Garden Photo of the Day

Tingshu’s Front Garden in Late Summer

A late season garden that looks as good from the front as it does from the back

By GPOD Contributor
path in front garden

Hi GPODers!

We’re back in the gardens of Tingshu Hu in Dunstable, Massachusetts. In case you missed it, yesterday we got a late summer look at her back gardens. Today, we’re seeing what was growing in her front gardens during this same transitional time. Without further ado…

monarch butterfly on pink zinnia
A monarch butterfly feeds on a zinnia. I planted many zinnias and dahlias this year to attract monarch butterflies (together with some milkweeds). We observed much fewer monarches in our garden this year.

blue zinnia between two hollies
A blue Salvia (Salvia farinacea ‘Deep Ocean’, annual) sits between two holly plants, looking at a zinnia under a maiden grass (Miscanthus sinensis ‘Gracillimus’, Zones 4–9) across the path.

Sallyfun deep ocean salviaSallyfun™ Deep Ocean salvia has a long blooming season. Its blue color goes well with pink zinnia and white alyssum. Alyssum comes back every year by self seeding. The upright grass-like plant is Juncus inflexus ‘Blue Arrows’ (Zones 5–9). To keep it tidy and upright, I cut it back to 4 inches when it started to form seed buds.

garden path surrounded by low-growing plants
Low growing plants along a path to the koi fish pond.

koi pond
On water front, lovely pink flowers of Argyranthemum ‘Sassy rose’ (Argyranthemum frutescens ‘Sassy Rose’, Zones 10–11 or as an annual) in contrast with white alyssum.

front garden on foggy morning
A foggy morning on Sept 15. Outside the fence are a crape myrtle plant (Lagerstroemia indica, Zones 7–9), canna ‘Striata’ (Canna ‘Striata’, Zones 7–10), and variegated maiden grass (Miscanthus sinensis ‘Variegatus’, Zones 5–9).

metal fence in front garden
The metal fence was installed last summer, after rabbits expanded their menu to include some of the plants outside the front yard they never touched before.

maiden grasses in a front garden
The maiden grasses add height and texture to the garden. At the lower right corner, a floss flower (Ageratum houstonianum, annual) nuzzles comfortably by the side of a blue fescue.

path in front garden
A view from the front door of the house.

Epiphyllum oxypetalum
A Queen of Night (Epiphyllum oxypetalum, Zones 9–10) flower hanging from the trunk of a Yoshino Cherry tree (Prunus × yedoensis, Zones 5–8), surrounded by other shade loving plants, begonias, coleus, hostas, and a young Sun King aralia (Aralia cordata ‘Sun King’, Zones 3–8) on the back.

Thank you so much for this incredible late summer tour of your garden, Tingshu! It could only be matched by a calming stroll through your plants in person.

How did your garden look as summer came to an end? How about now as fall is just setting in? We’d love to see some photos! Follow the directions below to submit, or send me a DM on Instagram: @agirlherdogandtheroad

 

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To submit, send 5-10 photos to gpod@taunton.com 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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Comments

  1. User avater
    user-7007816 10/03/2024

    I loved both your front and back gardens. There is such a thoughtful wildness about your spaces. Thank you for sharing.

    1. Tingshu99 10/03/2024

      Thanks for your appreciation! The words “thoughtful wilderness” are priceless!

  2. User avater
    simplesue 10/03/2024

    You have really accomplished creating a magical garden, I so admire what you've done. Even your fenced area to prevent rabbits from eating certain plants is another element of beauty in your garden design.
    So much to look at and enjoy, and your photo with the fog just enchanting with the orange Cana plants contrasting with the blue gray frog in the distance!

    1. Tingshu99 10/03/2024

      Dear Sue, Thanks for your encouragement. It is so rewarding to know that you have enjoyed my garden pictures.

  3. btucker9675 10/03/2024

    Truly a beautiful garden - front and back!

    1. Tingshu99 10/03/2024

      Many thanks for your nice words!

  4. User avater
    cynthia2020 10/03/2024

    Hi, Tingshu. I enjoyed looking at all of the lovely scenes from your garden today. I looked up some information about the Juncus inflexus ‘Blue Arrows’ in case I could use it at the bottom of a slope.

    1. Tingshu99 10/03/2024

      Thanks for your encouragement. Juncus blue arrow is a new plant in my garden. I Thought it was an annual last year when I bought it from a garden center. I was surprised to see it come back this year and then learned it is hardy to zone 5a. It is super draught tolerant. The root clump has grown a lot and I can divide it into many parts next year. It is nice looking but also easy to grow.

      1. User avater
        cynthia2020 10/04/2024

        Thank you for the extra comments on your experience with this Juncus!

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