, edger plant. (inter-plant with Blue Woolly Speedwell)