Today we’re off to see Sally Barker’s garden in Maryland.
My garden was featured several times on GPOD a few years ago (Sally’s Garden in Maryland Revisited). Needless to say, gardens are constantly changing, and so happily I have created and recreated mine over the past 25 years, always finding opportunities where losses occur. This one-acre garden is now mature with masses of climbing hydrangea on fences and on trees and full-grown shrubs and trees providing good structure throughout the seasons. There is always a succession of blooms beginning in spring with pink rhododendrons, ‘Shasta’ viburnum (Viburnum plicatum ‘Shasta’, Zones 5–8), chartreuse spireas (Spirea japonica, Zones 4–9), purple nepeta (Nepeta × faassenii, Zones 4–9), pink roses, and masses of Geranium macrorrhizum (Zones 4–8). Summer brings a multitude of different hydrangeas in blues and in whites, many of which change to pink as the season progresses. Hostas, ferns, countless perennials and Hakonechloa grass (Hakonechloa macra, Zones 5–9) shine in summer. In the fall, hollies turn to reds and yellows, and finally the exquisite bark of a ‘Natchez’ crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia ‘Natchez’, Zones 7–9) shows off all winter.
In spring, the white flowers of ‘Shasta’ viburnum steal the show in the back.
Pink rhododendrons bloom in the background, while the ‘Natchez’ crape myrtle in the center shows off its always beautiful bark.
Hakonechloa grass is backed up by hostas and an oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia, Zones 5–9) just coming into bloom.
A spring moment of pink from a rhododendron and Geranium macrorrhizum.
Later in the season, the pink flowers have faded and various hydrangeas have come into bloom.
Butterflies feast on the flowers of ‘Millenium’ ornamental onion (Allium ‘Millenium’, Zones 5–8).
A blue birdbath is backed by the glowing yellow foliage of bleeding heart (Dicentra spectabilis ‘Gold Heart’, Zones 3–9).
Pots on the patio are filled with blue flowers, while steps welcome you to explore the lush green garden beyond.
Allium ‘Millenium’ takes center stage, backed up by the soft, silver foliage of lambs’ ears (Stachys byzantina, Zones 4–8).
Late in the season, this part of the garden is all soft, dusty pink from hydrangea flower heads (Hydrangea paniculata, Zones 3–8), Autumn Joy sedum (Hylotelephium spectabile ‘Herbstfreude’, Zones 3–9), and hardy begonia (Begonia grandis, Zones 5–8).
In the fall, nothing can match the brilliant colors of Japanese maple (Acer palmatum, Zones 5–9).
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