I like the idea of two railings. The symmetry of your front garden begs for two railings. Despite the heat, it looks like most everything is thriving. 💚
Hand rails are so help for older people My idea of one rail is it doesn't look finished, like one fell and never got fix. But that just me, everybody has an opinion ;)
Yes likewise especially in the front of the house looks odd and still not safe that way. With all the work done in the outside having 2 would be the icing in the cake.
With your weather and winters, I vote for two. And one in the back too. Ice happens, people fall all the time. Nobody plans an accident. Former commercial and residential construction code reviewer here. Too many designers do not take safety into account, but it’s the number one thing I look for, inside and out. Plus having taken care of aging parents, and now aging myself, we all need to really think about these issues if we plan to stay in our homes as long as possible.
Two rails on your front entrance steps would balance more with your landscaping👩🌾greenery shrubs hold up a garden during the heat of the summer! Your frontage is still charming and inviting to all.
After Hurricane Harvey, I put only one rail down our back stairs (to save money) and it makes me crazy when I come down it and I feel unsafe. Consider maybe doing two rails.
I truly love what you’ve done both inside and out! I am also an avid gardener, and love to do fun and interesting things out in the yard. The only comment I have about your yard is that I so wish there had been something tall at the corner of your house in the front patio area. It feels unbalanced to me,but what do I know?
I think we should re-name the month UGHgust! Although "Jul-Die" I believe was the hottest month on record! I feel like I have to trim things back, it's just too brutal to watch plants bake in the sun. I have installed a couple of misters in the sunniest portion of two gardens, and that has helped a lot! So yes, I vote to cut the plants back, and oh....increase the number of frozen margaritas in the afternoons! 🍸😉🍸
In my opinion, I think one railing will look like it was unfinished. How much does it cost for railing? I invision railing with a fence to the left and right of that to create a border around the upper terrace. When it is Christmas time, with two railings you can drape Christmas lights on them to create an illuminated entrance. You can't do that with one railing.
I think two railings will look better and function better as people coming up toward the house will use the right hand railing and going back down will use the left hand one (right hand if looking out from the house). You may have garden tours/open houses with several people using those steps at the same time and two railings will facilitate that.
One railing is generally used for a narrow set of steps so that practically speaking one has a railing to hold onto whether coming up the steps or going down the steps.You have wide steps and two railings would be appropriate. Imagine using your steps, up and down, Linda, with just one railing. You’ll have your answer (double railings 😂❤)
Also, your son and daughter in law’s house has the two tiny fairly narrow steps up top and only 4 steps below. Your house has six wide steps at the street, I think. Children and parents at Halloween will appreciate double railings. Yours looks like a Halloween neighborhood as is ours. Our last house was also in our neighborhood and it had a tiered terrace like yours only more steep and the kids would roll down the hill after trick or treating instead of taking the side steps down 😂😂
I prefer one railing. Your yard is wonderful and you can be very proud. I’m glad you finally got someone to mow your lawn, although the mower you featured earlier looked like fun, I was not surprised when you mentioned someone would be coming over to mow. For goodness sake you have enough to handle with maintaining the plants, hire out the rest. Keep up the good work!! 😊
I enjoy watching your videos, Linda. Inspiring how you endure the hot days. I am in central NY state - snow country. We are having a delightfully cool August so far. Looks like it might stay that way for the next ten days or so. Right now (10 am), it’s 73 degrees, a little breezy and all very lush and green from ample rain. It has been humid, though. Geraniums hate being rained on and they hate humidity. I grow them in summer so I can have geranium cheer all winter in south facing windows. Anyway, just wanted to say hi. I am 78 and gardening for me is pure happiness. Still at it after 58 years! Life is good! ……❤Laura
Two railings for symmetry and safety. Anyone who needs it for safety needs one on each side - one for going up, one for down. One railing = half the cost but looks unfinished.
Linda, I am looking forward to seeing your cottage garden evolve over the years. It seems that you are enjoying the newness of a completely different style, but I predict that it will turn into a hybrid style as you swing back to a little more structure by adding in some of your previous formal elements. Per your comment, my eyes tend to go past the blousiness of the perennial flowers and seek out the topiaries and shrubs for rest.
Hi Linda, I have watched you videos for at least a couple of years and I have to say I am a big fan. I love your style of gardening. I am in love with your cottage❤️. I’m from Florida and a few days ago I visited my son who lives in Guthrie. He works in Oklahoma City and he was kind enough to take me by the cottage. It’s more beautiful in person! Keep up the good work young lady!
Your son’s home looks so charming! More visits perhaps?👏. Regarding the railing, I would think it will look off balance as you’ve worked so hard to maintain symmetry. Are there other homes in your area with just one? My zone three is looking ok for now, except the grass, it’s like straw underfoot. But I’m keeping everything else alive. 🇨🇦
I really feel for all of you suffering in such terrible heat. Here in the UK we are subject to the vagaries of the Jet Stream and have had several weeks of cool, very wet and very windy weather, odd to say the rain is getting us down a little! It has rained everyday for about 5 weeks, often literally all day and seems likely to continue for a while longer yet. As a result, although lush and green, many of the summer flowering plants have struggled to bloom and for instance my rudbeckia, salvia and larkspur are only just now beginning to push out their first flowers, so I have done very little dead heading so far and suspect it will be a case of many blooms being cut short by colder weather in September/October. How strange the change in weather patterns are?
Hi there, I'm also from the UK and totally agree. Seems like the rest of the world is baking but we are at risk of rickets through lack of sunshine. It's nice to see that I'm not the only one getting down with the rain and we too are struggling with blooms, especially on our hydrangea. It's also lovely watching Linda and seeing that the sky also comes in blue. I have got so used to the grey! 😅
@@suzettethibodeaux5842true & it take a few years to adjust to the humidity as well as being in a different country. I keep telling my family I want to move to Ireland to get away from the snakes here in the south. Lol
I installed railings on both sides of my front steps for my elderly mother. She is right-handed, so whether she is coming up or going down, she will have a rail on her right side to grab or guide as needed. Visually, I think one rail looks fine, but functionally I think two rails make more sense (at least for me my specific needs).
