First, a heads up–I have so many great spring submissions right now, so you might be seeing spring gardens for a while here, even as we move into summer…case in point: today’s garden. These photos are from Terie Rawn in upstate New York, and they were all taken in May. We’ve seen Terie’s garden oodles of times before, and it’s one of our absolute faves.
Today she says, “In the month of May you will find me singing along with the songbirds. All of our gardens play an important part in the survival of these cheerful feathered friends. Above me, as I work in the woodland, an oriole sings to proclaim it’s territory. Hummingbirds have discovered fuchsia hanging from the porch and planted in the window boxes. Sparrows scratch the ground for insects and robins search for worms. Deep in the woods the wood thrush, ovenbird, and warblers call to one another. Many of the woodland groundcovers flower in the spring, creating a carpet of soft blue, lavender and pinks. Shortly afterward the taller perennials tower among them, showing off their large leaf textures. Annuals will soon be potted and placed to give continual color throughout the gardens, porch and decks.
“The outdoors comes to life as foliage reaches upwards. Nearly 24 years of gardening here in central New York have taught us to sit often and enjoy the results of countless hours of labor. There is still much to do… we just aren’t as aggressive as in years past. Please come for a springtime stroll with me along the paths that lead through our backyard.”
Don’t mind if we do, Terie! It’s always a pleasure to revisit your garden. Thanks!
***I’m getting so many great submissions, but I can always use more! Dig out your cameras, take a big long walk around your garden, and SEND ME PHOTOS! I love having more than I could possibly process to choose from. Thanks!!***
***One more thing…..have you always wondered what your fellow GPODers are like in person? Never thought you’d get a chance to meet them? Check this out…. While the GPOD isn’t officially a taunton forum, it’s close enough, and I wanted to extend the invite. Anybody at all interested? I’d be willing to search for some gardens to tour…
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Comments
Your gardens are lovely as always, Terie! I think they are my favorite because I have a yard with woods in the back. Maybe someday it will look like yours. How do you keep the weeds down in the wooded areas? My woods is full of weeds that get knee high (not to mention all the wild rose and briars that pop up everywhere)
Got to get me some of that GORGEOUS double-flowered Sanguinaria! My goodness, that's pretty!! And the white Ajuga...haven't seen that one, either.
A lovely way to start the day. Especially enjoy the gardens throughout the mature trees. Beautiful! A great shot of the catbird in the crapapple, also!! Thanks for sharing.
Terie, I luxuriated in every picture and hung on every word...my husband instantly recognized "the look" when he glanced over at me to start a conversation about a news story...it was the don't interrupt me while I'm immersed in a great GPOD. Your garden is truly one of my most favorite...I don't want to embarrass you but the word perfection came to mind when I took in the pleasing bed lines from the overhead shot. Count me in as a member of the fan club for that double flowering bloodroot...what an enchanting woodsy addition. Was it a catalogue find or did a local nursery carry it?
If I was a big $$$ Powerball winner, I'd fire up the jet and take that stroll with you in person if the welcome sign was out! Thanks so much for your beautiful pictures.
can't decide which is a more winning combination: brunnera and maple or crab apple and catbird!
Good morning gardeners. It promises to be a beautiful day here in central NY today so with shovel-in-hand I will be planting another flat of annuals throughout the garden beds & containers.
Thank you yardmom. I was thinking of you the other day as you are now planning & planting your newest space. How exciting! There are days when I think it would be nice to start over... The weeds are a constant battle. I am still pulling tree seedlings that found very happy roots this spring. In the past we have been diligent about layering newspaper and mulching every year to control weeds. Ground covers have played an important part as they have spread willingly over the years. (and then THEY need some discipline) Have fun with your new gardens.
Hi meander1, I'll prepare the landing strip right after I get these plants in the ground! The 'Sanguinria' bloodroot was a gift from a master gardener when we first cleared the lot. I've not seen it for sale.
That Double bloodroot is just beautiful! Thanks for sharing all of these lovely views of your garden!
Your garden is exactly how I would like mine to look. Good job!
I agree with Meander1 about the double flowering bloodroot----they are gorgeous. You got a real deal by having it given to you. I've seen it in at least one catalog and it's very expensive. That's the problem with those ephemerals-----they are lovely, delicate and SMALL so you need a mass of them to really show them off but they cost the earth and then vanish back into the ground for another year's snooze. The catalogs always show about 30 of them clustered together blooming away exuberantly but the reality of putting out just one or two (all I can afford) looks scanty. I can't get them to do much multiplying for me.
I mail-ordered my double flowering Sanguinaria from England over a decade ago; now it is showing up here in the States somewhat regularly. Far Reaches Farms sells it for a very, very reasonable price, but they are out of stock at the moment. Keeping it Green nursery has it in stock for a similar price. The actual high cost for these nurseries is shipping if you are not in the Pacific Northwest, so order lots of plants to spread the cost of shipping over several plants! Mine has reliably multiplied into dense clumps and the double flower last a very long time, unlike the very ephemeral nature of the species. The foliage seems to hold up longer as well. No seeding about; it is sterile.
Terie, that double bloodroot is to die for! Since I don't have much shade, I really enjoy seeing the choices that gardeners with lots of mature trees make since they are often so different from what I can grow. Very peaceful setting you have. I don't think I've seen white ajuga before, either.
Terie,Yes indeed enjoyed taking this visual springtime stroll
and visit through your backyard! Beautifully inviting gardens
made in the shade.
All a wonderful and happy retreat for your lucky birds,too!
Planting for the birds is important for me also.
OK, me too, I'm quite taken in by the lovely white double
bloodroot which is somewhat new to me, and appreciate everyone's added info regarding it!!
Terie's garden is gorgeous... there's really arent words. And I love her catbird grab.
it is a beautiful space. i'm jealous of the Brunnera, they sort of disappear here along with Pulmonaria :( grew up spending summers at grandparents in the Finger Lakes , beautiful area i seem to remember Watkins Glen and that aircraft museum in Hammondsport more than anything else.
Terie, that tour was a real spring treat. Your garden is simply beautiful. I want to join the club and ogle over your double bloodroot and white ajuga.
I bought my double bloodroot at a small nursery about an hour from here but Plant's Delight sells it, I think. I have found mine to be very hardy and it multiplies easily. I have taken some in each of my two moves and it comes along happily, lives in the pot for months till I get it planted, and adjusts easily to it's new home.
I feel honored to be your profile for the day tractor1. ;) And you're right, the damage done to this crabapple tree last spring seems to have improved the overall look this year.
tntreeman, Brunnera & pulmonaria are some of my favorites. I have 5 different kinds of brunnera and they all do fabulously. I'm glad some of your childhood memories were made in the Finger Lakes area. Watkins Glen and Hammondsport are right around the corner.
When first emerging from the ground and flowering (late April/early May) the double bloodroot leaf is small but now measures 10' across. Its leaves usually stay strong through most of summer and then fade away. It spread to a 4ft. patch rather quickly and has been with me for over 20 years.
Thank you all for commenting and encouraging me.
Hey Terie, Looking for a place appropriate to say 'KUDOS'! Such a great article and the photos came out fabulous. If I weren't feeling a little overwhelmed with my little garden the past few years I'd be jealous sick of your beautiful wooded lot and garden. OK, I am still jealous. Beautiful and informative. More and more I am considering what I can see from my windows; those are such important views to consider. Congratulations!
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