What grows behind that wall?

Sometimes a detour from the busy highway leads to enchantment. That's especially true in the storied Hudson River Valley where all thruways and traffic seem to be sucked into New York City, and figuring where to exit can be a startling discovery in the rear-view mirror. After a day in Manhattan, I wanted respite. My son and daughter-in-law knew where to find it. Ducking under I-87, we slowed onto Sunnyside Lane, finally coming to rest at the home of Washington Irving. Follow me to see what grows behind that garden wall.

Garden Tip Of The Week

We are interested in purchasing some Carolina Jessamine, but have a question. We plan to use it to climb on a pergola at our beachfront home. The local county agricultural extension agent says that it is salt-tolerant. What do you think? Do you know of anyone who has grown in successfully in a beachfront environment?

I can not think of a specific beachfront property where I've seen Gelsemium sempervirens growing, but that's probably because it is so ubiquitous in S. GA. I've seen it growing in the wild all over Skidaway Island. I was on Jekyll Island recently, and saw plenty of it near the rivers and beach. To read more, visit goGardenNow.blogspot.com.