I think a single railing will work and place it on the same side as the porch - love your channel and so glad you post at least 3 times a week; gives me something to look forward to and I have to say I am now doing a 1 minute plank in the morning after I make my bed! 🙂
I feel very fortunate, at this time of the year, to live in NE Ohio. Though we get less sun and more percip, the summers are absolutely phenomenal, August included. Yes, we have a shorter growing period, but for me, that only makes me appreciate it more.
Everything looks beautiful you did a wonderful job , just wondering how an Apple green paint color on your front door would look ? I think that would really brighten up your front exterior of your home.
Some things have definitely taken a sun beating. I have pruned everything back, salvia, daisies etc. looks so much better. I think two railings would look nicer. 👩🏻🌾👍🏼🌳
My historic house also just had one railing on the steps up our small hill, and then one in the middle of our oversized entry steps. Additionally I'm disabled and have issues with steps, the one rail has been more than enough for me even when I don't have my cane! Lastly ive noticed when other homes have two railings it really necks down the width of the steps, which is more of a barrier I've found!
Your garden looks to be standing up to the heat just wonderful ! The boxwoods and topiaries definitely give structure to make it look like a European garden to the cottage! Gorgeous! Loved your son and daughter-in-law’s home & railing as well! I’m thoroughly enjoying time and again your “Elegant and Edible Garden” book! It’s fabulous! My youngest daughter is a beginner reader and we are using the book’s Introduction as her reading source this week! We could stare at the potager picture forever!💚
Hello, Linda. Could you do a walk through in the latter part of the evening? I’m interested to see how the plants look at that time of day. The lantana is a true workhorse even in the heat for me as well. I’m cutting my supertunia and sweet potato vine really hard. Thank you for sharing.❤
I agree one signal rallying will really look nice. Looking at your sons and daughter n law new home showing one rallying, I like how it still gives a open wide look to it.
Hi Linda I hear you! When you have time away from the garden your plants will tell you. I could hear them saying bad things to you. But a little pruning and hand watering and it will be fine. Singular railings are all you need for safety. And less to paint too! New York 7a we had a lot of rain in July but it’s been hot and sunny. Lately it’s been perfect!!! Looking forward to your next styling session with Leah!!!❤🥰
We're near and it's the pleasantest place in the country, right now, in the 80's. 😊 I've been thoroughly enjoying our summer. This is typical and why I moved here from Midwest. I've been pulling or cutting back nasturtium (I plant alot!). They attract aphids so once a plant is full of them I chuck it out. Sometimes I can cut out just stems covered in aphids.
I do so enjoy these videos in the peaceful serenity that is your garden. Appreciate also, the knowledge that you share as you guide and teach us what you do in this formidable space!
I learn so much from your walk about discussions. My beds are not to be compared to yours, but I am always learning something new to apply to mine as you discuss your plants and plans and mostly why you are doing what you are doing. Also I am learning the names of plants that I can go check out.
I found your channel a few months ago and am learning so much from you about garden structure. I am a long-time gardener, but I never really considered the "bones" of my gardens. We put a large addition on our house last year, so I have been creating new gardens, pathways, etc., this season. Boxwoods and dwarf evergreens made their way in because of your beautiful example and advice. Thank you! You are a joy to watch.
In Napa, California we have 3 days of over 100 degrees followed by 90's. I am slowly pulling out all my dried wildflowers from my bee and butterfly garden. I am saving the seeds for nest year. Our lovely purple clematis was just pruned and I pulled out all my Love in a Mist.
It's winter here in Australia and l'm over it. Hoping for a warm Spring but that's up in the air here in Melbourne (4 seasons in a day usually). Love your garden Linda, it's just stunning!
Zone 5a, central Ontario, Canada. Lovely 73 today with fresh breeze. Temperature here can yo-yo and humidity can add 10 degrees to the “feels Iike” temp. I envy your early spring and late fall but not your August temperatures, but we play the hand we’re dealt 🤷 Noticed how well your trees and shrubs on the east side look. A few more evergreens plus the shadows cast by the limbs of the deciduous trees and of course the beautiful architecture of your house will add lots of winter interest. I think one rail will be fine. Two rails may make the slight slant to the stairs (old house charm) more noticeable. Love your window box. Interesting and productive! What ever you decide will no doubt look great.
It's been a little chilly at night here in South Australia,cloudy and rainy. Today it's warm and sunny and I'm really looking forward to spring, not so much summer. My garden is drought tolerant so all good there, hopefully 😁😁👍👍
Here in Flanders it was hot and dry in the beginning but... the last week was cooler, and plenty of rain...which helped a lot... my Dahlias suffered but now they seem to bounce back... I m very happy
I REALLY enjoyed your walk about this week. I am so inspired by your front and back garden designs, Linda! I would like to do similar designs in my gardens at home and in my daughter's garden up in Portland zone 8. I moved from a 2 acre garden to a very small lot and I have had trouble coping with a befitting design but your new garden has inspiried me and helped to me to be appreciative and creative and what's more, satisfied with the lot size in have now! A big thank you!
We have a back porch with wide steps going up to two patio doors. We only put up one railing and it just didn’t look good so we put up another railing on other side. Much much better. Ive always planted lantanas and they always did wonderful in the heat and sun. Grew like bushes.
Zone 6b. Western WV on border of OH. We are ranging low 80s- low 90s right now. Only thing I have cut back so far this year (nothing recently) is my white dianthus (the coral dianthus is still marching on with tons of blooms) and my April Night salvia. It was not suffering, but just wanted to encourage another flush of blooms.
Mid 80s at least this week! A few days of low 90’s ( North of Minneapolis) dead heading Some of my Lilies,some Lilies still blooming. I don’t notice any day Lilies,or Asiatic Lilies in your garden.There fragrance is intoxicating toward evening. Sorry,I commented 3 times here today, I just really look forward to 10:00 bedtime,so I can lay back and enjoy your videos. Thank you !
