Marilyn’s Missouri-inspired garden in Minnesota (12 photos)
I plant many annual flowers around the patio and a few perennials. ‘Snow Pavement’ shrub rose at the bottom of the photo provides fragrance to the whole patio when it blooms in early summer. The back of wall includes three ‘Endless Summer’ hydrangeas, which seem to be “endlessly green”. Photo/Illustration: All photos courtesy Marilyn Regnier
Today’s photos are from Marilyn Regnier in Minnesota. She says, “I was never a gardener until 24 years ago when we lived in St. Louis, Missouri, for a couple of years and I went to the Missouri Botanical Garden. Wow, to see those gardens of flowers in massive beds, I knew I wanted to learn to garden and someday have gardens filled to overflowing with plants.
Behind the fountain is petunia Tidal Wave ‘Silver’, an amazing annual that grows, and grows, and billows over the ledge, filling in behind and around the fountain. A favorite. Peony bushes are behind the petunias. Geraniums, sweet alyssum, and ageratum are planted on the lower ledge.
“Moving back to Minnesota and living here in Minnetonka Beach for over 20 years now, I can truthfully say I have read many, many gardening books and magazines, attended a lot of seminars, and killed so many plants I can’t even begin to count them, but I have found great satisfaction when I look out at my gardens, plant annuals in the spring, and dig in the dirt.”
The other side of patio that year included annual Marguerite daisy ‘Butterfly’ and petunia (unknown cultivar).
Floriferous and wonderful, Marilyn! It looks like such a happy garden. Thanks for sharing!
**** The push is still on–get outside and take some last minute shots, or compile a few you took earlier in the season. I’ll be eternally grateful…. Email them to [email protected]. Thanks! ****
Along the edge of the woods is the perennial garden which is about 12 ft. deep by 85 ft. long. I keep it pretty well packed with perennials. An underground watering system has saved me and allows me to have the gardens. Some of the plants are Silphium perfoliatum (cup plant-the tall yellow flowers), perennial geranium in front (left), tall garden phlox, and coneflowers.Joe Pye weed (left), Hydrangea ‘Limelight’, tall garden phlox, and a wren’s favorite house.Tall coneflower ‘Herbstonne’ (Rudbeckia nitida) and unknown name of plant in front of it.Weigela ‘Minuet’ and frog duet.Speedwell (Veronica ‘Fairytale’), Clematis ‘Crystal Fountain’, and deep carmine Clematis ‘Ville de Lyon’.Mixed cosmos, Salvia ‘Victoria Blue’, flag iris, and tradescantia.New colors in 2012 for beds around the fountain with deep purple petunias, scarlet geraniums, and golden creeping Jenny over the edge.Dahlias and petunias.
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I enjoyed your photos very much. Beautiful! Like your inclusions of various "ornaments" throughout your gardens. That is a great wrenhouse! I also admire your backdrop of mature trees. A lovely yard for you and guests to enjoy!
The name of your speedwell 'Fairytale' pretty much says it all...your garden is out of storybook where all the flowers are lush, beautiful and magical.Love the cascading effect of the petunias around the fountain and the froth of alyssum at its base...very effective in highlighting the allure of water. I'm a sucker for touches of whimsy and interesting birdhouses so your garden is one that brings smiles of delight.
Gotta love that cozy patio. And that party punch bowl fountain is yummy... yeah for a big bash I'd fill it with blocks of frozen citrus ade and sangria. I like all the chachkas too, what's that basketball sized round thingie? And intersting lush plantings everywhere, a great garden!
Splendid garden work around your patio and higher ground
border areas. All this beauty smiling back at you! There's
no question the trial & errors are becoming tried & true for
you!!
Marilyn, I want to thank you for posting the name of the
Rudbeckia nitida, I have some, but forgot it name.
Tractor1 the blue basketball thing is the top of an old fountain that just trickled water and never made enough sound for me, but I really liked the design of its top and wanted to include it somewhere. DSBaloi, I only wish the photo of the purple petunias would be true to their actual color, they were a very deep, velvet-rich purple. Thanks for the very nice comments coming in, I am so glad you are enjoying my gardens.
Flower power! I think you have obtained your objective of an overflowing garden. How do you like Rudbeckia herbstone? It's massive size makes me think it would be a fun plant to work with. Do you stake it? Regarding your endless green hydrangeas: your cold winters may set them back, but they should flower later in the season on new wood. Have you tried not prunning them for a season and using a high phosphate fertilizer?
Marilyn, you are definitely a gardener now and deserve to be proud of what you have achieved! Yours is a garden to admire and enjoy. Beautiful!
Happy (Canadian) Thanksgiving everyone!
Mregnier: At first I thought that globe was a sort of walkway lighting fixture... perhaps it can be electrified... maybe hung upside down from a pole... or use votive candles inside. It is an interesting piece.
The "Herbstone" (Rudbeckia nitida) does not need to be staked in my garden. The gold finches love this plant and it is fun to watch them trying for the seeds. Thanks for the tip regarding my "endlessly green" hydrangeas, I will try high phosphate fertilizer next spring to try to coax some blooms. Mainer59, as far as any secrets for taking care of the long garden, I have a lot of plants packed in and they cut down on the amount of weeding needed. I don't mulch the long garden, except in the very front most years. I do have someone help me clean out that garden in the spring and cut it back in the fall, and help putting down many bags of mulch in my other gardens around the patio and in the front yard gardens.
Marilyn, you have definitely made your dream of having gardens abundantly filled with beautiful flowers come true! You can take that wish off your bucket list now since it has been beautifully achieved!
