Color Your World

On the Market
digging in
Color Your World
Let nature’s palette brighten your yard
in Charleston, S.C., my wife and I fell in love with the beautiful gardens throughout
the city. We spent hours walking the streets and peeking though gates to get a glimpse
of the hidden gardens tucked away within the city.
Even though we are in a completely different cold hardiness zone, several of the
same plants that captured our attention in Charleston actually grow in the Evansville
area. Different varieties of these plants perform differently, so depending on your
yard and what plant you choose, some many grow better than others. Azalea
Crape Myrtle
Even though
azaleas are a pretty
common plant to
our area, they are a
staple in any Charleston garden. Most people
are familiar with the traditional azaleas
that flower in the spring, but re-blooming azaleas are plants that flower not
only in the spring but also through the
summer and early fall. Some varieties
have evergreen leaves, making them a
wonderful addition to any garden for
year-round interest. Crape myrtles are
truly iconic Southern plants that have
been in our area
for many years. They
continue to grow more
popular here because they are such versatile plants with a wide range of sizes and
colors to choose from. In more southern
regions, crape myrtles are grown as small
trees. There are several larger ones in
our area, but most are shrubs of various
sizes including dwarves that grow only to
about 12 to 18 inches tall.
Mondo Grass
Camellia
Mondo grasses are
similar to Liriope,
but they are more
unique. There are
three main types of
Mondo grass that make
an excellent groundcover for the garden.
The main Mondo grass could easily be
confused with Liriope, but it has a thinner
leaf. The black Mondo grass is a unique,
small grass that, as its name says, is black
in color. It is great to work into a garden
and is a nice alternative if you are looking
for something a bit untraditional. Dwarf
Mondo grass is a small, evergreen grass
that grows about three inches tall. It is
slow to spread, but it creates a uniform,
deep-green grassy look. It is a wonderful accent along walkways and in smaller
areas where you need an extra bit of
evergreen groundcover. I have loved camellias ever since I first
saw them years
ago. Camellias are a
glossy-leaf evergreen
shrub with varieties that
flower in the spring or in the fall. I have
had bright pink camellias blooming in my
own yard at the same time that snow is
falling outside. They have such an elegant
flower with shades of whites, pinks, and
reds. Plant your camellia in a protected
area before planting them in abundance
around your home. — Brian Wildeman
Brian Wildeman is a landscape
architect at Landscapes by Dallas
Foster Inc., 825 Canal St. He can
be reached at 812-882-0719 and
dallasfoster.com.
5266 Martin Road, Newburgh, Ind.
Listing Price: $230,000
Vitals: Sitting on two acres in Newburgh, this
home features a courtyard with a Koi pond and
an indoor pool. The living room has a fireplace
and French doors leading to a large screened-in
porch. In addition to four bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms, this beautiful brick home also has a 2.5-car
garage and a guest house with private entrance.
Listing Agent: Carol Ellis, ERA First Advantage
Realty, 812-455-0080
6611 Hillsgate Court, Newburgh, Ind.
Listing Price: $595,000
Vitals: As part of the Old Stone House Estates in
Newburgh, Ind., this home boasts five bedrooms with 4.5 baths, three family rooms, each
equipped with a fireplace, a formal living room
and dining room, and a large, open eat-in kitchen. The outdoor space offers a sunroom that
opens to a large deck and an in-ground pool.
Listing Agent: Randy Folz, Folz Realtors, 812425-5414
8701 Emge Road (Horse Property)
Listing Price: $600,000
Vitals: This beautiful 15-acre horse farm and
remodeled home was designed with family
in mind. More than 3,600 square feet of living
space includes three bedrooms, 2.5 baths, wood
flooring, vaulted ceilings, and a stone woodburning fireplace. An abundance of windows
provides panoramic views of the property, in
addition to a screened-in porch and open patio.
Listing Agent: Ron Wargel, F.C. Tucker Emge
Realtors, 812-455-0550
EvansvilleLiving.com July | August 2013 55