Loving my White Wedding hydrangeas also, here in southeast Va Zone 8A. Plants are struggling in the heat. Thankful for the rain we have had so far this year.. I do a lot of succulents and sedum which are doing great in this heat. However, my Echinacea’s are struggling. And I agree, one railing 💚
Very fortunate here in NE Ohio. Very moderate temperatures this summer. So far we've only hit 90° once this year! That is below normal. Rainfall has been sporadic, but heavy at times, so overall we are several inches above average. My cleome this year have been magnificent... they got off to a late start due to cool spring, but quickly made up for lost time The flower heads are huge!
I hope you can get zero railings. those steps probably don't need it. But your porches will look great with railings.I had some heat casualties here in Utah, and I am getting ready to give up on some thirsty pots. I did lose a white eastern pine that has a twin and that is a big loss to my front porch.
Zone 7B NC. I have lots of lantana and they are very happy. I had to cut back my catmint hard and it’s doing better now. Also cut back Shasta daisies to the ground and they are coming back. The coneflowers are doing fine.
Zone 8a GA, mostly mid 90’s but humidity in the 70 & 80 percentile, which is what gets us the most. I’m not cutting anything hard yet, mostly just deadheading. Your garden still looks good Linda. As I’ve been here in this location for 25 yrs I too have learned get some evergreens in the garden because those flowers are temporary & then what. Lol
Hi Linda! Zone 8A near Dallas Texas. The high today is 106. My coneflowers are spent but I have not deadheaded them yet because I intend to share my seeds. My rose blooms are also browning out quickly, even the knock out roses. I have some sunflowers in a pot that just won’t make it to seed. Oh well. I too also like structure and form. I have large boxwoods shaped into topiary domes. The Texas Privet is thriving in the heat and pushing out new growth even. My lantanas and sweet potato vines are quite happy.
Your cottage is Beautiful .that's my big thing to do this fall winter intrest I really dislike the empty look of winter gardens..everything should be beautiful 4 seasons..
I live in central California and this is only the second day it has been less than a hundred in weeks. my Japanese maples are burnt and my oleanders are dropping flowers everywhere. your garden still looks good, it will be better when your trees get a little bigger. my husband installed a hand rail on our porch this spring and a grab bar from the garage into the kitchen at 73 my back and knees are not what thy used to be. hopefully the handrail will come in handy when little people come to visit.
I live in the Central Valley in California. We too have had temperatures over 100 for about he same amount of time you have been experiencing. I do my best to cut back spent blooms of my roses. Little bit of shaping, but not quite hard fall cut just yet.
We have one railing leading up the stone steps to our old historic house, but I think two railings will look more finished and balanced for your steps.
Hi Linda, super update on the garden. I love it. In the UK, Oxford, its 19°c or 66°f today, 17°c or 62°f on Saturday (thats top daytime temperatures). Cool, very wet and grey thick clouds for most of July and into August. Its been a total washout for the school holidays so far.
Your garden looks great, and yes, very lush. It may be hot there but, boy you have tons of pollinator action. You can see them all zipping around. Success in my book. I live in Western Pennsylvania and we are having a little bit of everything but no where near 100 degree temps. I feel for you. Your lower steps are beautiful and I like them without a railing, but if you add them, I think the one railing will look fabulous, just as it does at your son and daughter in-laws home. Thanks again for all the great content! 🩷
Zone 8-(Central TexAss) We have had 3 digit temps, over 100, for so long I can’t remember when it wasn’t this hot🥵! Also NOT 1 drop of rain since the last week of May! I’ve cut back all of my “sun” coleus because they were fried! And yes even my lantana. I’m watering often and deeply but when temps are this high the air itself is causing havoc. 😢
Hi Linda, l dont know which is worse watching you plants shrivel in the heat or drown in the amount rain we have had in England. l was visiting a wonderful garden this weekend and their Boxwood balls were trimmed like acorns in their cups or an egg in an egg cup as a better description. A little more effort to trim them that way, but so effective. A mixture of both ball and egg in a cup (more an oval shape) might be nice.
It's going to be 80° today on northwest PA with 85% humidity. I'm in zone 5b. My plants are struggling but not from the heat but from lack of rain. We've had some rain but not like we usually do.
I am in Maple Ridge, BC, Canada. Our temperature is 93 degrees F. Some plants, like my Lime smoke bush and Japanese maple are a bit scorched. Love your garden! Lots of ideas and inspiration! THANKS! 😎🇨🇦
I'm also in zone 7b in metro Atlanta and I've cut back all annuals for a new flush for remainder of summer and fall blooms. Our 10-day forecast is finally showing some rain and a reprieve from our high heat index with temps "dipping" into the 80's. 👍 Your garden is still looking beautiful! Well done!
Eastern Washington mid 90s and fire season is here. Not cutting much back it's to Hot to be out in the garden much. Annuals are doing great with good irrigation. ❤
Understand about the cost, but I personally prefer the symmetry of two railings. I think your sons neighborhood may be a bit unique with the single railings? Are there any other houses in your neighborhood with just one railing?
If you do end up going with just the one, I’m thinking you would want to consider if people need more help ascending or descending the stairs. I’m guessing the answer to that is ascending and thus right side as you go up?
@@donnapudwill9908 My strong preference , for symmetry but mostly for safety, is two railings. If only one is chosen people are more likely to get hurt falling down stairs than falling up stairs.
It's beautiful here in Upstate NY, zone 5. Upper 70s, low 80s all week. Definitely blessed by the weather, but always jealous of higher zones because of the ability to grow a wider variety of the things that make my heart race. But I can grow boxwood and lots of other evergreens and agree that the bones carry the garden through every season, especially winter, when we are dreaming of color and form. Cambridge University Botanic Garden has always been an inspiration for what can be done to make a glorious garden that shines during the dreariest season of the year, with color and texture from bark, evergreen foliage and winter blooms. I use witch hazels here for fragrant blossoms in the dead of winter when temps are well below zero.
