Garden Photo of the Day

Gail’s Favorite’s From Last Year

Top blooms of the year

close up of bright purple and orange flowers

We visited Gail’s beautiful North Carolina garden yesterday, and today we’re back to see some of her favorite pictures from the past year:

I live at 3300 feet in the middle of an oak forest. There is only one flat area on our property, an arc 50’ long with a maximum depth of 25’. Everywhere else is steeply sloped and I’m doing my best to fill it all.

close up of Picea abies

I’m so happy I planted this Picea abies ‘Acrocona’ (Zone 3 – 7). The new foliage and those pink baby pine cones are fabulous.

close up of small purple flowers in the garden

I like to add art to my garden. This art pole is pretty set against chives (Allium schoenoprasum, Zone 4 – 8) and common fleabane (Erigeron philadelphicus, Zone 2 – 7)

bright pink flowers growing behind a bright green hosta

Dianthus (Zone 4 – 8) peaking behind a dwarf Hosta (Zone 3 – 9) is a wonderful combination of textures and colors.

close up of aphrodite allspice in bloom

Aphrodite allspice (Calycanthus ‘Aphrodite’, Zone 5 – 9) is a great small tree. I know I should be favoring natives, but I love these flowers.

close up of double blooming orange quince

For a touch of color unlike anything else in my garden, there’s double blooming orange quince (Chaenomeles speciosa, Zone 4 – 8).

close up of plant with small light pink flowers

Pretty as a picture… Tiarella ‘Pink Symphony’ (Zone 4 – 9) is a great addition to my woodland garden.

close up of bright orange flowers under an evergreen plant

Wallflower (Cheiranthus allionii, Zone 3 – 8) tucked in under an evergreen is a welcome surprise.

close up of geranium with bright purple flowers

Geranium sanguineum (Zone 3 – 9) is fairly common, but the punch of color it adds is remarkable.

sloped garden with lots of white, pink, and purple flowers

Daisies (Leucanthemum vulgare, Zone 3 – 8), lupine (Lupinus polyphyllus, Zone 3 – 7), foxgloves (Digitalis purpurea, Zone 4 – 9) and sweet William (Dianthus barbatus, Zone 3 – 9) enjoy the sunshine of this early summer southeast facing slope.

close up of bright purple and orange flowers

By far my favorite picture from last summer, a butterfly enjoys the liatris (Liatris spicata, Zone 3 – 8) with some daylilies (Hemerocallis hybrids, Zone 3 – 9) in the foreground.

 

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Comments

  1. User avater
    treasuresmom 01/09/2024

    That pine is gorgeous

    1. gailwnc 01/09/2024

      Isn’t it pretty? I’m so glad to have one in the garden.

  2. user-7821942 01/09/2024

    Beautiful flowers and I agree, the pine is fantastic. You have such a great climate for gardening and your plants look so lush and healthy. Thanks for sharing.

    1. gailwnc 01/09/2024

      Of course I took the pictures when things were at their peak 🙂

  3. gardendevas 01/09/2024

    Gail, lovely flowers! Any photos that show how you are designing / gardening on your slope? I also live on a slope, and am always looking for ideas.

    1. gailwnc 01/09/2024

      I use a combo of small trees, shrubs and perennials in my slope gardens. Often have 3s- 3 spirea, 3 rhodies, etc
      The large front slope is a wildflower garden.

      1. gardendevas 01/10/2024

        Thanks, that’s lovely! Beautiful stone walkways, too.

  4. User avater
    simplesue 01/09/2024

    Your whole garden is so pretty, I'm love'n the purple chives- pretty and edible!

    1. gailwnc 01/09/2024

      I know. And such a simple combination.

  5. btucker9675 01/09/2024

    Baby pine cones!!!!!

    1. gailwnc 01/09/2024

      💕

  6. Tingshu99 01/09/2024

    Love your woodland garden, and artful combination of textures and colors!

    1. gailwnc 01/10/2024

      Thank you

  7. nicki_s 01/09/2024

    Wonderful photos! I would like to try some of these plant selections.

    1. gailwnc 01/10/2024

      Gardening is a wonderful process of trial and error.

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