Today we’re off to see Sally Barker’s garden in Maryland.
My garden was featured several times on GPOD a few years ago (Sally’s Garden in Maryland Revisited). Needless to say, gardens are constantly changing, and so happily I have created and recreated mine over the past 25 years, always finding opportunities where losses occur. This one-acre garden is now mature with masses of climbing hydrangea on fences and on trees and full-grown shrubs and trees providing good structure throughout the seasons. There is always a succession of blooms beginning in spring with pink rhododendrons, ‘Shasta’ viburnum (Viburnum plicatum ‘Shasta’, Zones 5–8), chartreuse spireas (Spirea japonica, Zones 4–9), purple nepeta (Nepeta × faassenii, Zones 4–9), pink roses, and masses of Geranium macrorrhizum (Zones 4–8). Summer brings a multitude of different hydrangeas in blues and in whites, many of which change to pink as the season progresses. Hostas, ferns, countless perennials and Hakonechloa grass (Hakonechloa macra, Zones 5–9) shine in summer. In the fall, hollies turn to reds and yellows, and finally the exquisite bark of a ‘Natchez’ crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia ‘Natchez’, Zones 7–9) shows off all winter.
In spring, the white flowers of ‘Shasta’ viburnum steal the show in the back.
Pink rhododendrons bloom in the background, while the ‘Natchez’ crape myrtle in the center shows off its always beautiful bark.
Hakonechloa grass is backed up by hostas and an oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia, Zones 5–9) just coming into bloom.
A spring moment of pink from a rhododendron and Geranium macrorrhizum.
Later in the season, the pink flowers have faded and various hydrangeas have come into bloom.
Butterflies feast on the flowers of ‘Millenium’ ornamental onion (Allium ‘Millenium’, Zones 5–8).
A blue birdbath is backed by the glowing yellow foliage of bleeding heart (Dicentra spectabilis ‘Gold Heart’, Zones 3–9).
Pots on the patio are filled with blue flowers, while steps welcome you to explore the lush green garden beyond.
Allium ‘Millenium’ takes center stage, backed up by the soft, silver foliage of lambs’ ears (Stachys byzantina, Zones 4–8).
Late in the season, this part of the garden is all soft, dusty pink from hydrangea flower heads (Hydrangea paniculata, Zones 3–8), Autumn Joy sedum (Hylotelephium spectabile ‘Herbstfreude’, Zones 3–9), and hardy begonia (Begonia grandis, Zones 5–8).
In the fall, nothing can match the brilliant colors of Japanese maple (Acer palmatum, Zones 5–9).
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Comments
So lovely and tranquil. A feast for the eyes. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you for your kind words !
WOW! Beautiful gardens! Love the blue bird bath with the yellow plants! Love it all! Great color combinations. Very inspirational!
Thanks Patty, I've had such fun with Gold Heart bleeding heart. It lasts a long time and is quite easy . Sometimes things just work as in this combination. Happy gardening !
Amazing! Readers need to click on the link & look at what was submitted some years back. Just beautiful.
Thank you treasuresmom ! And how lovely you did look at the former links. Much appreciated.
One of the most beautiful back yard gardens I've ever seen. So peaceful. You have a wonderful eye for design as well as a very green thumb! Can I ask, in the 4th photo with the pink rhody and geranium, what is the variegated tree in the center (Wolf Eyes Dogwood?), and what is the large shrub to its left with the very large sort of palmate leaves? Is that an oakleaf hydrangea?
I can't thank you enough for those lovely comments. The dogwood you ask about is Kornus Cousa Summer Fun. And next to it is Sikes Dwarf oakleaf hydrangea. I laugh at the dwarf part because this one is at least 6 feet tall. I have at least 4 oakleafs which are simply hard to beat ! Thank you again !!!
What an amazing garden. I didn't want the pictures to end. Thank you for all the inspiration.
And thank you !!! I enjoy photographing the garden when it is at its best.
Gorgeous, peaceful garden. I love the third picture with the beautiful bark of the crape myrtle. So magical! Wonderful pictures to start off our day. Thanks for sharing.
It is hard to beat the Natchez crepe myrtle during each season. In Winter it is the star of the show ! How kind of you to comment ! Thanks !
Absolutely stunning. I really appreciate the mature backdrop of trees and shrubs. Your colors and textures work so well. I have garden envy.
I am really all about texture so how nice of you to say this ! Even without flowers the garden seems to work quite well. I'm always amazed when any plants come up in the Spring. Gardening is wonderful !
Nothing like a mature garden and a gardener that knows what they are doing!
Perfect garden design and great plant choices...I wouldn't change a thing!
Love your sense of style and design...this garden has everything I love!
Thank you so very much ! I can stare at a bed for hours trying to see where plants should be placed. There have been loads of mistakes ~~~ but the beauty is I can move them ! Have a happy day.
