Garden Photo of the Day

Joyce’s Massachusetts Garden

Transforming a neglected site

By GPOD Contributor
path leading between two garden beds full of golden plants

Today we’re visiting with Joyce Hannaford.

My 22-year-old garden continues to evolve here in Natick, Massachusetts. I’ve been gardening for 70 years, and both my parents were avid gardeners.

The property that we bought was totally overgrown, so we had a blank slate once we removed the out-of-control shrubs and trees.

We love to share our garden with friends, neighbors, and the many daily passersby, who get a lot of joy walking through the winding paths.

garden water feature surrounded by green plants
A pretty stunning water feature forms the focal point here. On the fence behind is a climbing hydrangea (Hydrangea anomala, Zones 4–8). Covering the ground is variegated Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum odoratum ‘Variegatum’, Zones 3–8), and in front is yellow creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia ‘Aurea’ Zones 3–9) and Japanese painted fern (Athyrium niponicum var. pictum, Zones 3–8). The foliage-focused plantings allow the water feature to take center stage.

path leading between two garden beds full of golden plants
The neatly mown grass path invites you to wander and explore this garden filled with lush plantings. Gold foliage is a repeated element in this scene, helping to unify the design.

wide view of garden from the street with trees and garden arch
A wide view of the garden from the street shows just how inviting this garden is to those who walk by.

garden bed with summer blooms
Masses of garden phlox (Phlox paniculata, Zones 4–8) and spires of blue and purple delphinium (Delphinium elatum, Zones 3–7) make it hard to imagine that this garden used to be nothing but weedy, overgrown trees and shrubs. What a magical space it has become!

 

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To submit, send 5-10 photos to gpod@taunton.com 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.

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Comments

  1. garden1953 07/21/2021

    Beautiful gardens. Hope you will share more photos in the future!

  2. Maggieat11 07/21/2021

    So beautiful and inviting. I'd love to see more photos as well, including how your home sits among all these glorious plantings!🍃 I enjoyed seeing your garden "ornaments" as well. Thank you for sharing!

  3. Rebeccazone7 07/21/2021

    I love the contrast with the grasses. I'm also in awe of anyone who can grow delphiniums with any success as they hate our humid hot nights. Am also fascinated at what it would take to keep those paths in such perfect condition.

  4. gardendevas 07/21/2021

    Lush yet immaculate - a tough balance. Just beautiful!

  5. btucker9675 07/21/2021

    What a stunningly beautiful garden you've created. That water feature is wonderful and the stone cairn in the same scene - so great! Thanks for sharing.

  6. annek 07/21/2021

    You have created a fabulously well groomed and delightful garden. Your design of lush and healthy plants certainly demonstrates your 70 years of gardening expertise. Bravo!

  7. User avater
    simplesue 07/21/2021

    You have the most well groomed garden I've ever seen!
    Not a leaf or blade of grass out of place, and your gazing balls look super polished!
    Sure would like to see those gorgeous rabbit statues on each side of the grass path, up close, and know what the name of those tall light blue Phlox are!
    You've done a great job on your garden!

  8. sheila_schultz 07/21/2021

    I love the photo of the grass path from the street inviting passersby to wander through the magic of your beautiful gardens. You must be everyone's favorite neighbor! You have created a comforting oasis, I love it!

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