Garden Photo of the Day

Creating Beauty in Illinois

Magical moments in the garden

By GPOD Contributor

The photos today are from Suzanne Layer’s garden in Bloomingdale, Illinois.

Welcome to my garden! Stroll past the fairies and under the arch filled with red roses. Gardens are magical places where cares can disappear. My sister, Anne, who lives in Paris, calls this the “mini-Monet.” I absolutely love creating beauty whether in my studio or out in the garden.

RoselilyAlong the way: the stunning color of the double-bloom roselily. (“Roselily” refers to a series of oriental lily hybrids with double flowers.)

tall phloxThe fragrance of tall phlox (Phlox paniculata, Zones 4–8) will pull you along the way and around the curves.

The main garden viewed from a path leading to our deck. Purple delphinium (Delphinium elatum, Zones 3–7) and lime green hostas lead the eye across the way to the beginning of the shade garden.

old-fashioned hollyhock
The tall spire of an old-fashioned hollyhock (Alcea rosea, Zones 3–8) stands sentinel above yellow daylilies (Hemerocallis hybrid, Zones 4–8) and tall, deep pink phlox.

This path leads past the firepit area through the open gate to the sun garden. In summer’s fullness it is filled with tall yellow yarrow (Achillea hybrid, Zones 3–8), phlox, and Shasta daisies (Leucanthemum × superbum, Zones 4–9). Earlier in spring the red poppies and purple-blue of my grandmother’s iris draw you in. Sometimes a red fox relaxes back here!

Another view of the faraway sun garden, looking past the white blooming crabapple tree and a circle of blooming hostas.

This fountain is the focal point of the rock garden. It overlooks the entrance arch.

pink-eyed phlox
Another shot of pink-eyed phlox!

Thank you for this opportunity to take your readers on a stroll down my garden.

 

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View 9 comments

Comments

  1. User avater
    PKKing 08/14/2020

    Just beautiful!! 🌷❣

  2. coastalgardener 08/14/2020

    What a stunningly beautiful garden! I love your meandering paths and your mix of textures and colors. Eye-candy for sure!

  3. User avater
    treasuresmom 08/14/2020

    A garden full of color. A wonderful sight.

  4. User avater
    simplesue 08/14/2020

    That's a fun garden- so many different areas to walk through and little surprises to discover.
    I like the way you've taken advantage of having sun and shade and used plants suitable for each type of light....You walk through the sunny arch and find relaxing shady greens and lavender colors and a water feature with interesting stones, a little statue figure and a pretty silver gazing ball...rest your eyes and back into the vibrant sunny side with the hot pinks and red flowers! So pretty, love what you did!

  5. btucker9675 08/14/2020

    Your garden puts the bloom in Bloomingdale! Just lovely!

  6. cheryl_c 08/14/2020

    I enjoyed seeing all your contrasts, and also the way you have used that outstanding garden staple - tall phlox. Would love to just amble along the paths and enjoy the different scenarios.

  7. Acaruthers 08/14/2020

    Absolutely stunning!💖
    I especially love all of the phlox!

  8. user-5117752 08/16/2020

    Fairyland indeed! How lovely it must be to wander your paths and breathe in the fragrances. Should be a garden full of hummingbirds. Are there any? Thank you for taking the time to share.

  9. Maggieat11 08/18/2020

    Fabulous. I love it. Wish I could visit...😁

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