Hi Linda. Your garden looks great considering the intense heat we’ve had here, in Oklahoma. I am in Marlow, OK zone 7b. Our house faces the same sun exposure as yours, which is so helpful when watching your videos, hearing your tips and “tried and trues”. We just moved here last month, from Houston, TX, so I am slowly learning how things grow here. I appreciate all your wealth of knowledge you share with us. Can’t wait to see how your back yard looks when it’s finished. Your son’s new home is beautiful! ❤️
I cut back most of tired anuals, perennials and they respond well.... I do this always and of July... And by mid August... sometimes till end of October I have a good rebloom... but off course not the same abundance like June and July. I now cut back also all the holy hocks ( Alcea) and they produce new foliage which fill the gaps nicely. Holy hocks look terrible after flowering. I collect also some seeds of a selected group based on colours and healthyness. I remove the weakest. And plant a few years no more holy hooks on that place.
Growing zone 8 here in the Dallas area. Day after day, week after week 104, 105, 106 & 107. Heat index 112+. No end in sight. The last two years the heat has been excessive. It is burning my lime light hydrangea to death. For some reason it doesn't bother the blooms. Just the leaves. I am thinking about taking it out & replacing it with lantana.
For my tuppence worth. I feel as you have railing on one side of your patio, one railing on the steps but on the opposite side so to speak would give you a balanced look. Perhaps another point to consider is that two at the steps will make them 'look' considerably narrower.
Here in Houston we are continuing to have absolutely no rain, where I live anyway. The temps continue to reach over 100 most days since the beginning of July, June was very hot and August and September promise to be more of the same. I pray for rain and just a little cool down please 🙏🏻 My zinnias, salvias and rudbeckia are hanging in there but everything else is a struggle to keep alive. I’m considering more and more, xeriscape landscaping and have been reading about it.
Here in the DFW area we are stuck on 107°, today and for the next 4 days. Next Tuesday we are supposed to have a chilly 99°. Virtually no rain since May. We water but it just doesn’t work like rainfall.
I don’t shear back much now bc we have lots of flowering perennials in 7 -a New York. Rudbeckia sedum echinacea hydrangea Rose of Sharon baptisia Bluebeard buddleia and dinner plate flower hibiscus. I cut some flowers for vases. But not really shearing anything. I cut back the unruly herbs and the catnip. But I keep them until late fall for my teas. Lemon balm chocolate mint peppermint spearmint and stevia. I guess your herb garden will be in your backward?
Single handrails make it easier to carry large parcels, furniture, equipment, etc. to the front door, since you don’t need to raise those large items above the rail.
It's two weeks after you posted this, but in my neck of the woods, literally (I'm out in the country in N. TX), it's ridiculously hot, dry and I'm dealing with the annual (though worse then normal) plague of grasshoppers. Everything is devastated. This is my 4th year to try to grow hydrangeas and I think I'm done trying. I think I'll stick with crepe myrtles, which for some reason the grasshoppers aren't so crazy about. My lantanas are star survivors, though they do require watering. And the portulaca is doing beautifully. I'm making a list of grasshopper resistant plants and trying to get over my desire to have an English style cottage garden, because my landscape just won't permit it. I just have to be more selective about choosing xeriscape appropriate plants. But the grasshoppers are a game changer. Plants that can survive the heat and the drought just can't survive when constantly being devoured by this plague. I'm not quite back to square one, but not far from it. ....Your gardens are truly an inspiration for me because you fill a big gap. My area is much more like yours than say Dallas, even though my zone is 7b/8a. I think to myself, "If Linda can grow it then I can grow it too," with most of your plantings. I really wish there were more videographers or vloggers who cover Southwestern plants (dry air and soil) rather than Southern plants (wet soil, high humidity), but yours are somewhere in the middle and I'm so very grateful for all you share with us. Maybe even especially the failures, because it helps us to be aware or avoid plants that might ultimately fail for us too. Thank you for everything you share.
I like the idea of two railings. The symmetry of your front garden begs for two railings. Despite the heat, it looks like most everything is thriving. 💚
Hmmm....I think I definitely like the idea of two rails on the steps.
Totally agree.
Fiona and John
🦘🙏
Hand rails are so help for older people My idea of one rail is it doesn't look finished, like one fell and never got fix. But that just me, everybody has an opinion ;)
Agree
Totally agree
Fiona and John
👍🦘🙏
Loved the walkabout. I’m for 2 railings in front steps
Yes likewise especially in the front of the house looks odd and still not safe that way. With all the work done in the outside having 2 would be the icing in the cake.
With your weather and winters, I vote for two. And one in the back too. Ice happens, people fall all the time. Nobody plans an accident. Former commercial and residential construction code reviewer here. Too many designers do not take safety into account, but it’s the number one thing I look for, inside and out. Plus having taken care of aging parents, and now aging myself, we all need to really think about these issues if we plan to stay in our homes as long as possible.
Your sons new home looks like your cottage. I hope we get a better view of it, cause it’s very pretty!
I think you like symmetry, so one railing will look wrong. Everything is so perfect and symmetrical in your garden. Do two tailings. ♥️
Yes well spoken. The one railing looks like someone cutting corners just odd. Surprised HP would allow just one.
Totally agree
Fiona and John
👍🦘🙏
Two rails on your front entrance steps would balance more with your landscaping👩🌾greenery shrubs hold up a garden during the heat of the summer! Your frontage is still charming and inviting to all.
After Hurricane Harvey, I put only one rail down our back stairs (to save money) and it makes me crazy when I come down it and I feel unsafe. Consider maybe doing two rails.
I truly love what you’ve done both inside and out! I am also an avid gardener, and love to do fun and interesting things out in the yard. The only comment I have about your yard is that I so wish there had been something tall at the corner of your house in the front patio area. It feels unbalanced to me,but what do I know?
