One June 5, I had the pleasure of speaking at the Penny McHenry Hydrangea Festival in Douglasville, Georgia.  My topic was “Designing A Garden For Four Seasons.”  The audience was enthusiastic and I enjoyed the event but the highlight for me was when Susanne Hudson showed me the garden house (I’m not sure what she calls it) that she and Tara Dillard had designed together.  The talented builder was Ken Spencer.   I was impressed by his attention to detail and the fact that he used salvage materials for the project (except for the roof).  This inviting structure made me want to get my favorite book of the moment and stretch out on the bed and read.

Garden House with recycled materials

Creating outdoor rooms is something that Susanne knows about.  When I first visited her garden years ago, she had created an outdoor living room with salvaged windows from a church.  Years later it looks as if it has always been there.  Boxwoods and hydrangeas look lush on this June visit and visitors are lounging on the glider.  She also has an outdoor dining room complete with an electric chandelier that works.

outdoor garden room

In my own garden I have a small gravel area with chairs next to a water garden but I love the idea of a garden house.  Now if only I can find someone to build it.  Until then I will enjoy my summer blooms including daisies, ‘Casa Blanca’ lilies, coneflowers and later hydrangeas and big plants like Silphium perfoliatum , called the cup plant it grows to 6’ or taller.  Other favorites include Hemerocallis ‘Autumn Minaret’ which also grows to heights of 6’ and offers fragrant yellow flowers with a dark peach center. 

my garden in August 2009

It’s too hot to plant but there is plenty of weeding and mulching to keep me busy.

Well, maybe I’ll add some more annuals.  You can never have too many plants.

Tags: garden house, garden structures, summer blooms