My name is Cheryl Henley. I have been gardening in the heavy, rocky, clay soils of the Wasatch Mountain foothills at about 4000 feet for 30 years. My husband and I live on the eastern side of the range, so days are shorter even on the longest summer days as the sun plummets behind the mountains. But the beautiful mountains and clean air, as well as the little creek running in front of our house, make the short-season and short-day challenges so worth it. I love taking garden photos, so I have way too many, but thought I would send some of last spring in anticipation of the next season to come.
Every year as the snow starts to melt I announce to my husband that this year the garden will be disciplined for sure! But alas, the borders and beds remain jumbled like the wild hawthorns and oaks growing all around them (so much shade), pretty but invasive plants try to take over, and some plants just can’t take the dry air, intense sunlight, and Zone 5 cold. Also, I neglect the “lawn” and keep working to eliminate grass completely. And dandelions abound, early food for bees.
Some years snow doesn’t melt until May, but last year it started to clear early in late March, and crocuses (Crocus sieberi ‘Tricolor’ Zones 3–9) made their brave entrance.
Happily speading Scilla siberica (Zones 2–8) pop up through native gambel oak (Quercus gambelii, Zones 4–8) leaves around a more intentional group of ‘Tete-a-Tete’ daffodils. Peach-leaved campanulas (Campanula persicifolia, Zones 3–7) are also coming up. They spread like a ground cover with tall stems of blue and white bellflowers later in the spring.
Hellebores carry on their show in the narrow shady garden behind the house. Behind them loom masses of Brunnera macrophylla ‘Jack Frost’ (Zones 3–7) started from three small plants. Beyond the ‘Jack Frost’ are some hyacinths and epimediums. Some dandelion leaves embarrass us from the right photo edge.
Primroses do pretty well and don’t seem to mind the clay.
New yellow tulips came up in early May for their debut season.
No discipline here, just a candy-colored celebration of tulips and Muscari between the apple trees. They will be followed by some ferns, hostas, epimediums, and low cotoneaster.
One of my favorite shrubs, Darts Gold ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius, Zones 3–7), lights things up with some daffodils and ‘Princess Irene’ tulips.
The purity of apple blossoms—it’s easy to tell they are in the rose family.
The new yellow tulips evolved into this glowing warmth as they opened. Amazing!
Lovely wiry epimediums (probably Epimedium × warylense ‘Orange Queen’, Zones 5–8) slowly spread. This silvery dead nettle (Lamiastrum galeobdolon ‘Herman’s Pride’, Zones 4–9) stays in a polite clump with nice yellow flowers.
Snowdrops (Galanthus) by our oldest homemade rustic bench.
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Comments
That last photo shows how a unique rustic bench can add so much more garden magic than common commercially produced ones. And the bull frog sculpture is a great companion. It looks, however that the white blooming bulb shown is not Galanthus (aka snowdrops) but Leucojum, aka Summer Snowflake, which arrives later in the spring.
I love your garden style! And your gardens are gorgeous. Looks like a very happy place for birds and insects. You are my kind of gardener!!
I like what you have done in a tough environment. Your garden seems to fit into the setting. Lovely.
Disciplined gardens are overrated. Your garden is lovely and so inviting. A piece of an idealized wilderness.
Love it all. I am a huge fan of all things spring bulbs!
Your garden is a song of celebration to Mother Nature's life force...plants spread in an opportunistic way and create beauty on their terms. It's great that you have so many "happy campers" that thrive in your heavy clay soil and give your beds carpets of beautiful color. The photo of the crocus buds bursting up through the melting snow is beyond gorgeous.
Cheryl, congratulations on a job well done! Not only your great gardens, but your fabulous photography. I especially love your Dart's Gold ninebark, and the whole composition of that photo, but, like nwphillygardener, I think that rustic bench really steals the show. What a sense of permanence it gives your garden. Thanks for sharing, and send some more pictures!
good piece, but plse. save us all a google trip and tell us WHERE are the Wasatch mountains? thx much!
Your garden is gorgeous!
Oh, isn't early spring the most wonderful time of year?
Something new coming up every day. I just finished "walking the estate" (ha) and I found new things up since yesterday. You have a lot of the same plants that I do but a good bit farther along. Most of mine are just now poking their noses out of the ground.
Undisciplined gardens (unlike children) are the best kind. I think plants know a lot more about where they want to live and thrive than most gardeners are willing to acknowledge.
You're doing a great job with your undisciplined child.
Who need discipline with a garden this beautiful!!! Your success in clay gives me hope that one day my garden here in NC will also be beautiful.
Really gorgeous collection. Love them all !!!!
Really also loved that rustic bench....
Your wild garden is charming! Lovely photography, too. Aaah spring!
I like this post!
That's Great! I Really Like This Post
Loved every picture. Keep doing what you are doing, it is perfect. The picture with the apple trees is a dream. I too am thinking of a Dart's Gold Ninebark. I have a Diablo and love it.
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