Like mother like son. His cottage is so reminiscent of yours❤
🌵 my husband and I had to laugh… you won’t settle for just one railing . You are all about the cemetery. 😂
I think we should re-name the month UGHgust! Although "Jul-Die" I believe was the hottest month on record! I feel like I have to trim things back, it's just too brutal to watch plants bake in the sun. I have installed a couple of misters in the sunniest portion of two gardens, and that has helped a lot! So yes, I vote to cut the plants back, and oh....increase the number of frozen margaritas in the afternoons! 🍸😉🍸
Linda is looking fantastic ❤❤❤❤
In my opinion, I think one railing will look like it was unfinished. How much does it cost for railing? I invision railing with a fence to the left and right of that to create a border around the upper terrace. When it is Christmas time, with two railings you can drape Christmas lights on them to create an illuminated entrance. You can't do that with one railing.
Excellent point.
Totally agree.
Fiona and John
👍🦘🙏
I think two railings will look better and function better as people coming up toward the house will use the right hand railing and going back down will use the left hand one (right hand if looking out from the house). You may have garden tours/open houses with several people using those steps at the same time and two railings will facilitate that.
One railing is generally used for a narrow set of steps so that practically speaking one has a railing to hold onto whether coming up the steps or going down the steps.You have wide steps and two railings would be appropriate. Imagine using your steps, up and down, Linda, with just one railing. You’ll have your answer (double railings 😂❤)
Also, your son and daughter in law’s house has the two tiny fairly narrow steps up top and only 4 steps below. Your house has six wide steps at the street, I think. Children and parents at Halloween will appreciate double railings. Yours looks like a Halloween neighborhood as is ours. Our last house was also in our neighborhood and it had a tiered terrace like yours only more steep and the kids would roll down the hill after trick or treating instead of taking the side steps down 😂😂
I prefer one railing. Your yard is wonderful and you can be very proud. I’m glad you finally got someone to mow your lawn, although the mower you featured earlier looked like fun, I was not surprised when you mentioned someone would be coming over to mow. For goodness sake you have enough to handle with maintaining the plants, hire out the rest. Keep up the good work!! 😊
I enjoy watching your videos, Linda. Inspiring how you endure the hot days. I am in central NY state - snow country. We are having a delightfully cool August so far. Looks like it might stay that way for the next ten days or so. Right now (10 am), it’s 73 degrees, a little breezy and all very lush and green from ample rain. It has been humid, though. Geraniums hate being rained on and they hate humidity. I grow them in summer so I can have geranium cheer all winter in south facing windows.
Anyway, just wanted to say hi. I am 78 and gardening for me is pure happiness. Still at it after 58 years! Life is good!
……❤Laura
Two railings for symmetry and safety. Anyone who needs it for safety needs one on each side - one for going up, one for down. One railing = half the cost but looks unfinished.
Linda, I am looking forward to seeing your cottage garden evolve over the years. It seems that you are enjoying the newness of a completely different style, but I predict that it will turn into a hybrid style as you swing back to a little more structure by adding in some of your previous formal elements. Per your comment, my eyes tend to go past the blousiness of the perennial flowers and seek out the topiaries and shrubs for rest.
Hi Linda, I have watched you videos for at least a couple of years and I have to say I am a big fan. I love your style of gardening. I am in love with your cottage❤️. I’m from Florida and a few days ago I visited my son who lives in Guthrie. He works in Oklahoma City and he was kind enough to take me by the cottage. It’s more beautiful in person! Keep up the good work young lady!
Your son’s home looks so charming! More visits perhaps?👏. Regarding the railing, I would think it will look off balance as you’ve worked so hard to maintain symmetry. Are there other homes in your area with just one? My zone three is looking ok for now, except the grass, it’s like straw underfoot. But I’m keeping everything else alive. 🇨🇦
Linda's garden is looking fantastic!
I really feel for all of you suffering in such terrible heat. Here in the UK we are subject to the vagaries of the Jet Stream and have had several weeks of cool, very wet and very windy weather, odd to say the rain is getting us down a little! It has rained everyday for about 5 weeks, often literally all day and seems likely to continue for a while longer yet. As a result, although lush and green, many of the summer flowering plants have struggled to bloom and for instance my rudbeckia, salvia and larkspur are only just now beginning to push out their first flowers, so I have done very little dead heading so far and suspect it will be a case of many blooms being cut short by colder weather in September/October. How strange the change in weather patterns are?
Hi there, I'm also from the UK and totally agree. Seems like the rest of the world is baking but we are at risk of rickets through lack of sunshine. It's nice to see that I'm not the only one getting down with the rain and we too are struggling with blooms, especially on our hydrangea. It's also lovely watching Linda and seeing that the sky also comes in blue. I have got so used to the grey! 😅
I’m also from the Uk but unfortunately live in LOUISIANA now. The heat and humidity is unbearable. My hobby is gardening and I am miserable here.
You will have to learn that gardening in Louisiana requires a different mindset and a different set of months to garden in!
@@suzettethibodeaux5842true & it take a few years to adjust to the humidity as well as being in a different country. I keep telling my family I want to move to Ireland to get away from the snakes here in the south. Lol
I just can't believe how quickly and nicely everything has grown!
Good prep on to the soil !!!....water and sun...and she gives it Miracle Grow.
Love your garden and your son’s new home too! Trying to keep up with my garden in hot and humid DE! I think two railings would look better than one!
Personally -- I think 2 railings would look more balanced "but" one would do fine as well.
I am thankful for the UK weather, I wouldn't survive at those extreme temperatures you have over there. Love your, gardens, Linda. 😊
All the states are different, but this summer it’s been hot every were, but not as hot as her state here,
@@lisamiller7143yes you can’t generalize for an entire country - the jet stream creates a variety of weather across the country.
I love the openness of your front steps. I guess you need the rail for safety
I installed railings on both sides of my front steps for my elderly mother. She is right-handed, so whether she is coming up or going down, she will have a rail on her right side to grab or guide as needed. Visually, I think one rail looks fine, but functionally I think two rails make more sense (at least for me my specific needs).
