The Only Shrubs You Need to Grow
Free Download: Rose Pruning and Bed Prep
10 Perennials Easily Grown from Seed
Bold and Beautiful Zinnias
A gardener's checklist for early summer
Off With Their Heads: Deadheading Perennials
Soil Testing is Worth the Effort
Video: Make a Straw-Bale Garden
Backyard Makeover Game
Big Flowers from Bigleaf Hydrangeas
Perfect Edges for Your Beds and Borders
Friendly Ways to Battle Garden Pests
Viburnums are Versatile Shrubs
Variegated Plants Create Drama
25 Robust Summer Bloomers
Garden Catalog Collector
Enchanting Japanese Maples
How to Start a Vegetable Garden
All About Starting Seeds
15 Deer-Resistant Plants
How to Grow Raspberries
Lilacs: Time for a Fresh Look
Building a Compost Bin
Find the Perfect Tomato
Make Your Own Hypertufa Container

READER PHOTOS! Kielian's garden in Montana

comments (14) December 9th, 2011 in blogs

Michelle Gervais, Associate Editor

158 users recommend

2 WAYS TO ENLARGE!
Click directly on the photo to enlarge in a pop-up, or click HERE to see this image, larger, in a new browser window.

**May 31st**

Photo: Courtesy of Kielian DeWitt

Add Comment
Print

Today's photos are from Kielian DeWitt in Montana. She says, "After moving to the Bitterroot Valley in Montana, I wondered if the gardening rules from my home state of Colorado would apply to this colder, northern latitude region. I learned after three years of gardening that the old adage 'sleep, creep, leap' was very appropriate. The first year, the plants barely registered life, the second year I saw a few inches of growth and a few blooms, but the third year...oh it was rewarding. The pictures below depict the changes of progressive seasonal flowering and the overall attitude of happy plants! I can hardly wait to see what next spring brings." Gorgeous, Kielian! It looks like you've been gardening here for many, many years. Thanks for sharing your garden with us!

Add Comment Print

Gazing ball nirvana

Back to List

Just a little bit of color

Comments (14)

pattyspencer writes: Wow! I love the pops of color throught the garden and if you sit quietly you see fairies peeking around the flowers. Posted: 9:42 am on December 12th

antigonumcajan writes: Nice installation within that context..excellent photo.

http://www.guiaverde.com/blog/destacadas/jardin-tropical-en-puerto-rico Here is little contrast in a concrete/asphalt urban context, with flora and fauna in mind, beyond aesthetics. Posted: 7:15 pm on December 11th

Annek writes: ...I'll try to locate a photo of the 'now infamous' deer-chasing device Posted: 6:19 pm on December 9th

mgervais writes: Oh, I HAVE to see the motion-detector leaf-blower setup! Pleeeaaassse send a pic? So funny! Posted: 1:09 pm on December 9th

Annek writes: What great responses from you all...I'm being 'flooded' with garden appreciation and am basking in your remarks! @betempt: Even though the garden is located only 125 feet away from a natural creek, I just don't have many deer. With that, of the ones that consider the Kielian flowerbed a dining room, my past experience in Colorado has prepared me with a variety of solutions (the last two are the best, but prior ones are too funny to ignore). Listed in ascending order of success: I tried everything from a low electric fence attached with aluminum foil wrapped peanut butter (the too-smart-for-their-own-good squirrels figured that one out), moth balls, bobcat scat, strong-smelling soap tied up to bushes with panty hose (a particularly inviting look), and leaf blowers connected to motion detector devices which I hung in the trees (don't even ask). Finally, I discovered two products that work the best. Liquid Fence spray (lasts 2 - 4 weeks), and my latest weapon in the arsenal of flower guardians - 'Plantskyyd' spray. It lasts 3-5 months. Both are available on the net. Good look with all your pesky Bambi's! Posted: 11:42 am on December 9th

sheilaschultz writes: When Springtime finally rolls around in the Bitterroot Valley, you must want to jump out of bed every morning just to see what's blooming in your gardens! They are quite beautiful, Kielian. I especially like your pathway lights and the way the red makes the background flowers pop. Perfect. Posted: 11:06 am on December 9th

LindaBrandon writes: Just spectacular! If I had managed to orchestrate something like that, I think I'd be able to die happy. Our North Carolina climate and soil won't support some of those plants, but oh, how I wish they did! Posted: 10:59 am on December 9th

betemt writes: Beautiful! I live north of you in the Flathead, and although our growing season is short, it is powerful! My number one question ... How do you deal with the deer? I only consider plants labeled deer resistant, and spray, spray spray, but I still seem to provide a fine dining experience for the local deer population! Posted: 10:49 am on December 9th

Josefly writes: Wow! It looks like a fairy-tale house and garden. Nice work. Posted: 10:09 am on December 9th

tractor1 writes: It's wonderful that your growing seasson is short as that requires an enormous amount of labor for just one person, but you must love it, it's all gorgeous! And I'm so glad that you didn't cheapen the effect with any of those grotesque fake water features... everytime I see one of those Disneyish motorized streams it reminds me of honky tonk miniature golf. I love Montana, I came very close to retiring near Colombia Falls. Posted: 9:20 am on December 9th

mema57 writes: Wow, I am jealous, this is beautiful. Posted: 9:19 am on December 9th

Wife_Mother_Gardener writes: Wonderful successions! You have used your space to the max. Great job! Posted: 8:50 am on December 9th

meander1 writes: Wow, what a glorious looking garden. The colors seem particularly vibrant and all the plants are so robust and strong. It is all a real feast for the eyes! Posted: 7:46 am on December 9th

gottagarden writes: What fabulous color all through the year! Posted: 7:03 am on December 9th

You must be logged in to post comments. Click here to login.

Welcome to the Fine Gardening GARDEN PHOTO OF THE DAY blog!

Every weekday we post a new photo of a great garden, a spectacular plant, a stunning plant combination, or any number of other subjects. Think of it as your morning jolt of green.

Sign up to get new posts delivered to your inbox each morning so you'll always remember to take a look, or subscribe to our RSS feed. We look forward to sharing our garden travels with you.

If you think you have a photo that we should share on the Garden Photo of the day, email us. Send hi-res images to mgervais@taunton.com with GPOD in the subject line. We'll only respond if we plan to use your photo.