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  • Garden Visit: Beverley McConnell’s 12 Acres of Eden – Gardenista

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    Only a handful of gardens around the globe are real must-visits for garden lovers. Ayrlies, on a large country estate near Whitford, southeast of Auckland on New Zealand’s North Island, is one.

    This masterpiece was begun more than 60 years ago by Beverley and Malcolm McConnell. As a young couple, they purchased a large rolling pastoral terrain, meant for cattle, to start their family. They were amateur gardeners with big ideas. They began by turning three acres into a garden, and over the years it grew to 12 acres of heavily planted informal gardens, with several ponds and water features.

    Beverley has the eye, and a natural sense of color, texture, and combinations. Her late husband, Malcolm, who headed up a large engineering and construction company, was keenly interested in water. And several years in they hired Oliver Briers, knowing it would take more than just the two of them to realize their dreams. Working by Bev’s side, he helped bring a sense of design to the property, now a lush garden of Eden.

    Beverley has been called the Vita Sackville-West of our day, working with a sub-tropical palette of exotics and native plants. Building a garden like this takes a lifetime, and to have a soul it needs an artist at the helm. Now in her 80s, she is still a vital force. If creating the ornamental garden wasn’t enough, in 2000 she embarked on a 35-acre wetlands project to restore five acres of swampland that connects the garden to the Hauraki Gulf.

    Photography by Ingalls Photography.

    The ponds and water features at Ayrlies were all created by Malcolm, who was fascinated by the effects of water in a garden. Here, tree ferns and aquatic plants create a lush scene, somehow making the pond look as if it�217;s been there forever.
    Above: The ponds and water features at Ayrlies were all created by Malcolm, who was fascinated by the effects of water in a garden. Here, tree ferns and aquatic plants create a lush scene, somehow making the pond look as if it’s been there forever.
    Many areas of the garden are delineated by theme, plant selection, and color. In the Lurid Border, Beverley plays with hot Gauguin-like colors: orange day lilies �216;Flaming Nora�217;, black-leafed castor bean, and variegated canna with striking orange blooms, underplanted with silver stachys, or lamb�217;s ear.
    Above: Many areas of the garden are delineated by theme, plant selection, and color. In the Lurid Border, Beverley plays with hot Gauguin-like colors: orange day lilies ‘Flaming Nora’, black-leafed castor bean, and variegated canna with striking orange blooms, underplanted with silver stachys, or lamb’s ear.

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  • Jillaroos beat Kiwi Ferns in tense Pacific Championships clash

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  • World media reacts to Black Ferns World Cup knockout win over South Africa

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  • Deborah Needleman: An Interview about Gardening with the Editor-Turned-Basket Weaver

    Deborah Needleman: An Interview about Gardening with the Editor-Turned-Basket Weaver

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    Chances are high that over the last two decades, you’ve been influenced at least once by Deborah Needleman, even if you’ve never heard of her. At different times over a long stretch starting in the early aughts, she helmed three of the most influential trendsetting publications in the country: domino (which she founded), followed by WSJ (the Wall Street Journal’s monthly magazine), and later T: The New York Times Style Magazine. Before she was a style arbiter, though, she was a garden editor (House & Garden) and columnist (Slate). And now, she’s returned to her first love—the world of plants. “It’s been ages since I was a garden writer and constantly immersed in the world of gardening. But now my days again revolve around being immersed in nature and making things from it—gardens and baskets, including basketry things for the garden like plant tuteurs, cloches, and trugs,” says Deborah, who spends most of her time now at her  country home in the Hudson Valley. “I’m just so happy to back mucking around in the garden and in the woods.”

    Below, she makes the case for non-natives in the garden (when they make sense), Okatsune secateurs (“better than Felcos”), and an all-white gardening outfit (we’re now converts).

    Photography courtesy of Deborah Needleman, unless otherwise noted.

