Today’s photos are from Jane Donelon up in Maine. We’ve visited Jane’s garden twice before (refresh your memory HERE and HERE), but we’ve never seen her house before!
She says, “Thanks to our lovely warm fall there is still quite a bit blooming in my Maine garden. And the small critters visiting it are busy, too.
“These photos were taken in late September. The first two are of my entry garden. Pink and lavender anemones, asters, phlox, and a few late roses are abuzz with bees. On a pink colchicum a tiny pale green spider tried unsuccessfully to avoid having its picture taken.
“Along the driveway in a small rock garden, a white fall crocus blooms along with blue gentians, an orange poppy, and a white nigella. Clematis pitcherii, long-blooming and late, is still alive with bumblebees who fit perfectly into their small nodding purplish bells. Bright yellow patrinia and the graceful red wands of Persicaria ‘Lance Corporal’ bring a burst of welcome color to a rear border just as the leaves are beginning to turn.”
I adore your garden, Jane. It’s got a touch of wild to it, and cottagey vibe that makes it feel timeless. Thanks so much for the update!
**** The push is still on–get outside and take some last minute shots, or compile a few you took earlier in the season. I’ll be eternally grateful…. Email them to [email protected]. Thanks! ****
Comments
JaneEliz the front garden looks exactly as i envisioned after seeing your other features and to use a Michelle description,,,,,,,,,,dreamy. i love it all but i especially love the bumblebee in the clematis flower. the only thing that could make it better would be for you to have been standing by the front door (i always "see" the gardener in my minds eye but i'm never right) but i do see Tasha peeking around the corner of the house. you have created a beautiful space and HOME
I love your creative plant palatte. I believe I visited your garden years ago on a garden tour and that time I was astounded by plants I had never seen before. I'm a better gardener now but I am still seeing plants I haven't seen before as I gaze at your pictures. I need to revisit in person.
Hi JaneEliz, Love the cozy appeal of your home!
I especially like the second photo down on left side showing
the lovely blend of pinks and white against your soft blue house trim.,,,and catching the reflection off the 2 front
windows, the bright yellow from nearby trees.
HAPPY AUTUMN in Maine! I miss not coming up this year!!
Fantastic. Love the gentian with the california poppy and the colchicum. What species is the gentian?
Jane, so glad you've been blessed with an extended mild (for Maine) fall so your garden's splendor can continue to give pleasure. I love seeing the pop of extra bright and crisp colors set off by the muted burgundies of the leaves... like in your last picture.
Your home's architectural style is beautifully framed by your gardening style. I don't think we're seen a picture of the flowering (?) vine that goes around your front door when it's in bloom. Is it a clematis? Hmmm, maybe not, since the leaves still look so full and healthy. Please clue me in when you stop back in to read comments.
Enjoyed seeing your home nestled amongst the beautiful plantings. Great photo with the poppy, especially.
Love the cozy relaxed aura of your gardens, Jane... a welcome change from the usual fussy, prissy perfection. And I hope you don't mind my peeping through your front door, the beckoning flames of your fire tell me there's a chill in the air... was 33 degrees here in the Catskills this morning, a good day to bake something. Thank you, Jane.
tntreeman is right - You have created a Tasha Tudor scene perfectly. I love it that your house and garden are so right together. The picture with the poppy is beautiful and the perfect farewell to summer. I'd love to sit on your front step in the fall sun and enjoy your creation, and better yet have you beside me to tell me of its history.
Jane, what a lovely front yard. I love the archway around your front door. It makes your house look so comfortable and welcoming. Makes me want to come in for a cup of coffee and a long talk (about flowers of course).
Jane, what a lovely, welcoming garden you have created! Its charm and timelessness reflect the style of your house perfectly. Wisely, you have chosen lots of late-blooming flowers to keep both the insects and your human visitors entranced until winter covers everything with a soft white duvet of snow. Love it!
Thanks everyone, it's really fun getting all your very nice comments! To tntreeman-I, too, like to see the gardeners. I try to remember to include them in photos when I go on tours. I don't sit much when I'm outside, but if you came by, you just might see me sitting on my front steps with my indoor cat, Mopsey, on my lap. I'd have on my lime green clogs, of course. By the way, Mopsey is in charge of cleaning the indoors.
mainer59-please do revisit and reveal yourself! My garden is, almost always, open to visitors. To Vojt-the gentian is "True Blue'...and it's very floriferous.Mine flops, which I like, but on photo it shows it standing tall . Yes, meander1, you are quite right; it is not a clematis. It is a kiwi vine-the one that gets pink, white and green. 'The President' clematis, with a large purple flower, is also planted on the right, but she did not do much this year-mine are always quite unpredictable.The vine on the left is Akebia quinata 'Silver Bells' which has sweet rose and white flowers in spring and attractive leaves the rest of the season. It can take quite a bit of shade so I have 2 other varieties in other shadier parts of my garden...a pure white one and and one with purple and pink flowers-the male flower is different from the female. I love them all. Had some outrageous fruit on the purple one a few years ago. To wittyone and ancientgardener, and others.... I agree, that it would be delightful to sit and chat with you about all aspects of gardening...who knows...but in the meantime, we are lucky to have this column.
Jane, you have created a bit of magic in Maine. Your home and gardens are more than welcoming... I can hear them beckoning me to the front door. See you in a bit for a cup of coffee!
jane, i came back for one more quick look before heading out. save a spot for me on the front steps when ancientgardener drops in, i think i could learn A LOT.
You have a charming house and garden. I love all your fall specialties. That clematis is adorable and patrinia is a new one for me.
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