This is Joseph, your GPOD editor, welcoming you to my new garden in South Bend, Indiana. I moved here almost exactly a year ago. When I moved in, the garden had been abandoned for two years and had turned into a mass of invasive weeds.
This area along the back fence was lined with invasive shrubby honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii, Zones 3–8). Cutting it all out was quite a task.
My goal the first fall was to get everything cleared out, including the weeds dug out, and the ground all ready for planting.
And here’s what the same bed looks like today. Long-term, I think it’ll be mostly perennials, but I wanted to get it filled in fast, so there are lots of annuals mixed in, like this wonderful red Salvia microphylla (Zones 7–9 or as an annual). The hummingbirds come by a few times every day and visit each flower.
Here’s looking down the bed in the other direction. I’m fairly happy with it, but I will do some moving around and replacing this fall. Dahlias (Dahlia variablis, Zones 8–11 or as a tender bulb) in the back are just coming into bloom.
This is one of my favorite plants of the year, something I’d not grown before: Penstemon × mexicale (Zones 5–8). It is a complex hybrid of several North American native speces and has bloomed nonstop all summer. The bees love it. Penstemon generally prefers well-drained soils, and mine is sandy, so I hope it’ll be long-lived.
Another favorite plant this year is Iris dichotoma. I’m not sure this will be hardy for me; most sites list it as Zone 6, and I’m on the edge of Zones 5 and 6. But even if it doesn’t come back, I’m enjoying it as an annual. These beautiful flowers are sometimes called “vespers iris” because they open up in the late afternoon each day.
In the front of the house I added window boxes. They have grown a little out of hand! I might try a simpler planting next year.
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.
Have a mobile phone? Tag your photos on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with #FineGardening!
Do you receive the GPOD by email yet? Sign up here.
Fine Gardening Recommended Products
ARS Telescoping Long Reach Pruner
Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.
Telescopes from 4 to 7'. Cut and Hold (160) Blades. Drop forged blades for unsurpassed long lasting sharpness. Lightweight, 2.3 lbs., for continued use. Perfectly balanced for easy pruning.
Bee Watering Station with Vivid Flower Design
Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.
Thoughtful Combo: You will receive a bee feeder and 30 glass marbles. This thoughtful combo can provide clean water for the bees, you just need to put the marbles into the bee watering station, add water (note: the water level should not exceed the height of the marbles) and hang them in the right place. The round, colored marbles can provide a place for the bees to stand and prevent them from falling into the water, effectively keeping the bees safe. Fine Material: This exquisite bee bath is made of high quality iron material, smooth surface, rust and weather resistant, not easy to fade, sturdy and reliable. Bee cups for garden can well meet the drinking water needs of lovely bees, and it can also provide food for bees, such as sugar water, nectar, etc., attracting more bees to your outdoor area and making your garden full of vitality. Perfect Size: The butterfly watering station has an overall height of 13.4 inches, a bowl diameter of 9.4 inches, and a weight of 0.44 pounds. The bee cup serves the needs of the bees well without plunging them into dangerously deep water or taking up unnecessary space in your garden, and this compact and efficient design makes it a practical addition to any outdoor space. Elegant Design: Our bee watering cups are designed in unique flower shapes with vibrant and realistic colours to attract lovely bees to your garden and patio, bee feeders for outside are not only functional but can also be used as a landscaping element, their vibrant floral patterns enhance the beauty of your garden. Multicolored Decoration: Colorful bee water stations look like flowers in a garden, flower bed or pot and attract bees and butterflies. They can drink or bathe in bee feeders, which are highly decorative and practical.
Attracting Beneficial Bugs to Your Garden, Revised and Updated Second Edition: A Natural Approach to Pest Control
Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.
This revised and updated edition of Jessica Walliser’s award-winning Attracting Beneficial Bugs to Your Garden offers a valuable and science-backed plan for bringing balance back to the garden. With this indispensable gardening reference—now updated with new research, insights, and voices—learn how to create a healthy, balanced, and diverse garden capable of supporting a hard-working crew of beneficial pest-eating insects and eliminate the need for synthetic chemical pesticides.
Comments
Taking care of flowers, gardening is a really nice hobby. It's a great feeling to see those plants growing flowers. basket random
Kudos Joseph, on that daunting cleanup and floral loveliness!
My mother lived in that area for nearly forty years. On my regular visits from NE Ohio I always observed how lushly everything grew. And her climate was always milder than our zone 5, with spring coming a few weeks earlier, and fall a little later.
Starting a garden from scratch can be hard work. Nice job Joseph!
I love your riot of colors Joseph, and especially admire your window box plantings.
Removing overgrown weeds and vines, starting from scratch is a major job, that was me in 2007, but the joy and beauty you see as you make progress gives you such a feeling of accomplishment. Good luck in your new home and happy gardening.
Job well done. It looks gorgeous! I’m sure the pollinators appreciate all your hard work!
Having cleared bush honeysuckle from a friend's gardens, one last October, and one in April, I have some idea of the chore that you faced! How did you deal with all the roots left? Your annuals are spectacular, and I really love the sophistication of your window box - don't change it too much next year!!
Starting a new bed - the best of gardening. We have all been surprised at the abundance of the potato vine!!!
This is a beautiful kaleidoscope of a garden - makes me happy! Good job!
That's quite the transformation - daunting start and amazing results in record time! Hats off to you.
I love your flower border with the annuals & perennials mixed together- it has such a classic look, reminiscent of some historic garden paintings from turn of the century to around 1930s!
I really-really love your garden style!
Hi Joseph, I love the views of your new long border and if that is a newly added fence at the end, I think it looks great! It looks like you may have just missed some serious storm damage judging by the neighboring garage! I also love your new window box planting. Did you build the box yourself or find one ready made? I need to replace my window boxes too.
Keep up the good work, Cheers!
Your new garden is turning out so beautifully! Love your new plants. Congratulations & Enjoy!
Melissa Grosso
#thebusybee4
I am sure it was hard work but your results are very rewarding!
Log in or create an account to post a comment.
Sign up Log in