Garden Photo of the Day

Cindy’s garden in New York

Photo/Illustration: Courtesy of Cindi Reiss

Today’s photos are from Cindy Reiss in New York state. She says, “I live in Rochester, New York, two miles south of Lake Ontario. My husband and I have been gardening in our small plot of sandy soil for ten years. Each year we add, subtract, and just move things around! I like to play with plant combinations, especially in containers. In winter I work on my garden journal, cataloging photos and plant identities.”

The rear yard is bordered with privet hedge which blossoms with sweet fragrance in June. Lavender, Stella Doro daylilies, creeping phlox, and emerging giant cone flowers in the foreground. Photo/Illustration: Courtesy of Cindi Reiss

Your containers are fantastic, Cindy! And I LOVE that little water feature. Thanks so much for sharing.

Photo/Illustration: Courtesy of Cindi Reiss
Spiderwort, Saint John’s wort, Hibiscus, balloon flower, sedum, daisy, yellow iris, Asian lilies. Photo/Illustration: Courtesy of Cindi Reiss
This is a small water feature addition to our front entry. The blue spruce is 30′ tall and serves as a bird condo. The stones are from the lake shoreline. Planted are two sweet spires, coleus, (Joseph’s Coat) rhododendron, and my favorite toad flax. Photo/Illustration: Courtesy of Cindi Reiss
This container features Canna ‘Chocolate Sunrise’, tequila sunrise super bells petunia, purple Ipomoea, and Dahlias. Photo/Illustration: Courtesy of Cindi Reiss
This container holds lemony scented hyssop Acapulco, purslane, and hens & chickens. The hyssop winters in the garden now. Photo/Illustration: Courtesy of Cindi Reiss
This container shows Cyperus involucratus baby tut, Osteospermum Zion orange, and Begonia vodka. Photo/Illustration: Courtesy of Cindi Reiss
This container surrounded by Stella Dora day lilies features Blue Salvia, Silver Anouk lavender, Euphorbia Silver Fog, and Apricot Purslane. Photo/Illustration: Courtesy of Cindi Reiss

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View 14 comments

Comments

  1. User avater
    meander_michaele 04/12/2013

    Hi, Cindy, I'm also a fan of your fun pot combinations. One, in particular, made a lightbulb go off for me...the one with the Baby Tut papyrus (I think that's what it is?) as an element. I never thought to use that in a pot and, yet, it's airiness and spread is very effective. I'm definitely going to copy you!
    Here I go with the questions... what is the plant with the violet colored blooms behind the dark red asiatic lilies?

  2. User avater
    Tim_Zone_Denial_Vojt 04/12/2013

    So rich and green! Especially love the container with the salvia. I didn't know there were salvias with such great foliage.

  3. bee1nine 04/12/2013

    Cindy, I'm feeling right at home capturing the quaint and
    coziness of your yard and charming garden. Smaller plots can
    have its advantages,too!
    Wonderful plant combinations you have created in your
    containers! I'm also a 'fan' for container gardening.

    Hi meander1- The violet colored blooms would be Spiderwort!

  4. tractor1 04/12/2013

    Cindy, your container arrangements are wonderful, I can't choose so I won't. And I love your little water feature, and those lake stones make me want to reach out and fondle them... I wish I could see the full 30' stature of that spruce, it has great color. I hope when in use you move your gas grill well away from your house, needs to be at least 15' from combustibles, including trees, and never on a wood deck... with its propane tank attached I'd not store it there even when not in use. And just a friendly hint (for everyone), when taking photos note the position of the sun, the first three lose a lot in shadow by shooting into the sun, I can tell time of day by shadow length. Your container photos are excellent, crisp and clear, the detail of your canna is a pleasure to behold. I love gardens created and maintained by the owner as averse to professional. A great contribution to end the week! Your garden has soul, thank you, Cindy

  5. amyswhimzyfl 04/12/2013

    WOW!
    I'm originally from Rochester (Greece)too. I'm thinking that theses photos were from last year. No problem, but I remember what April's were like when I was a kid. May Day (1st) we would TRY to find flowers to put in hand made cone cups and hang them on the neighbors doors. Most of the time those flowers were ver elusive. Weeds did just as well. LOL Now that we live in FL, flowers bloom all year - I'm in paradise!
    I learned how to garden from an old man (I was 12) from New England. He had a wonderful garden there in Rochester. He would trim out his garden each spring and give me the 'starts.' I had the most wonderful plants! Do they still have the flower groups that meet in the museum there? My love of botany came out of those meeting my mother would take me to.

  6. janetsfolly 04/12/2013

    Yep, I agree with everyone! That's a gorgeous specimen of spiderwort in the 4th pic and I LOVE the blue container in a pool of Stellas. Using cool blues as contrast works well...I plan to copy several fo your container combos!
    Tractor1, I've committed that shade-shot boo-boo too many times myself. When one is standing in the shade, the sunny area looks so lovely, but the camera just doesn't see it the same way our eyes and brain do!
    Michelle, I've been catching up this AM and I must say, this was a week of exceptional posts! Thank you for bringing so much beauty and joy to us all!

  7. mauritian_host 04/12/2013

    Hi Cindy, The 3rd picture is so beautiful, I love Lavender, also the water feature is great.. Excellent combination keep it up

  8. mauritian_host 04/12/2013

    Hi Cindy, The 3rd picture is so beautiful, I love Lavender, also the water feature is great.. Excellent combination keep it up

  9. sheila_schultz 04/12/2013

    Obviously, the plant additions and subtractions are working for your in ground gardens, Cindy. Your container garden combos are great fun, too... you've definitely got an eye for design!

  10. tractor1 04/12/2013

    janetsfolly: actually our eyes/brain see exactly the same way a camera does, if you're squinting you are looking into the sun... you can be standing in the shade of a tree without squinting but still make the error of shooting into the sun. Unless one is attempting special effects it's best to photograpgh outdoors between 9-11 AM and 1-3 PM with the sun always at your back, not to the side either. If you need to photograph a particular subject in the morning and the only way is facing the sun wait for afternoon, no law says you need to photograph all your subjects within the same time frame. Noon is a poor time because with the sun directly overhead it will light the tops of subjects but leave everything below in shade. When unsure always have the sun at your back. Even indoors, don't shoot towards a window, daylight will wash out your photo and at night the glass will reflect your flash back, many a great photo has been ruined by posing the subject in front of a window, even a mirror, a TV, and especially a lit lamp. I hope no one takes offence by my photography suggestions.

  11. boards 04/12/2013

    Cindy, thank you for identifying plants. I want one of each, of course.
    Happy Gardening, Gloria

  12. MichelleGervais 04/12/2013

    Not at all, Tractor1! I am a huge proponent of taking photos in early morning or early evening. The light is so much kinder to your garden. A beautiful sunny day always yields harsh photos, unless you get the holy grail--deep blue skies and a few big, dense clouds to hide the sun once in a while.

  13. cwheat000 04/12/2013

    Thanks for the photo tips Tractor1. I will try to send in some more photos of my garden soon and could use the advice. Cindy, you don't have a huge yard, but everything is done so nicely. I would rather do smaller areas really well, than spread myself thin on a larger area. I love the stones gathered from the lake.

  14. janetsfolly 04/13/2013

    No offense taken, Tractor1! You are quite knowledgable and all tips are much appreciated.

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