Yes August is my least favorite month too. Oklahoma is just so hard on our gardens! Yours is still looking beautiful!
I think a single railing will work and place it on the same side as the porch - love your channel and so glad you post at least 3 times a week; gives me something to look forward to and I have to say I am now doing a 1 minute plank in the morning after I make my bed! 🙂
I feel very fortunate, at this time of the year, to live in NE Ohio. Though we get less sun and more percip, the summers are absolutely phenomenal, August included. Yes, we have a shorter growing period, but for me, that only makes me appreciate it more.
I love the wildness of your window box. Even at the start I thought it was striking. Artsy in a way.
Everything looks beautiful you did a wonderful job , just wondering how an Apple green paint color on your front door would look ? I think that would really brighten up your front exterior of your home.
Some things have definitely taken a sun beating. I have pruned everything back, salvia, daisies etc. looks so much better. I think two railings would look nicer. 👩🏻🌾👍🏼🌳
My historic house also just had one railing on the steps up our small hill, and then one in the middle of our oversized entry steps. Additionally I'm disabled and have issues with steps, the one rail has been more than enough for me even when I don't have my cane! Lastly ive noticed when other homes have two railings it really necks down the width of the steps, which is more of a barrier I've found!
Your garden looks to be standing up to the heat just wonderful ! The boxwoods and topiaries definitely give structure to make it look like a European garden to the cottage! Gorgeous!
Loved your son and daughter-in-law’s home & railing as well!
I’m thoroughly enjoying time and again your “Elegant and Edible Garden” book! It’s fabulous! My youngest daughter is a beginner reader and we are using the book’s Introduction as her reading source this week! We could stare at the potager picture forever!💚
Hello, Linda. Could you do a walk through in the latter part of the evening? I’m interested to see how the plants look at that time of day. The lantana is a true workhorse even in the heat for me as well. I’m cutting my supertunia and sweet potato vine really hard. Thank you for sharing.❤
Linda. Your garden looks so beautiful. Everything looks so beautiful. Your garden has grown so fast and looks so lovely.
It's in the hi 70's in upper peninsula of Michigan this week. Perfect!!
I agree one signal rallying will really look nice. Looking at your sons and daughter n law new home showing one rallying, I like how it still gives a open wide look to it.
Hi Linda
I hear you! When you have time away from the garden your plants will tell you. I could hear them saying bad things to you. But a little pruning and hand watering and it will be fine. Singular railings are all you need for safety. And less to paint too! New York 7a we had a lot of rain in July but it’s been hot and sunny. Lately it’s been perfect!!! Looking forward to your next styling session with Leah!!!❤🥰
We're near and it's the pleasantest place in the country, right now, in the 80's. 😊
I've been thoroughly enjoying our summer. This is typical and why I moved here from Midwest.
I've been pulling or cutting back nasturtium (I plant alot!). They attract aphids so once a plant is full of them I chuck it out. Sometimes I can cut out just stems covered in aphids.
I do so enjoy these videos in the peaceful serenity that is your garden. Appreciate also, the knowledge that you share as you guide and teach us what you do in this formidable space!
I learn so much from your walk about discussions. My beds are not to be compared to yours, but I am always learning something new to apply to mine as you discuss your plants and plans and mostly why you are doing what you are doing. Also I am learning the names of plants that I can go check out.
I found your channel a few months ago and am learning so much from you about garden structure. I am a long-time gardener, but I never really considered the "bones" of my gardens. We put a large addition on our house last year, so I have been creating new gardens, pathways, etc., this season. Boxwoods and dwarf evergreens made their way in because of your beautiful example and advice. Thank you! You are a joy to watch.
In Napa, California we have 3 days of over 100 degrees followed by 90's. I am slowly pulling out all my dried wildflowers from my bee and butterfly garden. I am saving the seeds for nest year. Our lovely purple clematis was just pruned and I pulled out all my Love in a Mist.
It's winter here in Australia and l'm over it. Hoping for a warm Spring but that's up in the air here in Melbourne (4 seasons in a day usually). Love your garden Linda, it's just stunning!
Yes! to Lantana and Pentas for hot summers....I ALWAYS plant lantana!!
Zone 5a, central Ontario, Canada. Lovely 73 today with fresh breeze. Temperature here can yo-yo and humidity can add 10 degrees to the “feels Iike” temp. I envy your early spring and late fall but not your August temperatures, but we play the hand we’re dealt 🤷
Noticed how well your trees and shrubs on the east side look. A few more evergreens plus the shadows cast by the limbs of the deciduous trees and of course the beautiful architecture of your house will add lots of winter interest.
I think one rail will be fine. Two rails may make the slight slant to the stairs (old house charm) more noticeable.
Love your window box. Interesting and productive!
What ever you decide will no doubt look great.
It's been a little chilly at night here in South Australia,cloudy and rainy. Today it's warm and sunny and I'm really looking forward to spring, not so much summer. My garden is drought tolerant so all good there, hopefully 😁😁👍👍
Here in Flanders it was hot and dry in the beginning but... the last week was cooler, and plenty of rain...which helped a lot... my Dahlias suffered but now they seem to bounce back... I m very happy
I REALLY enjoyed your walk about this week. I am so inspired by your front and back garden designs, Linda! I would like to do similar designs in my gardens at home and in my daughter's garden up in Portland zone 8. I moved from a 2 acre garden to a very small lot and I have had trouble coping with a befitting design but your new garden has inspiried me and helped to me to be appreciative and creative and what's more, satisfied with the lot size in have now! A big thank you!
Looks gorgeous, Linda. I'm trying to bring in some evergreen interest to my garden after the flowers fade...
Glad you walked this morning!
We have a back porch with wide steps going up to two patio doors. We only put up one railing and it just didn’t look good so we put up another railing on other side. Much much better. Ive always planted lantanas and they always did wonderful in the heat and sun. Grew like bushes.
