Today’s photos are from Betsy Thompson in East Greenbush, New York, in Zone 5. We’ve visited Betsy’s garden before (Betsy’s Garden in New York).
Betsy lives in a townhouse and so has a narrow space for gardening. As you’ll see, however, she makes the absolute most of her small space!
An impressive Brugmansia (Zones 9–12) blooms by the back steps. Loaded with flowers, it fills the air with a lovely scent.
Containers are a great way to fill a small garden with beauty. Here an assortment of tender succulents makes a great centerpiece on the table.
A dark-leaved dahlia (Dahlia × variabilis, Zones 8–10 or as a tender bulb) adds beauty from flowers and foliage to this container.
Dramatic dark leaves from a canna (Canna hybrid, Zones 7–10 or as a tender bulb) set off the pale yellow blooms of a Calibrachoa (Zones 8–10 or as an annual).
A blue pot and lavender bacopa (Sutera cordata, Zones 9–10 or as an annual) set off a beautiful, large-leaved coleus (Coleus scutellarioides, Zones 9–11 or as an annual).
Another beautiful coleus is the variety ‘Golden Dreams’, with its contrasting dark veins. A backdrop of all white flowers allows it to shine.
Another dark-leaved dahlia takes center stage in this container.
Lobelia (Lobelia erinus, annual) brings delicate sky blue to this container planting, echoing the colors of the garden plantings around it.
Blue Corydalis elata (Zones 5–8) in the garden seemed to call for a tall blue pot.
Another yellow-blue arrangement for the garden room features the same colors.
An arrangement of pots with plants that mirror each other flanks the garage door and echoes the new door color. The garage has become a combination office and garden tool shed, so cars are banned.
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
Morvat Heavy Duty Brass Y-Valve
Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.
Gardener's Log Book from NYBG
Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.
Plant Covers Freeze Protection 10 ft x 30 ft Floating Row Cover 0.9oz/yd²
Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.
Comments
Great use of small space! Your containers are lovely.🍃
I just love your containers! I am sure that they are also appreciated by everyone passing by your house. They are a visual day brightener for all! Do you grow the plants yourself or do you buy them? Do you make up these planters with your own creativity? I want to be like you, Betsy! Thanks for sharing.
Love your color combinations. You have an eye for the dramatic. They are beautiful!
Wonderful use of containers.
Wonderful, creative use of your small space - this garden is a much a feast for the senses as any larger ones.
That's also my idea of a good use for a garage- garden shed LOL!
You've created a pretty garden, I just love the scene of those stone steps and the Brugmansia....all off your pot arrangements.
Oh please tell me how you overwinter your Brugmansia in zone 5?!?!
I will check back to see if you respond to comments...thanks!
Betsy I'm so glad that your garden was featured again in Fine Gardening. I'm a member of the AHS and have followed your story thru the years. You have a beautiful garden and I admire your tenacity at making your garden work. I can't imagine wheeling all those wheelbarrows thru the garage to the back.
I just bought a new yellow dahlia, without realizing it was a short variety(dwarf?), but now I can see how I can use it to great effect! Thanks for the idea, and for sharing all your pretty plants and ideas!
Every photo is a delight for the eyes! Simply charming pots and garden! I'll just ditto what "Simple Sue" said!
Log in or create an account to post a comment.
Sign up Log in