Today's
photos are from Emily Schmidt, who says, "My gardens here at Schmidt
Family Farm in Charlton, New York, were started in 1951 by my husband's
grandparents, Clifford and Gertrude Schmidt. My husband, Matt, and I had
the opportunity to continue the family farm here beginning in 2000. Since Gertrude
and Clifford were in their 80s at that time, many of the gardens needed some
restoring and attention. But the foundation was there and I was able to keep
many of the original plants going. Today I still cherish the oriental poppies,
peonies, bearded irises, some roses, daylilies, hostas, and more that are now
what I consider family heirlooms. Matt and I were fortunate to have our garden
wedding here in 2003. Matt's sister Rachel and her husband were married
here in 2005 in the gardens. Now, Marshall and Cadee, our two children, are
growing up immersed in the gardens and tradition. (Of course they especially
like to pick the flowers!) I sell my "Extra Petals" on a roadside
wagon in the spring, which has proven to be a fantastic way to keep me on task
for divisions, which in turn keeps the plants happy."
We're in
Emily's Charlton, New York, garden again today, learning a bit more about Emily
and catching a few more glimpses of her gardens. She says, "I have
a bachelor's in Agricultural Business from SUNY Cobleskill. I am
currently the president and a 10 year member of the Charlton Garden Club,
a small group of women from our historic rural town who share a love of all
things gardens. I enjoy learning as much as possible about perennials,
trying new plant combinations, and I have a growing love for shade
gardening. Some of my favorite plants in my gardens include variegated
solomon's seal, Aruncus, Japanese painted ferns, Oriental Lily 'Casa Blanca',
Hosta 'Sagae', Geranium 'Rozanne', and Persicaria 'Firetail'. I enjoy a
visual depth in my gardens, similar to a Walt Disney animation, where you see
the focus but there is always more in the background. I want my
gardens to take me somewhere visually, to feel like they don't end. That
is very important to me as I design my gardens and photograph them - especially
come January, when it is 12 degrees outside, anticipating a huge snowstorm, and
I need to escape into some garden photographs! Matt and I planted
600 black walnut trees on our farm in 2001, and are expecting 500 Balsam Fir
transplants this spring to begin the process of growing Christmas trees."
