Today we’re returning to Wayne, Pennsylvania, to visit Wendy’s garden, now 48 years in the making. When Wendy and her family started gardening here, the one-acre property had only a few large deciduous trees among masses of weeds and poison ivy. Over the decades, it has grown into a mature garden filled with both sunny borders and shaded woodland spaces. Wendy has shared her garden with GPOD several times over the years, and today she’s back with another collection of seasonal highlights.
Here’s Wendy:
‘Casa Blanca’ Oriental lily (Lilium ‘Casa Blanca’, Zones 4–9) doesn’t disappoint. It’s reliable, floriferous, and wonderfully fragrant. Grow it in a sunny, well-drained location.
Watered frequently in full sun, this banana (Musa cvs., Zones 8–11) grew from a 4-inch pot into a surprisingly large plant. I let it die over winter because I didn’t have an appropriate place for the monster, but it was fun to watch grow!
Clematis ‘Betty Corning’ (Clematis ‘Betty Corning’, Zones 4–9) has a long bloom season of bell-shaped lavender flowers. This is how it looks throughout the growing season after its first big flush of flowers in spring.
A close-up of ‘Betty Corning’ shows its delicate, bell-shaped lavender flowers.
The pink bloom of an obovate peony (Paeonia obovata, Zones 4–8) brightens the woodland garden and appreciates some shade.
Developing seed heads on the obovate peony before they open to reveal their dramatic fall color
The mature seed heads are almost as striking as the flowers. Their coloration is stunning, and this photo has not been color-enhanced.
Hardy hibiscus (Hibiscus moscheutos, Zones 5–9) provides much-needed color in August. This plant emerged from a piece of root left in the soil after the original plant had been transplanted. It emerges late in spring, prefers a sunny location, and appreciates plenty of water.
Try to site some of your plantings where they can also be enjoyed from inside the house. It’s a good thing when we’re huddled in the air-conditioning during 100-degree days!
Thank you, Wendy, for sharing another season of your garden with us. With nearly five decades of plants and stories to choose from, there was far too much to fit into one post. Come back tomorrow for Part 2, with more of Wendy’s favorite plants, woodland combinations, and seasonal surprises.
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