    Above: Deborah, in her sitting room, surrounded by flowers, both real and man-made: painting of tulips by Luke Edward Hall, watercolor of nasturtium by Emma Tennant, porcelain hyacinth by Vladimir Kanevsky. Photograph by Lily Weisberg.

    Your first garden memory:

    Not a garden, but the wild woods at the edge of the newly built suburb where I grew up. It felt like entering the private, backstage area you weren’t supposed to see, because everything around it was neat and manicured and without drama or mystery. And years later, when I first heard the term “landscape architecture,” it opened my mind to the idea of designing spaces from the materials of nature. A total revelation. I wanted to make places that incorporated wildness and unpredictability within the bounds of a structure.

    Garden-related book you return to time and again:

    I most often go back to Henry Mitchell’s The Essential Earthman, essays from his old column in The Washington Post. He was a colleague of mine in the ’90s–erudite, hilarious, eccentric, and wildly opinionated. He was offended by the idea of “low maintenance” gardens, and adored ephemeral plants and flowers, as those are the ones that have the power to break your heart. He would take the day off work when his bearded irises bloomed.

    Describe in three words your garden aesthetic.

    Nature coaxed into atmosphere.

    Deborah’s mostly cultivated, slightly wild garden in Garrison, NY.
    Above: Deborah’s mostly cultivated, slightly wild garden in Garrison, NY.

    Instagram account that inspires you:

    @giardino_di_hera.

    Plant that makes you swoon:

    I’m crazy for spires like verbascum and foxglove. And I also love an umbellifer–Queen Anne’s lace, ammi, angelica.

    A gorgeous jumble of Verbascum ‘Southern Charm’, nepeta, and allium in her gravel garden.
    Above: A gorgeous jumble of Verbascum ‘Southern Charm’, nepeta, and allium in her gravel garden.

    Plant that makes you want to run the other way:

    I don’t go in much for leaves that are red or yellow or variegated as they often look sickly or like they’re trying too hard to make a point. And I’ve often thought that if forsythia didn’t flower so early, probably no one would countenance that beastly yellow later in the season when there are so many other things to delight us. This season I realized I’d had enough of its shaggy demeanor and clashing jolt of brightness against the soft, subtle colors of early spring. They’re getting evicted as soon as I have a moment.

    Favorite go-to plant:

    Boxwood balls. They seem to solve almost every garden problem.

    Boxwood balls make an appearance in Deborah’s vegetable patch.
    Above: Boxwood balls make an appearance in Deborah’s vegetable patch.

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  • The Best Perennials for Transforming Shaded Landscapes

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    Shaded areas in your garden need not be dull and lifeless. With the right choice of perennials, you can transform these dim corners into vibrant and inviting spaces. In this blog post, we will explore the best perennials to grow in shaded landscape areas, including beloved favorites like Hellebore, Hosta, and Astilbe, as well as lesser-known gems like Solomon’s Seal and Trillium.

    1. Hellebore (Helleborus)

    Hellebores, also known as Lenten Roses, are a must-have for shaded gardens. They produce elegant, drooping blooms in a range of colors, from white and pink to deep purples. These hardy perennials thrive in partial shade and add a touch of early spring beauty to your landscape.

    1. Hosta

    Hostas are renowned for their lush foliage, making them perfect for shaded areas. With a variety of leaf shapes, sizes, and colors, you can create a striking contrast in your garden. From the classic green varieties to variegated and blue-hued Hostas, there’s one to suit every taste.

    1. Astilbe

    Astilbes are prized for their feathery, plume-like blooms that rise above their fern-like foliage. They come in shades of pink, red, white, and lavender, brightening up any shaded corner. These perennials thrive in moist, well-drained soil, making them an excellent choice for gardens with challenging growing conditions.

    1. Coral Bells (Heuchera)

    Coral Bells are known for their stunning foliage, available in various shades, from rich burgundy to lime green. They also produce delicate, bell-shaped flowers on tall stalks in late spring and early summer. These adaptable perennials can tolerate both partial shade and full sun.

