Garden Photo of the Day

Wendy’s Pennsylvania Garden

Some favorite plants and combinations

white hydrangea blooms above small ornamental grass and purple allium

Today’s photos are from Wendy Quereau. We’ve visited her garden before (Beauty From Wendy’s Garden), and it is always a pleasure to see it again.

I thought I’d send more photos to you this morning from my garden in Zone 6A in southeastern Pennsylvania. Summers are hot and humid here, and we deal with dry spells. Having gardened here for 43 years, I still enjoy learning and trying new plants and combinations. It’s satisfying to give ideas and information to the newer gardeners among us. I hope they’ll find some useful nuggets within this submission.

shrub covered in light pink flowersApril-blooming Rhododendron schlippenbachia (Zones 4–7) is pretty delicate and hard to find.

small perennials with light purple flowers around plants with bright green foliageNepeta ‘Cat’s Pajamas’ (Zones 3–8) is drought tolerant once established (these are newly planted), with its husky, long-lasting blooms for full sun. Deadhead for repeat albeit less showy bloom.

garden bed around a garden pergola with lots of green and purpleThis depicts a quiet time in spring in my sunny perennial garden. Picea pungens ‘Globosa’ (dwarf blue spruce, Zones 2–7) provides year-round interest with its color and texture. The color of the emerging and repeated deciduous shrubs of Spirea ‘Goldmound’ (Zones 4–8) foliage helps.

darker purple flowers in front of lighter purple flowersSpring combination for sun: dwarf lilac ‘Miss Kim’ (Syringa patula ‘Miss Kim’, Zones 3–8) and Allium ‘Purple Sensation’ (Zones 3–9) blooming at the same time in late May. Stachys ‘Helen von Stein’ (Zones 4–8) and bright yellow Lysimachia nummalaria ‘Aurea’ (Zones 3–9 ) are growing as ground covers.

variegated shrub next to variegated hostaEleuthrococcus sieboldianus ‘Variegatus’ (five-fingered aralia, Zones 4–9) is a deciduous, thorny, variegated shrub to light up the shade. It gives relief in the woodland or any shady area from the dominate greens of summer.

light pink lilies next to yellow liliesLilium (lilies, Zones 4–8) predominates in the sun in July.

variegated foliage next to bright purple flowersHere is a colorful combination of variegated Liriope (Zones 4–8) and Stachys minima (Zones 5–9) in July. Both are low growing for the front of a sunny border.

pink hydrangea behind a container with white flowersPlant for semi-shaded corner of patio: Hydrangea macrophylla (Zones 5–9). The container on the ground is recovering in a deer-proof location after being eaten to stubs at the front door by deer. Yes, frustration and disappointment must be accepted as part of this endeavor. Hone your ability to pivot and adapt!

white hydrangeas next to plants with purple flowersHydrangea paniculata ‘Bobo’ (Zones 4–8), Phlox paniculata (Zones 4–8), and waning daylilies (Hemerocallis hybrid, Zones 3–9) dominate the August perennial garden. ‘Bobo’ is a dwarf hydrangea and can be easily size-contained by dormant early spring pruning to 3 feet by 3 feet.

Containers of annuals help the lack of color in the August garden. Here, a tuteur of vining Mandevilla (Zones 9–11 or as an annual) is in the foreground. Selecting heat- and humidity-loving tropical annuals that will not quit by July is helpful.

ground cover with blue flowers creeping up a wallCeratostigma plumbaginoides (dwarf plumbago, Zones 5–9) is a carefree sun-loving ground cover laden with brilliant blue blooms in August into early fall.

white hydrangea blooms above small ornamental grass and purple alliumIn August, I see Hydrangea paniculata, Acoris gramineus ‘Ogon’ (Zones 5–9), and Allium ‘Millenium’ (Zones 5–8) in one little corner from my spot at the kitchen window. Acoris prefers the shade given by the overhead hydrangea standard.

 

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Comments

  1. User avater
    treasuresmom 08/10/2022

    Love that Rhododendron.

  2. User avater
    simplesue 08/10/2022

    It's nice to revisit your garden, it's beautiful, and inspiring!
    You have a nice selection of plants and arrangements.

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