Today we’re off to Tennessee to visit Lou Ann’s garden.

My neighbor Linda calls my house “the English cottage,” and I suppose there’s reason enough. I lived in Suffolk for three years, and the lovely people there planted a garden in my heart. I dreamed that one day I would have my own cottage with roses and clematis around the front door.

This is purple Clematis ‘Jackmanii Superba’ (Zones 4–9) and ‘Zephrine Drouhin’, a beginner rose and a fine choice for bordering a walkway, since it is beautifully perfumed and thornless.

‘Zephrine Drouhin’ reaches its peak in early May before the Japanese beetles emerge, so aside from the yearly bout with aphids, she remains unmolested. As you can see, she comes out the winner in that fight.

This next one is a David Austin rose that I won on Instagram: ‘Olivia.’ She is a beauty!

My perennials put on a burst of growth in May.

This clematis grows next to my deck out back. I believe it’s ‘Dr. Ruppel’, but I confess that I am not certain.

These sweet little windflowers (Anemone blanda, Zones 5–8) come up every spring along with the daffodils and hostas.

Azaleas (Rhododendron hybrid, Zones 6–9) and bugleweed (Ajuga reptans, Zones 3–10) grow on the side of the house. Sadly, my shrubs took a hard beating in a December flash-freeze the winter before last. They will take a while to recover.

Phlox (Phlox paniculata, Zones 4–8) is another favorite of mine. I think this one is ‘Bright Eyes’. ‘Happy Returns’ daylily looks cheerful with bee balm in the background. That lemony sunshine blooms all June and into July with occasional late flowers into fall.

I couldn’t grow lupines in my clay soil, but my heart longed for them. Then I saw baptisia (Baptisia australis, Zones 3–9) growing happily in a state park garden nearby and knew I had to have them. They have mad roots, so plant them to stay; though you can move them, you wouldn’t enjoy it!

Who can live without the joy of coneflowers (Echinacea purpurea, Zones 4–8)? Not me!

I like experimenting with colors, textures, and shapes, so I lumped these rudbeckia (Rudbeckia fulgida, Zones 3–9) in with some red yarrow (Achillea hybrid, Zones 3–9). Trust me—the rudbeckia are the boss in this combo.

One day I was watching a film of a beautiful, long double border at Arley Hall in England when I spotted this alluring red flower. I was entranced! I zoomed in for a closeup and then started my search to find out what this mesmerizing plant could be. It’s Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’ (Zones 5–9). You’d think I might be put off by the name, but I did my research. An Irish gardener on YouTube held forth on her experience, and after talking with more experienced gardeners, I was still keen to take ‘Lucifer’ on. The hummingbirds adore it! Here it is in my July border along with Shasta daisies (Leucanthemum × superbum, Zones 5–9).

I hope my garden makes you as happy as it makes me. If you’re ever in Tennessee, stop by for a tea party in the garden.

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