Today we’re visiting Yvette Pearson.

The gardens at the Pearson home reflect the many memorable years with our family and friends. When we moved here in 1988, our love of gardening began as an inspiration from the charming landscapes around this community. Initially, we focused on the area surrounding our signature pear tree in the rear of the home, and then we extended our gardening designs to improve the landscape.

Throughout our yard space we continue to create garden designs that highlight the biodiversity of plants during the changing seasons. The west side of the house displays a naturalized garden that includes sedges (Carex species), a variety of epimediums, and blooming evergreen shrubs that relish the shelter of the Japanese snowbell tree (Styrax japonicus, Zones 5–9). The recently completed fern gully focuses on a variety of native plants flanked by the colorful blossoms of perennial geraniums, Hosta ‘Guacamole’ (Zones 3–8), and the exotic Ligularia. And no garden would be complete without vegetable- and fruit-bearing plants, which include a bountiful purple grapevine, a generous brown turkey fig tree, a towering black elderberry bush, and much more!

In recent years we have learned more about the responsibilities of sustainable gardening and the impact to our environment. We are committed to organic practices, which avoid the use of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers that diminish the quality of the soil. These practices support healthy and viable landscapes. Above all, we are cultivating a garden for the years to come!

We welcome everyone to enjoy our garden!

Spring along the side of the house features masses of azaleas (Rhododendron hybrids, Zones 5–9) in full bloom.

The same part of the garden later in the season brings out blooming perennials, which have taken over from the flowering shrubs.

Shrubs dominate along the steps up to the house, and some color is provided by bearded irises (Iris hybrids, Zones 3–8).

This gorgeous peony looks to be the variety ‘Bowl of Beauty’ (Paeonia ‘Bowl of Beauty’, Zones 3–8).

White flowers from a yucca (Yucca filamentosa, Zones 4–10) make a dramatic statement, while a low-growing coreopsis (Coreopsis verticillata, Zones 3–9) blooms in the front of the bed.

The use of conifers ensures that this bed will look full and beautiful every month in the year, while other plants add seasonal flourishes.

This shady spot is filled with hostas, ferns (Athyrium niponicum var. pictum, Zones 3–8), and astilbe (Astilbe chinensis ‘Pumila’, Zones 4–8).

Contrasting textures and shapes of leaves provide all the interest in this shady spot.

An oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia, Zones 5–9) still looks good as the flowers age with its dramatic bold foliage.

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.

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