Happy Friday, Gpoders!
It was a great week for an old friend and a new week with pictures of the garden this day. We started on Monday with an incredible introduction to Anne Gilmore’s garden in New Jersey (check out Parts 1 and Part 2 if you missed it), and we’re finishing the week with an update from Bonnie Precaitis in North Georgia. Bonnie has shared many epic scenes from Woodland Garden in the past (check out the seasonal photo journey of 2022, North Georgia Garden Season, and Bonnie’s Garden Winter Beauty). Today, she’s back to share the highlights of this spring.
Spring was officially over, and it was beauty. The rain was abundant and the plants were ready to burst with leaves and flowers from winter. This year, there were challenges from the deer and the roll. As they live in a forest environment, they must share the forest with everything that lives here and remember that this was their home in the beginning.
The springs are a bit whimpering, as seen in this photo, made from discarded metal items, and will give you a glee and smile between the native Columbine (Aquilegia Canadensis, Zones 3-8).
These red trilliums (Trillium erectum, zones 4-9) were transplanted from a friend’s garden a few years ago, so I don’t know the species or variety. Trillium is always a lovely spring announcement.
When the “Percy Wiseman” Rhododendron (Rhododendron Yakshimanum “Percy Wiseman”, Zones 6-9) blooms, it is kaleidoscoped in colours from red to pink, ending with a creamy peach. Needless to say, it’s a real show stopper!
This spring we added “Purple Ghost” Japanese maple (Asar Palmatum ‘Purple Ghost’, zones 5-9) to the vestibule near several Damosel Rhodendrons (Rhodendron “Damosel”, zones 4-8). The red flowers of Damosel create a nice coloured echo with bright red leaves of purple ghosts.
This “Small Dotty” Mayapple (Podofilm “Spotty Dotty”, Zones 6-9) was given to me a few years ago by a gardening friend. This was the first spring to develop a rare, shaggy red flower beneath the leaves. The large spotted leaves are always attracting the attention of garden visitors.
Royal ferns (Osmundalegalis, Zones 3-10) are often not recognized as ferns by some visitors. The unusually shaped leaves with bronze fertile leaves do not produce actual flowers, but give them the flowering fern of the usual name.
This is a view of Cody’s garden, protected from deer by a fence. To see from the bottom up, you will find the “Trevi Fountain” Langwart (Colomonaria “Trevi Fountain”, zones 4-8). Champion’s Wood Fern (Dryopteris Championii, Zones 5-8); On the left side of the back is a “hazestarburst” smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea Yorobolessen’s Hazestarburst’, Zones 4-8), with delicate white double flowers. Center, “Oregon Sunset” Japanese Maple (Acer Palmatum ‘Oregon Sunset’, Zone 5–9); Right, Tiny Tuff Stuff™ Mountain Hydlangea (Hydrangea serrata ‘makd’, Zone 4–9).
This spring, butterfly weeds (Asclepiers tuberosa, zones 3-9) begin to bloom early and continue to bloom. I’m certainly not an expert on butterflies, but Siri says this is a very speared fritzillary (Speyeria cybele).
Another Japanese maple added to the garden this year is “Summer Gold” (Acer Palmatum ‘Summer Gold’, Zones 5–9). Planted in front are beautiful forest ferns (Dripteris Pulkerima, Zones 6-9), excellent evergreen ferns. Leopard plants (Farfugium japonicum, zones 7-9) are also found.
Cody is the garden guardian. When he finds a deer, you know from his verbal reaction that he has a beagle and a stolen hound in his legacy! He is a good boy and a gardening buddy.
Thank you for your spring garden, a great selection of photos from Bonnie! It will never be disappointing, and there is something to marvel at your forest wonderland every year.
What were your highlights of spring? Have you had a plant that especially puts a strong performance on it, or a garden corner that surprised you in any way? Looking back on the previous season, it’s never too late to share highlights in the garden photos of the day! Follow the instructions below to send a photo by email or DM via Instagram: @girlherdogandtheroad.
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