The Oklahoma GARDEN
Discovery and Transformation
In the spring of 2018, while visiting Oklahoma from Austria, we found a lovely home, with half an acre of oak woodland as a backyard. The ground was a thick carpet of English ivy, among the oaks and hickories a few old hollies, pines, and a rhododendron that had been planted 20 years before. Even though we initially planned to stay for only a year, I began clearing parts of the yard to create a usable space.
At first, progress was slow, limited by financial constraints. But when I started working for Jane Fanning, the garden’s transformation accelerated. I gained access to a variety of plants that would have otherwise been discarded, and connected with other gardeners who generously shared their plants.
In the garden’s early stages, the plantings were a mix of whatever came my way. The garden filled up and began to take shape surprisingly quickly. The pathways I had initially mowed through the ivy were soon graveled and edged. I frequently moved plants around to bring a sense of order to this hodgepodge of specimens.
2018
2021
2024
Boxwoods, Ferns, Hellebores, Solomon Seal, Heuchera, and Hostas became the backbone of the garden. Wild Ginger, Virginia Bluebells, Wood Asters, Lungwort, Lamium, Foam Flower, Astilbe and others added variety, and I am on a constant quest finding and learning about plants and exploring native and lesser-known species.
We invested in several beautiful mature Hicks Yews, Japanese Maples, and Teddy Bear Magnolias, which now serve as "anchor plants" throughout the garden.
In 2023, after a year of research and planning, we built a greenhouse in the backyard, adding a wonderful new dimension to the garden and changing the way we live in it. The greenhouse sits on a 1-foot stem wall, is paved with reclaimed brick, and houses two citrus trees along with a variety of other exotic plants. It is also used for meals, coffee breaks, entertaining, and schoolwork throughout most of the year.
Working the Oklahoma Garden is an experience of discovery and gradual transformation. I use this garden as a place to experiment and try out new ideas. An ideal playground for my ongoing quest for new plants and a deeper understanding of Oklahoma’s ecology.