Garden Photo of the Day

Enjoying the Bounty

By: Kim Charles

Linda Skyler enjoys the rewards of a garden overflowing with moisture and sunshine.

"I am sending a few photos of our beautiful summer that seems to go gloriously on and on. The Pacific Northwest has been blessed with an incredible summer this year, after one of the wettest years on record. We are now having 80-90 degrees for weeks – which we Northwesterners are NOT use to, but we are enjoying the bounty in the gardens."

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Comments

  1. frankgreenhalgh 09/01/2017

    Hi Linda - Your garden looks so full, lush and healthy. The plants are obviously enjoying the seasonal weather conditions, and you the garden. I really like your pink hydrangeas. Thanks for sharing your beautiful garden. Cheers from Oz

    1. Meelianthus 09/01/2017

      Thanks Frank, glad you enjoyed.

  2. janet_sydoruk 09/01/2017

    I loved your garden. Blues and pinks are my favourite in the garden. It's so plush and healthy. You've done a wonderful job. I just worked five hours in the front of our house and man it's brutal. That's just weeding and deadheading. But it looks so much better ! Thanks for sharing.

    1. Meelianthus 09/01/2017

      Gardening is a great exercise but can be brutal on the back! I'll bet you are really admiring all of the hard work you did - always pays off. :)

  3. jeffgoodearth 09/01/2017

    snazzy! as always. love it all especially the Melianthus,,,,,,,,it has become my favorite plant in the garden. have fun!

    1. Meelianthus 09/01/2017

      Thanks Jeff, yes, the Melianthus is a favorite and even though I love peanut butter that smell just doesn't seem right in the garden :)

  4. NCYarden 09/01/2017

    Hi Linda, always a delight to see your gorgeous garden in the spotlight. Despite some of the unusual conditions you have been experiencing this year, everything looks splendid. I wish my Summer garden looked even half this lush.

    1. Meelianthus 09/01/2017

      I use a lot of mulch and it does seem to help things flourish throughout the summer. Thanks :)

  5. User avater
    meander_michaele 09/01/2017

    Hi, Linda, it certainly seems like your plants are thriving with the generous amounts of rainfall and the higher temps. The gardener might be wilting a bit but the plants say, "bring it on!" Your tree form hydrangea (picture #8) always makes me sigh with admiration and appreciation...it represents that special extra effort from the gardener and the result is so worth it.
    Did Jeff and Diane answer my question with the reference to "Melianthus" since I was going to ask what was the plant in picture #5 with the fascinating leaves?

    1. Meelianthus 09/01/2017

      Hello Michaela, yes that is Melianthus, my name sake. It dies back in the winter and sprouts right back up in summer (with a heavy covering of mulch for freeze) and it has a few small red flowers in winter. Amazing plant.

      1. user-5579651 09/01/2017

        Beautiful garden, I've some work to do to get mine looking so mature.
        Thanks for sharing.
        Does the Melianthus really smell of Peanut Butter as previously mentioned ?
        Afraid I'd have to exclude it from my garden, as I really detest the smell of PB, although the leaf structure is very attractive

        1. Meelianthus 09/02/2017

          It really only smells if you brush past it or touch the leaves, does not exude an odor so I don't think you would be bothered by it much, and the leaves are quite lovely. Thank you Elizabeth.

  6. perenniallycrazy 09/01/2017

    Hi Linda. Your garden appears to be flourishing inspite of the extremes of our PNW weather this year. What's your secret? Each of your outdoor rooms look lush green and bountiful. Wishing you more days of this as we head into fall.

    1. Meelianthus 09/01/2017

      Water, lots of water! as now we are competing with the giant firs for every drop - but I really do enjoy all this sun!

  7. btucker9675 09/01/2017

    Glorious!!

  8. User avater
    LindaonWhidbey 09/01/2017

    Good morning, Linda. Your garden is impressively lush for our hot dry summer. Love that melianthus and your big leaf rhodie. It makes your garden look a bit prehistoric. Nice hydrangea tree, too.

    1. Meelianthus 09/01/2017

      Thanks Linda. The large leaf Rhodies are very interesting to me - so far though, no flowers.

      1. User avater
        LindaonWhidbey 09/02/2017

        No flowers on ours, either, but love the leaves.

  9. Cenepk10 09/01/2017

    Good Lord, Linda !!!! Fabulous- what is that big serrated leaf tree with the ferns & hostas in the 5th pic ? Glorious garden. Really enjoyed it. Always been jealous of PNW gardens & the UK gardens.

