I’m Mary Spencer, and I live in Carroll County, Maryland. We have lived on this beautiful lot for 21 years, and I have been gardening for as long. We love the trees, birds, and butterflies. My husband and my three miniature schnauzers enjoy every evening on our screened porch.
A masterpiece in green. Hostas bring bold textures and green shading from blue to yellow. Behind, a young hemlock tree (Tsuga canadensis, Zones 3–7) has delicate needles, the bright green new growth contrasting with the darker green older needles, while a Japanese maple (Acer palmatum, Zones 5–9) adds a delicate texture to the right.
A huge, delicate lacecap hydrangea makes a beautiful backdrop for a container planted with annuals.
Huge hostas guard the entrance to a path that invites you to explore the garden and see what lies beyond the bend.
A bench invites visitors to sit in the dappled shade and enjoy the beauty of this garden.
The resident miniature schnauzers have claimed the best seats on the screened-in porch, a perfect spot to sit and enjoy the garden in comfort (and be protected from biting insects!)
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Comments
Mary has shown us great examples of how points of visual focus can happen in a shade garden largely made with a variety of green shade: Pots, arbors, tuteurs, ornaments, (even a shed).
In the opening photo showing a group of Hostas, can anyone identify what is planted in front of the hostas?
Looks like Japanese Spurge which is a type of Pachysandra, but not positive.
It looks like some kind of a begonia leaf to me. Maybe hardy begonia?(Begonia grandis)
My best guess is that those leaves belong to some form of bellflower, a Campanula. on the right side I see a stem rising that may yield the future bells.
Lovely! You have obviously succeeded in keeping the deer away from the hostas. Maybe your canine companions have something to do with that, LOL!
Lovely garden and setting. Thanks for sharing.
I'd call that a symphony of green! It looks so serene and peaceful. Your screened in porch makes for a perfect sitting place to enjoy all that calmness-----something that we need more of these days.
Adore your screened porch. I suspect you spend many hours there
That is my dream...a woodland garden where your neighbors are the trees!
Love it, love it love it!
And oh that screened in porch is icing on the cake!
I also look out at my woodland garden from my screened in porch and love it! I would love to compare notes sometime!
What a beautiful, serene space you have created. I hope you get to sit on that bench and enjoy looking at it after you finish 'tending" it each day. Thank you for sharing.
Oh, my. Thank you for sharing. Your gardens are gorgeous. And I love your screened in porch. You are so fortunate!🌿
What a lovely woodland garden with beautiful black and silver miniature schnauzer caretakers! In my last garden I shared a screen porch with miniature schnauzers for almost 20 years so your last picture really resonated with me. Be well!
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