Happy Friday, GPODers!
For many gardeners, it can feel like spring will never arrive. Lingering snow piles cling on to cold corners, an unseasonably warm day is followed by bitter cold, and the blooms of early spring seem reluctant to unfurl and reveal their colors. Then, almost suddenly, spring arrives in a flash and the landscape comes alive. This is a common occurrence for those who garden in cooler climates, and certainly the case for Sue Webel in North Canton, Connecticut (@musabasjoosue on Instagram and in the comments!). Since 2020, Sue has shared several highlights from her garden (Making a New Garden in Connecticut, Highlights from Sue’s 2021 Garden, Sue’s Favorite Foliage Plants, and Exceptional Scenes from Sue’s 2024 Garden), which is located in the hills of Connecticut where winter lingers longer than in other parts of the state. However, when the warmer weather finally arrives it brings an explosion of color to her garden. As she waits for spring to erupt in her landscape this year, she has shared photos of the striking plants and combinations that put on vibrant performances last year.
Variegated cornelian cherry dogwood (Cornus mas ‘Variegata’, Zones 4–7) blooms in mid-April under a blanket of late-season snow: My garden is located in the northern Connecticut hills at an elevation of just over 800 feet. Due to the elevation, spring arrives a couple of weeks later than the valley. Snow here can sometimes be just rain if I drive a couple of miles down the hill.
Voila! A couple of weeks later we have tulips. Isn’t this ‘Purissima Blonde’ tulip (Tulipa ‘Purissima Blonde’, Zones 3–8) a beauty to behold?
Another favorite tulip of mine is ‘Slawa’ (Tulipa ‘Slawa’, Zones 3–8). Deer (a.k.a. Hooved Minions of Satan) are a problem in my garden, but so far, regular application of spray repellents has mostly kept them at bay. I spray Tulip buds two or three times a week when they are blooming.
One of the best series of pictures I have from the 2025 garden was taken on a misty morning in mid-May. ‘Arneson Gem’ azalea (Rhododendron ‘Arneson Gem’, Zones 5–8) frames this shot from behind the firepit to the back of the house.
Another dreamy image from the misty morning photoshoot. One of my favorite Japanese maples is this Twombly’s Red Sentinel (Acer palmatum ‘Twombly’s Red Sentinel’, Zones 5–8). I miss shopping at Twombly’s Nursery, formerly located in Monroe, Connecticut. The hosta is ‘Sagae’ (Hosta ‘Sagae’, Zones 3–8), and the bright chartreuse emerging foliage is ‘Sun King’ aralia (Aralia cordata ‘Sun King’, Zones 4–8).
Tall bearded iris are not a favorite of mine. Yes, the flowers are beautiful but so short-lived, and the plants suffer from lack of sun and are prone to iris borer here. So far ‘Gnus Flash’ (Iris germanica ‘Gnus Flash’, Zones 4–9), an impulse purchase, has survived.
I grew ‘Philippe Vapelle’ geranium (Geranium ‘Philippe Vapelle’, Zones 5–8) in my previous garden. Twenty years ago, most local nurseries offered a variety of perennials that seem to have disappeared from the trade. Fortunately mail-order nursery Digging Dog in California offers an awesome selection of perennial geraniums. This late-May vignette with variegated sweet iris (Iris pallida ‘Aureo Variegata’, Zones 3–9) caught my eye, a lucky planting coincidence.
‘Julia Rose’ Itoh peony (Paeonia ‘Julia Rose’, Zones 5–8) looking awesome in early June. The peek of variegated conifer in the upper left is the fabulous weeping Alaskan cedar (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis ‘Sparkling Arrow’, Zones 4–8).
Self-seeded foxgloves (Digitalis purpurea, Zones 4–9) took a few years to establish. Every spring I move seedlings around to different parts of the garden in an attempt to add some continuity.
To close, I have added a truth-in-gardening photo of my patio in mid-May. Tender plants are being moved out from the house and basement; containers are being cleaned, placed and planted; spoils from nursery runs are piling up; and the fountain remains covered. Under the expert supervision of my cat, Twerp, eventually I pull it all together for friends and family to enjoy.
Thank you so much for sharing these sensational spring scenes with us, Sue! Your gorgeous selection of plants and the dazzling vignettes you create with them always delight, and I hope we have a chance to see an update from your spring garden this year.
If you’re still waiting on spring’s arrival in your garden, I hope you will join Sue and share highlights of last year. Follow the directions below to submit your photos to Garden Photo of the Day!
We want to see YOUR garden!
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!
To submit, fill out the Garden Photo of the Day Submission Form.
You can also send 5–10 photos to [email protected] along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the photos. We’d love to hear where you are located, how long you’ve been gardening, successes you are proud of, failures you learned from, hopes for the future, favorite plants, or funny stories from your garden.
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