Today we’re visiting with Judith.
After 25 years of living in my home in Pines Lake, a lake community in Wayne, New Jersey, my garden is still a work in progress with constant challenges.
I have a tiered property, and the upper woodland area area was once filled with hemlocks (Tsuga canadensis, Zones 3–7), but the woolly adelgid decimated this area. I now have the area covered in moss with azaleas (Rhododendron hybrids, Zones 5–9), mayapples (Podophyllum peltatum, Zones 3–8), and Hosta.
Within the last few years, the deer have brought another challenge. My hostas and other deer delicacies in the front yard were being obliterated. Slowly I have transplanted deer candy (assorted varieties of hosta) to a fenced-in backyard and replaced them with hellebores (Helleborus hybrids, Zones 4–9), yucca (Yucca filamentosa, Zones 4–10), ‘Everillo’ sedge (Carex oshimensis ‘Everillo’, Zones 5–9), Coreopsis, and Chinese fringe flowers (Loropetalum chinense, Zones 7–10).
The hillside in my backyard was the ideal place for a waterfall, which I added three years ago. I surrounded it with azaleas, Astilbe, hostas, ‘Everillo’ sedges, Heuchera, turtleheads (Chelone obliqua, Zones 5–9), Hydrangea, and even jack-in-the-pulpits (Arisaema triphyllum). I added lights in the waterfall for nighttime enjoyment.
Backyard shed area: hostas, Japanese painted fern (Athyrium niponicum var. pictum, Zones 3–8), gold dust plant (Aucuba japonica, Zones 7–10), Hakone grass (Hakonechloa macra, Zones 5–9)
Hillside with Hakone grass, hostas, azaleas, and a dry river bed
Mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia, Zones 4–9) is getting ready to bloom in my front yard.
This hillside includes birdhouses, azaleas, and hostas. I put in two railroad-tie paths to get to the woodland area.
This is the “woodland” area, with hostas, ferns, and a rose bush. Moss has naturally covered, the area which I welcomed.
I removed the grass from the sides of the house and made a flagstone path. I put a corner garden near the deck with heuchera, a sedum, and annual begonias. I had to add the gate and fence because deer would walk up the path and into my back gardens!
Because of the deer pressure, I replaced all my hostas with different varieties of hellebores (Helleborus viridis, Zones 4–8) in the front yard.
At this waterfall—which is lined with sedge, azaleas, heucheras, hostas, and. Japanese iris (Iris ensata, Zones 5–9)—I often see cardinals bathing in the afternoon.
At night, the hillside in spring and autumn looks magical, with blooming azaleas and Carex in spring and bursts of color in fall.
My front yard has a semi-circular garden and features yuccas, ‘Everillo’ sedges, Hakone grass, columbine, Chinese fringe flowers, allium, daffodils, and coreopsis.
The backyard: when I bought my home the hillside was covered with anemic grass and was difficult to mow. Azaleas anchor the hillside now.
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Comments
One word: SPECTACULAR! Absolutely gorgeous. Well done. I loved everything you have done. Made it a magic retreat.
Beautiful gardens. I particularly like how you have adjusted your gardens over the years. The hillside waterfall is wonderful.
It is obvious that a lot of love and labour's has gone into that yard. The results are beautiful. I don't know if it is available in your market but I have found (in Canada) the best defence against deer is Bobbex, it can be purchased in a gallon size concentrate which will mix up 20 litre size bottles and is enough to last the whole season and I grow a lot of deer candy..
Your gardens are amazing and I know the amount of labor that went into creating them. I know your area well - have dear friends who lived on the lake for many years. They have moved now and I know it was hard to leave their beautiful home there. You are truly a wonderful gardener!
Your waterfall area is so very pretty.
Oh so pretty! And good to hear how you adapted to wildlife with your plantings, love love love the lights and the flagstone with white gate!
Beautiful gardens! Thank you so much for sharing. It is inspiring to see how you have adjusted your gardens to adjust to the deer pressure. Carex 'Everillo' is one of my favorite plants and I use it liberally in my wooded garden.
Simply gorgeous. I wish my Hakon was as lush as yours, but our climate in Idaho is hot and dry. We do share a love of Hellobores which are indestructible, beautiful and self-seeding. Deer, elk and moose never mess with them. You have a bit of paradise there. Well done!
Judith, you adapted to your challenges beautifully. Absolutely gorgeous. The waterfall and shed area are quite distinctive and add a uniqueness to both areas. Well done!
Your waterfall garden is stunning! Thanks for sharing.
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