Today we’re visiting Jeanne Cronce’s garden.
With almost 40 years of gardening behind me on our five acres here in the Pacific Northwest, I am still learning about plants and how to grow them. There are so many different kinds for every location and zone. They sure bring a lot of therapy with them as they grow and as we nurture them. I wouldn’t trade it for anything else. So here are some colorful shots this fall—sad to say goodbye, but what a way to exit the season!
This is a view of the tetrapanax (Tetrapanax papyrifera, Zones 6–10) on the right and a variegated sweet gum (Liquidambar styraciflua, Zones 5–9) on the left. The center is a blueberry (Vaccinium), which has great color in the fall.
Katsura (Cercidiphyllum japonicum, Zones 4–8) is a wonderful tree if you have the space. On a warm fall day the leaves have a warm sweet smell. The color in spring is a pinkish green.
An ‘Aratama’ Japanese maple (Acer palmatum ‘Aratama’, Zones 5–9) is a wonderful small tree with year-round colors—although best in fall, of course. In the background is a ‘Bloodgood’ Japanese maple.
This beautiful color is provided by a coral bark Japanese maple (Acer palmatum ‘Sango-kaku’ Zones 5–9). Acer griseum (paperbark maple, Zones 4–8) is framing the scene in the foreground.
Here we have the fun Eucomis, or pineapple lily (Zones 6–10). It is nice in both summer and fall. It is full of seeds now, and they sprout quite easily.
This is a nice hydrangea. I know it as Wedding Bells (Hydrangea macrophylla, Zones 6–9) although I’ve heard a few different names for it. It starts off white, then when it cools down in late summer it turns a wonderful green and then into this reddish color.
In the foreground is sumac (Rhus typhina, Zones 4–8). Behind that is a variegated miscanthus grass (Miscanthus sinensis, Zones 5–9) that is backed up by a weeping Alaskan cedar (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis ‘Pendula’, Zones 4–7).
This is an unknown variety of maple, but I’m quite pleased with it and the surrounding plantings of fern and hardy begonia (Begonia grandis, Zones 5–9).
This is an Acer japonicum ‘Aconitifolium’ (Zones 5–8). The colors and the leaf form are very exciting. To the left is a ‘Raywood’s Weeping’ Arizona cypress (Cupressus arizonica ‘Raywood’s Weeping’, Zones 6–9).
On the right can be seen the summer and fall colors of the meleanthus (Meleanthus major, Zones 8–10). It is a great foliage plant to have around. The pruned balls are boxwood honeysuckle (Lonicera nitida, Zones 6–9), which I would never use like this again because they shoot out new stems quite rapidly. I did this for their contrasting colors. It’s fun to try new ideas, even though some don’t always work well.
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Comments
This brings back fond memories of my first visit to my sister years ago, she lives in Seattle area, and being astounded by the height of the trees and the green ness. It must be wonderful to have such a large amt. of land to work with. The weeping Cypress are lovely. It is quite a contrast to Scrub Pine...lol
Good morning Rebecca.....yes the Seattle area is a gardeners paradise. But I find myself wishing to be in a warmer zone sometimes. It gets quite wet and cold here which hinders growing certain plants. Have a great fall and winter!
Lush green and and also very colorgul. Love the foliage contrasts in size ,shape and color.
Hey sagebird! Glad you enjoyed the fall show!
Kudos, Jeanne. And thank you for sharing such a lovely fall garden. The dark but short maple tree might be an Acer japonica variety called "Pung kil" which is not a dissected leaf variety but an elegant variety that is supposed to be somewhat dwarf in height.
Thank you NW phillygardener! It sure seems to have slowed down on height which is great for the spot it is in.
Your gardens continue to become more splendid year after year, Jeanne. Your eye for the texture, color, shape and height differences of your plantings has become a beautiful marriage of nature. I continue to be in awe of your personal piece of heaven. What a lovely way to start my week, thank you!
Hi Sheila! Thank you for your kind comments. Hope you have a wonderful week ahead!
Very beautiful! Loved reading about your experiences in the garden and how you too experiment as you mentioned with planting the honeysuckle there.
That "unknown" Maple is spectacular in color and leave shape!
Good morning SimpleSue.......yes isn't that always a part of gardening! It is fun to try different things.
Gorgeous, mature landscape. Love the maples!
Yes...it has grown for quite some years now. Time goes by so so fast.
Oh, my, Jeanne!! I love, love, love that Acer japonicum ‘Aconitifolium’ & the cedar too!
Hi Treasuremom...it is one of the most beautiful ones for sure! And not just us thinking thinking this way! It reseed too and iam hoping they come true to form.
What a marvelous garden - that Wedding Bells hydrangea especially caught my attention. Love all of the weeping evergreens! Thanks for sharing this beauty.
for. Most welcome Btucker! Thank you...the hydrangea is a great one for sure. It seems to keep a nice medium shape too.
BTW, for those who may be interested, if you type Jeanne's name in the search bar you will find many more of her submissions.
Wonderful! You have some fabulous specimens. Love seeing what you've done. Thanks for sharing!
You're most welcome Maggie! Hope to inspire and bring ideas...
Thanks for sharing a slice of your fall paradise Jeanne. Your garden grows more stately with each passing year - you've designed it well.
Thank you so much. A lot of the garden was unplanned but with a love of plants it just all fit and worked together. But I still find that I need to move them around sometimes...
Paradise
Fantastic and glorious photos, Jeanne! Your gardens are a salve for the soul!!
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