Today’s GPOD comes from John Markowski.
“My garden in Zone 6B New Jersey is dominated by native perennials and ornamental grasses. This was originally borne out of necessity with poorly draining clay soil and endless visits from the deer and rabbits. I'm thrilled that I was forced in that direction.
The garden peaks in the fall when the Panicum, Sorghastrum, and Miscanthus grasses display their blooms and eye-popping fall color. Combine them with Amsonia and the seedheads of Monarda, Rudbeckia and Echinacea along with the powerful autumn sunlight, and I can't take enough photos starting in early morning and extending to the last bit of sunlight in the late afternoon.”
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Comments
Good morning John. Your garden looks so peaceful. It reminds me of when I’ve done a full days work and am laying my head on the pillow. It has performed dutifully for you all spring,summer, and fall and now has earned a rest. I’ve just got to get some amsonia and find a way to work that in! Thanks for sharing.
Amsonia is hands down my favorite perennial. YOU MUST GET!!!!
John,
Fall can be an especially beautiful time with native plants. Great job in a tough environment
Thank you Dale!
Good to see your garden again, John. Grasses are the soul of the fall garden and act as such graceful foils to the shrubs and perennials. Really like the first one with the weathered chair back. All your photos are wonderfully composed.
Thank you Chris! Grasses as foil is spot on.
Beautiful fall color, John. Great photos. Did you start your next book yet?
Book #2 is under way. It was going to be about grasses but I need more research and another run through the seasons to get where I want on that one. This book is more memoir-like. My garden origin story - from childhood until now. Thanks for asking!
With the right companions and lighting, ducklings become swans...I'm talking to you, "spent blooms of veronica". Everything looks magical and mesmerizing, John, and there simply can't be enough pictures taken of such beauty.
Thank you, love the swan analogy. You nailed it!
Looking Good, John. Your willingness to adapt is admirable and successful!
Thanks so much Tim!
John, thank you so much for sharing these wonderful pictures of your native grasses and gardens. I'm going to have to look into the pennisetum Desert Plains. It looks like a wonderful smaller scale grass. And is the physostegia in the same picture also the native? What a restful picture that is. Yes, your gardens seem to be moving toward a glorious and well deserved winter rest. Please send more pictures with frost or snow !
Cheryl - 'Desert Plains' is manageable for sure. No taller than three feet. And the foliage is just as great as those blooms. Frost and snow pics to follow soon. Took a bunch this morning.
What a wonderful direction! This is beautiful. Grass is such a wonderful plant to use in gardens and gives an intrest year round! Thanks for the inspiration!
Thank you for the kind words Jeanne!
Lovely photos, John! You've provided more evidence that grasses really come into their own in the fall and reminded me to go look at my little Amsonia to admire its golden fall colour. It has been so wet and windy for a few days that I haven't been out in the garden and I can't see the Amsonia from the windows.
Thank you so much Lorraine. Happy to see there is another Amsonia fan here!
Great photos and nice garden. Thanks for sharing John!
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