Flowers Right On Track

In a most unexpected place, this Southern garden is thriving.

Liz Tedder has generously shared her gardens and wisdom with us over the years and continues to do so. But there is an amazing part of her Newnan, Georgia, landscape that you haven't seen. Welcome to Liz's railroad beds-also known as the sin agua garden (Spanish for "without water").

When you pass through the front gates of her home, Oak Grove Plantation, you immediately cross a single set of railroad tracks far removed from the handsome house and formal gardens. Here, trains pass daily, clipping along at a determined pace. Look down the property's length, and instead of viewing typical railroad beds of raw, parched earth or gravel, you'll find lush gardens filled with awesome color. Working with a palette of yellow plants-daylilies, yuccas, ornamental grasses, and assorted shrubs-Liz's design illuminates the idea that many plants can comfortably reside in a rugged environment.

Tough Love

Liz takes a do-or-die approach to this long stretch of garden. The name sin agua is at the root of her planting method. A new introduction is treated royally when first put into the ground, but after that, it's on its own. Here is her technique.

* Dig a large, wide hole, appropriate for the size of the plant.

* Fill it with water, and let it drain.

* Plant the new introduction, keeping the root-ball even with the garden surface.

* Pull the dirt into the hole and around the roots.

* Form a dam of dirt around the plant's base at the outer edge of the hole, and fill it with water.

* Put down a thick layer of newspaper around the planting hole, and cover it with mulch.

* Do not water the plant again. It will adjust to the new environment.

The trick to this approach is simple: Pick plants that adapt to a low-water environment. With the lush style and smart choices in this space, Liz dispels the idea that a water-wise garden looks sparse and unattractive.

Choose a Color Scheme

Liz's railroad garden is a stellar example of how one color can unite a long stretch of landscape. She has planted myriad shades of yellow in the garden, with the plant choices changing as spring swings into summer and then fall. Shades of orange and red are also included for depth; adding variations of the same color provides interest without compromising the theme. ELLEN RUOFF RILEY

Copyright Southern Progress Corporation Mid-Apr 2005
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