Garden Photo of the Day

2020 Wasn’t All Bad in Wendy’s Garden

Beauties of the year just past

Today we’re in Pennsylvania visiting with Wendy Quereau.

I hope everyone enjoys some glimpses of warmer days enjoyed in 2020 here in Wayne, Pennsylvania. Happy gardening everyone! Here’s to many horticultural successes in 2021!

Hardy hibiscus bloomHardy hibiscus (Hibiscus ‘Airbrush Effect’, Zones 4–9) are hybrids of species native to North America and bring huge, tropical-looking flowers to cold climates. As a bonus, they are relatively (though not completely) deer resistant. Just watch out for Japanese beetles, which love to snack on them.

ornamental pepperThis ornamental pepper (Capsicum annuum, annual) and winter pansy (Viola × wittrockiana, cool season annual) combo lasted from early October through mid-December.

Peony obovataNot only does this species of peony (Paeonia obovata, Zones 5–8) have incredibly beautiful seed heads, but it is also one of the peonies that will grow and bloom best in shaded conditions. Most traditional peonies prefer full sun.

fall containerAnother long-lasting fall container combo.

Hosta FranceeIn an attempt to establish a woodland garden 40 years ago, I put in my very first planting of hosta (Note: it looks like it might be the variety Hosta ‘Francee’, Zones 3–9). This planting started as a lucky, not yet wilted, freebie spotted in a neighborhood trash can that was enough for an instant drift.

Asian mayappleNewly planted woodlander, an Asian mayapple (Podophyllum ‘Spotty Dotty’, Zones 6–9).

mandevillaI still love the vigor and constant color of a mandevilla (Mandevilla hybrid, Zones 9–10 or as annual), no matter how common it is. I refuse to be a plant snob!

 

Have a garden you’d like to share?

Have photos to share? We’d love to see your garden, a particular collection of plants you love, or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit!

To submit, send 5-10 photos to [email protected] along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the photos. We’d love to hear where you are located, how long you’ve been gardening, successes you are proud of, failures you learned from, hopes for the future, favorite plants, or funny stories from your garden.

If you want to send photos in separate emails to the GPOD email box that is just fine.

Have a mobile phone? Tag your photos on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with #FineGardening!

You don’t have to be a professional garden photographer – check out our garden photography tips!

Do you receive the GPOD by email yet? Sign up here.

View Comments

Comments

  1. PattyLouise 01/26/2021

    Beautiful flowers! Love the hosta drift!

    1. User avater
      cynthia2020 01/26/2021

      I agree - the hostas look terrific!

  2. User avater
    cynthia2020 01/26/2021

    Wendy - thank you for sharing some of your beautiful garden with us. I looked up more about Paeonia obovata - apparently it can thrive in sun or shade - that would be so great in certain locations!

  3. wittyone 01/26/2021

    My goodness that peony is really something. Looks like the Martians just landed! Guess it fits into the 2020-2021 scheme of things-----Uh-Oh here comes something weird and strange again!

  4. User avater
    bdowen 01/26/2021

    Love your story about rescuing the hosta plant that has now thanked you many times over!

  5. User avater
    simplesue 01/26/2021

    Those (Podophyllum ‘Spotty Dotty’ sure have my attention! Never saw or heard of that type of Mayapple until now!
    They are really a cool woodland plant that I've never come across, and I'm think I'm gunna try to order some of those online if I can!
    and ooooh to think of that poor wilted Hosta in a trash can and now it's happy and thriving and huge! Great story! Pretty garden!

  6. btucker9675 01/26/2021

    Your woodland garden is so lovely - the bleeding hearts with the hostas - perfect! Thanks for sharing your pretty garden.

  7. nwphillygardener 01/26/2021

    I sure do hope GOPD gardeners will follow your lead in creating monocultural drifts of each variety of Hosta that choose for their shady gardens. Even if one doesn't come by a large clump, it's quite easy to divide Hosta annually to build a drift over time. Not only is there great opportunity to shape those drifts into something dramatic in the composition of the planting beds, but maintenance is simplified if/when deadheading the flower scapes.

  8. User avater
    vanhatalosuomi 01/26/2021

    Thanks for posting! We have Hosta Francee too, sure hope it looks as good as yours - still a few more years!

Log in or create an account to post a comment.

Related Articles

The Latest