I’m Debbie Daniels, and I live in Centreville, Virginia (30 minutes west of Washington, DC). We’ve lived in this house for 20 years. Our spring has been quite lovely, and I’ve been able to spend more time in the yard given we’re under a stay-at-home order due to the coronavirus. When it’s too chilly or rainy to be outside, I’ve been reading current and older favorite issues of Fine Gardening. Nothing beats the 2009 Plant Combinations issue or the “Recipes for Gorgeous Combinations” in the April 2011 issue. Garden goals!
I snapped this picture when doing some spring cleanup in late March. These pretty daffodils were hiding behind a large ornamental grass that I was about to cut back. I left the grass alone that day so I didn’t disturb them.
Ornamental grass (Pennisetum) in summer with some black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia fulgida, Zone 3–9) behind it.
High summer, with black-eyed Susan, purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea, Zones 5–9) and a sedum (perhaps Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ or a similar hybrid, Zones 3–9) providing lots of flowers for beauty and pollinators.
Doublefile viburnum (Viburnum plicatum var. tomentosum, Zones 5–8) is spectacular in spring, with the white flowers on the horizontal branches creating a distinctive and unique layered look.
A bearded iris (Iris hybrid, Zones 3–9) loaded with buds just beginning to show color—a promise of the great beauty to come!
Black-eyed Susan and obedient plant (Physostegia virginiana, Zones 3–9) growing together. Obedient plant has a reputation for spreading aggressively, but the black-eyed Susan can hold its own, making these two native plants a great combination.
Grape hyacinth (Muscari armeniacum, Zones 3–9) is a cheerful, dependable bulb that gives great spring color nearly anywhere it is planted.
The classic romantic flower of spring, bleeding heart (Dicentra spectabilis, Zones 2–8).
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Comments
Your mature Doublefile viburnum in full bloom is quite the sight...it's a friendly avalanche of white flowers...positively glorious. The summer combo of black eyed Susans, coneflowers and sedum 'Autumn Joy' is a can't go wrong classic. I love how yours have made such a happy intermingling grouping...with no need for social distancing!
Your doublefile viburnum is just spectscular, and I love the little birdhouse behind your coneflowers and black-eyed susans. Such a delightful garden...thanks for sharing it.
I like your combination of the Bearded Iris and the Bleeding Heart next to each other- whether in bloom or out of bloom it's a good combination.
I just bought a small Obedient Plant, so I was interested to hear what you said about it.
I guess the "D" is for Debbie but I thought it was for "Dicentra spectabilis" for a moment LOL!
Also love the layered look of your Doublefile viburnum...only recently I started reading about Viburnums and there are so many.
Thanks for sharing!
Lovely garden photos! Can we see the bearded iris when it blooms?
Wonderful garden! I also thought the D was for Dicentra...
That viburnum is a real show stopper. Also your bleeding heart is spectacular. I love it but can’t grow it in my area. I like that you planted the black eyed susan and obedient plant together. I say if you have two aggressive plants, plant them together and let them fight for territory. Yours look great. But my favorite picture has to be the one with the birdhouse. So charming. Thanks for sharing.
That Doublefile viburnum is out of this world.
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