Today we’re visiting with Carol Verhake.
It’s been a while since I submitted photos of my garden, but I’ve been impressed with the fall color display this year and felt compelled to send you some for consideration. I garden in Berwyn, Pennsylvania, outside of Philadelphia, where I’ve lived for 22 years now. We’re currently Zone 6b gradually moving toward 7a.
The majority of the photos I’m sending are of my woodland garden, which features lots of deciduous trees along with shrubs and perennials that I’ve introduced over the years.
The area is mostly dry shade, which can be challenging, but I’ve found a number of plants that thrive there, such as this Solidago caesia (bluestem goldenrod, Zones 4–8).
I’ve also added architectural features such as this stone moon gate, which echos the many boulders in my garden.
The boulders in the garden also provide the setting for a water feature.
A new sitting spot affectionately called the Love Shack is a great place to relax and enjoy the garden from a different perspective.
The shack is built primarily of invasive vines and harvested bamboo on an underlying structure of fence posts and PVC pipes that were spray-painted to make them disappear.
The view looking out from inside the Love Shack.
My woodland has suffered from a number of storms, but I use fallen logs as edging for my pathways, or to construct benches. I even converted this tree (Nyssa sylvatica, Zones 4–9) that was topped off by a storm into a living birdhouse post.
In addition to my shade garden, I have many sunny spots. Here Aconitum (monkshood, Zones 3–7) blooms with late-season blue flower.
Beautyberry (Callicarpa ‘Early Amethyst’, Zones 5–8) and white anemones (Anemone hupehensis, Zones 4–8)
This hardy chrysanthemum (Zones 4–8) from the Global Warming series of late-blooming, hardy hybrids looks like the variety ‘Glowing Ember’.
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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Comments
Beautiful. And the shack is very cool.
Everything is so pretty but that mum is scrumptious!
Love the moon gate! And your boulders, water feature, “love shack” and bird house tree. Very creative. What is the small pale tree behind the water feature?
Variegated Stellar Pink Dogwood - great fall color.
I'm so drawn into and calmed just looking at your garden in photos, sipping on morning coffee.
I saved most of your photos to my Pinterest folder "Gardens of Inspiration".
Your garden even looks lush and inviting in autumn with deciduous trees (I've tried to use only bushes and trees that stay green all year in my little city woodland garden).
The Aconitum (monkshood) is a plant I had been curious about, and your's look so good I must look into them again...such a surprise to see then in an autumn garden- that burst of lavender and purple.
The water feature is so natural looking- something most people cannot accomplish- is a natural looking water feature that actually looks natural!
I love love love your garden!
Thank you so much. I am honored that my garden inspired you!
That first photo view into your garden is so inviting, especially with the fall colors on the trees. Then I would love to find your hardy red mum to add to my garden. And finally, to curl up with a cup of tea and a book in your "shack," though I'd probably spend my time trying to analyze how you wove together such an interesting structure. Thanks for sharing your garden!
If you are ever in the area, I will happily divide my mum for you and show the Love Shack up close so you can see how we built it!
Carol, the colors of your fall gardens are beautiful! The water feature is so natural, the moongate is stunning and the woven shack is great fun! It reminds me of the wild weave baskets I used to make years ago. So much fun! I love it all.
Your garden is lovely, thank you for sharing! You have several special features, but the "love shack" is really fun. I have a hardy mum with a very similar barn rusty red color called "Cathy's Rust."
Wonderful and that moon gate is spectacular!
Love it, and I want it all! Thanks.
The moon gate is amazing. I love all the interest pieces you have in your garden. It invites the exploration and discovery of all the interesting and beautiful plants you have chosen. So absolutely lovely.✨
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