Garden Photo of the Day

Bonnie’s garden in Pennsylvania, revisited

The newest garden, after removing a Frasier fir that was harmed by Super Storm Sandy--a new sun-loving garden took it's place.

Today’s photos are from Bonnie Pancoast in eastern Pennsylvania. We’ve visited Bonnie’s garden many times before (refresh your memory HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE), and it just keeps getting better and better.

Reseeded larkspur and ‘Polka Dot’ climbing rose in corner garden

She says, “The gardens began in the spring of 2005 after the loss of our former residence to tropical storm Ivan. Upon arrival at our home in the country I dreamed of one day having a backdoor vegetable garden and a peaceful retreat behind the barn.

The complimentary colors of ‘Purple Wave’ petunias and ‘Stella de Oro’ daylilies greet joggers in the from garden

What is now the lower garden with the labyrinth was a weed patch complete with poison ivy and raspberry brambles. I did not envision a garden growing from complete chaos. But I allowed the land to speak and together we’ve co-created the gardens at Valley View.

A surprise reseed! I originally planted a ‘Sunset’ echinacea which unfortunately died out three years ago.  This year I was surprised by a this addition to the gardens.

Every rock, every plant was carefully placed by my husband and myself. Most hardscape materials were discards from other people’s projects, aka Craigslist, and farmers’ fields. I’ve chronicled the grow of the gardens on the blog, The Iris and the Lily.

Rock garden in front of the home.  All plant material nestled in the rocks, lady’s mantle, alyssum, and portulaca are all reseeded plants.

There are no gardens behind the barn, the vegetable garden provides fresh vegetables daily, and after a winter that dropped us to Zone 5, I am amazed at the resiliency of the gardens.”

The backdoor terraced vegetable garden

So Bonnie, is that garden near the labyrinth bigger or what? It looks amazing! And I am IN LOVE with the bowling ball pyramid. IN LOVE. I only have 2 bowling balls so far. I need to amp up the collecting…. Thanks for the garden update!

Garden path at the side of the labyrinth. The woodland border contains a variety of hostas, hellebores, and ferns and is punctuated with color from a cultivar of weigela. 

***Keep sending in photos, folks! [email protected]

White astilbe at the entrance to the labyrinth
Overview of the lower gardens
Bowling Ball pyramid balances the energy of the labyrinth

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Comments

  1. User avater
    Tim_Zone_Denial_Vojt 07/03/2014

    Looks great! I was not expecting to like the bowling ball pyramid, but I do!

  2. User avater
    meander_michaele 07/03/2014

    Hi, Bonnie, wow, didn't those volunteer larkspur show up in a perfect place...the dark blue really sets off the soft coral tones of the rose. I was just appreciating a similar effect in my own garden except the coral color was from a daylily being enhanced by the dark blue larkspur surrounding it....thanks. Mother Nature! Your bowling bowl pyramid is certainly an eye-catcher and, I'll bet, quite the object of exclamations of delight from garden visitors.
    You know I'm a fan of your blog and your mesmerizing close-ups of flowers and other miracles of nature.

  3. annek 07/03/2014

    Simply perfect. I kept asking myself, 'which is the favorite photo?' and I couldn't pick just one. Your front yard garden is so inviting and Cottage-y, The color combinations Meander mentioned are fabulous, the intriguing garden path (I want to follow it to the end), and your tidy labyrinth of lower gardens with the wondrous bowling ball pyramid. wow!

  4. VikkiVA 07/03/2014

    Beautiful garden Bonnie. The white Astilbe is so stunning ~ just makes that area shine! Unique use of the bowling balls! Vikki in VA.

  5. GrannyMay 07/03/2014

    Bonnie your beautiful garden and your wonderful blog reflect your positive, caring attitude and your harmony with nature. Love it all!

  6. perenniallycrazy 07/03/2014

    Hi Bonnie! My favorite photo is the overview of the lower gardens. If I imagine myself standing in the very same spot where you shot the photo, I wouldn't know which room to visit first - the labyrinth, the sitting areas, the statue or the bowling ball pyramid. I guess it would depend on my mood at the time of viewing. Today, I am more attracted to visit the bowling ball pyramid first because it looks like FUN! Note to visitors though - No bowling in the labyrinth! Thanks for sharing.

  7. GrannyCC 07/04/2014

    Beautiful garden. Love the Polka Dot climbing rose. Your passion for nature is very evident in your wonderful pictures. The design of the vegetable garden is very decorative and makes you realize that they don't have to be set off from the rest of the garden.

  8. Meelianthus 07/05/2014

    Hello Bonnie ~ A little late here but just wanted to say that your flowers are just breathtaking! As are the paths and stonework. Your view of the lower gardens is so inviting I feel as if I could step right into the picture. Beautifully done. Thanks for sharing your gardens and love of gardening.

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