Garden highlights part: a concise orientation before we get practical.
Garden highlights part: Quick notes
Happy Friday GPODers!
Marty Oostveen in Douglassville, Pennsylvania (Zone 7a) (Marty’s 2025 Garden Highlights, Part 1 and Part 2)
I finally got around to getting some more pictures from my gardening year 2025, We started out dry, after a very dry 2024, but then it started raining in spring, when suddenly the garden really came back to life.
My dappled willow (Salix integra ‘Hakuro Nishiki’, Zones 4–9) with Pennsylvania sedge (Carex pensylvanica, Zones 3–8) underneath, as well as hostas.
The path through the gates going to the back with Golden Thunberg’s spirea (Spiraea thunbergii ‘Ogon’, Zones 4–8) on both sides, as well as Diabolo® ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Diabolo’, Zones 3–7) (blooming with white flowers) and sand cherry (Prunus x cistena, Zones 3–7) in the foreground.
I couldn’t help myself, the “idea nook” is indoors, but here is where I peruse my gardening books (with 3 more single bookcases in bedrooms) and of course back issues of Fine Gardening and Garden Gate to get ideas for the upcoming growing season.
The “hellstrip”. The perennial flax (Linum perenne, Zones 5–8) is in full bloom while the columbine are done. Throughout spring, summer and fall, this strip remains colorful.
The back of the raised bed has a variety of evergreens, shrubs (‘Tiger Eye’ sumac [Rhus typhina ‘Bailtiger’, Zones 4–8]), and perennials (hostas, heucheras, and groundcover (sedum).
The same general area seen from the other side of the path.
The same bed with hostas, heucheras, sumac, and the crepe myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica, Zones 6–9) has finally leafed out.
Waterfall surrounded by evergreen shrubs and ground cover. I also use different varieties of sedum everywhere as ground cover. The variegated iris (Iris ensata ‘Variegata’, Zones 4–8) is done blooming and grows in the water without any soil. So far it has survived 9 winters.
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Planting in a Post-Wild World: Designing Plant Communities for Resilient Landscapes
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A short mention of Garden highlights part helps readers follow the flow.
We reference Garden highlights part briefly to keep the thread coherent.
