Garden Photo of the Day

Late Summer in Zone 3

Precious warm days full of flowers

Marion Taylor sent us photos earlier in the summer of her Zone 3 garden in Manitoba, Canada, and today we’re featuring what’s looking good in late summer. She says, “We have a short summer, but the growth is explosive when the warm weather arrives, with something new to see every day.”

I use petunias (Petunia × hybrida, annual) in the hanging baskets on the veranda. This is ‘Bubblegum Vista’. Behind it is Engleman ivy (aka Virginia creeper, Parthenocissus quinquefolia var. engelmanii, Zones 3–9), which covers the east wall of the house.

Gladiolus (Gladiolus hybrid, Zones 7–9 or as a tender bulb) are a major favorite, and one of the few things that get cut for bouquets.

My ‘Goodland’ apple tree has produced well year after year for twenty years now. The apples are nice to eat fresh but are absolutely delicious in baking.

This year the veranda rail planter held a petunia Crazytunia from the Galaxy series.

I had never grown zinnias before, and after our dog got into the bed where I had planted them, I figured they were destroyed. I put some lavender in, but then some zinnias came up. They almost got pulled as weeds. Thankfully, they didn’t.

An unplanned pot of leftover petunias and an extra canna worked out beautifully.

The Persian shield (Strobilanthes dyerianus, Zones 10–11 or as annual) and blue pansies (Viola × wittrockiana) have been a nice combination in the circular bed.

The Little Lime hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata ‘Little Lime’, Zones 3–9) is so lovely that I’ve had to get more hydrangeas.

 

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Comments

  1. User avater
    meander_michaele 09/19/2019

    That's quite a glorious gladiolus...amazing how just the one flower packed stem makes such an awesome cut flower. Do you dig up and over winter the bulbs indoors or start out with freshly purchased ones each year?
    I love how you let a touch of serendipity lend a hand in contributing to some of your flower partnerings. It's all very pretty.

    1. RB2T 09/19/2019

      Hello, gladiolas are my favourite. I save some corms, but usually order some new every year. I order from Peeters Glads in Ontario and going through their on-line catalogue in February is great fun. MGT

  2. User avater
    treasuresmom 09/19/2019

    That apple!!! I can just hear the crunch when it is bitten into. I agree with meander - that gladiola is glorious.

  3. RB2T 09/19/2019

    Hi, that tree has been incredible. It is quite large standing the same height as our two-story house.

  4. 18bees 09/19/2019

    Your zinnia survivor looks so pretty with the lavender and the hanging basket of pink petunias is gorgeous. Thanks for sharing your pictures!

  5. User avater
    simplesue 09/19/2019

    I can only imagine the challenges of gardening in zone 3! All your garden photos are so pretty. Love the gingerbread detail on your house with the hanging pink petunias! Gee, living in the city for so long apples are only something I see in a grocery store LOL! How nice to grow your own from a garden tree!

  6. user-7537887 09/20/2019

    The flowers are so beautiful and their colors are varied. Thank you for sharing it. shell shockers

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