Happy Friday, Gpoders!
It’s been a while since I got the update from Nina Edie in Montana, but her latest submission revealed that her absence was due to a recent transfer to new property. . . It’s located directly across the street from a garden we know well (check out some of these previous submissions to review Nina’s previous gardens, Nina’s gardens in Montana, Nina’s dry stream bed, and Montana’s paradise of inspiration). This move wasn’t far away and didn’t involve adapting to new climates or situations, but there are still many challenges to tackle and new, low-maintenance approaches to implement.
My husband and I have a garden in Corvallis, Montana (officially zone 5B), but for the past 20 years. In 2020 we built our house directly across the street from our old house. There, I’ve been running through the gardens for the past 15 years (it was featured on GPOD a few years ago). We knew the area closely, but starting the garden completely from scratch was challenging. Our goal was to create a garden with less maintenance than our old ones, but it still felt lush, colorful and entertaining.
This photo shows South Hill, the first area we landscaping to stabilize the hill and give our neighbors what we see besides construction stains! This was the first attempt at “boulderscape,” and so far the task of stabilizing the hill has ended. Birch, low-growth “Blueberry Deliber” Juniper (Junipers Commune Val; Depressa “Amidak”, Zones 2–6), and “Paimilio” Mugo (Pinas Mugoval; Pumilio, Zones 3–7), “Westereste “Swiss Stone Pine (Pinas Sembra” seasonally, Zones 3–7), Zones 3–7). Barberry “Praise” and “Crimson Pygmy” Barberry (Belberis San Belguy “Praise” and “Crimson Pygmy”, Zones 4–8), “Royal Purple” Smoke Tree (Cotinus Cogi Grier “Royal Purple”, Zones 4–8), “Ammerber Jubilee” Nineburk (Spring) ‘jef’ jef’ jef’ jef’ jef’ colours from the daffodil, “Sankai”, “Yellowstone” Daily (Hemerocaris “Sankai” and “Yellowstone”, Zones 3–9), “Lemon Meringue” and “Cherry Jubilee” Baptisia (Baptisia “Lemon Meringue” and “Cherry Jubilee”, Zones 4–9) On the right you can see the dog’s garden. This also includes the territory they reluctantly abandoned us for our BBQ!
An overview of the front yard. As we can see from the street, this was the next area we worked on.
On one end we jokingly call it “Wilderness North.” This is a densely planted area that offers privacy from the streets as they mature. The upright and vast blue spruce are mixed with the “Whites Espire” birch (Betula Populifolia ‘Whitespire’, Zones 3–6) and my favorite low evergreen, the “Hillside Creeper” Scotch Pine (Pinus Sylvestris ‘Hillside Creeper’, Zones 2–8). Ivory Halo® Redtwig Dogwood (Cornus alba ‘Bailhalo’, Zones 3-7) offers more winter interest. Bulbs provide spring color, along with Pinktini™ lilac (Syringa × prestoniae ‘Jeftini’, Zones 2–7), ”Hillary’ Itoh peony (Paeonia ‘Hillary’, Zones 4–8), ‘Hook’ iris (Iris ‘Jeftini’, Zones 3–8), and Winecraft Black® smoke tree (Cotinus coggygria ‘NCCO1’, Zones 4–8).
The surprising new growth of “Taylor’s Sunburst” lodge pole pine (Pinus contorta ‘Taylor’s Sunburst’, Zones 4-8) adds more colour.
Arctic Jade® Maple (Acer x Pseudosieboldianum ‘isiaj’, Zones 4–8) is the intersection between A. palmatum and A. pseudosieboldianum from the JackFrost® collection of Iseli Nursery. A. palmatum is not sturdy here, but this cross is on track for a very hectic place in this alcove between the house and the garage, and it is well underway through four rather brutal winters.
Approaching one of the several dry creek beds made from excavated rocks during planting there is another section of the front yard with water features, with a family of quails scanning across the fallen logs: more red tzyg goguns visible in the background. Tiny ‘Jane’ Magnolia (Magnolia ‘Jane’, Zones 4–8) has produced one beautiful pink flower this year!
The opposite end of the vestibule is planted inside and outside the fence with a mixture of shrubs and perennials, but is destined to become “Wilderness South” with a mixture of trees and shrubs! Rusty works in the foreground are known locally as “tumble bugs.” My husband and I found it in the middle of the Bitterroot River many years ago, pulled it out and took it home. Several locals told us that their grandfather used these in the construction of a nearby painted rock dam. It’s now part of my husband’s “Rust Collection.” Luckily, we are up to date with the tetanus vaccine!
Thank you for sharing this update and the progress of your new garden, Nina! Your previous garden was absolutely fun, but in a short time you were in your new space, so you created an exciting amount of beauty and interest. I hope there will be more updates as planting matures and evolves. 🙂
This week I introduced many garden makeovers on my blog. I hope it will encourage you to share changes in your garden. Unlike other art forms, gardens are always in a state of change. Whether you’ve been taking care of your garden for decades last year or just building your bed last year, we’d love to see how things have evolved. Follow the instructions below to send a photo by email or DM via Instagram: @girlherdogandtheroad.
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