Today we’re visiting Joanne Eddy’s garden.
Our property is just outside Halifax, Nova Scotia, and when we bought the house, it was basically a big blank slate. A few trees were on the property itself, but they were surrounded by woods on the edges to give great privacy. I started all the gardens from scratch, and my main focus has been daylilies (Hemerocallis hybrids, hardiness varies by cultivar, but generally Zones 3–9). I’m part of the Nova Scotia Daylily Society; however, I really like to make gardens that look good in the off-season too (winters are long in Nova Scotia), so when my perennials fade in the fall, that big front garden still has structure from the evergreens and hydrangeas. I also don’t plant only daylilies, I try to combine them with other perennials to give more interest, color, and texture to the garden space. I have far too many ideas and not enough time, as I have a young daughter and she needs me too. I’m also a member of the Hammonds Plains Area Garden Club (shout out to them).
I’m basically self-taught. My mom always had flowers, and I think when we bought this house in 2008 it was a no-brainer that I’d garden the heck outta the yard. There are still many more garden beds to be made, but I’m happy to have a lot more to do and to expand.
Stunning late-summer sunset over the garden, filled with blooming daylilies and panicle hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata, Zones 3–8)
Daylilies are putting on their summer show. In the bottom left corner is the variety ‘Emerging Star’.
Hemerocallis ‘Driftglass’ is one of Joanne’s favorites. Behind it is soft yellow threadleaf coreopsis (Coreopsis verticillata ‘Moonbeam’, Zones 3–9).
In summer, the garden is filled with flowers, but you can also see the various shrubs that ensure there is still structure and interest in winter.
‘Royal Charm’ daylily is usually one of the first to bloom in the garden.
‘Spotted Fever’ is an unusual daylily variety with double petals and a speckled color.
One of the great things about daylilies is their sheer diversity of flowers. This ‘White Juan’ has a totally different shape than ‘Spotted Fever’.
It isn’t all daylilies. These Siberian iris (Iris siberica hybrids, Zones 3–8) are gorgeous.
In autumn, trees and shrubs take over for the perennials.
On this Nova Scotia winter day, the garden shed and shrubs look dreamy covered with snow, while the daylilies rest underground until summer returns.
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Comments
Thank you so much for posting. Yours is by far the closest example of our gardening situation and climate that I've yet seen on GPOD.
I have become enamored with hemerocallis too and this spring created a unique bed highlighting them, along with iris and several other perennial companion plants.
If I should be so fortunate to end up with anything close to the display you have created, I will be extremely thrilled.
Already, though, they have delighted me this first year.
Thank you so very much for posting!
Your posting reminded me to look at your website - I glanced through and caught your comment about Verbena bonariensis (love it, too - but never had the right place for it) and saw your wood deck which is gorgeous.
Thank you, for your kind words. Wishing you continued success in your garden and happiness throughout the year,
-Kathryn
Your first photo with the sunset "late-summer sunset over the garden" is so dreamy and beautiful!
Your whole garden is a real work of art, very successful arrangements in such huge flower beds...it all works together nicely!
Joanne - I enjoyed reading your gardening story and looking at all the photos. Your post reminded me of pleasant visits I've had to Nova Scotia and the wonderful outdoor scenes and the friendly people. Thank you for sharing!
The day lilies in the sunset photo mirror the colors - just beautiful!! You've made a great garden and I'll bet it just keeps getting better and better.
You've done a beautiful job creating your gardens. I hope you send updates as you keep developing your gardening area. I especially love Driftglass even though I am not normally a daylily fan. Thanks for sharing.
Such beautiful plantings. And that first picture with the sunset is just perfect.
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