Garden Photo of the Day

A Nearly New Gardener in the UK

By GPOD Contributor
common bluebell flowers

Today’s photos are from Kayla in Lincolnshire, United Kingdom.

red Japanese maple in the sunThe reddish leaves of a lovely Japanese maple (Acer palmatum, Zones 5–9) glow in the sun. This was one of the first plants Kayla bought when they started gardening a couple of years ago.

cluster of lilac bloomsThis lilac (Syringa vulgaris, Zones 3–7) is loaded down with fragrant spring flowers. Old-fashioned lilacs are tops for gardens in cooler climates, and if you don’t have room for the large shrubs, look for newer, more-compact varieties and hybrids that fit lilac beauty into smaller spaces.

close up of purple columbine flowersA lovely columbine (Aquilegia vulgaris, Zones 3–8) stands tall in wonderfully rich, deep shade. Columbines love to self-seed and interbreed freely, and if you make a practice of deadheading most of the flowers and only letting your favorite colors go to seed, you can ensure a garden full of the forms you like best.

laburnum yellow flowersThis laburnum (Laburnum anagyroides, Zones 5–7) is just beginning to bloom. Laburnums are stunningly beautiful trees, but they hate hot summers. They thrive in much of the United Kingdom, but in the United States they are best choices for mild climates like in the Pacific Northwest.

close up of bleeding heart flowersAn impossibly elegant spray of blooms graces this bleeding heart (Dicentra spectabilis, Zones 2–8).

common bluebell flowersAnd here’s that most classic of plants from the British Isles, the common bluebell (Hyacinthoides non–scripta, Zones 5–8). This durable little bulb can form iconic carpets of blue in woodlands and is equally happy to thrive in gardens. Its larger relative, Spanish bluebells (Hyacinthoides hispanica, Zones 3–8) is more common in American gardens, but either are wonderful additions to a shaded spring garden.

To see more of Kayla’s garden and beautiful photos, check out her instagram.

 

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Comments

  1. Rebeccazone7 03/24/2021

    OK so I'd love to be able to garden in the UK, but alas as gardeners we must learn to deal with our own climate and soil. However, Monty Donn from Gardner's World starts a new season on March 26...yea.

    1. User avater
      simplesue 03/24/2021

      Do we get Monty Don's shows in the USA, I would love to watch!

      1. Rebeccazone7 03/25/2021

        Yes..it's on Britbox

  2. PattyLouise 03/24/2021

    Beautiful!

  3. User avater
    cynthia2020 03/24/2021

    Hi, Kayla - thank you for sharing your lovely plant portraits!

    I can't help wondering what your slug situation might be...

    Your pretty lilacs remind me of driving through the Rochester, New York area during lilac season - never seen so many huge plants with all different shades of purple.

  4. User avater
    treasuresmom 03/24/2021

    Great pics.

  5. User avater
    simplesue 03/24/2021

    Beautiful plant choices for your garden- full of color and fragrance!

  6. btucker9675 03/24/2021

    I miss lilacs so much - haven't found one that is guaranteed to do well here in the Piedmont area of North Carolina! Thank you for sharing your beautiful garden, especially that amazing dark columbine.

  7. Sunshine111 03/24/2021

    Fabulous garden & photography!❤️❤️❤️

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