Alice Fleurkens in Sweaburg, Ontario, has shared her garden with us several times on the GPOD, but today she sent in some photos of a friend’s garden, which is just gorgeous.

This is my friend Anna’s garden. I had not been there for quite a while, and boy was I blown away by her little piece of paradise. Her plants have grown to sizes I had never seen before. Anna and her husband, John, really do not have any lawn; their whole backyard is flowers and vegetables.

Look at all the planters Anna makes. She told me they were nicer earlier in the summer, but I think they are still beautiful. The bright red flowers are from begonias (Begonia hybrid, Zones 9–11 or as an annual) and canna (Canna hybrid, Zones 8–11 or as a tender bulb).

This begonia is covered with blooms.

Look at these gigantic agaves (Agave americana, Zones 8–10). Anna told me she has had them for about eight years.

In the winter, the agaves go in the garage. You can see they are set on wheels to make them easier to move. And can you believe the size of the dahlias (Dahlia variabilis, Zones 8–11 or as a tender bulb) in the background? Just totally amazing. I think they are probably 5 to 6 feet tall.

A smaller agave in a ceramic pot and potted angel’s trumpets (Brugmansia hybrid, Zones 8–11) add flare to this planting.

This is the side of Anna and John’s garden. There are all kinds of different small sedums between the rocks. Two weeping copper beeches (Fagus sylvatica, Zones 4–7) have dramatic foliage and fit well in the narrow space.

This orange flower, Mexican sunflower (Tithonia rotundifolia, annual), was supposed to be 6 feet tall but grew to about 9 feet.

Anna John have built many rock walls around their property.

A beautiful hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata, Zones 3–8)

This tree with the orange flowers is just gorgeous. It is a lantana (Lantana camara, Zones 8–11). Lantanas are usually grown as annuals in cold-winter climates but can develop into large shrubs or small trees if overwintered. From the wheels on the platform the container is sitting on, it looks like this goes into the garage for the cold months of the year like the agaves.

What a view of the huge variegated agave with ivy (Hedera helix, Zones 4–9) cascading down the retaining wall behind.

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!

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