Sanford Garden

10 years ago

On the Sunday of First Look weekend we visited 3 gardens. Two of these I had seen before. However the previous visits to the garden of O'Brien Nursery and the garden of Bill Meyer and Carol Brashear had been limited by time and bad weather. More on those gardens later.

The garden I had not seen before belonged to Matt Sanford and it was absolutely spectacular. Easily as beautiful as a convention garden.

Every garden reflects the interests and personality of the gardener and this was true of the Sanford garden. It's sort of a cross between a collector's garden and a hybridizer's garden. Only 1/2 acre in a CT suburb, it is very well tended, organized and just plain gorgeous.

Before the show I want you to see this seedling of Matt's. It was my favorite plant I saw all weekend, bar none. This stunning plant has been given the garden name H. Madison. He planted it next to Skylight to compare its color. It is easily as blue and has as much wax as Skylight with upright form and wavy ruffled leaves. Oh yeah it has dusty purple petioles also. A beautiful distinctive and unique plant. Here's a pic.

H. Madison on the left. H. Skylight on the right.

Click the link below.

Here's the Slide Show Sanford Garden.

Steve

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Comments (11)

in ny zone5
10 years ago
Thank you for taking the photos and showing them here. I once thought to come to First Look, but could not make it. I especially love the large, puckered, round streaked green or blue leaves! Bernd
don_in_colorado
10 years ago
Wow, thanks for the tour of Matthew Sanford's garden, Steve. I'm going to go take a look again, these pics deserve mutiple viewings.

I'm unable, I think, to pick a very favorite...But the quadruple 'Liberty' planting is visually stunning. Can't imagine what the effect is in person.

Don B.
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mctavish6
10 years ago
I just watched it twice. It made having a thunder storm and being forced inside worth it. Wonderful and lucky you to see it in person. Thanks so much, Myrle
WILDernessWen
10 years ago
Steve, Thank you for the lovely gift. WW
jan_on zone 5b
10 years ago
Thanks Steve. We're so lucky that you were willing to take great photos, and make the effort to post them here for us to enjoy. I'll second Don's vote - the row of 4 'Libertys' took my breath away. Sure wish I had the space to plant multiples. I'm also pleased to see that some of these gardens are "crowded". For those of us lacking space it's nice to see that some of the really great growers pack them in too!
Jan
hostafreak
10 years ago
Steve,that close up of Madison,reminds me of one I have,which is called Lakeside Lagoon;at least the color does. Phil
Cher
10 years ago
Fantastic gardens. I also like that Madison and well as some others they have. Thanks for the tour.
Cher
tsugajunkie z5 SE WI ♱
10 years ago
Thanks for taking the time, Steve. Great photography of some great plants.

tj
Jon 6a SE MA
10 years ago
Thanks for sharing Steve. Now I have to get more Liberties. My small one stands out across the yard 100' away. A row like that would be a knockout.

Jon
sidney1515
10 years ago
Oh my, Steve. . .What a treat. I'm going to spend some time in those pictures. . .THANK YOU, THANK YOU!
Ludicious Acres
10 years ago
Can't add much more to what everyone else has already said, but I did want to stop and say Thank You.

Gorgeous, every one of them. :)

Ludi