    1. Brunnera

    Brunnera, often called “Siberian Bugloss,” is prized for its heart-shaped leaves and tiny blue flowers that resemble those of Forget-Me-Nots. These perennials thrive in shade and will form a beautiful ground cover, adding texture and interest to your garden.

    1. Ajuga

    Ajuga, also known as Bugleweed, is an excellent choice for ground cover in shaded areas. Its low, spreading habit and vibrant foliage add a splash of color to even the darkest corners of your garden. In spring, it produces spikes of blue, purple, or white flowers.

    1. Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia)

    Oakleaf Hydrangea is a stunning native plant that thrives in shaded locations. It boasts large, showy panicles of white flowers and striking oak-like leaves that turn vibrant shades of red and purple in the fall, adding year-round interest to your garden.

    1. Ligularia

    Ligularia, also known as the “Rocket,” features bold, toothed leaves and tall spikes of yellow or orange daisy-like flowers. These perennials enjoy moist, shady conditions and provide a pop of color in late summer when many other shade plants have finished blooming.

    1. Ferns

    Ferns are the quintessential shade-loving plants. With their graceful, feathery fronds, they add a touch of elegance and a lush, tropical feel to your shaded garden. Varieties like the Japanese Painted Fern and Ostrich Fern are particularly striking choices.

    1. Viola

    Violas, with their cheerful, delicate flowers, are perfect for adding color to shaded areas. These perennials come in a variety of colors and bloom from early spring to fall, creating a continuous display of beauty.

    1. Toad Lily (Tricyrtis)

    Toad Lilies are unique perennials that thrive in the shade. They produce intricate, orchid-like flowers in shades of purple, white, or pink, often speckled with darker markings. These exotic-looking blooms add a touch of whimsy to your garden.

    1. Bleeding Hearts (Dicentra)

    Bleeding Hearts are beloved for their heart-shaped flowers that dangle gracefully from arching stems. These perennials thrive in shade and come in various species and cultivars, each with its own unique charm.

    1. Pulmonaria

    Pulmonaria, or Lungwort, is a shade-loving perennial known for its attractive silver-spotted leaves and clusters of tubular flowers that change color as they mature. They are excellent early bloomers, providing a splash of color in early spring.

    1. Trillium

    Trilliums are native woodland plants known for their distinctive, three-petaled blooms and elegant foliage. They thrive in moist, shaded areas, and their understated beauty adds a touch of the wild to your garden.

    1. Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis)

    Lily of the Valley is a classic perennial that thrives in shady spots. Its dainty, bell-shaped white flowers emit a sweet fragrance that perfumes the air in late spring. These perennials spread quickly, creating a charming ground cover.

    1. Caladium

    Caladiums are renowned for their striking, colorful foliage. These perennials are ideal for adding a tropical vibe to your shaded garden with their large, heart-shaped leaves in shades of red, pink, and green.

    1. Solomon’s Seal (Polygonatum)

    Solomon’s Seal is a graceful, arching perennial with distinctive, dangling white or greenish-yellow flowers. Its variegated leaves add an artistic touch to your shaded landscape.

    Transforming shaded landscape areas into thriving gardens is a rewarding endeavor. By choosing the right perennials like Hellebore, Hosta, Astilbe, and others, you can create a stunning, low-maintenance oasis that bursts with color and texture throughout the seasons.

    With these shade-loving perennials in your garden, you’ll enjoy a beautiful and vibrant outdoor space, even in the shadiest of corners.

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  • US migrant policy ‘bucket of cold water’ to some Venezuelans

    US migrant policy ‘bucket of cold water’ to some Venezuelans

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    NECOCLI, Colombia (AP) — Venezuelan Gilbert Fernández still plans to cross the dangerous Darien jungle into Panama and head toward the United States over land, despite a U.S. announcement that it will grant conditional humanitarian permits only to 24,000 Venezuelan migrants arriving by air.