Zone 6b. Western WV on border of OH. We are ranging low 80s- low 90s right now. Only thing I have cut back so far this year (nothing recently) is my white dianthus (the coral dianthus is still marching on with tons of blooms) and my April Night salvia. It was not suffering, but just wanted to encourage another flush of blooms.
Hard to believe how fast everything filled in! Looks amazing.
Mid 80s at least this week! A few days of low 90’s ( North of Minneapolis) dead heading Some of my Lilies,some Lilies still blooming. I don’t notice any day Lilies,or Asiatic Lilies in your garden.There fragrance is intoxicating toward evening. Sorry,I commented 3 times here today, I just really look forward to 10:00 bedtime,so I can lay back and enjoy your videos. Thank you !
Loving my White Wedding hydrangeas also, here in southeast Va Zone 8A. Plants are struggling in the heat. Thankful for the rain we have had so far this year.. I do a lot of succulents and sedum which are doing great in this heat. However, my Echinacea’s are struggling. And I agree, one railing 💚
Very fortunate here in NE Ohio. Very moderate temperatures this summer. So far we've only hit 90° once this year! That is below normal. Rainfall has been sporadic, but heavy at times, so overall we are several inches above average.
My cleome this year have been magnificent... they got off to a late start due to cool spring, but quickly made up for lost time The flower heads are huge!
Another practical reason for installing just one railing is to keep the path clear when large items need to be moved up the steps.
I hope you can get zero railings. those steps probably don't need it. But your porches will look great with railings.I had some heat casualties here in Utah, and I am getting ready to give up on some thirsty pots. I did lose a white eastern pine that has a twin and that is a big loss to my front porch.
Zone 7B NC. I have lots of lantana and they are very happy. I had to cut back my catmint hard and it’s doing better now. Also cut back Shasta daisies to the ground and they are coming back. The coneflowers are doing fine.
Zone 8a GA, mostly mid 90’s but humidity in the 70 & 80 percentile, which is what gets us the most.
I’m not cutting anything hard yet, mostly just deadheading.
Your garden still looks good Linda. As I’ve been here in this location for 25 yrs I too have learned get some evergreens in the garden because those flowers are temporary & then what. Lol
Hi Linda! Zone 8A near Dallas Texas. The high today is 106. My coneflowers are spent but I have not deadheaded them yet because I intend to share my seeds. My rose blooms are also browning out quickly, even the knock out roses. I have some sunflowers in a pot that just won’t make it to seed. Oh well. I too also like structure and form. I have large boxwoods shaped into topiary domes. The Texas Privet is thriving in the heat and pushing out new growth even. My lantanas and sweet potato vines are quite happy.
Your cottage is Beautiful .that's my big thing to do this fall winter intrest I really dislike the empty look of winter gardens..everything should be beautiful 4 seasons..
I live in central California and this is only the second day it has been less than a hundred in weeks. my Japanese maples are burnt and my oleanders are dropping flowers everywhere. your garden still looks good, it will be better when your trees get a little bigger. my husband installed a hand rail on our porch this spring and a grab bar from the garage into the kitchen at 73 my back and knees are not what thy used to be. hopefully the handrail will come in handy when little people come to visit.
Good idea👍sending ❤from Rosie O from a rainy☔🌧️ Devon, England. Hope it cools down for you soon.
@@tadeuszoltarzewski thank you so much for your reply. I'm glad the weather is better somewhere! best wishes to you
I was curious Linda -- will you be planting alot of tulips in the fall in your front yard? Your yard still looks lovely, even w/the heat.
I live in the Central Valley in California. We too have had temperatures over 100 for about he same amount of time you have been experiencing. I do my best to cut back spent blooms of my roses. Little bit of shaping, but not quite hard fall cut just yet.
We have one railing leading up the stone steps to our old historic house, but I think two railings will look more finished and balanced for your steps.
Agreed
Hi Linda, super update on the garden. I love it. In the UK, Oxford, its 19°c or 66°f today, 17°c or 62°f on Saturday (thats top daytime temperatures). Cool, very wet and grey thick clouds for most of July and into August. Its been a total washout for the school holidays so far.
Your garden looks great, and yes, very lush. It may be hot there but, boy you have tons of pollinator action. You can see them all zipping around. Success in my book. I live in Western Pennsylvania and we are having a little bit of everything but no where near 100 degree temps. I feel for you. Your lower steps are beautiful and I like them without a railing, but if you add them, I think the one railing will look fabulous, just as it does at your son and daughter in-laws home. Thanks again for all the great content! 🩷
Zone 8-(Central TexAss) We have had 3 digit temps, over 100, for so long I can’t remember when it wasn’t this hot🥵! Also NOT 1 drop of rain since the last week of May! I’ve cut back all of my “sun” coleus because they were fried! And yes even my lantana. I’m watering often and deeply but when temps are this high the air itself is causing havoc. 😢
Peaceful and beautiful
The garden still looks great Linda!
Hi Linda, l dont know which is worse watching you plants shrivel in the heat or drown in the amount rain we have had in England. l was visiting a wonderful garden this weekend and their Boxwood balls were trimmed like acorns in their cups or an egg in an egg cup as a better description. A little more effort to trim them that way, but so effective. A mixture of both ball and egg in a cup (more an oval shape) might be nice.
It's going to be 80° today on northwest PA with 85% humidity. I'm in zone 5b. My plants are struggling but not from the heat but from lack of rain. We've had some rain but not like we usually do.
I am in Maple Ridge, BC, Canada. Our temperature is 93 degrees F. Some plants, like my Lime smoke bush and Japanese maple are a bit scorched. Love your garden! Lots of ideas and inspiration! THANKS! 😎🇨🇦
I'm also in zone 7b in metro Atlanta and I've cut back all annuals for a new flush for remainder of summer and fall blooms. Our 10-day forecast is finally showing some rain and a reprieve from our high heat index with temps "dipping" into the 80's. 👍
Your garden is still looking beautiful! Well done!
