Der Garten Eden

This year I talked the husband into accompanying me to the German Village Haus und Garten tour here in Columbus. These are mostly brick homes from the mid to late 1800s which have been remodeled over the last 50 years to make up this diverse neighborhood. At the south end near Schiller Park, the brewery barons had their large city homes. A little north were the smaller homes of the trades people and those who worked at the breweries of this German community. Most of the homes and gardens were the (originally) smaller homes which are tucked away on quaint brick streets lined with huge trees. Many of the homes have had extensions put on the backs or sides or in one case we saw, four little brick cottages were attached to make up one large house with a soaring glass atrium. Many artists and those who can afford to collect a lot of art live in this neighborhood which is just south of downtown. The homes are posh with all the luxuries crammed into the corners. The gardens are mostly grass less, 'postage stamp' size with small water features, artwork, urns, window boxes, pools or hot tubs. Notice the hot tub tucked into the back corner in the left lower picture. Some are formal, some are cottage style but all make the most use of space, usually shade or part shade. Ahh, I miss having some mature trees at our house. Notice the size of those mop heads on the hydrangeas. And the shaped boxwood below may inspire me to try just a spiral in the backyard. The husband asked what I liked. "We're going to need more plants," I answered. Lots more and thirty years to get these kind of mature gardens.