Garden Photo of the Day

Vibrant Combinations

By Kim Charles

Laura Hare has a knack for pulling together vibrant color combinations in Bahama, NC.

"My passion and hobby is working in my gardens. I love planting in the ground or in pots and different types of containers. I wanted to share just a few pictures. Last year I won the Triangle Best Garden of the Year and Best Container Gardener through the Triangle Gardener Magazine."

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Comments

  1. Doxnmomx2 06/05/2017

    Love, love, love your combinations. Sad, sad, sad not to see more photos. What a wonderful mix of color and texture. I can see why you won prizes.

  2. pam_clemmons 06/05/2017

    Absolutely amazing! And you certainly earned the award! Well done!

  3. User avater
    user-7007816 06/05/2017

    Liked the bright spots of color, particularly the red astilbe and ferns. Also enjoyed the bears britches, a great focal point.

  4. user-7007498 06/05/2017

    Good morning,Laura. Thanks for sharing photos of your lovely garden. I really like the combo of the acanthus, astilbe, and fern. I love the way the plants are intermingled. Also the large container with corrugated panels is quite striking. It really accents the plantings. Well done.

  5. User avater
    meander_michaele 06/05/2017

    Hi, Laura, your first picture in particular shows one of my favorite plant color "marriages"...purple and orange...with the green and white variegated leafed plant being the couples' counselor that keeps them getting along harmoniously. And, holy crow, those are some dramatic bud laden stalks coming up out of those acanthus leaves....very neat. Congratulations on your awards. That's very special to have earned that kind of public recognition.

  6. user-4691082 06/05/2017

    Laura, are you a master gardener? I love the way you meld all of the plants together. How do you keep the cleome from taking over? Congrats on the award- well deserved!

    1. user-7008627 06/05/2017

      No no! Not a master gardener. Just love it ?

    2. user-7008627 06/05/2017

      Thank you! Cleome is popping up everywhere! Come get some!

  7. NCYarden 06/05/2017

    Good morning, Laura. Another excellent representation for NC gardening. This peek into your garden is tantalizing, and I can imagine there is more to see I'm sure. That planter box on the deck is impressive, almost as if it could topple over, but just can't figure out which way to go...and maybe that's the magic to the balance - haha. Do you have a secret to getting your Acanthus to bloom? Mine has only ever bloomed once, and now just seems to produce leaves, which I allow because they still look cool. Congratulations on the gardening honors. It's all very beautiful. Thank you for sharing.

    1. VikkiVA 06/05/2017

      Hi Laura and David. Looks like Laura has the species A spinosus Acanthus and I have the species mollis. I've just discovered the differences. Spinosus has narrower cut leaves than the mollis. While researching Acanthus I found the following information on blooming.
      "The sunnier and hotter the position, the better the following year's flowers will be. This is true of the two main species of acanthus that are found in gardens, Acanthus mollis and A. spinosus, although their foliage varies quite a lot."
      So...if you don't get blooms perhaps you should move your Acanthus to a sunnier spot. Who knew? I dug up a clump from the mother plant last fall and moved it to, apparently a sunnier spot, because it is now blooming. LOL

      1. NCYarden 06/05/2017

        Awesome find. Thanks for that info. I will transplant and see what happens. Report to come...in about a year ;)

    2. user-7008627 06/05/2017

      Thank you! Full shade for my acanthus! Odd I know.

  8. User avater
    Tim_Zone_Denial_Vojt 06/05/2017

    Rich textures, vibant colors, cool combinations: I can see why you're a winner! That wonderful, overstuffed container looks like a custom creation. Did you build it?

    1. user-7008627 06/05/2017

      Thank you! My husband built it as a surprise. It's the size of a coffin lol and everything planted is a perennial.

  9. Sunshine111 06/05/2017

    Vibrant, fun and delightful!

  10. VikkiVA 06/05/2017

    Laura, your garden is stunning. Astilbe is one of my favorites and the one pictured is gorgeous. Do you know the name? You must have your Acanthus in a sunny spot to get such outstanding blooms...beautiful! Loving your Bee Balm and Celome combo. Vikki in VA

    1. user-7008627 06/05/2017

      My Acanthus is in total shade. It's just happy where I planted it and each year it blooms bigger and better. Thank you!

      1. VikkiVA 06/05/2017

        Total shade??? Well these goes that advice. Don't we love gardening. LOL

    2. user-7008627 06/05/2017

      I do not remember the name of the astilbe. I planted it many years ago.
      Acanthus is in shade!

  11. swampbacon 06/05/2017

    What a lovely garden you have created! The acanthus is fabulous, and I really enjoy all the neat art pieces that are placed here and there. What a joy to see all your beautiful plant combinations! Thanks for sharing!

  12. user-6536305 06/05/2017

    You have truly created a vibrant colors and foliage garden. Love your containers and railing! What is the spiky plant (the center one) in the rectangular container on the deck please? Thank for sharing your passion with us.

    1. user-7008627 06/05/2017

      It's a grass is that's the spiky one you're seeing.

      1. user-7008627 06/05/2017

        Hyssop sorry.

  13. Cenepk10 06/05/2017

    Totally gorgeous & exactly what I love :)

  14. annek 06/05/2017

    I just can't choose a favorite photo. The bursts of colors and combinations are brilliant (both design and color-wise). Wow, I enjoyed your post this morning and find myself needing more of your garden views

  15. tennisluv 06/05/2017

    Laura, love the hanging basket in your first picture. I'm with Michelle that orange and purple flowers make a great combination and then you improved it by adding the variegated plant in the middle (Is that edible variegated sage?) to cool the heat down just a tad. I also was drawn to the fern - astilbe - acanthus combination. Great mix of colors and textures in all your pictures. Thanks for sharing.

  16. Meelianthus 06/05/2017

    Laura, such lovely photos. I love the Monarda and Cleome against the metal trellis. You have done a beautiful job of mixing your interesting plantings. Enjoyed it all.

  17. user-7008627 06/05/2017

    Thank you so very much for all of your wonderful comments. As I'm sure all of you know or may feel the same but gardening is so much fun and is my happy place. ❤️

  18. User avater
    LindaonWhidbey 06/06/2017

    Good evening, Laura. I'm not very timely today as I'm just getting to your interesting and beautiful photos. You can see how the dramatic acanthus became the inspiration for Greek and Roman architecture with its spikes leaves and gorgeous flowers. I love your planter and was wondering if you or someone you know made it. I may have to copy that with some leftover siding. All of your color combos are very appealing and It's easy to see why you've won awards.
    Thanks for sharing.

  19. LaurelEm 06/06/2017

    Laura! I love your color combinations and the casual style of you garden vignettes. Your accessories are just perfect!

  20. deborahloveladybrinkman 06/06/2017

    Love, love, love it all...What a beautiful garden to enjoy!

  21. user-7007140 06/06/2017

    Laura your garden is a joy, full of color and interest. I keep scrolling thru, finding new spots of magic. Lovely.
    My acanthus gets afternoon sun only, is planted under birch trees and flowers like crazy.

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