Hi GPODers!
We have another fabulous spring garden to share today. This one is from Kris Northup in State College, Pa. Kris first shared her colorful landscape in fall (check that out here: Fall in Kris’s Garden), with foliage in bold hues and the final flowers of the garden season. Today she is back to share the bursts of color that emerge from her beds in spring.
I am Kris Northup; this is my second submission to Fine Gardening. The first was in the fall of 2023. I am an avid listener to the FG podcast and eagerly await the new publication every month. I live in State College, Pennsylvania, Zone 6B, and have been gardening since I helped my grandmother in her Burbank, California, garden when I was a toddler. I love watching plants grow! My current gardens have been a work in progress for about 30 years on a typical suburban lot. I am so enjoying this spring, as we have not had a late frost and everything is magical! I am getting older, at 73, and have to count on my wonderful husband to do some of the heavy lifting and digging for me, as I am constantly moving and changing things. That is the fun of gardening to me: reimagining.
“Every person is like a box of magic: a mysterious vessel full of you-never-know-what.”—Elizabeth Berg
Under the Bloodgood Japanese maple (Acer palmatum ‘Bloodgood’, Zones 5–8), we see Blaauw’s Pink azalea (Rhododendron ‘Blaauw’s Pink’, Zones 6–9), Othello ligularia (Ligularia dentata ‘Othello’, Zones 3–8), and Jack Frost brunnera (Brunnera macrophylla ‘Jack Frost’, Zones 3–7). In the background, some peonies are just coming up as well as a new bed, ready for planting along the screen that we built. Can’t wait to get started on that!
Dwarf crested iris (Iris cristata, Zones 3–9) along our front path is an early pollinator that attracts bees and hummingbirds.
Lilac Wonder tulip (Tulipa bakeri ‘Lilac Wonder’, Zones 3–8), a wild tulip that returns every year, along our front walk with Blue Star juniper (Juniperus squamata ‘Blue Star’, Zones 4–8) and Black Scallop ajuga (Ajuga reptans ‘Binblasca’, Zones 4–9)
Variegated sweet iris (Iris pallida ‘Variegata’, Zones 4–9), which has purple flowers when in bloom, among Siberian spurge (Euphorbia seguieriana subsp. niciciana, Zones 6–11)
White bleeding heart (Dicentra spectabilis ‘Alba’, Zones 2–9) with Espresso cranesbill geranium (Geranium maculatum ‘Espresso’, Zones 5–8) and Japanese forest grass (Hakonechloa macra, Zones 5–9)
Brilliantissima red chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia ‘Brilliantissima’, Zones 4–9)—flowers in spring, berries in summer, and brilliant fall color. Just love it! Backed by a native redbud (Cercis canadensis, Zones 4–9).
Violets and dandelions in the grass, which pollinators love. Instead of chemicals, a yearly aeration and seeding keeps a nice balance of grass and pollinators in our lawn.
Newly planted laceleaf Crimson Queen Japanese maple (Acer palmatum var. dissectum ‘Crimson Queen’, Zones 5–8), which takes the place of a 20-year-old Garnet Japanese maple that we lost last year. Fronted by Jack Frost brunnera and Purple Rain Jacob’s ladder (Polemonium yezoense ‘Purple Rain’, Zones 3–7) just appearing on the right.
Prima Belarina® primrose Spring Sun and Amethyst Ice (Primula vulgaris ‘Belarina Spring Sun’ and ‘Belarina Amethyst Ice’, Zones 4–8)
White hellebore and another Jack Frost brunnera (they reseed everywhere!)
Thank you so much for sharing this collection of color, Kris! Your garden in spring is just as lively and lush as it is in fall. I only hope we get to see its peak summer blooms later this year.
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