Garden Photo of the Day

Summer on Bainbridge Island

A great display despite dry weather

Today we’re taking another trip back in time to gardens at their summer peak. This time it’s with Linda Skyler, who sent in these photos of her Bainbridge Island garden in Washington State. She says that they had a lovely warm summer, but a dry one. Despite the dry weather, her gardens look pretty amazing, something she credits to her thick mulch, which conserves moisture and solves a lot of weed problems.

Ligularia ‘The Rocket’An imposing clump of Ligularia ‘The Rocket’ (Zones 4–8). This perennial—with its huge, beautifully toothed leaves—sends up these huge spikes of yellow flowers than can reach 5 feet. Growing best in cool, lightly shaded conditions, this is a high drama plant!

potted hostaAn enormous potted hosta (possibly the variety ‘Sum and Substance’, Zones 3–8) catches the sun and looks like it is glowing. Bright, yellow-green plants like these are a great way to brighten up a dark, shady spot.

orange asiatic liliesA brilliant orange Asiatic lily (Lilium hybrid, Asiatic group, Zones 4–9) glowing against a backdrop of rich greens. The tall foliage in the background is honey bush (Melianthus major, Zones 8–12).

hostasIt is amazing how much color you can get from just hostas, here showing blue-green leaves contrasting starkly with yellow and white variegated selections. Ferns provide an added level of textural contrast.

big leaf hydrangeaNothing says summer like hydrangeas! Here a huge bigleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla, Zones 6–9) is just loaded down with flowers.

 

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.

If you want to send photos in separate emails to the GPOD email box that is just fine.

Have a mobile phone? Tag your photos on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with #FineGardening!

You don’t have to be a professional garden photographer – check out our garden photography tips!

Do you receive the GPOD by email yet? Sign up here.

View Comments

Comments

  1. User avater
    simplesue 11/28/2019

    So relaxing to see these combinations of foliage and flowers together. It's just so lush & mature and no empty spaces...and all your plants have grown together to make a beautiful tapestry, and mingle well with the existing trees. I really like this garden...Nice work.

  2. Musette1 11/28/2019

    that glowing (possible) 'Sum and Substance' is glorious - and a perfect illustration of the myriad ways in which hostas shine.

    Looking at your lovely Summer garden really lifted a grey, gloomy day! Thanks for sharing.

  3. [email protected] 11/28/2019

    Thanks so much- taking a break from cooking, and enjoying your beautiful photos. Happy Thanksgiving!

  4. User avater
    treasuresmom 11/28/2019

    How lovely!

  5. 18bees 11/28/2019

    Wow, I love your gardens! Thanks for sharing.

  6. perenniallycrazy 12/06/2019

    Linda, your garden and talent continue to amaze me! Is there anything you cannot grow? Wish we were neighbors.

Log in or create an account to post a comment.

Related Articles

The Latest