It’s always a treat when award-winning landscape designer Jay Sifford sends in photos of his fabulous home garden in the mountains of North Carolina. Today we have an extra-special treat:

Many are familiar with my septic drain field turned stylized meadow in the front yard of my house called Rhodwood, which is located in the western North Carolina mountains at 3300 feet. We were Zone 6b; now we’re 7a. Fewer have seen the back garden, accessed by a series of switchback steps. This area is comprised of a large rhododendron maximum forest with a high tree canopy, complete with two natural bogs and a stream with rapids.

The natural plant palette contains mostly spring ephemerals that are gone by the end of June, just about the time the front garden peaks. Hundreds of native skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus, Zones 4–7) , Trillium sulcatum (southern red trillium, Zones 4–7), Veratrum, and marsh marigolds (Caltha palustris, Zones 3–7) form the framework. My goal was to embellish this natural wonderland with native and nonnative plants that look at home in the space.

The sculpture of a male figure greets visitors as they step off of the boardwalk that spans bog #1.

Ostrich fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris, Zones 3–7) , woodland phlox (Phlox divaricata, Zones 3–8), and Veratrum say spring more than any other plant combination in the garden.

Woodland phlox and bleeding hearts (Dicentra and Lamprocapnos spp. and cvs.)

I have a dozen or so Japanese maples in this lower garden, varieties that like partial shade. This one is Acer palmatum ‘Ghost Dancer’ (Zones 5–9).

Emerging maidenhair ferns (Adiantum raddianum, Zones 3–8) glisten in the afternoon light. I love ferns!

Trollius chinensis (globeflower, Zones 3–7) is new to me. I’m going to love it!

Naturally occuring Iris cristata (crested iris, Zones 4–10) lives at the top of the switchback steps.

I’ve planted hundreds of Tiarella cordifolia (heartleaf foamflower, Zones 4–9).

Arisaema ringens (Japanese cobra lily, Zones 5–9) blooms by the steps.

Jay sent a true treasure trove of spring plant photos, so we’ll be back in his garden tomorrow to see more of what he’s growing.

Have a garden you’d like to share?

Have photos to share? We’d love to see your garden, a particular collection of plants you love, or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit!

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