SIMONTON BRIDGE DAYLILY FARM Joann Stewart 2300 Simonton Bridge Road, Watkinsville, GA, 30677-2167 Phone: (706) 769-7652   Fax: (706) 769-5141 Email: SimontonBr@aol.com

Visitors welcome during the bloom season. Please call ahead to make sure the garden is open. USDA Zone 7
(Foothills of the Appalachian Mountains: winter temps in mid to low-teens, summer temps in low 100s)

SIMONTON BRIDGE DAYLILY FARM GARDEN GALLERY
Overhead watering is done from a small 10-acre lake on the property, and ensures that plants obtain necessary moisture.	This early morning shot (taken in the springtime) shows the lake itself provides a restful spot for breaks. It changes appearance during seasonal changes and time of day changes.	Phlox divaricata and dogwood make a welcome spring appearance here and herald the start of the growing season.
There never seem to be enough shade areas during the active bloom season. This spot is near the house and swing, and practically a refuge in hot weather!	Although the 8' cyclone fence isn't attractive, it was a VERY welcome help to keep marauding deer away. Sometimes, however, you shouldn't feel too secure! I've suspected the deer got together and PUSHED THIS TREE OVER!!!	Don't doubt it gets cold in Georgia. Ice on trees and shrubs plays havoc with their shapes. On fences..it just makes a nice shot.
Luckily, this time most of the trees and plans had no damage. Sometimes the pines especially bend under the weight of the ice and never regain their shapes.	One of my pleasures is to look out from my deck during different seasons. I like to think that my plants were getting a welcome dose of nitrogen during this cold period.	Unlike the more northern latitudes, in Georgia several days after a snowfall, the snow is almost gone.
Bloom season is just as welcome in Georgia as in areas having more severe winters. These fence row beds were the first ones made to accommodate the 50' slope over the entire range of my property. You can see that erosion is no longer a problem!	By autumn, I'm tired and MORE than ready for the plants to rest, so I can......	Bloom is just beginning in this center section of the garden. The annual larkspur makes a welcome cooling contrast to the warmer tones of the daylilies.
Winter rest periods are for people AND flowers. After fall cleanup, there is a welcome respite of about 4 months. Paperwork, family and friends get much more attention during this time!	In 1995, the continued problems with wash made me decide to build stepped beds. I began at the bottom of the slope in the main part of the garden, and this is the result 4 years later.	After completion of the fencerow beds, renovation of the center of the garden began. This was the 'before' shot in the autumn of 1999, with only the timber outline of the prospective location of the bottom bed visible.
Naturally all the plants in the existing beds had to be removed for the new renovation. (Rats!) For several years here, most of the plants in the garden have been 'plants on wheels'.	The old bed structure had been 50' x 4 foot raised beds, as seen from my deck.	The new bed plans were for much longer and wider beds. These were the first two constructed in the center part of the garden.
In early spring of the next year, two MORE beds were constructed and planted.	My primary help is Bill Thornhill, who I jokingly refer to as 'the phantom landscaper'. Bill ALWAYS wears a white dress shirt...and since his dermatologist fussed, a hat.. He got the PL title because he's primarily an irrigation contractor and only comes here during his 'off' season. I'm ALWAYS glad to see him!	These are middle garden beds 'M6' and 'M7', being planted. There is probably room for about 4 more of these monster beds, which will go all the way to the driveway. The ones adjacent to the pavement as 'display' only.
Middle bed 4, under construction. The surrounds are placed, then filled. A mix of Georgia red clay, ground pine bark and compost make a happy growing medium!	Who besides fellow plant nuts would be showing pictures of seedling beds? (big grin). This was my first attempt at labelling, one I came to regret....	Naturally you can't stop with just ONE seedling bed........
By the next year, I had figured out the small 't' stakes stayed in place better..and were more legible too.	By 2001, I had run out of beds for seedlings in the main garden. Time to get rid of some of the pasture! This was the first of four new beds....	Seedling Beds Finished

SimontonBr@aol.com
E-mail Joann at Simonton Bridge Daylily Farm