It’s always a treat when award-winning landscape designer Jay Sifford sends in photos of his fabulous home garden in the mountains of North Carolina. Today we have an extra-special treat:
Many are familiar with my septic drain field turned stylized meadow in the front yard of my house called Rhodwood, which is located in the western North Carolina mountains at 3300 feet. We were Zone 6b; now we’re 7a. Fewer have seen the back garden, accessed by a series of switchback steps. This area is comprised of a large rhododendron maximum forest with a high tree canopy, complete with two natural bogs and a stream with rapids.
The natural plant palette contains mostly spring ephemerals that are gone by the end of June, just about the time the front garden peaks. Hundreds of native skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus, Zones 4–7) , Trillium sulcatum (southern red trillium, Zones 4–7), Veratrum, and marsh marigolds (Caltha palustris, Zones 3–7) form the framework. My goal was to embellish this natural wonderland with native and nonnative plants that look at home in the space.
The sculpture of a male figure greets visitors as they step off of the boardwalk that spans bog #1.
Ostrich fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris, Zones 3–7) , woodland phlox (Phlox divaricata, Zones 3–8), and Veratrum say spring more than any other plant combination in the garden.
Woodland phlox and bleeding hearts (Dicentra and Lamprocapnos spp. and cvs.)
I have a dozen or so Japanese maples in this lower garden, varieties that like partial shade. This one is Acer palmatum ‘Ghost Dancer’ (Zones 5–9).
Emerging maidenhair ferns (Adiantum raddianum, Zones 3–8) glisten in the afternoon light. I love ferns!
Trollius chinensis (globeflower, Zones 3–7) is new to me. I’m going to love it!
Naturally occuring Iris cristata (crested iris, Zones 4–10) lives at the top of the switchback steps.
I’ve planted hundreds of Tiarella cordifolia (heartleaf foamflower, Zones 4–9).
Arisaema ringens (Japanese cobra lily, Zones 5–9) blooms by the steps.
Jay sent a true treasure trove of spring plant photos, so we’ll be back in his garden tomorrow to see more of what he’s growing.
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 gpod@taunton.com 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
Planting in a Post-Wild World: Designing Plant Communities for Resilient Landscapes
Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.
Featuring gorgeous photography and advice for landscapers, Planting in a Post-Wild World by Thomas Rainer and Claudia West is dedicated to the idea of a new nature—a hybrid of both the wild and the cultivated—that can nourish in our cities and suburbs.
Niteangel Natural Wooden Insect Hotel, Garden Insect House for Ladybugs, lacewings, Butterfly, Bee, Bug
Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.
The insect nest box provide a safe environment where garden creatures can shelter, hibernate and lay their eggs, the insect house can also keep insects from entering your warm room. The insect hotel makes it easy to find and observe fascinating creatures. the butterfly, bees and ladybugs can use this product as habitat. Dry wood and Bamboo can be home to many insects such as ladybirds and lacewings which eat aphids and help keep your plants pest-free. the insect hotel improve the growth of plants in your yard by attracting beneficial insects. The iron design on the top can keep the insect house from rainwater. Let the insect house have a longer useful life and make the insects more comfortable. If you only have a balcony or yard, the hanging garden shelter is ideal as it provides a choice of suitable habitats in a small area.
Berry & Bird Rabbiting Spade, Trenching Shovel
Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.
Ideal Tool for All Gardeners Use: Our heavy duty trenching shovel is designed by a professional gardening tool designer. Lifetime Durability: This heavy duty drain spade is made of high-quality stainless steel, it is very strong and durable, even if it is used for high-strength work, it will not bend. Ergonomic Wood Handle: The handle of this planting spade is made of ash hardwood harvested from FSC-certified forests and has an ergonomically streamlined design, making it very suitable for everyone's hands. Multi-Use: This digging shovel is generally used for digging trenches, digging holes, transplanting, edging, moving compost, cutting thick turf and furrowing. The sharp blade allows you to cut, scoop, dig, lift and dice in hard soil.
Comments
What a treat to wake to inspiring pictures of your garden, Jay! I'm looking forward to tomorrow. Thanks for sharing them!
My pleasure. I'm glad you're enjoying them.
Awesome! Looking forward to tomorrow.
The modern sculpture of the figure is so cool placed in with the all plants! Who is the artist?! Would love to see more of their work!
Your Acer palmatum ‘Ghost Dancer’ has gorgeous tones in the leaves!
The pretty grouping that has Veratrum is perfection! I had to google Veratrum, never heard of it until now, I like it!
Thanks simplesue. The sculpture is by an Indonesian artist named Timbul Raharjo.
Dazed by the beauty of your garden... everything is perfection. Trollius chinensis is new to me also and I'm going to find it for my small boggy area.
Thanks so much! Good luck on your search.
Log in or create an account to post a comment.
Sign up Log in