Garden Photo of the Day

Paradise by a Pond

A gardener uses a pond as a focal point

By Fine Gardening editors

Today’s pictures come from Linda Tutwiler in Pell City, Alabama. Here’s what she has to say about her garden:

Our garden every year seems to get better and better. My husband built the pond about 10 years ago, and we started working on the yard slowly, putting in one plant at a time. It is therapy to work on something so rewarding. It is very relaxing to hear the water from the waterfall and all the garden creatures! My husband turned 80 years old this summer, and now we are thinking about selling our property. He just has to convince me first!

(For more of Linda’s garden, check out this earlier post.)

The pond forms a centerpiece of the garden. What a magical spot to grow around!

 

Calla lilies (Zantedeschia sp.,  Zones 8–10) bloom by the edge of the pond. There are many hybrid calla lilies in a wide color range. In cold climates, the bulbs can be dug in the fall and replanted in the spring.

 

A bit of garden art nestled in among a diverse group of ferns.

 

Another view of the pond.

 

Gardening in Alabama means choosing plants that thrive in hot weather. Tropical plants like these bananas and cannas certainly love the heat and look great.

 

This lovely driftwood bench is almost too pretty to sit on.

 

Bright annuals bring color to this corner of the deck. Relying on foliage for color instead of flowers means this planting looks good all year long, with minimal fuss required.

 

The bright yellow-and-orange-veined foliage of croton and the exotic, purple-pink bracts of hidden cone lily (Curcuma sp., Zones 8–10) bring color to this shady spot in the garden. Curcuma is a close relative of the spice turmeric and is a terrific choice for shade gardens in warm climates. Where it isn’t hardy, it can be overwintered indoors in a container.

 

 

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Comments

  1. User avater
    treasuresmom 07/24/2018

    Totally amazing!

  2. User avater
    meander_michaele 07/24/2018

    What a fabulous garden you and your husband have created and nurtured, Linda. Your pond is the beautiful jewel in a very lovely setting and it looks like it was meant to be there. Your husband did a masterful job with the rock placements and you have naturalized it so delightfully with your plantings. Love your container planting arrangements and that very cool weathered "au natural' looking bench. Good luck with finding the right balance between work and resting so you can stay on there a while longer. Trust me, many of us understand how hard it is to make that difficult decision.

  3. mjensen 07/24/2018

    BEAUTIFUL, I WISH I HAD A POND

  4. cheryl_c 07/24/2018

    Linda, the garden that you and your husband have created is stunning, and just oozes the love you have for your plants and your corner of the earth. The hidden cone lily is a new plant to me, and I love your use of the calla lilies- they have been a pleasant addition to our garden this year. I salute the job you have done getting such variety in your warm zone 7b garden! I hope you share again in the future.

  5. btucker9675 07/24/2018

    Wow... I don't know if I'd ever be able to leave such a beautiful place. If you do, I hope that the new "caretakers" will value and appreciate this garden of Eden. God bless!

  6. sheila_schultz 07/24/2018

    The first photo featuring your pond and surrounding gardens speaks volumes of the love you and your husband have for your property. Stone by stone and plant by plant, you have created your own bit of paradise. It's beautiful.

  7. bsavage 07/24/2018

    What an amazing and beautiful garden! Love it!

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