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American Rose Society
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Gordon Garden
The Garden of Barbara and Gil GordonBarbara joined the Santa Clara County Rose Society 21 years ago after entering a rose show. The Gordon Garden has gone from 5 roses to around 450 roses: 190 miniatures, 90 polyanthas, 30 old garden roses, 35 shrubs, 49 hybrid teas, 46 floribundas, 6 grandifloras and 9 large flowering climbers. Their Mountain View garden is on a 1/4-acre lot, which originally was part of a prune orchard farm. The house was built 36 years ago. Only the Bewitched rose bush and a dozen plants remain from the original landscaping when the Gordons moved in 26 years ago. Last year the remaining remnants of the lawns were removed to open up the garden to planting more roses. The Gordon garden is a creative country style garden with fifteen fruit trees, many bulbs, flowers, and bushes, two old kiwi vines, many hanging pots and flower arranging plants in addition to the roses. Gil constructed the kiwi trellis from pipe and wire and also made the PVC pipe trellis for climbing Eyepaint by the side gate. Other climbing roses are on posts, fences, trellises, pillar frames, arch arbors, and a climbing Happy polyantha rose climbs up a leptospermum (tea) tree by the front door. Special features in the Gordon garden to look for are: polyantha roses collection, different ways of using climbing roses, the use of polyantha, ground cover roses and miniatures roses in the garden landscaping, the two old kiwi vines, and companion plantings of perennials, bushes and fruit trees with the roses. Notice the many plants that can be used for flower arranging with the roses: aspidistra, willows, New Zealand flax, dwarf and miniature plants, umbrella grass, bamboo (in a pot), cotoneaster, maple, hawthorn, flowering quince, beautyberry, contorted hazelnut (Harry Lauder's walking stick), kiwi, holly, nandina, iris, etc. The front walk is lined with miniature roses arranged by color. The miniature roses continue across the front of the house and are mixed with annuals and other roses. Along the driveway are tree roses and hybrid teas. Walk under arches of climbers to reach the main portion of the back garden. The garden has a very private and peaceful feel to it. Barbara has been gardening for 50 years. Her enjoyment of plants began as a little girl. Gil is not a gardener but enjoys the fruits, vegetables and color that the garden has to offer. Barbara does all the planting and maintenance in the garden. The garden is not sprayed because of the dogs and the wildlife that lives in the neighborhood (many birds and night visitors). The garden has survived the puppy play of golden retriever dogs the last 24 years. Harlane plastic name markers are slowly being replaced by AAA metal labels, which are hopefully puppy proof. Gil is the dog expert. Barbara is the rose expert. Barbara and Gil hope you enjoy your visit to their colorful, country garden with roses. Barbara became a Consulting Rosarian in 1985, a rose specimen judge in 1989 and a rose arrangement judge in 1995. Barbara received the Santa Clara County Rose Society Bronze Medal in 1995, the NCNH District CR Award in 1995, and the NCNH District Silver Honor Medal in 1999. She is currently the NCNH Arrangement Judges chair and gives many programs related to roses throughout the District, as well as arrangement workshops. |
Copyright © 1995-2002 Santa Clara County Rose Society
Last Updated 3/6/02
