About
Ramblin’ through Dave’s Garden is intended to be more about gardening than the Landscape business that is Dave’s profession. Ocassionally, there will be a “how to” or landscape information type post, but there are so many “happenings” every day in the garden that there will be plenty to write about.
Dave is the oversized guy in the photo, here speaking with a group of landscape designers on a tour of the Landscape nursery at Meadows Farms in Chantilly, Virginia.
Dave has worked for Meadows Farms Landscape department in Northern Virginia since 1976. He has a one acre+ garden begun in 1989 in Warrenton, Virginia where he moved once his previous house had run out of planting space. He plants as much stuff as his wife will allow, and tests new plant introductions and other landscape products. The garden features 6 ponds and numerous patios and paths. It is a lot of labor, but mostly a labor of love.
With more than 30 years experience from this, and previous gardens, Dave has experienced the highs and lows that come with gardening. He has used these lessons to add new products to Meadows Farms line, and to improve the quality of their services.
These are a few pictures of the ponds in Dave’s garden. Through the years he has added ponds and changed the existing ones with the same thing in mind, “do as little maintenance as possible”.
The gazebo sits next to the Swimming pond. In addition to flowering trees and shrubs there are tropical plants, bananas and elephant ears.
March 9, 2009 at 7:31 pm
You’re not oversized, but who are those little Keeblers around you?
March 9, 2009 at 8:16 pm
I like to call them the little people.
May 27, 2009 at 7:24 pm
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July 12, 2009 at 11:45 pm
I stumbled across your site while desperately searching info on swimming ponds. I’ve had the pleasure of building one small garden pond, but have since moved (more space!). I just want to say I absolutely love your blog and pictures!
Thanks so much for sharing! You did an awesome job and the labor of love is worth it, I’m sure. (Envious!)
October 11, 2009 at 11:47 pm
I enjoy reading your blog. I got bitten by a tree bug this year and had planted 30-plus shrubs and trees in my property so far this year. By the way, I live in Cincinnati, OH. I found I have quite a few trees that you also have. Atlas cedar, Japanese stewartia, forest pansy redbud, cornus florida, cornus kousa, bunch of different hydrangeas … Just to name a few. I visit some of my favorite local nurseries frequently just to see if they have something special. As my quest and knowledge of beautiful trees grow, I often end up bringing home something new after each visit. After reading your blog about Franklinia alatamaha, I found one in my favorite nursery and thinking about taking one home. I think I have a good spot for it with good drainage. Anyway, good to see the photos of your plant collection. It would be nice if you can also post more of tree stories you heard or beautiful trees you see. Thanks.
June 3, 2010 at 2:40 pm
Your ponds and gardens are beautiful! I aspire to have ponds that pretty. I love your blog. Thanks for doing it.
October 21, 2010 at 10:31 am
Dave, I have been visiting your website for several years and have obtained much useful information. I sure wish your nursery was here in NC on the coast where I live. Hubby and I are redoing the front yard and, although I am a Master Gardener and considered to be a “plant Expert” by the state of NC ,we need some advice on what to plant and where to plant it. We have several nurseries near us but they usually offer the same plants every year due to a lack of imagination and a failure to educate themselves and the public. The Internet is a Godsend.
Your gardens are beautiful and I agree with you. There is never enough room for all the plants one wants.
October 26, 2010 at 10:55 am
Just finished reading your latest blog about bringing in tropical plants and loving toadlillies. I am a Master Gardener from Loudoun Co.
I enjoyed every word and have now signed up to get your blogs.
I like your writing style and now have toadlilly fever.
Do you think since I no longer have a house, that I could plant some in
a container and have success? Can you give me details on how to do upkeep in the winter, like would they need to be ignored or watered?
I have to garden with containers now. My first season here I went wild.
I am so glad with the summer we had this year, I hardly planted anything in a container. I call my self a lazy Master Gardener.
I have been getting drought tolerant plants for along time. But this year,
I did not want to be a water slave like last year.
October 26, 2010 at 11:20 am
I have not grown toad lilies in a container, but I don’t think that it should be much of a problem. I would expect that they should be able to overwinter outdoors, and should need to be watered very little since with cooler temperatures the soil does not dry as quickly.
January 11, 2011 at 10:15 am
Just found your blog and it’s wonderful! Thanks
April 15, 2012 at 5:55 am
Really enjoyed reading your blog and deeply envious of a whole acre! I have a tiny plot in central London and I keep buying plants in the vain hope that, by some miracle, my garden will expand to accommodate them!
April 15, 2012 at 4:16 pm
Every spring I wish that my acre would double so that I could plant more Japanese maples, redbuds, and dogwoods. I’d love to plant a yellowwood and a red chestnut, but there’s no where to go but onto the neighbor’s property. My wife and I moved to this larger property from a much smaller plot when I ran out of space. I couldn’t bear to start over now, so I’ll wait for my sons to get places of their own.
June 19, 2012 at 11:52 am
Hi Dave, I just nominated you to 4 blog awards http://yashikibuta.wordpress.com/2012/06/19/sunshine-award-and-some/
June 19, 2012 at 12:14 pm
Thank you for your kindness. I hope that my photos inspire others to expand and enjoy their gardens, and that my words can help to explain the joy I experience without being too clumsy.
October 16, 2012 at 9:34 am
Dear Dave,
I live in Vienna, VA.
I have enjoyed reading your blog. It is a wonderful and helpful creation. Please keep it up for the benefit of us eager gardeners. By the way, I have a dozen 4×4 boxed square foot garden inside a deer fence, a small lilypond, and an arbor and a screened patio.
Please include seasonal plans for square-foot gardens.
I shop all the time at Meadows Farm in Reston off Rte7W
I got a cotton plant and a Malabar spinach plant from the Green springs Garden in alex, VA and was so excited when the cotton plant grew and bloomed this season itself!
Love the pictures of your garden and ponds-do you open it up for the public to visit and learn from? I would love to see it since my hubby & I frequent all gardens possible.
Thanks.
Molly
October 16, 2012 at 12:58 pm
After a number of requests I’ve considered opening the garden a few times in the spring. In the past I’ve thought it a bit too presumptuous to consider that anyone would care to see my garden, but perhaps I’m wrong. My second concern is that if people visit I have to clean up my messes. I can live with brush piles at the periphery of the garden forever more, but I’d have to clean them up if guests are invited. Anyway, I’m considering.
June 6, 2013 at 6:51 pm
You’re in my area!!! I might come see you about my pond questions.
Tammy from Casa Mariposa