{"id":4311,"date":"2025-09-03T21:34:37","date_gmt":"2025-09-04T04:34:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wrwofficial.com\/index.php\/2025\/09\/03\/jodys-two-year-old-garden-in-maryland\/"},"modified":"2025-09-03T21:34:39","modified_gmt":"2025-09-04T04:34:39","slug":"jodys-two-year-old-garden-in-maryland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wrwofficial.com\/index.php\/2025\/09\/03\/jodys-two-year-old-garden-in-maryland\/","title":{"rendered":"Jody’s Two-Year-Old Garden in Maryland"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Hi GPODers!<\/p>\n

Today we\u2019re getting an introduction to Jody Petersen\u2019s new garden in Chestertown, Maryland. Jody didn\u2019t have much to work with when she moved to the property but has quickly started crafting a landscape that is not only beautiful but greatly beneficial to local wildlife and pollinators that visit her plantings. While two years isn\u2019t quite enough time to have a mature garden of large, flowering plants, a mix of annual blooms have brought a hearty dose of color and nectar sources while native perennials are filling in.<\/p>\n

This is my just-two-year garden in Chestertown, Maryland, on the eastern shore of the Chesapeake Bay. This was a completely blank canvas when we moved in except for a Norway maple<\/a><\/em>\u00a0(<\/em>Acer platanoides and cvs.<\/em>, Zones 3\u20137)<\/em> that we quickly removed and replaced with a red oak<\/em> (<\/em>Quercus rubra, Zones 4\u20138)<\/em>. My point of view with this garden is all toward encouraging wildlife\u2014birds, insects, and amphibians\u2014and having a loose look, letting the space flourish with \u201cediting\u201d by me. We use mainly natives, took out most of the lawn, and added a clover patch. I was the horticulturalist at an upscale country club, and when I retired, I wanted to have a totally different garden. This is the opposite of country club! It went from a frat house with just lawn and broken fences to a lively haven for hummingbirds, frogs, Carolina wrens, (<\/em>Thryothorus ludovicianus), honeybees, and bumbles. I use lots of found and repurposed things and some art projects of my own as well. Also solar light \u201cart\u201d at night!<\/em><\/p>\n

Thanks for looking!<\/em>
Jody Petersen<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/a>Our gargoyle holds a birdbath. The cement atlas ball is from a gym.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"garden<\/a>I love penstemons<\/a>! This pond has a shallow beach for small birds.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"pink<\/a>I threw a pack of mixed annual poppies down in our front yard in February\u2014they were a glorious hit in the town in May!<\/em><\/p>\n

\"front<\/a>Crazy poppy display, plus a paperbark maple<\/em> (<\/em>Acer<\/a> griseum, Zones 4\u20138)<\/em>, a non-native small tree with beautiful peeling bark and bright fall color. Underneath the poppies are butterfly weed<\/em> (<\/em>Asclepias<\/a> tuberosa, Zones 3\u20139)<\/em> that will fill in after I take the poppies out in mid-June.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"orb<\/a>I\u2019m not strict about natives\u2014ageratum<\/a> is so long-lasting and easy.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Clover<\/a>Clover lawn: never mow, and the pollinators love it.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"garden<\/a>Various non-plant additions<\/em><\/p>\n

\"small<\/a>This is \u2018Judy Zuk\u2019 magnolia<\/em> (<\/em>Magnolia<\/a> \u2018Judy Zuk\u2019<\/em>, Zones 5\u20139)<\/em>. It gets beautiful pale yellow flowers in early spring and has a narrow habit.<\/em><\/p>\n

Thank you so much for sharing your new garden with us, Jody! It\u2019s incredible the amount of beauty you\u2019ve been able to build in two short years, and I hope we get more submissions from your garden so we can watch it grow and evolve.<\/p>\n

No matter how new or old your garden is, there is always something to celebrate and share! So whether your garden is in its 3rd growing season or it\u2019s 30th, consider contributing your photos to the blog. Follow the directions below to submit photos via email, or send me a DM on Instagram: @agirlherdogandtheroad<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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We want to see YOUR garden!<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Have photos to share? We\u2019d love to see your garden, a particular collection of plants you love, or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit!<\/p>\n

To submit, send 5\u201310 photos to\u00a0[email\u00a0protected]<\/span><\/a>\u00a0along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the photos. We\u2019d love to hear where you are located, how long you\u2019ve been gardening, successes you are proud of, failures you learned from, hopes for the future, favorite plants, or funny stories from your garden.<\/p>\n

Have a mobile phone? Tag your photos on\u00a0Facebook,<\/a>\u00a0Instagram,<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0Twitter<\/a>\u00a0with #FineGardening!<\/p>\n

Do you receive the GPOD by email yet?\u00a0Sign up here<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n