Arianne gardens in a small city lot in chilly Minneapolis (Zone 4B) and fills her space with an abundance of beautiful flowers. Even more impressively, she grows many of her plants herself from seed.
Notes of dark red and burgundy combined with gold foliage are repeated many times in this image, making this garden feel unified and well designed. The flowers in the foreground are a beautiful Astilbe (Zones 4–9).
It isn’t just beautiful flowers in Arianne’s garden! This small apple tree is loaded with developing fruit. While many apple trees grow very large, there are also dwarf varieties that can fit easily into a small urban garden.
Each of these masses of plants is multiple containers planted and grouped together, which is a great way to create a whole garden in pots. The bright red door adds a lot to the scene, as does the delicate foliage of a tiger eyes sumac (Rhus typhina ‘Bailtiger’, Zones 4–8) to the left.
The same view, but in the evening. It’s amazing how different plants look in the different light. It’s like a whole new garden!
I love this container—how the warm pink tones of the vinca (Catharanthus roseus, Zones 10–11 or as an annual) echo the pink tones in the variegation of the canna (Canna hybrid, Zones 8–11 or as a tender bulb).
Moss roses (Portulaca grandiflora, Zones 10–11 or as an annual) are usually grown as an annual. They combine beautiful flowers with succulent, drought-tolerant foliage.
Balloon flower (Platycodon grandiflorus, Zones 4–9) is an easy-to-grow perennial with wonderful purple-blue flowers that last over a long period in summer.
Among the beautiful plants behind the great masses of balloon flower, I particularly love the variegated geranium (Pelargonium hybrid, Zones 10–11 or as an annual).
Huge, red hardy hibiscus (Hibiscus hybrid, Zones 5–9) shows off in the summer garden.
A little path lined with beautiful plants leads to the wonderful garden beyond!
Have a garden you’d like to share?
Have photos to share? We’d love to see your garden, a particular collection of plants you love, or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit!
To submit, send 5-10 photos to [email protected] 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.
Have a mobile phone? Tag your photos on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with #FineGardening!
Do you receive the GPOD by email yet? Sign up here.
Fine Gardening Recommended Products
Planting in a Post-Wild World: Designing Plant Communities for Resilient Landscapes
Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.
Dramm 17050 50′ ColorStorm 1/2″ Standard Soaker Hose
Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.
A.M. Leonard Deluxe Soil Knife & Leather Sheath Combo
Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.
Comments
The plant at the base of the canna looks more like New Guinea Impatiens than Vinca as suggested by the GPOD editor. Does anyone know the name of the canna cultivar with the gorgeous striped leaves? I think I just saw that locally, and backlit it was quite striking.
...did you mean Canna ‘Durban’? There are some photos here https://www.cannas.net/durban.html
Wow...that is a gorgeous colorful garden. Very nicely coordinated! Luv it.
Arianne - thank you for sharing scenes from your lovely garden. The branches loaded with apples was a delightful surprise in the foreground of one of the photos.
Such a charming garden!
I'd love to travel to "Chilly" Minneapolis all the way from not so chilly Saint Paul to see your garden. Yes, it gets cold in the Winter but the rest of the year has weather and beauty to envy. Thanks so much for sharing the beauty that you've created.
So many plants of beauty and interest and then- wow- an apple tree!
Beautiful..
Log in or create an account to post a comment.
Sign up Log in