Hi GPODers!
If it’s a cold fall day where you’re located, let the chill slip away as we jump back into Lee’s summer garden in the Mohawk Valley of New York State. In case you missed it yesterday, go to Part 1 to get caught up, or keep on scrolling to see more of his incredible collection of lilies and the other colorful flowers that bloom alongside them.
Well, I do believe that summer is over, seeing that it’s now November 1. With that said, I’m going to drag us back into the warm summer for a few minutes. I hope that people won’t get too upset about leaving the wet and cold for a bit.
Even though I have a sizable property, I “labor” in thinking about what is next. Now in my seventh decade, after gardening for decades and decades, I think my additional plantings and extra flair items are starting to wane—not in spirit—just in actual additions. I’m dropping in five new lily bulbs soon, and that will be it for newbies next spring. I now will be counting much more on all of my previous seasons’ plantings to provide me with my spring and summer energy, color, and enjoyment. Not the worst thing in the world, I guess. . . .
We’re starting Part 2 off with a bang, thanks to these bold ‘Viva la Vida’ lilies (Lilium ‘Viva la Vida’, Zones 3–8). The high contrast of yellow and deep red make these blooms really pop against the bed of deep green foliage.
Another bold and vibrant cultivar, ‘Forever Susan’ lilies (L. ‘Forever Susan’, Zones 4–8) amps up the drama with dark burgundy—nearly black—petals accented in bright orange. It’s also the perfect companion for the dramatic garden statue in the background.
A closer look at the ‘Forever Susan’ lily gives a better view of its intense color gradient.
However, the lily’s striking blooms don’t need high contrast or interesting patterns to draw attention. Even among many other flowers and with a sun-soaked border just behind, this bright red cultivar easily steals focus.
Lilies also don’t need to be boldly colored to make an impact. This creamy cultivar, potentially a variety called ‘Mister Cas’ (L. ‘Mister Cas’, Zones 3–8), creates a glowing moment in the garden.
And there’s this light pink cultivar, maybe ‘Pink Perfection’ (L. ‘Pink Perfection’, Zones 3–8), that is always a sweet color companion to greenery.
It’s clear that Lee likes it hot in the garden, with lots of red, yellow, and orange blooms on display. A bed full of bright yellow will always elicit a smile, especially when the centerpiece is a glorious yellow daylily like this one.
Lastly, another light pink cultivar looks out on the rest of the garden. Lee has planted an amazing amount of color in his landscape, yet it all comes together cohesively.
Thank you so much for another incredible submission from your garden, Lee! Even without new additions, there would still be plenty to be excited about when this garden performance begins again in a new spring.
And I hope Lee has inspired you to consider sharing some highlights from your garden this summer. Maybe you collect a wonderful array of flowers, like Lee does, or perhaps you’re missing the greenery that makes your garden feel lush and alive. Consider scrolling through your garden photos and sharing some of your favorites with the blog. Follow the directions below to submit photos via email, or send me a DM on Instagram: @agirlherdogandtheroad.
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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!
To submit, send 5–10 photos to [email protected] along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the photos. We’d love to hear where you are located, how long you’ve been gardening, successes you are proud of, failures you learned from, hopes for the future, favorite plants, or funny stories from your garden.
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Comments
Thank you for sharing your garden, Lee! Nothing adds high summer color than Lilies and Daylilies. Voles and Deer have made growing both a challenge in my garden. I'm halfway through my sixth decade and still going strong. This season, I added mostly conifers and woody plants to the garden to lighten up the maintenance load somewhat. Enjoy the quiet season. Happy Gardening!
Good for you ! In my previous post , there's a link in the comments for an article on gravitating toward less-demanding gardens . Your words hit the article points right on the head . I'll see how things change with me and my gardens . I'm still thinking of what I can do and or add . I've been adding more vines to the property lines so as to add lots of flowering and different scents . The Hall's honeysuckle is a real winner and is easy to plant the runners elsewhere . Ditto for the wisteria --- talk about a runner !
Yeah , still "just" thinking ........... Peace .
Truly lovely!
The more others that enjoy it , the more I enjoy it ---- in person or via photos .
I've already made five VistaPrint calendars for myself and others for 2026 . Peace . And those very photos on those calendars make for great framing candidates with a cheap frame for four bucks around them . They really pop on office walls .
The garden is just great the way you mix in some Purple Cone flowers and ferns with the lilies in just the right places. The statue looks like an antique by the patina on the unpainted woman, wow what a nice surprise it is amongst the lilies!
I like allowing plants to make their own bouquets and the only way to do it is to "flood the zone" . I don't see any non-positive effects from "bunch-growing" --- just penned that one . I have a creek for water so no matter how many roots are sucking water , it's only a matter of a switch and moving a hose around . The coneflowers and susans spread each year and join other "base plants" and create their own communities of bouquets . I just add support (moral and the stick-and-string type) and let them do their thing . Kind of "managed chaos" .
Regarding Rose and Fang ; I found them about eight years ago at an auction site that also provided me with the foo dogs in front of the gazebo , my pair of statuary urns at the front-center of my larger garden . Nice , very old finds that exemplify my personal taste . The two-tone gray on Rose is the JB weld that I slathered on her because both her and Fang were the same color of dark gray . So I lightened her up with JB all over and I painted Fang , along with his eyes and , well , fangs . Rose is now showing a great "patina" of old finish teamed with remaining newer JB Weld . It worked for me , anyway ... Peace .
Gorgeous photos! I always enjoy seeing your garden. Do you have a problem with scarlet lily beetles, and if so, what do you do to control them? Even the foliage on your lilies looks great.
If you're talking about the solid red beetles that look a bit like a ladybug without the spots ------- yeah , they showed up about five or six years ago . Here's what I do and it might not be for everyone . Well , the first part is , the second part maybe not : I use NEEM OIL mixed with water and a bit of dish soap (to help with emulsifying the water and oil) . If it doesn't kill them , I hope that it at least deters them from chewing and maybe messes with their reproduction (it does with spider mites , anyway) .
NOW , the second part : I'm out there all season long , treating my backyard and pool area as my eight-month living room . So , anytime I'm home , that's where I'll be found --- with a big screen for watching , a stereo for listening and a fridge for cool ones . With that said , I walk my gardens all the time and those critters stick out like a sore thumb --- almost always in tandem --- male and female . They're not that quick . I grab them , then position them in between my thumb and my my index finger nail . Then I press , flick , and move on to the next one . It works . And it doesn't seem like I'm out there hunting because I'm just traveling around enjoying the scenery . " Oh look --- there's a red beetle ---- fancy that ..." .
That's it ---- a neem oil mixture and Edward Guillotinehands . Peace .
Thank you--I do use the guillotine method. I'll try the Neem oil next season.
All so very beautiful - the soft pink lilies look like porcelain - lovely!
Those soft pink ones are my wife's favorite . They've been in for two years now , three at the most . Last year , it appears that they have spread a bit . I'll have to keep an eye on things because I'm ready to do some more splitting next year . Oh , the fun ! And these lilies are going for a pretty penny now . Not for me , not for any other daylily grower . Peace .
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