I’m always happy when garden designer Jay Sifford sends in photos. We’ve visited his beautiful garden in Charlotte, North Carolina, a few times (Jay’s Garden in North Carolina, Revisited), and today we’re checking in on his second garden up in the mountains of western North Carolina.
This is year 3 of my Zone 6 North Carolina mountain garden. It has exceeded my expectations, and I had high hopes. I set out to create an immersive, pollinator-friendly, stylized meadow set atop my septic drain field. Artistically, I wanted to craft something that resembled a three-dimensional Monet painting. I’m both proud and humbled to say that I think I’ve accomplished my goals. Happy bird songs create a surround-sound experience, and visually, my painting has come to life.
Clouds of purple geraniums (Geranium ‘Rozanne’, Zones 5–8) back up and contrast perfectly with the yellow blooms of threadleaf coreopsis (Coreopsis verticillata, Zones 3–9) in the foreground, while clouds of other blooming plants extend beyond.
Pinky-purple blooms of Stachys officinalis (Zones 4–8) take center stage here. The air clouds of flowers are anchored by sturdy shrubs and the bold foliage of irises.
It is easy to see the inspiration of a Monet painting here in this beautiful garden, with clouds of small flowers painting the view.
The richly planted garden slopes down to a circle of inviting chairs.
The dark color and simple form of the house are a perfect contrast to the airy, delicate feel of the garden.
One last view of this incredible garden shows how the surrounding trees wrap around this romantic meadow planting.
Have a garden you’d like to share?
Have photos to share? We’d love to see your garden, a particular collection of plants you love, or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit!
To submit, send 5-10 photos to [email protected] along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the photos. We’d love to hear where you are located, how long you’ve been gardening, successes you are proud of, failures you learned from, hopes for the future, favorite plants, or funny stories from your garden.
Have a mobile phone? Tag your photos on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with #FineGardening!
Do you receive the GPOD by email yet? Sign up here.
Fine Gardening Recommended Products
Gardener's Log Book from NYBG
Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.
The Crevice Garden: How to make the perfect home for plants from rocky places
Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.
A.M. Leonard Deluxe Soil Knife & Leather Sheath Combo
Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.
Comments
Absolutely gorgeous!! Am imagining walking through this beautiful space, smelling the flowers, hearing the birds, feeling the breeze. Thanks so much for sharing.
Beautiful. I like how you have integrated your new plantings and not lost the native feel.
Thanks. That's a great compliment.
Absolutely amazing! You certainly reached your goal. Wish I could visit in person.
As usual, a virtual visit of your garden is like being in a dream. You are a master!
Beautiful succession and I imagine it is hard to leave the grounds because you wouldn’t want to miss anything.
Absolutely lovely!
Simply dreamy. Do you cut it down in the Fall or just let it die down? I’m interested in the fact that it is over your septic drain field. I have a similar situation and was trying to figure out what could be grown. I guess nothing with large or deep roots.
Hi. I leave the grasses up until the first part of March, along with any of the perennials that I want to go to seed, such as echinacea and verbena. The rest I cut down when they look sufficiently ugly.
Your garden is huge, what an project!
You've really managed to create such a beautiful, natural looking "not-man-made garden"....it just looks like nature did all of those beautiful arrangements of plants/flowers!
You really did accomplish a Monet painting garden- without lily pads!
Be still my heart! This is absolutely stunning - perfection!
You have created a visual dreamland for your mountain home, Jay. Your plant knowledge, skills and artistic vision have definitely come to life with the soft beauty of this property. The birdsongs must be deafening on a quiet day! It's exquisite.
What??? A whole OTHER garden? You are unstoppable. BTW, looks like so many of your old articles have been taken down; they were so helpful to me. PLEASE write a book or something.
Thanks. I plan to write a book one day when I slow down enough!
I have seen this garden before, so beautiful, I always remember Siffordwhat a lovely place to live, so fortunate
Maginifcent "painting with flowers", a joy to view. Can only imagine how wonderful it is to view in person.
I'm very inspired by beautiful gardens. It's especially impressive if a person makes a beautiful place for themselves to relax in the garden. My dream was to buy a sod installation Calgary right here https://sungreen.net/landscaping-contractors/sod/ . And you know what? Thanks to a special service it worked out. They really helped me make not only a beautiful landscape design but also a functional one. I think that you will benefit from this service too, and that is why I offer it to you.
Log in or create an account to post a comment.
Sign up Log in