    1. Meelianthus 09/01/2017

      Thanks, this is a wonderful place to garden - almost always agreeable with the gardens :)

  10. Cenepk10 09/01/2017

    Guess Jeff Goodearth id'ed it for me - Melianthus. Rocking my world.

  11. Chris_N 09/01/2017

    Lush and beautiful. Thanks Linda.

  12. user-4691082 09/01/2017

    From the paths, to the ornaments, to the plants, and that hydrangea, sigh, it's all beautiful!

    1. Meelianthus 09/01/2017

      Glad you enjoyed Rhonda :)

  13. Meelianthus 09/01/2017

    Thank you, so glad you enjoyed Diane.

  14. JoannaAtGinghamGardens 09/01/2017

    So lush and beautiful! I love looking at gardens in the Pacific Northwest to see such different plants than I can grow in my zone 4 gardens.

    1. Meelianthus 09/02/2017

      We do have a lot of very hardy plants in our nurseries but Zone 4 would probably be pushing it some. I do use a lot of mulch for winter

  15. user-7008735 09/01/2017

    You make an excellent example of "more is more" here, Linda! I love all the layers and leaf textures. Does your Melianthus always grow so tall, or is that a combination of our very wet spring and endless summer sunshine this year? I just showed that picture to my husband and told him the leaves smell just like peanut butter when you rub them. So he touched my computer screen and said, "No, it doesn't." He's a silly one sometimes.

    1. Meelianthus 09/02/2017

      That's a good one Lorraine. And yes, that growth is just from this summer and I am sure the warm weather has really helped.

  16. user-6536305 09/01/2017

    Your garden is so overwhelming with colors and foliage. Thanks for sharing.

    1. Meelianthus 09/02/2017

      Thanks Lilian :)

  17. grannieannie1 09/01/2017

    The grouping of round beds are very attractive. How many are there?
    And the tree hydrangea is spectacular. I'm drooling here.

    1. Meelianthus 09/02/2017

      The red bricks travel throughout my entire gardens. My husband spent an entire summer putting them in one year. They keep the edges neat without having to trim - but in reality I think he did it so that I wouldn't dig up anymore lawn!! :)

  18. user-7007498 09/01/2017

    Hi, Linda. Didn't have time to see GPOD until now. What an awesome way to start the long weekend. I am so in love with your gardens. Every picture is an outstanding collection of plants with wonderful combinations of texture and form. Truly an inspiration. Like others have said, the melianthus is gorgeous.

    The 3rd picture with the seating area is so inviting. I hope you get to use it. I almost never use my seating areas, as I always pop up to do something else.

    Weird weather this year. We have had steady rain throughout the summer, and we are about 9 inches ahead for the year. We are having one of our cooler summers, mostly around 80, which I am loving. Today was only 68. But the unpredictability adds to the "fun".

    Thanks for sharing your garden today. Have a great weekend.

    1. Meelianthus 09/02/2017

      Thanks so much Kevin. It is true, I don't think gardeners sit in their own gardens much but I do try. We have had NO rain this summer and so much heat that we are not really use to but is great for the gardens. I am dreading my water bill ! Enjoy your weekend too :)

  19. GrannyCC 09/01/2017

    Beautiful garden Linda. Everything seems so lush and happy. I am afraid here things are drying up, I find it is too hot to even move hoses. I try to do it early morning or evening. I live near Victoria B.C.

    1. Meelianthus 09/02/2017

      I know what you mean GrannyCC, we are just not use to the heat on this coast. Stay close to your hose!

  20. greengenes 09/02/2017

    Hi Linda! These are wonderful pictures of your gardens! They sure have grown! You sure have been busy, everything looks so nice and tidy! Love it! Wonderful pots too! Thanks for sharing!

    1. Meelianthus 09/02/2017

      Thanks Jeanne and I enjoyed the private tour of your beautiful gardens. Thanks so much :)

  21. user-7008866 09/02/2017

    Enough with the pictures of NEG's already! The rest of us have to live in the real world with weather, temperature and water issues. Not fair.
    Beautiful garden in any location- looks like a lot of fun.
    What is the pink fox-tailed plant in picture #3?

  22. User avater
    Tim_Zone_Denial_Vojt 09/05/2017

    So late to this, Linda. Everything looks lush, happy and thriving. You must have been watering quite a bit! Love the pedestals with urns lifting their heads above the garden bed.

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