Happy Monday, GPODers!

We have another week full of fabulous spring color ahead of us on Garden Photo of the Day, and we’re kicking it off with an update from Mary Spencer in Carroll County, Md. Mary has shared her garden during it’s summer peak and fall finale (check those posts out here: Woodland Garden in Maryland and Mary Spencer’s Fall 2023 Garden). But I think that spring is the season that really sets her heart ablaze, as this is her fourth submission during the early season (Mary’s Spring Garden, Spring in Mary’s Garden, and Spring in Mary’s Garden 2). This appreciation for spring color is entirely understandable; her woodland garden transforms into a sea of soothing green and bursts of bright blooms after winter’s palette of browns.

Hello from Zone 7 in Carroll County, Md.

My name is Mary, and I have been gardening on this property for 26 years. What was once almost totally a shaded garden has changed due to trees coming down on purpose or with storms.

I have a screened porch that I sit on and view the garden and listen to the many different birds. Gardening is always changing, and that’s what I like about it.

Mary has created wonderful layers of diverse and interesting foliage that are a perfect complement to the forests that surround her property. A bench is placed perfectly to enjoy the garden as well as the sounds of nature.

Foliage obviously plays a vital role in Mary’s garden, but certain flowering plants and some creative containers are easily the scene-stealing focal points. A massive rhododendron covered in bright pink blooms provides a beautifully bold pop of color.

But just because a plant is green doesn’t mean it can’t make a big statement. This chartreuse Japanese maple glows against the deeper shades of green in Mary’s garden and is a perfect foil to the rhododendron on the opposite end of this long border bed.

More containers give more opportunities to add floral interest, and another garden bench is the perfect spot to admire these plantings as they continue to grow through the season.

A close-up of one of Mary’s spectacular containers reveals a wonderful combination of flowers and colorful foliage. The begonia with dark foliage and creamy peach blooms is a highlight, but it might get shown up by the ‘Autumnale’ fuchsia (Fuchsia ‘Autumnale’, Zones 10–11 or as an annual) when that starts producing its bright pink blooms later in the season.

Thank you so much for sharing your lush spring landscape with us, Mary! As your garden continues to evolve, it’s clear you take each change in stride and find new opportunities to plant something beautiful. As long as you continue to share your spring garden with us, we’ll enjoy seeing it!

Have you shared your spring garden with Garden Photo of the Day in the past? Consider taking a page out of Mary’s book and send us a spring update! If you’ve never shared your garden with the blog, it’s never too late to start a new spring tradition. Follow the directions below to submit photos via email, or send me a DM on Instagram: @agirlherdogandtheroad.

We want to see YOUR garden!

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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