Barbara Nuffer sent in today’s photos. She gardens in Rensselaer County in upstate New York, and her gardens include extensive perennial and vegetable plantings.
Barbara grew these hollyhocks (Alcea rosea, Zones 2–10) from seed last spring. They are the variety ‘Indian Spring’, which is a mix of various shades of pink. Careful staking has helped them stand tall through severe storms.
Clematis are best known for the large-flowered hybrids, but there is a lot of diversity in the genus, like this incredible rich purple Clematis ‘Rooguchi’ (Zones 4–8) which produces nodding, bell-shaped flowers.
Another unusual clematis, with graceful, almost tulip-like flowers.
A little bellflower (possibly Campanula carpatica, Zones 4–9, or a related species or hybrid) with blue flowers looking all the better for growing through a backdrop of a purple-leaved barberry (Berberis japonica, Zones 4–8).
A double-flower form of feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium, Zones 5–8). This plant gets its name from its traditional use as a medicinal herb, but this form is all about the beauty of the flowers.
The rusty foxglove (Digitalis ferruginea, Zones 4–8) has smaller flowers than more commonly grown species of foxgloves, but it produces them in great numbers, and each one is an intricately patterned work of art.
A shade garden planting, with big masses of Japanese painted fern (Athyrium niponicum var. pictum, Zones 3–8) in the front, lighting up the space with elegant silver fronds.
The flower spikes of bear’s breeches (Acanthus mollis, Zones 6–10), which is a dependable perennial grown for both the dramatic flowers as well as the large, attractive leaves.
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Comments
I have ‘Rooguchi’ along with several other clematises & it is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. Love your shade garden. I wish my fern would get that large!
For those interested, Barbara has shared in the past.
https://www.finegardening.com/article/barbaras-shady-circular-garden-in-new-york
Thanks, T-Mom. The link gave me a comprehensive view...
Absolutely gorgeous. Love your photos and your shade garden! Thank you for sharing.🌿
Love seeing your close up photos and then the big view with the bench- you've got a super nice garden!
I saved your photo of the Hollyhock and the type it is...even though our hungry city groundhogs like to eat all of the leaves off...I might give them another try after seeing how beautiful yours are.
Barbara - I definitely have hollyhock envy... beautiful flowers and not a speck of Puccinia malvacearum!
I hadn't seen Clematis ‘Rooguchi’ - thank you for the introduction. I loved the bright white of the Tanacetum parthenium and was intrigued by the rusty foxglove.
Your photo of the 'Rooguchi’ is one of the most beautiful I have ever seen....from the slick glistening at the base of the flower to the textural fuzziness where the bloom opens and is welcoming to the pollinators...sigh, it's mesmerizing. It was an additional delight to revisit your earlier sharing. You are an extraordinary gardener.
Thank you!
I, too, have a bad case of hollyhock envy - no success here in NC with it so far. That Rooguchi clematis looks like it's been enameled - gorgeous! Thanks for sharing your spectacular garden.
So lovely!
Gorgeous!!!!
May I just say ditto to whatever meander_michaele said? She always has the right words, at least for me, that is!!! Simply marvelous photographs!!! And, thank you Michaele!
Thank you everyone 💕
I love to photograph my plants
Using an iPhone XS
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