Eastern Washington mid 90s and fire season is here. Not cutting much back it's to Hot to be out in the garden much. Annuals are doing great with good irrigation. ❤
Today in upstate SC, it’s so nice! Cool and rainy.
Two rails much better
Your garden still looks great! Here in Plano, TX our temps have been 104, 105, 106! Everything looks bad. Cutting back perennials.
Understand about the cost, but I personally prefer the symmetry of two railings. I think your sons neighborhood may be a bit unique with the single railings? Are there any other houses in your neighborhood with just one railing?
I like symmetry too and based on the symmetry of the boxwoods Linda plants and how balanced they are I am surprised she would even consider it! 🥴🥴
If you do end up going with just the one, I’m thinking you would want to consider if people need more help ascending or descending the stairs. I’m guessing the answer to that is ascending and thus right side as you go up?
@@donnapudwill9908
My strong preference , for symmetry but mostly for safety, is two railings. If only one is chosen people are more likely to get hurt falling down stairs than falling up stairs.
It's beautiful here in Upstate NY, zone 5. Upper 70s, low 80s all week. Definitely blessed by the weather, but always jealous of higher zones because of the ability to grow a wider variety of the things that make my heart race. But I can grow boxwood and lots of other evergreens and agree that the bones carry the garden through every season, especially winter, when we are dreaming of color and form. Cambridge University Botanic Garden has always been an inspiration for what can be done to make a glorious garden that shines during the dreariest season of the year, with color and texture from bark, evergreen foliage and winter blooms. I use witch hazels here for fragrant blossoms in the dead of winter when temps are well below zero.
Hi Linda. Your garden looks great considering the intense heat we’ve had here, in Oklahoma. I am in Marlow, OK zone 7b. Our house faces the same sun exposure as yours, which is so helpful when watching your videos, hearing your tips and “tried and trues”. We just moved here last month, from Houston, TX, so I am slowly learning how things grow here. I appreciate all your wealth of knowledge you share with us. Can’t wait to see how your back yard looks when it’s finished. Your son’s new home is beautiful! ❤️
I cut back most of tired anuals, perennials and they respond well.... I do this always and of July... And by mid August... sometimes till end of October I have a good rebloom... but off course not the same abundance like June and July. I now cut back also all the holy hocks ( Alcea) and they produce new foliage which fill the gaps nicely. Holy hocks look terrible after flowering. I collect also some seeds of a selected group based on colours and healthyness. I remove the weakest. And plant a few years no more holy hooks on that place.
Growing zone 8 here in the Dallas area. Day after day, week after week 104, 105, 106 & 107. Heat index 112+. No end in sight. The last two years the heat has been excessive. It is burning my lime light hydrangea to death. For some reason it doesn't bother the blooms. Just the leaves. I am thinking about taking it out & replacing it with lantana.
What about one railing down the middle of the steps? That way people on either side can have the usage.
Very wet and very cool here in Scotland, we want some warmth and you want it cooler mad isint it ❤
For my tuppence worth. I feel as you have railing on one side of your patio, one railing on the steps but on the opposite side so to speak would give you a balanced look. Perhaps another point to consider is that two at the steps will make them 'look' considerably narrower.
Here in Houston we are continuing to have absolutely no rain, where I live anyway. The temps continue to reach over 100 most days since the beginning of July, June was very hot and August and September promise to be more of the same. I pray for rain and just a little cool down please 🙏🏻 My zinnias, salvias and rudbeckia are hanging in there but everything else is a struggle to keep alive. I’m considering more and more, xeriscape landscaping and have been reading about it.
Looks nice. Have you thought about adding summerific hardy hibiscus. Lots of color blooms.
Our steps on our lower lawn, has one railing. It has been there for 89 years! It was original to our Dutch style cottage!!!
Here in the DFW area we are stuck on 107°, today and for the next 4 days. Next Tuesday we are supposed to have a chilly 99°. Virtually no rain since May. We water but it just doesn’t work like rainfall.
It has been cool in New England, Zone 6. It's been 70's, low 80s
I don’t shear back much now bc we have lots of flowering perennials in 7 -a New York. Rudbeckia sedum echinacea hydrangea Rose of Sharon baptisia Bluebeard buddleia and dinner plate flower hibiscus. I cut some flowers for vases. But not really shearing anything. I cut back the unruly herbs and the catnip. But I keep them until late fall for my teas. Lemon balm chocolate mint peppermint spearmint and stevia. I guess your herb garden will be in your backward?
I’m in zone 6b/6a S.E. Michigan, I cut back petunias (annuals)and blue salvia (perennials) pretty hard about twice a season
Single handrails make it easier to carry large parcels, furniture, equipment, etc. to the front door, since you don’t need to raise those large items above the rail.
It's two weeks after you posted this, but in my neck of the woods, literally (I'm out in the country in N. TX), it's ridiculously hot, dry and I'm dealing with the annual (though worse then normal) plague of grasshoppers. Everything is devastated. This is my 4th year to try to grow hydrangeas and I think I'm done trying. I think I'll stick with crepe myrtles, which for some reason the grasshoppers aren't so crazy about. My lantanas are star survivors, though they do require watering. And the portulaca is doing beautifully. I'm making a list of grasshopper resistant plants and trying to get over my desire to have an English style cottage garden, because my landscape just won't permit it. I just have to be more selective about choosing xeriscape appropriate plants. But the grasshoppers are a game changer. Plants that can survive the heat and the drought just can't survive when constantly being devoured by this plague. I'm not quite back to square one, but not far from it. ....Your gardens are truly an inspiration for me because you fill a big gap. My area is much more like yours than say Dallas, even though my zone is 7b/8a. I think to myself, "If Linda can grow it then I can grow it too," with most of your plantings. I really wish there were more videographers or vloggers who cover Southwestern plants (dry air and soil) rather than Southern plants (wet soil, high humidity), but yours are somewhere in the middle and I'm so very grateful for all you share with us. Maybe even especially the failures, because it helps us to be aware or avoid plants that might ultimately fail for us too. Thank you for everything you share.