Garden Photo of the Day

Best of the New Additions of 2021

Bonnie’s favorites

Agapanthus

Today we’ve got some photos from Bonnie Plikaytis.

Greetings from a North Georgia Zone 7 garden. Every year I like to review my garden photos to determine the “best in show” of the new garden additions. Here are a few photos of some of the best in 2021.

AgapanthusAgapanthus are naturally deer resistant, which is a big plus for a woodland garden. The Little Galaxy hybrid (Zones 6–10) is a perennial that likes lots of sun and blooms in midsummer. The compact habit makes for a sturdy plant with beautiful indigo-colored flowers. Once the flowers fade, the spiky globelike seedpods provide continued interest in winter.

Cardinal FlowerCardinal flower (Lobelia × speciosa ‘Starship Scarlet’, Zones 6–10) is a bushy plant that blooms from midsummer to early fall. I keep it protected from deer in a fenced terraced garden. It had beautiful spikes of bright red flowers summer into fall.

Ever Twilight AgapanthusEver Twilight agapanthus (Zones 8–11) may be a little sensitive for a Zone 7b garden, but with heavy mulch, it should be fine through winter. Though it was planted in September on the outer edge of its bloom time, it seems quite happy in its new home, as it is blooming in December!

Fuchsia ‘Little Beauty’I am fortunate to have knowledgeable and generous gardening friends. Visiting their gardens helps expand my knowledge and desire to diversify my plant collection. This Fuchsia ‘Little Beauty’ (Zones 8–10) is a gift from one of my gardening buddies. I was delighted by this plant, as I was not aware of hardy fuchsia plants, and its blooms are exotic.

‘Fairy Coral Red’ Abutilon hybridThe Atlanta Botanical Garden (ABG) has spring and fall online sales offering an eclectic selection of plants that are often hard to find in mainstream nurseries. It is one of my favorite plant sales. This ‘Fairy Coral Red’ abutilon hybrid (Zones 7–10) from the ABG sale has been blooming since I put it in the ground. A common name for this plant is “flowering maple,” as the leaf shape is like that of maple trees.

Heliopsis ‘Tuscan Gold’Heliopsis ‘Tuscan Gold’ (Heliopsis helianthoides, Zones 4–9), another ABG acquisition, is a compact upright perennial with yellow flowers that are long-blooming and deer resistant.

Tricyrtis formosanaStill another ABG purchase, Tricyrtis formosana (Zones 4–9) is a toad lily that has orchid-like flowers that bloom in late summer and continue into November.

Snowflake HydrangeaI was introduced to the Snowflake hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Brido’ Snowflake, Zones 5–9) in a friend’s garden. Hydrangeas in our community are also known as deer salad. Therefore, ours is in our terraced, fenced perennial garden that also serves as our dog Cody’s garden. This hydrangea is exquisite with its double white flowers.

Snowflake HydrangeaAn additional outstanding characteristic of the Snowflake hydrangea is its leaves. Textured, deeply lobed, and growing to 8 inches in length, they turn a beautiful red to maroon color in the fall.

dog on stairsOne advantage of having the hydrangea in Cody’s garden is that whenever he is outside, he acts as a sentinel for deer detection. He is always watching, listening, and smelling, and once detected, he makes sure the deer know they are not welcome in the area. They respect his warning. Wishing everyone glorious gardening in 2022!

 

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  1. User avater
    treasuresmom 12/24/2021

    Make sure you type Bonnie's name in the search bar so you can see her other submissions. Lovely as usual, Bonnie.

    1. User avater
      simplesue 12/24/2021

      Oh thanks" treasuresmom"! Bonnie's stumperies were a favorite of mine, nice to see again! and I saved my favorite stumperies photo to Pinterest!

  2. Jay_Sifford 12/24/2021

    Beautiful. But that hydrangea quercifolia.... wow.

  3. wittyone 12/24/2021

    Oh, these are stunning. I'm making notes on the ones that might make it in zone 6a and maybe I'll give them a try.

  4. User avater
    simplesue 12/24/2021

    Oh I love your Agapanthus "Little Galaxy"! -actually both are gorgeous but in my zone I would only be able to grow Little Galaxy. What a darling and lucky dog to have his own garden!
    So nice to see your pretty ‘Fairy Coral Red’ abutilon , it brought back some childhood memories of an abutilon that was potted in my family garden!

  5. user-5117752 12/24/2021

    How delightful, both your pics and comments!!! Do we start counting down to spring now??? I want what you have!!! That Agapanthus "Little Galaxy" is now a "must have" for my zone 7 garden!!! Happy, happy holidays to you!!!

  6. User avater
    bdowen 12/24/2021

    Beautiful photos. I'm adding Snowflake hydrangea to my wish list! Love the idea of the dog's garden- wish I could do that to discourage my visiting rabbits.

  7. User avater
    johninsancarlos 01/05/2022

    Beautiful photos! Note that deer resistance to Agapanthus probably varies by region. Here in California, deer love 'em.

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