CWE Backyards: An urban Shangri-La

 

Photo courtesy of Martin Schweig

Three years ago Martin Schweig and his wife, Terrie Liberman, moved from a house on Maryland Avenue, built in the early 1900's, where Martin had lived for more than fifty years, to a smaller house on Pershing Place built in the 1970's. Whenever I have occasion to visit their new residence, I’m mesmerized by the view through the large south-facing windows overlooking a gorgeous water garden. The pool, surrounded by lush landscaping, was originally built as a swimming pool and was converted to a koi pond by a former owner*.

Terrie Liberman is a therapist in private practice; and Martin, is the "go-to" guy I've mentioned many times on this blog for questions relating to wildlife (see photo below). He has many other interests including photography (his profession until retirement), jewelry making, watches & clocks, and gardening.  Martin's photography studios and gallery were located on the north side of Maryland, just east of Euclid where the Chess Club is now, and later, across the street in the space currently occupied by Boutique/83.  As you might imagine, photographing a photographer and his garden is about as intimidating as can be, so note that some of the photographs shown here are Martin's own.

Photo courtesy of Martin Schweig

Many of the plantings around the pool are Missouri natives, including Water Mint, Forget-Me-Not, Buttonbush, and Lizardtail, found in the Ozarks. These natives, contained in mesh baskets, can weather Missouri winters (and torrid summers!) and can remain outside year 'round.
Bog plants thrive on the pool's steps, above.

Here is one of my favorite photos of Martin taken by friends when a Barred Owl fell down their Westmoreland Place chimney last Christmas season. Martin was called in to rescue the frightened bird (see post here).

 

The late Patsy Degener, a CWE artist (see post here), was a dear friend of both Martin and Terrie's. Patsy's jungle-themed tiles, installed beside the pool, incorporate many of the animals Martin raised and cared for over the years.

Photo courtesy of Martin Schweig

*The pool was converted to a koi pond by the late St. Louis Symphony Conductor Hans Vonk and his wife Jesse. When Maestro Vonk became ill and the couple moved back to Amsterdam, they left three koi behind: Beethoven, Haydn, and Mozart. The Schweigs had a smaller pond on Maryland Avenue stocked with koi, which they brought with them. As you can see by the presence of the smaller fish in the photo, the population is thriving. Raccoons, which are prevalent in the CWE, are attracted to the koi. Martin has trapped five very well-fed raccoons in his own and neighbor's backyards over the course of the summer. He was tongue-tied when asked where the predators are dropped off. (One imagines an underground relocation system involving clandestine transporting of unwanted critters between city, county, and Forest Park.)

One of the benefits of working on this blog is that I learn so much myself. What I thought were bonsai placed around the pool, are actually Pachypodium and Caudiciform plants, species that develop thick bodies with sculptural forms. Pachypodium means "thick foot," visible at the base of the plants (above and below). The caudex is where energy is stored. Most of Martin's plants came from members of the Henry Shaw Cactus & Succulent Society, or from his travels to places like Baja, California.

 

The Euphorbia Viguieri, above, was in bloom when I visited.

  Photo courtesy of Martin Schweig

A Buttonbush flower in full bloom, above.

Martin is very active in the Henry Shaw Cactus & Succulent Society which held its annual show and sale at the Missouri Botanical Garden at the end of July. Several of Martin's entries won prizes, including the Adenum Obsum above.

I stopped by the Garden on the day the show opened, and was amazed to see the number of people who are passioinate about cactii and succulents. After learning about the Pachypodiums from Martin I purchased a handsome Saundersii variety from the huge selection of plants at the sale. I must have chosen a pretty good speciman, because on my way out two people stopped me to inquire whether they could buy it—–which made me appreciate it even more!

Thank you Martin and Terrie for allowing me an opportunity to offer readers a glimpse of your beautiful garden. I know they will love getting a peek into your oasis as much as I loved being there.