Dargan Landscape Architects

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Poppy's Horticultural Tips

Catch Mary Palmer Dargan’s Lecture at Magnolia Plantation and Gardens in Charleston

Have you wanted to plant or design a romantic garden for your home? If so, mark your calendar for Friday, November 14th, so you do not miss Hugh and Mary Palmer Dargan’s lecture at Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, located at 3550 Ashley River Road in Charleston. For the general admission adult price of only $15.00, you can attend the lecture in Magnolia’s Orientation Theatre and enjoy the gardens afterwards with a new perspective.

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Source: Dargan Landscape Architects via Facebook

The lecture will explore romantic-style gardening and its influence. Magnolia Plantation and Gardens provides a perfect location for such an event as it is the last large-scale romantic garden in America. As a licensed and vastly experienced landscape architect, Mary Palmer will share the knowledge she has gained from extensive travels both home and abroad, and how they played a part in her romantic garden designs. 

Having designed many beautiful romantic gardens in Charleston and other areas in North Carolina and Georgia, Mary Palmer will discuss how a romantic garden differs from a formal garden. She will also share tips on how to create a romantic garden within your own landscape. Mary Palmer believes, “A romantic garden provides the perfect canvas for creative thought and inspiration to solace your soul.” Not only will you learn the fundamental elements to this style of gardening, you are guaranteed to find some inspiration in Mary Palmer’s words.

Steeped in history, Magnolia Plantation has been family-owned for more than 300 years. In the late 17th century the gardens were started and during the 18th century their beauty and size expanded exponentially, however, it was not until the 19th century that they took on the grand scale that they maintain today. 

Join Mary Palmer of Dargan Landscape Architects as she details this beautiful, romantic style of gardening and bask in the beauty of the Magnolia Plantation and Gardens.

Join Mary Palmer Dargan at the North Georgia Camellia Society

Are you struggling to bring camellias into your landscape design? On Monday, Nov. 10, Mary Palmer Dargan would like to invite you to a lecture titled, “Camellias Dazzle your Landscape Design with Flowers, Form and Structure.” Presented by Mary Palmer herself, this lecture will be held at the North Georgia Camellia Society, which meets at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens in Atlanta, Ga on the second Monday of each month.  

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As a licensed and storied landscape architect and designer, Mary Palmer will share her knowledge with you about creating idyllic garden designs featuring camellias. Due to the vast variety, size, color and multi-season blooming capabilities of this versatile flowering plant, understanding the important concepts in Mary’s lecture will help inspire your creative endeavors. Mary will also share some of her tips and tricks on how best to work with camellias.

Members of the non-profit North Georgia Camellia Society meet on the second Monday of every month from September through April at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens. They share their passion for camellias, as well as their ideas for grafting, planting and maintaining these beautiful plants.

As low-maintenance shrubs, camellias can easily be incorporated into garden designs as a privacy screen or even a shrub border. Although the appropriate spot for planting is critical to their growth success, camellias are a hardy shrub and can grow as tall as 12 feet.  And according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, they thrive best in hardiness zones seven through nine.

Come join Mary Palmer Dargan on Nov. 10 and learn more about this incredible flowering shrub. To learn more about Mary Palmer and Dargan Landscape Architects, we invite you to browse around our website, or contact us to discuss the design and development of your idyllic garden.

Preventing Plant Diseases

If you are anything like us, you see plants not only as beautiful objects but as living things that deserve a healthy, happy life. Hence, knowing and understanding how to prevent and treat plant diseases is crucial to a gorgeous and thriving garden that is able to yield and reproduce.

As master gardeners Simeon Wright and Christopher Starbuck put it, “A plant disease is defined as a response to environmental factors or pathogenic, disease-causing organisms that cause negative changes in the plant.” Here are the fundamentals to preventing pathogens and host plants from carrying and spreading disease as well as environmental conditions that favor disease.

Atlanta landscape architects
Mary Palmer Dargan via Houzz

Certified Plants: You can avoid bringing disease-causing bacteria, fungi and viruses into your garden by only introducing high quality seeds and certified disease-free plants or disease-resistant cultivars.

Watering Regimen: Water early in the day to give plants time to dry before nightfall, when they can become vulnerable to disease. Making sure soil is properly drained and ensure sufficient sunlight to keep plants from becoming soggy and to prevent root rotting.

Soil Conditions: Adding compost to soil and topping it with mulch will strengthen and shield plants from disease. Compost increases the number of pathogen-fighting microbes while creating favorable conditions for these good microbes while preventing germination of fungal spores. Mulch suppresses weeds and prevents contaminated water or disease-carrying organisms from splashing onto plants.

Adequate Space: When gardens are overcrowded, plants have to compete for sun, water and nutrients while also suffering from stagnant airflow. Giving each plant enough space to mature will ensure health and plenty of fresh air and resources.

Keep Clean: Always start with a clean landscape for planting by removing any dead plant material or debris from the previous season. Keep garden beds neat by weeding and pruning promptly. Practice good sanitation when using gardening tools by sterilizing them before and after working with individual plants. Remove plants that show signs of disease immediately.

To receive more gardening tips for beautiful and healthy plants and landscapes, sign up at LandscapeYourLife.com to receive free worksheets and videos straight from Mary Palmer Dargan, America’s Landscape Alchemist.

Poppy’s Hort: Ms Sweet Potatoehead’s Pups

Ms. Sweet Potatoehead is having puppies! A first in a series in “growing your own harvest” from Poppy’s Tips for the Horticulturally Inclined.

On March 24, we cut 3 potatoes into 6 experiments and this one is the winner. Lateral placement in the dish and suspended with 1″ below water resulted in great little roots and leaves!

Steve Sodbuster loves sweet potatoes, so he’ll chime in to report on planting and harvesting.