Today’s photos are from Wendy Quereau. We’ve visited her garden before (Beauty From Wendy’s Garden), and it is always a pleasure to see it again.

I thought I’d send more photos to you this morning from my garden in Zone 6A in southeastern Pennsylvania. Summers are hot and humid here, and we deal with dry spells. Having gardened here for 43 years, I still enjoy learning and trying new plants and combinations. It’s satisfying to give ideas and information to the newer gardeners among us. I hope they’ll find some useful nuggets within this submission.

April-blooming Rhododendron schlippenbachia (Zones 4–7) is pretty delicate and hard to find.

Nepeta ‘Cat’s Pajamas’ (Zones 3–8) is drought tolerant once established (these are newly planted), with its husky, long-lasting blooms for full sun. Deadhead for repeat albeit less showy bloom.

This depicts a quiet time in spring in my sunny perennial garden. Picea pungens ‘Globosa’ (dwarf blue spruce, Zones 2–7) provides year-round interest with its color and texture. The color of the emerging and repeated deciduous shrubs of Spirea ‘Goldmound’ (Zones 4–8) foliage helps.

Spring combination for sun: dwarf lilac ‘Miss Kim’ (Syringa patula ‘Miss Kim’, Zones 3–8) and Allium ‘Purple Sensation’ (Zones 3–9) blooming at the same time in late May. Stachys ‘Helen von Stein’ (Zones 4–8) and bright yellow Lysimachia nummalaria ‘Aurea’ (Zones 3–9 ) are growing as ground covers.

Eleuthrococcus sieboldianus ‘Variegatus’ (five-fingered aralia, Zones 4–9) is a deciduous, thorny, variegated shrub to light up the shade. It gives relief in the woodland or any shady area from the dominate greens of summer.

Lilium (lilies, Zones 4–8) predominates in the sun in July.

Here is a colorful combination of variegated Liriope (Zones 4–8) and Stachys minima (Zones 5–9) in July. Both are low growing for the front of a sunny border.

Plant for semi-shaded corner of patio: Hydrangea macrophylla (Zones 5–9). The container on the ground is recovering in a deer-proof location after being eaten to stubs at the front door by deer. Yes, frustration and disappointment must be accepted as part of this endeavor. Hone your ability to pivot and adapt!

Hydrangea paniculata ‘Bobo’ (Zones 4–8), Phlox paniculata (Zones 4–8), and waning daylilies (Hemerocallis hybrid, Zones 3–9) dominate the August perennial garden. ‘Bobo’ is a dwarf hydrangea and can be easily size-contained by dormant early spring pruning to 3 feet by 3 feet.

Containers of annuals help the lack of color in the August garden. Here, a tuteur of vining Mandevilla (Zones 9–11 or as an annual) is in the foreground. Selecting heat- and humidity-loving tropical annuals that will not quit by July is helpful.

Ceratostigma plumbaginoides (dwarf plumbago, Zones 5–9) is a carefree sun-loving ground cover laden with brilliant blue blooms in August into early fall.

In August, I see Hydrangea paniculata, Acoris gramineus ‘Ogon’ (Zones 5–9), and Allium ‘Millenium’ (Zones 5–8) in one little corner from my spot at the kitchen window. Acoris prefers the shade given by the overhead hydrangea standard.

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