We’re back in Massachusetts, visiting with Tingshu Hu again. Yesterday we took a look at summer in her front garden, today she’s sharing views from her beautiful back garden, with photos all taken last June.

Our backyard garden started with a prairifire crabapple tree (Malus ‘Prairifire’, Zone 4 – 8) and a fish pond. The pictures were taken around them.

This picture was taken on June 12, from below the branches of the crabapple tree. The flowering plants include bearded iris (Iris hybrid, Zone 3 – 8), salvia (Salvia nemorosa, Zone 3 – 8), celosia (Celosia argentea, annual) and peonies (Paeonia hybrids, Zone 3 – 8) by the white fence.

Taken on the same day, from the other side of the crabapple tree. Below the tree are shade loving plants including variegated Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum odoratum ‘Variegatum’, Zone 3 – 8), blue hosta (Hosta hybrids, Zone 3 – 8) and newly planted coleus (Plectranthus scutellarioides, Zone 10 – 11 or as annual), which will grow much bigger through the summer.

Taken on June 18. A different angle from below the tree. Our older Havanese dog Deedee (17 years old) was curious about something in the grass.

Looking from the crabapple tree toward the fish pond, a patch of wild flowers and the chicken yard (the structures at the far end.)

The crabapple tree at the center. The last flower of bearded iris. The peony flowers continued to the end of June.

Looking at the backyard garden from below an apple tree. At the right side is newly planted Ruby Falls weeping redbud (Cercis canadensis ‘Ruby Falls’, Zone 5-9) with purple leaves.

The fish pond. Plants around the fish pond include creeping jenny (Lysimachia nummularia ‘Aurea’, Zone 3 – 9), coral bells (Heuchera hybrids, Zone 4 – 9), blue fescue (Festuca glauca, Zone 4 – 8), catmint (Nepeta hybrid, Zone 3 – 8), red twig variegated dogwood (Cornus alba ‘Elegantissima’, Zone 2 – 8), rose campion (Lychnis coronaria, Zone 4 – 8), and Japanese maple (Acer palmatum, Zone 5 – 9).

Looking toward the garden from behind the wild flowers. You can spy our Havanese dog Luke hiding between the flowers. Far away are the last peony flowers, and first daylily (Hemerocallis hybrids, Zone 4 – 9) flowers (picture taken on June 25).

Looking westward from the side of the fish pond. Plants around the patio include blue fescue, sweet alyssum (Lobularia maritima, Zone 9 – 11 or as annual), zinnia (Zinnia marylandica, annual), penstemon (Penstemon digitalis, Zone 3 – 8), delphinium (Delphinium elatum, Zone 3 – 7), rose campion, sweet William (Dianthus barbatus, Zone 3 – 8), and lots of tricolor viola from self seeding.

Looking toward the fish pond from the west side. A rose pergola stands beside the pond. A New Dawn climbing rose is blooming with pink white flowers.

Have a garden you’d like to share?

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