This is your GPOD editor, Joseph, sharing some photos with you today. As the gardening season winds down, I like to go through the photos I’ve taken over the year and reflect on what plants I liked best. I thought I’d share some of my favorites with you today, and I hope you’ll send in some of your highlights from the year as well so we can all see what everyone enjoyed the most from their 2021 garden.

This is a daffodil called ‘Cassata’ (Narcissus ‘Cassata’, Zones 4–8) that I saw on a spring visit to Norfolk Botanical Gardens in Virginia. I loved it, and now I’ve got some bulbs of it planted in my new garden in Indiana. I can’t wait to see it bloom next spring!

Another favorite daffodil is ‘Moonlight Sensation’ (Narcissus ‘Moonlight Sensation’, Zones 4–8), here blooming in my old garden in Virginia. It is a delicate color and bloomed its head off. I’m happy the new owner of my garden will be enjoying this come spring, and I have of course planted more in my new garden.

I’ve grown this rose for a while, but this year it really outdid itself. It is marketed under the name ‘Oso Easy Peachy Cream’ in the United States, but it also goes by ‘Nice ’n’ Easy’ and ‘Apricot Garland’ in other countries. Whatever the name, it is a great performer, just covering itself with flowers.

Sweet peas (Lathyrus annus, annual) did great for me this year. They can be a little fussy, but by starting them early and making sure they had rich soil, I got a nice crop of wonderfully fragrant flowers.

Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis, Zones 3–10) is a delicious vegetable, but I was impressed by how pretty the mature stems are, especially when covered with dew and catching the morning light like they are here.

This is from my old garden in Virginia, where, thanks to the hot, humid weather, a lot of lavender plants didn’t thrive. But this variety, Lavandula ‘Phenomenal’ (Zones 5–9), did great, and I loved cutting the wonderfully scented bloom stems.

I always like growing cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus, annual), but this pretty variety called ‘Double Click’ with very full-petaled flowers was new to me this year. I really enjoyed it!

Oakleaf hydrangeas (Hydrangea quercifolia, Zones 5–9) are great plants, but this variety ‘Snowflake’ takes it up a notch with double flowers with extra petals. I saw this at a botanic garden and can’t wait to get one of my own.

I took this picture of the wonderful ornamental onion Allium ‘Millenium’ (Zones 4–8) at Fernwood Botanical Garden in Niles, Michigan. Planted in mass like this, it looks just stunning.

I’m enjoying a new collection indoors: African violets (Saintapaulia hybrids). There are a lot of great new hybrids with beautiful colors and forms, and I’m really enjoying their beauty as the snow starts flying outside.

Fine Gardening Recommended Products

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.

MULTITASKING DUAL EDGES: a deep serrated edge and a tapered slicing edge ideal for tough or delicate cuts. DURABLE 6-inch stainless steel blade withstands 300 lbs of pressure. TWINE CUTTING NOTCH, DEPTH GAUGE MARKINGS & spear point - no need to switch tools when using this garden knife. LEATHER SHEATH: heavy duty, protective, clip on sheath to keep your knife convenient and secure. LIFETIME WARRANTY.

Buy at Amazon