We’re traveling with Deborah Dorman today, who is taking us to Mendenhall Gardens in Juneau, Alaska.

A flurry of golden bidens flowers (Bidens ferulifolia, Zones 9–11 or as an annual) accentuates the beauty of these rock formations.

Blue lobelia (Lobelia erinus, annual) is a beautiful little plant that thrives best in cooler temperatures, so it is a perfect choice for an Alaskan garden.

A spectacular display of hanging baskets is overflowing with petunias (Petunia hybrid, Zones 10–11 or as an annual).

One of the iconic features of this garden is the upside-down tree planters. These are actual tree stumps, pulled up and flipped over in the ground and then used as planters on the top. What a beautiful and interesting way to use something that otherwise would have just gone into a wood chipper.

An abutilon (Abutilon hybrid, Zones 8–10 or as an annual) shows off a brilliant red flower. These shrubs are sometimes called “parlor maples” for their maple-shaped leaves and the fact that they were once popular as houseplants.

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