    “The news hit us like a bucket of cold water,” Fernández said Thursday, a day after the announcement, which also stated that Venezuelans arriving by land at the Mexico-U.S. border would be returned to Mexico.

    Fernández spoke to The Associated Press on a beach in Necocli, a Colombian town where about 9,000 people, mostly Venezuelans, waited to board a boat to take them to the entrance of the Darien Gap connecting the South American country to Panama. From there, migrants head by land up Central America through Mexico toward the U.S.

    Some on the Colombian beach said they would seek other routes into the United States or give up the voyage after hearing the news. Critics noted that the announced number of humanitarian visas is just a fraction of the number of Venezuelans seeking to enter the United States.

    But for Fernández it was too late to turn back. He said he sold his car and his land in Venezuela to finance the trip with his 18-year-old son and his friends, and he no longer has money for a plane ticket to the U.S.

    “Those of us who have already started, how are we going to do that?” he wondered. “We are already involved in this.”

    The U.S. and Mexico said Wednesday that the Biden administration agreed to accept up to 24,000 Venezuelan migrants at U.S. airports while Mexico agreed to take back Venezuelans who come to the U.S. over land.

    Venezuelans who walk or swim across the border will be immediately returned to Mexico under a pandemic rule known as Title 42 authority, which suspends rights to seek asylum under U.S. and international law on grounds of preventing the spread of COVID-19.

    The U.S. offer to the Venezuelans is modeled on a similar program for Ukrainians who fled Russia’s invasion.

    The moves are a response to a dramatic increase in migration from Venezuela, which surpassed Guatemala and Honduras in August to become the second largest nationality arriving at the U.S. border after Mexico.

    So far in 2022, more than 151,000 people have crossed into Panama through the jungle, the majority — 107,600 — Venezuelans. That already exceeds the 133,000 people who crossed in the previous year, according to official Panamanian figures. The trip through the inhospitable jungle is fraught with dangers, including thieves, human traffickers and the possibility of sexual assault. Armed groups operate in the region.

    Arrests of Venezuelans at the U.S. border also have increased. Authorities detained Venezuelans 25,349 times in August, making them the second most detained nationality at the border, after Mexicans.

    For some, the offer of 24,000 humanitarian visas is not enough given the dimensions of Venezuela’s migration situation, and many consider the conditions on those visas too difficult.

    María Clara Robayo, an investigator for the Venezuelan Observatory at Colombia’s Del Rosario University, said the flow of migrants through the Darien Gap might be reduced a bit but won’t stop.

    “People will continue exposing themselves to precarious situations” crossing the jungle, she said.

    Jeremy Villegas arrived in Necocli in a group of 30 people, most of whom are turning back or looking for other routes. He said he is still undecided and is waiting to hear from people who are farther along the route to know if it is worth the risk.

    Cristian Casamayor said he has decided to stop his journey through the Darien after hearing of the new U.S. policy.

    “I stopped out of awareness and being smart … they mark your passport and you can no longer enter the United States,” he said, adding that he has not decided where he will go now. All he knows is that he will not return to Venezuela.

    Mario Ricardo Camejo, a member of the nonprofit Colombian-Venezuelan foundation Fundacolven, said that while they appreciate any help and humanitarian visas from countries like the U.S., they worry the help comes with conditions that make it difficult on the poorest migrants. For example, having to arrive by plane and having a financial sponsor.

    “Automatically, a filter is created that ensures the help does not reach the people who need it most,” Camejo said.

    Of the more than 7.1 million Venezuelans who have left their country due to the social and economic crisis, at least 4.3 million have difficulties accessing food, housing and formal employment, according to a report released Wednesday by the International Organization for Migration and the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees.

    Venezuelans back in that country’s capital agreed the new rules will hurt.

    “The people who leave by land have no money, no visa, no family there” in the United States, José Santana said in Caracas’ central plaza. “It is useless for them to say that they are going to let many enter by plane.”

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