Garden Photo of the Day

Sharon’s Pennsylvania Garden

Inspired by Southern gardens

front yard garden with shrubs and pink flowers

Today’s photos are from Sharon Danovich Lupone. She gardens in Pittsburgh but loves the style of gardens from farther south.

Since 2008, we have worked diligently to bring our yard to life. I have chosen the plants and designed the hardscapes and lighting, using the principles of Charleston, South Carolina, landscape designer Loutrell Briggs. The entry garden, the pond and patio, and the lower garden along with their elevations have framed the plantings. The garden is located in Zone 6b, but we grow many plants that are more common in warmer climates, such as crape myrtles (Lagerstroemia, Zones 7–10), camellias (Camellia hybrids, Zones 7–10), pearlbush (Exchorda racemosa, Zones 4–8), aucuba (Aucuba japonica, Zones 7–10), chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus, Zones 6–10), and ‘Peggy Martin’ roses.

front yard garden with shrubs and pink flowersIn the view up the front steps toward the house in spring, azaleas (Rhododendron hybrids, Zones 6–10) are blooming in their classic spring shades of pink.

front yard garden bed full of shrubs and colorful foliageLater in the season, golden creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia ‘Aurea’, Zones 3–9) makes a big splash of bright foliage in front of the blooming shrubs.

container planting with funky foliageBy the entry, an urn is filled with bright foliage and flowers, with a canna lily (Canna hybrid, Zones 7–10 or as an annual) providing both striped leaves and a big spray of pink flowers.

container with mainly purple plants and colorful foliageThe entry urn changes seasonally and through the years. This one is mostly shades of purple, accented with silver and gold.

container full of fall plantsAnd in the fall, it takes on the ruddy hues of that season.

garden path lined with flowering shrubsDetails in the hardscaping tie this garden together—for example, the herringbone pattern in the bricks in the front walkway, which is carried through to the patio in the back.

garden bed full of pink and white flowersThis special garden is a memorial to Sharon’s neighbor Susie, who died of a heart condition. This garden is full of all of her favorite plants, including crape myrtles and phlox (Phlox paniculata, Zones 4–8). Susie also loved sundials, so Sharon included one in this garden.

small backyard seating areaBeautiful light falls on a seating area under a huge maple (Acer sp.) tree in the back garden.

large flowering shrubsAnd on the front walk, the sunlight backlights hardy hibiscus (Hibiscus hybrids, Zones 5–10) and hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens, Zones 3–9).

Sharon sent us so many wonderful photos of her garden that we’re going to split them over two days. Come back tomorrow to see more of the patio and back garden!

 

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Comments

  1. User avater
    treasuresmom 03/22/2022

    All so lovely.

  2. Maggieat11 03/22/2022

    Absolutely gorgeous....you certainly have a knack for
    fabulous combinations...I especially love the calla lily
    container. ✨. Your property must be the envy of the
    neighborhood. Certainly tour worthy.
    Looking forward to tomorrow's post. Thank you for
    sharing 🌱.

  3. gardendevas 03/22/2022

    Beautiful - lush and inviting. I would like to wander through and see up close.

  4. User avater
    simplesue 03/22/2022

    I'm so excited that a Pittsburgh garden is being featured on Fine Gardening's Photo of the Day!
    Sharon you are an inspiration! You've done such amazing things with your garden- I wouldn't change a thing you've done- it's perfect!
    Such great hardscape- the garden fountain patio, retaining walls!!! and plant choices!!!!
    I'm also attracted to southern gardens and plants and I'm also pushing Pittsburgh's growing zone!
    It was so interesting to find out about ‘Peggy Martin’ roses from you I never heard of those...so I googled them and found an interesting story:
    https://www.southernliving.com/garden/flowers/peggy-martin-rose
    I found another link showing more of Sharon's very gorgeous garden here: https://www.gardenista.com/submission/2018/guitar-shaped-patio-and-pond/
    And -Oh yes- I'm saving your garden to my Pinterest page as a garden of inspiration!

  5. cheryl_c 03/22/2022

    Sharon, your gardens are jaw-droppingly beautiful! I also love the canna container- the pink blooms are so gorgeous against the striped leaves and pull in the color from the background brick wall. I am so pleased to read that your gardens will also be featured tomorrow. Thanks so much for sharing.

  6. wildthyme 03/22/2022

    Gorgeous gardens! Looking forward to more tomorrow.

  7. btucker9675 03/22/2022

    What a beautiful house and garden you have - and the memorial spot to your neighbor is so lovely.

  8. shegardens 03/30/2022

    The entry urn with the calla lily surrounded by purple and silver is so beautiful!

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