Give Me 36 More Years

The garden you are about to enter may cause severe amounts of lust, angst, awe and inspiration. Or is this a sign for the bamboo?

Day two of Asheville Fling 2012 begins at the garden of Peter and Jasmin Gentling. Lisa of Greenbow is most properly coiffed for such an august occasion and stops to pose for the paparazzi before entering this forest retreat on a mountain above down town Asheville.

The Gentlings most graciously greet the 80 plus garden bloggers who have come to spend the morning in their garden and tell them about the 40 years they have gardened here and a bit of the 100 year history of their home, Blue Briar Cottage.

If I plant a Dawn Redwood, Metasequoia glyptostroboides now, how big will it get before my time comes? They were only rediscovered and then distributed by Arnold Arboretum in 1948. This tree may have been part of that original distribution.

Large rocks as steps on a steep mountain side garden. I can do that.

Peter Gentling is a collector of rare and unusual cultivars. My best guess on this is a Calycanthus of some sort.

Stopping to smell the roses.

Embraced by the natural forest, a well tended garden filled with textures and topped off with flowers blended just fine into the natural setting. Perhaps I worry too much that my own garden if overly cultivated would look odd out there in the wilderness.

Several out buildings in the garden also served the gardeners need. This shed was next to a working green house. The area in between was lined with cold frames for propagating new plants.

Another small building tucked into the hill is a green house in the winter for tropicals

And a painting studio in the summer for the talented artist Peter Gentling.

Art was well placed throughout the rooms of the garden created by the terraced levels and meandering paths, even art some might consider frightening or disturbing.

Nail Man was given a home in the Gentling's garden after a some what troubled birth then eviction in the River Arts District in Asheville. When Peter mentioned Nail Man was living at the top of the hill I knew exactly who he was talking about.

Everyone in Asheville has poppies. I should try again. Obviously they will grow here.

The many textures and layers of interest that 40 years of a passion for gardening can create. All I need is a little more time.

A little zen about gardening in the forest.

One day I too can have a garden worthy of pearl clutching.

I will garden on to the passion that is my own, while listening to the voice of the forest.

Thank you Peter and Jasmin for sharing your most inspiring garden with all of us.