Today we’re visiting Jana Trusz’s garden in Canton, Massachusetts.
I love checking out the Garden Photos of the Day, and I find great joy and inspiration in looking at these gardens. This time of year is so rich with color and dramatic lighting, yet it is also the time for rest and reflection in the garden. I started to look at photos from the year in my garden and had a difficult time choosing what I loved the most. My garden borders conservation land, untamed woods, which means lots of wildlife and a duty to plant respectfully. Many of my plants have made their way here from my mother’s garden. We shared an incredible love for tending, planting, and admiring together.
I have chosen some of my favorites.
Spring brings columbines (Aquilegia vulgaris, Zones 3–8) from my mother’s garden, self-seeding in the most unusual and pleasing places.
I also have lots of hellebores (Helleborus × hybridus, Zones 4–9) popping up through the snow, sometimes as early as February!
Epimedium (bishop’s hat, Zones 5–9) grace my garden early on, with blooms lasting for weeks.
I bought a prickly pear cactus (Opuntia) without much hope for it to survive the snowy winter. That was six years ago. Although it looks absolutely horrible in the winter and early spring, it then plumps up and offers beautiful yellow flowers.
Clematis! What can I say about such a beautiful vine? These are just two in my collection. You can see the promise of the beautiful spun gold seed clusters to come.
Detail of an unfolding clematis bud
Three years ago I had a shed put in a garden spot. This sweet little bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis, Zones 3–8) was not noticed until the following spring. Now it comes up faithfully, peeping out from under the shed.
My newest interest is evergreens. This is Austrian pine ‘Oregon Green’ (Pinus nigra ‘Oregon Green’, Zones 4–7). Nothing in the description prepared me for the beautiful candles to develop. They’re like little sea stars.
A sunflower (Helianthus annuus, annual) stands tall and proud after surviving the attack of the squirrels. The squirrels usually win, but when they don’t, I get a wonderful fall show.
My last photo is from our first below-freezing morning. A puddle of water with the most beautiful star crystals invites me to reflect on the beauty of past seasons and to enjoy the season to come.
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Comments
Very Nice!
Nature always seems to come up with surprises (at least for me). All of your photos are terrific but the star shaped ice crystals and unique pine candles are something I've never seen or noticed before. I have a few Japanese Black Pines but the candles look nothing like that. Good luck to you this winter.,Joe
thank you, the star crystals are a new one for me, I continue to look on cold mornings but haven't seen them again. I bought that Oregon Green at a local home depot. It is a dwarf but it said nothing about the candles and even when I researched it, it didn't show up. Jana
Your photos and accompanying commentary are lovely, Jana, and really give us here in GPOD reading land a feeling of connection to your gardening journey. What a sweet surprise that bloodroot must be each spring...playing peek-a-boo with the boards of your shed. Love your capture of the bee on the not yet fully opened sunflower...ha, that industrious critter is like the early bird shopper on Black Friday...getting right to business.
thank you!, it is a wonderful way to share and gather ideas. I like looking at other gardens, gathering ideas, and of course, buying more plants. Jana
Love all your pics but especially love the hellebores & Austrian pine.
What an eye for the exquisite you have - and incredible timing. Your photos are amazing! I love the plants in your garden and your stories about them. Lovely! I do hope you have some more pictures to share soon.
thank you! I do enjoy sharing as well. Feels like a community of gardeners with many different zones coming together to inspire each other. Jana
Beautiful photos to tell the story of your garden. I especially like the sunflower for the bumble bee and half opened flower- nature in process. Thank you for sharing your garden.
It is an ever changing story isn't it!
Your photographs are stunning, and your love of the garden shows in each one!
Thank you! Jana
I loved seeing your pretty garden, and what you said about the cold season being "the time for rest and reflection in the garden". The photo of the sunflower & ice were such gorgeous photos I saved them to enjoy again. Your Bloodroot flowers reminded me that I once grew some and should again. Thanks for sharing!
What a complement, yes I too forget about plants that I loved and then begin the search to bring them back. That ice was a total surprise, not sure what came together to create that!
Thank you for sharing these wonderful photos of your beautiful garden. The columbines and peony are the perfect picture of Spring!
When I saw the title of your pics - I chuckled thinking I ought to send in my pitiful pics of the death mocking me everywhere I look... but My heart jumped when I saw your beautiful pics. That evergreen I could almost smell. I need one of those. Appreciate you sharing & brightening this dreary day.
So glad it brightened you day. I think you have to be a true gardener to enjoy this season, the leaves, brown stems, seed heads. That evergreen was a total surprise so beautiful. Jana
I am in Massachusetts too! I always wanted to grow bloodroot and you have inspired me.
Feel like we are on the same journey, I too abut conservation land and always consider what I plant. I have been ripping out vinca and ivy from the woods that was planted by others. AND I have just started my love affair with conifers.
When I finish up my hardscaping projects I plan on submitting pictures. Thank you for yours.
Wow! Amazing and Unique post!
I always like your post! Great job!
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