Marilyn, I love your yard/gardens, beautiful and intimate patio, that fabulous fountain. And those two frogs...I MUST ask where you found them and if I might be able to acquire a pair just like them for my own garden. Your perennial beds along the tree line are lovely. Do they receive morning sun, afternoon shade? Your spot for the golden creeping jenny is perfect---contained, colorful eye-catcher against the stone, and spilling and draping over the edges.
BethinIowa I collected the frogs a number of years ago and don't remember the store where I came upon the first one nor the catalog where I ran across the second one. Sorry I'm unable to guide you for purchasing them. As far as sunlight in the perennial border, mostly mid-day. None of the plants get full sun so there are a number of plants I can't have unless they were to be planted around the patio where it receives the most light in all of our yard.
Your garden is beautiful and so unbelievably manicured. How on earth do you do it all? Your use of many annuals with the perennials is stunning --lots of color. Love the petunia around the fountain and the alyssum below. Such a frothy, dainty look. The nice part of annuals is that one can try something completely different the next year as you did and that was a lovely look also. How I would love a stroll around your garden. I, also, have a hydrangea which won't bloom, but I fear mine is getting too much shade.
Comments
I enjoyed your photos very much. Beautiful! Like your inclusions of various "ornaments" throughout your gardens. That is a great wrenhouse! I also admire your backdrop of mature trees. A lovely yard for you and guests to enjoy!
I like you garden and your plantings! I especially like the combination of creeping Jenny with the dark purple petunias! PIN IT! done
The name of your speedwell 'Fairytale' pretty much says it all...your garden is out of storybook where all the flowers are lush, beautiful and magical.Love the cascading effect of the petunias around the fountain and the froth of alyssum at its base...very effective in highlighting the allure of water. I'm a sucker for touches of whimsy and interesting birdhouses so your garden is one that brings smiles of delight.
Gotta love that cozy patio. And that party punch bowl fountain is yummy... yeah for a big bash I'd fill it with blocks of frozen citrus ade and sangria. I like all the chachkas too, what's that basketball sized round thingie? And intersting lush plantings everywhere, a great garden!
Splendid garden work around your patio and higher ground
border areas. All this beauty smiling back at you! There's
no question the trial & errors are becoming tried & true for
you!!
Marilyn, I want to thank you for posting the name of the
Rudbeckia nitida, I have some, but forgot it name.
Tractor1 the blue basketball thing is the top of an old fountain that just trickled water and never made enough sound for me, but I really liked the design of its top and wanted to include it somewhere. DSBaloi, I only wish the photo of the purple petunias would be true to their actual color, they were a very deep, velvet-rich purple. Thanks for the very nice comments coming in, I am so glad you are enjoying my gardens.
Flower power! I think you have obtained your objective of an overflowing garden. How do you like Rudbeckia herbstone? It's massive size makes me think it would be a fun plant to work with. Do you stake it? Regarding your endless green hydrangeas: your cold winters may set them back, but they should flower later in the season on new wood. Have you tried not prunning them for a season and using a high phosphate fertilizer?
85 foot long border plus other planting areas, all beautifully maintained: WOW! Any secrets in taking care of such an extensive garden?
What a beautiful garden! And your flowers are so lush looking. Love the sunken patio!!
Marilyn, you are definitely a gardener now and deserve to be proud of what you have achieved! Yours is a garden to admire and enjoy. Beautiful!
Happy (Canadian) Thanksgiving everyone!
Mregnier: At first I thought that globe was a sort of walkway lighting fixture... perhaps it can be electrified... maybe hung upside down from a pole... or use votive candles inside. It is an interesting piece.
The "Herbstone" (Rudbeckia nitida) does not need to be staked in my garden. The gold finches love this plant and it is fun to watch them trying for the seeds. Thanks for the tip regarding my "endlessly green" hydrangeas, I will try high phosphate fertilizer next spring to try to coax some blooms. Mainer59, as far as any secrets for taking care of the long garden, I have a lot of plants packed in and they cut down on the amount of weeding needed. I don't mulch the long garden, except in the very front most years. I do have someone help me clean out that garden in the spring and cut it back in the fall, and help putting down many bags of mulch in my other gardens around the patio and in the front yard gardens.
Marilyn, you have definitely made your dream of having gardens abundantly filled with beautiful flowers come true! You can take that wish off your bucket list now since it has been beautifully achieved!
Marilyn, I love your yard/gardens, beautiful and intimate patio, that fabulous fountain. And those two frogs...I MUST ask where you found them and if I might be able to acquire a pair just like them for my own garden. Your perennial beds along the tree line are lovely. Do they receive morning sun, afternoon shade? Your spot for the golden creeping jenny is perfect---contained, colorful eye-catcher against the stone, and spilling and draping over the edges.
BethinIowa I collected the frogs a number of years ago and don't remember the store where I came upon the first one nor the catalog where I ran across the second one. Sorry I'm unable to guide you for purchasing them. As far as sunlight in the perennial border, mostly mid-day. None of the plants get full sun so there are a number of plants I can't have unless they were to be planted around the patio where it receives the most light in all of our yard.
Your garden is beautiful and so unbelievably manicured. How on earth do you do it all? Your use of many annuals with the perennials is stunning --lots of color. Love the petunia around the fountain and the alyssum below. Such a frothy, dainty look. The nice part of annuals is that one can try something completely different the next year as you did and that was a lovely look also. How I would love a stroll around your garden. I, also, have a hydrangea which won't bloom, but I fear mine is getting too much shade.
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