Multiple gardens created by Dorothy Bailey offer endless seasonal interest.
“Four years ago I moved into a house on a half wooded lot in Newark, Delaware. I have created a shade garden, a miniature garden, a sun perennial garden, vegetable garden and most recently we have expanded into the woods to create a woodland garden (no need to mulch!) . The woodland and shade gardens are my favorite and at their best in April and May when hellebores, Virginia bluebells, bloodroot, trout lilies, trilliums, and numerous bulbs announce the arrival of spring!”
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Comments
Looks like you love gardening and gardening loves you back, Dorothy! Things appear to be wonderfully well established for the 4 years you've been at it here on this lovely property. It most always adds an enviably finished look when a gardener is fortunate enough to start out with some mature stately trees. I got a little smile as I thought of your clematis and rhodie playing "peek-a-boo" in their woodland setting...that's a lovely vignette.
ps Do you happen to know the name of the hellebore in picture #6 with that beautiful speckled foliage?...love those leaves!
Thanks!
The hellebore is Penny's Pink. I love those leaves too! Wish I had gotten another!
Definitely a foliage knockout!
Thanks so much for the id. I am going to be on the look out for it. I have one that is somewhat similar but yours seems even more dramatic in the "speckling" aspect. And, it seems like these special hybrids are usually sterile so we don't get welcome babies.
Dear neighbor Dorothy, you have created a beautiful garden! I am envious of all your shade. I am curious about that hellebore? also. Those of us who live near each other should get together! I live about 30 minutes from you in West Grove, Pa. I'm also curious about the plant on the stump- is it creeping jenny?
Hi Rhonda,
The hellebore is Penny's Pink. Yes, that is creeping jenny. I found that log with the hole in the middle and made Tom drag it home for me. It helps keep the creeping jenny contained.
I would love to get together!
That is a gorgeous daylily! And oh! The clematis climbing the tree... beautiful! Love the mature trees; they make such lovely companions to your plantings. What a great job you have done. Enjoy! Thanks for sharing!
I love the clematis climbing the tree also! I'm trying to do that right now with a few on a birch tree. What is it that you are doing to enable her to crawl up? Love your photos love your garden!
Thanks, Lily. I put a small metal trellis right in front of the tulip tree for the clematis to climb.
Really lovely. There's obviously a love affair going on between you and your garden, as it should be.
Simply breathtaking. A natural artist as well as a wonderful gardener. Congratulations!
You've done a lot in four years! Love the 'pizza-crust' edge on that daylily and your clump of Trillium grandiflorum is quite enviable. Looks great.
Hi Dorthy. You certainly have created a beautiful space in a short time. I love all your shade plants especially that blooming coral bells in your last picture. I've just added one like it to my shady area. The blooming rhododendron is spectacular and your hosta with the yellow edges is amazing. Vikki in VA
Prettiest day lily I've ever seen. Lovely garden!
Looks amazing! So glad I have been able to be part of your garden creations! Starting over for me has been a bit challenging, but being the artist you are, you have a great eye! Can't wait to see what you do next!
Thanks, Cindy! There are some plants in the garden that you gave me! :)
I too am envious of all your shade. What gorgeous flowers and foliage! What is the charming lavender blue flower underneath the Japanese Maple? I love those and don't recall ever seeing that, with the stiff upright stems holding the flowers up.
That is Phlox stolonifera, sometimes called creeping phlox, but not to be confused with Phlox divaricata (woodland phlox) or Phlox subulata (moss phlox, which is sometimes also called creeping phlox but doesn't really creep). I love the color contrast with my Japanese Maple.
Which hosta is that in pic 7 (the one where it is at the very front of the photo)?
That hosta is Liberty. It's one of my favorites in the spring. I seem to be saying that about most of my plants! haha!
Simply stunning! A fairyland for shade plants! And how happy that clematis is..... amazing! Thank you for sharing!
Good morning, Dorothy. In addition to being a great gardener, you must also have some good soil because everything looks so lush and happy. Love the photo with the clematis , rhodie and heuchera. Also, love the texture of that hellebore. I've found that varietal to be less susceptible to the diseases that attack my other hellebores mid-summer. Thanks for sharing and happy gardening.
What a lovely shade garden you have created in just four years. Your combinations of blooming and non-blooming plants, color and texture are perfectly done. The combination of the Clematis, Rhododendron, Heuchera and fern is my favorite; although, there is nothing shabby about the rest.
Until today, I didn't realize that some Hellebores were sterile (mine have always self-seeded to beat the band) and some were variegated. New plant hunt!!! Do you know what the variety is of the day lily on the first picture? It is really pretty. Thanks for sharing with us.
Thanks, Sonya!
The daylily is Stars in the Mist. It is one of my favorites.
I am interested in hearing what you are doing in your woodland garden. What plants are you using?
Hi Shari,
We put in some paths and are slowly planting the woods. Much of it is planted with native plants: Indian Pinks, turtleheads, asters, celandine poppies,ferns, virginia bluebells, trilliums and native azaleas, several of which bloom in the summer. I also use hostas, heucheras, tiarellas, and plants that will tolerate dry shade. I let the leaves fall, and control the invasives, and that's about it. (Did I mention deer spray??)
Your garden is growing by leaps & bounds, Dorothy! Absolutely, Beautiful!
Beautiful gardens and they all look so happy in their places! I particularly like the daylily at the beginning. I have a lot of these plants and so I am attracted to them. I also enjoy hostas and coral bells so your garden speaks to me! Gorgeous clematis!!! Woodland gardens are quite special as they show off the plants so well! I love everything about your gardens!
So beautiful. Love the clematis!
You have some beautiful Hosta Dorothy! Everything is so lush and I love the trillium, the variegated hellebore, and the pops of color. I am trying to create the same look in my yard and will use yours as inspiration! And rocks always add so much to make everything appear so natural.I must get some deer spray if mine is to look like yours:(.
So beautiful, Dorothy. I especially love the clematis growing up the side of the tree. Do you know the name of the daylily in the first picture? Thank you for sharing.
Oops! Just saw this question! The name of the daylily is Stars in the Mist.
Dorothy,
Somehow I missed seeing your on-line garden months ago! I'm so glad I got to see it in real life a few years (? has it been that many now) ago. It is looking as beautiful as then except now I get to see the clematis in bloom. What a great job you've done, Neighbor.
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