Garden Photo of the Day

Seasons in a Montana Garden

Changing views in spring and summer

Montana Garden

Today’s photos are from Kielian Dewitt.

I have gardened in the Bitterroot Valley of Montana (Zone 5b, except when it’s Zone 4) for 15 years. This spring, I thought it would be an interesting study to photograph the front flower garden monthly from the same perspective. It ended up being an interesting collage for posterity as well as a submission to GPOD.

full view of the garden with house in the backgroundThe garden in May is climbing out of its winter slumber. Ground covers such as creeping phlox (Phlox subulata, Zones 3–9), Veronica, variegated vinca (Vinca minor, Zones 4–9)—which I eradicated later in the year—and grape hyacinth (Muscari armeniacum, Zones 3–9) provide a backdrop for brilliant red tulips and daffodils. Emerging dogwood and flowering fruit trees fill in the background.

yellow columbine and pink, burgundy, and white peoniesIn June, yellow columbine (Aquilegia hybrid, Zones 4–8) adds punctuation to a cool, early morning view of pink, burgundy, and white peonies (Paeonia hybrids, Zones 3–8) as well as numerous other perennials.

beautiful flowersDelphiniums (Delphinium elatum, Zones 3–7) steal the show in July with a supporting cast of delicate pink roses, Japanese anemones (Anemone hupehensis, Zones 4–8), rudbeckia (Rudbeckia fulgida, Zones 3–9), and a flowering clematis.

varying shades of scented phloxIn August, the garden is filled with various shades of scented phlox (Phlox paniculata, Zones 4–8).

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Comments

  1. sandyprowse 01/06/2022

    What a treat to see the different months in the garden. Amazing!

    1. annek 01/06/2022

      Thank you!

  2. sandyprowse 01/06/2022

    What a treat to see your garden in the different seasons. I loved it.

  3. blondie3 01/06/2022

    Wow, very lush…beautiful.

    1. annek 01/06/2022

      Thanks sooo much

  4. Jay_Sifford 01/06/2022

    Kielian, your garden is always spectacular. I think it reflects your personality, and certainly your passion. I've often wished I could walk through it in person. Perhaps someday. Thanks for sharing.

    1. annek 01/06/2022

      Ahhh Jay, what a wonderful comment. If you’re ever out Montana way, you must come visit. We’ll take good care of you

  5. imajayhawk 01/06/2022

    Kielian: it is always a joy to see your garden. The vastness of the landscape leaves me in awe. Your home belongs in the garden you have created. Love the seasonal changes and the wonderful use of texture and shape. Your garden would be so wonderful to see in person. Thanks so much for sharing.

    1. annek 01/06/2022

      Thank you for the kind comments. If you get to the bitterroot valley of Montana, come visit

  6. User avater
    treasuresmom 01/06/2022

    I adore this!!!!!!!!!!!

    1. annek 01/06/2022

      Thanks!

  7. User avater
    user-7007816 01/06/2022

    Fun set of pictures. Thanks for sharing.

    1. annek 01/06/2022

      It was fun to create a time-based collage. It is a good way to mark the passage of time

  8. user-6861263 01/06/2022

    I am a sucker for curving paths and flowers!!! I’m very jealous of your delphinium as I have a difficult time growing them. Lovely garden!

    1. annek 01/06/2022

      The delphiniums are the true stars. Can you believe they grew to almost eight feet!

  9. User avater
    bdowen 01/06/2022

    You have planned so well to have so much color and bloom in all seasons. A beautiful series of photos. Thank you for sharing them with us.

    1. annek 01/06/2022

      Thanks so much! It was a fun project

  10. User avater
    simplesue 01/06/2022

    That is a gorgeous garden, and so interesting to see how a garden goes through so many different looks throughout one summer growing season.
    It' something I thought about doing for a few years now and never did- your post has inspired me to try this too!
    I'm saving your photos to Pinterest, this is so interesting to see, and any gardener can learn a lot from your garden about the various stages it goes through in a summer, to get the most continuous blooms and foliage interest!

    1. annek 01/06/2022

      How wonderful of you to post to Pinterest! There will be photos of September through December posted sometime next week. It’s a kick to see the dramatic change

      1. User avater
        simplesue 01/07/2022

        Oh super! I'm looking forward to seeing more seasonal changes in the garden!!! Thanks for letting me know!

  11. gardendevas 01/06/2022

    Lush and gorgeous! Would love to walk those paths to explore. And I have serious delphinium envy!

    1. annek 01/06/2022

      The delphiniums are the glory of the garden. Come by if you’re ever in the neighborhood and I’ll walk the paths with you

  12. wittyone 01/06/2022

    Beautiful! I love gardens with filled with overflowing beds. Can't seem to accomplish that with my garden beds. Taking pics of each bed on a regular basis over at least one year can give you a good idea of what is working in terms of seasonal blooms and point out where things aren't working or where empty spots need some additions. Although it looks as though you don't have any empty spots and would have to dig out something to replace it with another possibility.

    Maybe I can try that as an antidote to the sparseness of color in various beds at particular times of the year. otherwise I leave it to my memory and cryptic notes written here and there which really don't work too well.

    Thanks for the wake-up call as well as a beautiful start to the day.

    1. annek 01/06/2022

      Thank you for your wonderful comments. I’m of the same frame of mind in that I can never remember in autumn what was lacking in spring. And that is precisely why I decided to record the changes in photos. It helps!

  13. user-5117752 01/06/2022

    Just splendid! What a delight! Thank you!

    1. annek 01/06/2022

      Thank you!

  14. user-7007672 01/06/2022

    Dear Kielian, Your garden is so lush and colorful in every month. Thank you for sharing.
    Chris

    1. annek 01/06/2022

      Hi Chris! Thanks so much! I love color and try to keep lots of it in every month

  15. btucker9675 01/06/2022

    Those delphiniums!!!! Oh my - everything is just so beautiful!

    1. annek 01/06/2022

      The delphiniums stand like sentries and offer a perfect view from the dining room

  16. sheila_schultz 01/06/2022

    What an incredibly simple yet brilliant idea to photograph specific areas of a garden, month by month during the growing season. As we passionate gardeners walk through our gardens constantly looking at what works and what doesn't we take mental notes, sometimes writing the details. But, the visual makes the changes impactful. My dear friend, your gardens are you, comfortably splendid. I'm in awe. Bravo!

    1. annek 01/06/2022

      Ahhh Sheila, you are an empathic soul. That is why your arrangements and designs are so splendid. Thank you for your generous comments

  17. User avater
    meander_michaele 01/06/2022

    Whew, I feel like I just made it here to comment by the hair of my chinny chin chin (ha, don't get me started on those uninvited sturdy chin hairs but that's a whole other topic). I love this garden photography approach. It's fascinating what the eye is invited to take in... depending on which plants serve as guide posts. There's no doubt that those statuesque bold blue delphiniums make one put the brakes on and want to just gaze upon them with awe and admiration. Your charming stone garden house is a wonderful reward for continuing, then, to let the gaze wander forward. What a wonderful destination point.

    1. annek 01/06/2022

      Tee hee! Ah yes the unwanted growth in areas that don’t need it.
      Yet again, your delightful wordsmithing makes me look at the photos in a totally different light. Thank you for your kind remarks Mikey

  18. User avater
    vanhatalosuomi 01/07/2022

    Wonderful submission and lovely plants. Thank you for sharing your garden.
    Happy New Year from Finland!

    1. annek 01/07/2022

      Thank you from so far away!

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