Wow, just lovely and an inspiration. So peaceful, you must love strolling through it after the work is done. Enjoy it is beyond beautiful.
Thanks Teresa ! You must be in Canada. I must say the work is hardly ever done ~~~ but I do love being in the garden after a successful planting day !
Absolutely beautiful! Great design everywhere you look. We’re creating a garden at our new home and it’s a little overwhelming. Curious as to how you began designing your gardens? Your garden keeps wanting to see more. Thank you for sharing.
Hello Sue, I began about 25 years ago laying out curving beds using a hose and then edging with a spade. These beds almost can't be too large ! Shrubs and small trees need space as do perennials. Best to draw out large areas, replenish the soil (I add tons of leaf compost) and plant the best varieties of shrubs to start. Good luck !
Wow!
Thank you !
The time of day/ quality of the light in your photos really enhances the views. A lovely tour through the seasons.
You are so right ! Always the best photos in the morning or evening and especially after a rain. Never in midday sun. Thank you !
what a skillful design, deftly balancing exuberance with restraint (I know that sounds crazy but it's what I see ;-)
Absolutely gorgeous!
I agree that one can plant for good structure and repetition with strong shrubs ~~~ good order ~~~ and then plant a variety of perennials for the exuberance part ! It is hard to exercise restraint because there are so many great plants ! Thanks !!!
Just beautiful! congratulations. This life-long effort clearly has been a labor of love, and surely brings much peace and fulfillment. Enjoy the pictures.
One has to enjoy this because it is also very hard work. A labor of love indeed. I can't seem to stop creating new garden areas even in this one acre garden. Thank you so much !
One has to enjoy this because it is also very hard work. A labor of love indeed. I can't seem to stop creating new garden areas even in this one acre garden. Thank you so much !
A very inspiring garden and I appreciate your answers to questions asked. i need a summer fun dogwood!!!!
You are right ~~~ everyone with some shade needs this variegated dogwood !!! It is a bright focal spot in the back of the garden. Hope you find one ! Thanks
Sally, Thank you for sharing your lovely garden. I especially love your Japanese Maples, your many sitting areas and your structures & features for the birds. Blessings to you.
Thank you so much ! The maples are wonderful ~~ I love sculpting them. And the fellow who built the stone patio is an artist in stone. I'm very grateful. Blessings back to you !
Nothing more enchanting than a mature landscape. Truly beautiful and your love of gardening really shines through. ;)
I really appreciate your comments ! I do love gardening and wish you a happy day.
You have created a perfect garden - such a balance of color/size/texture and taking each season into account. I had an acre in northern NJ and think that's a great size for a garden. My property here in NC is just under a half acre with a pretty good sized wooded section in back. We've been here for about 4 years and I'm still trying to work the garden areas out. Lots of moving things around and dealing with dense red clay... Sure do miss my rich dark NJ soil! Thank you for sharing your beautiful creation.
Hi there,
So funny you talk about the red clay. My niece lives in Raleigh and we've done several garden make-overs. I've never experienced anything like the clay. I can't believe any plant lives in it. No drainage. So, good luck ! And a big thanks for your comments !!!!!
So beautiful!
Thank you !
The autumn photo is by far the best reason to ever plant a garden. Thanks for sharing
Thank you. Autumn is certainly a great time in the garden !
I am in awe at how well you've layered and composed your plant combos and have created the ultimate four season garden.
Thanks so much !!! As I mentioned before it's important to allow plenty of room for a garden ~~~ and to choose great plants that offer multi-season interest.
I'm jealous, you have such a beautiful garden. Do you ever have it opened for garden tours? I don't know if you live in the DC metro area but this would be a great garden to visit. Do you have any recommendations on nurseries in the DC/Maryland area? Also the pots with the blue flowers-what are those flowers? I love the look of black pots and the blue flowers. Thank you for sharing.
Hello, I just noticed this comment and your question. Yes, I've been on tours, last year the Horticulture Society of Maryland. I am in Phoenix, north of Baltimore. The pots you mentioned are hanging annual combinations (blue petunias) which I use for my containers, removing the wire hangers and plopping in my pots. So easy ! Now that Behnkes has closed the best would be Homestead Gardens I guess. Thank you for your comments !
Talk about magical gardens! Congratulations to you for all your hard work and the magnificent results. I love everything about it, including the brilliant Japanese Maples in all of their fall foliage glory! Thank you for the inspiration. 😍
Beautiful! Can you tell me what the variegated shrub is behind the hakon grass?
Hello, I just saw your question. In the 3rd photo it is an oakleaf hydrangea. In the 4th photo, the variegated tree is Summer Fun dogwood. I use hakone grass a lot ~~~ one of my favorite plants !!!
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