Happy Monday GPODers!

If you’ve been following GPOD, subscribed to Fine Gardening magazine, or following any of our socials for a while, you’ve seen Jay Sifford’s incredible garden and designs (If you want a little refresher, check out his author page for articles he has contributed to the magazine, or check out a few of his past GPOD submissions: Back in Jay’s Bog Gardens, A Garden Jay Made in NC, and Fall in Jay’s Garden). Today, we get to see his exceptional garden donning its dazzling fall colors. Jay’s garden is full of conifers in every color, shade, shape and form you can imagine. During the fall months, all of these conifers really come alive with the backdrop of other fall foliage stars.

Learn more: Top Plants for Fall Color in the Southeast

P.S. – If you’re looking for even more design advice and insights from Jay, you should definitely check out our interview with Jay on our podcast (Episode 156: Finding Design Inspiration with Jay Sifford)!

Early November brought some new magic to my mountain garden called Rhodwood. I’m located in the northwestern-most county of North Carolina, at 3300 feet. I was zone 6b, but was recently moved to 7a, an unwelcome event in my mind.

Because the winters can be long, dark and cold here, creating a four season garden was a top priority. The peak flowering time is July, but in autumn, nature seems to drape the garden in kaleidoscopic magic. Bright foliage plays well with the now-dormant grasses and the (mostly) green conifers. Since Ashe County produces more Christmas trees than just about anywhere else, the conifers in my garden tell the story of Place.

The entryway into the front garden is framed with a simple and minimalistic aluminum portal. This portal frames the axial focal point, a small planted island adorned with blown glass spears. From here, the eye is intentionally pulled through the garden by a plethora of different colors, textures and shapes.
This immersive garden has exceeded my expectations, and enhances my life every time I drive up those big hills!

The aluminum portal that marks the entryway to the front garden.

Fall foliage putting on quite the show.

The conifers, from this ‘Helga’ Austrian pine (Pinus nigra ‘Helga’, Zones 4–8) to various blue spruces, provided year-round structure, color and texture.

A large planting of ‘All Gold’ shore juniper (Juniperus conferta ‘All Gold’, Zones 6–9) repeats the color of the ‘Skylands’ Oriental spruce (Picea orientalis ‘Skylands’, Zones 4–7).

The blown glass spears add a bright spot of color. In season, they mimic the color and form of 180 blooming blazing star (Liatris spicata, Zones 3–8).

View toward Bald Mountain, across the road. Hurricane Helene, which fortunately spared my garden, blew most of the leaves off of the trees on the surrounding mountains, spoiling our normal color extravaganza.

Dried panicle hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata, Zones 3–8) flower heads against feather reed grass (Calamagrostis × acutiflora, Zones 4–11). I love the juxtaposition of form and texture.

The blue foliage of this white fir (Abies concolor, Zones 3–7) stands out against the mass planting of ‘Karley Rose’ pennisetum grass (Pennisetum orientale ‘Karley Rose’, Zones 5–10).

The ‘Shishigashira’ Japanese maple (Acer palmatum ‘Shishigashira’, Zones 5–8) is the most beautiful shade of reddish-orange. In Charlotte, where I work, the foliage on this maple turns yellow, not red.

My newest obsession is sarracenias, aka pitcher plants. I have three sunken “tub gardens” filled with them. I use them in ways that nature would never do. Here, this one shines against the foliage of ‘Blue Star’ juniper (Juniperus squamata ‘Blue Star’, Zones 4–8). I love creating unexpected vignettes.

I’ve been planting Japanese forest grass on this slope for several years now. It’s such a slow growing grass. I want it to eventually cover the entire slope. I’ve planted two different types, one green, one variegated, to create an interesting tapestry effect.

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.

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Fine Gardening Recommended Products

DeWalt Variable-Speed Cordless Reciprocating Saw with 6-Piece Saw Blade Set

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

You can fit a variety of blades to this saw to cut fallen branches or prune larger limbs from trees in a pinch. It’s fast, tough, easy to use, and extremely versatile.
- 18.31 x 6.13 x 4 inches
- 1-1/8-inch stroke length
- Variable speed trigger with 0-3000 spm
- DW4856 Metal/Woodcutting Reciprocating Saw Blade Set, 6-Piece

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Spear & Jackson 4930FZ Razorsharp Telescopic Tree Pruner

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

Telescopic tree pruner with SK5 carbon steel blade which stays sharper for longer. Variable length telescopic handle extends up to 92 Inch (2340mm). Lopper for cutting branches up to 1.2" (30mm). 13 inch (330mm) saw is ideal for cutting thicker branches. Supplied with a long cord and pull-action handle. Part of the Razorsharp Advantage collection, the obvious choice for gardeners who demand and expect precise, powerful performance. "Grow Your Own" Great British Growing 2020 Award Winners.

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Pruning Simplified: A Step-by-Step Guide to 50 Popular Trees and Shrubs

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

Pruning Simplified shows you exactly how to do it. This must-have guide offers expert advice on the best tools for the job, specific details on when to prune, and clear instructions on how to prune. Profiles of the 50 most popular trees and shrubs—including azaleas, camellias, clematis, hydrangeas, and more—include illustrated, easy-to-follow instructions that will ensure you make the right cut the first time.

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