Hi GPODers!
Yesterday we paraded through Lila Johnson’s marvelous snow-filled garden (Lila’s Lovely Snow Scenes in Washington), but today and tomorrow we’ll be turning our sights to spring and summer! Sharon Burgmayer in Wayne, Pennsylvania has sent in a wonderful assortment of spring and summer photos from the last 24 years in her garden. You read that right, Sharon has graciously compiled a large group of photos with one dating back to 2001! These photos highlight the many flowers that she grows, and showcase the evolution that has occurred in her various beds and borders over the years.
Hello,
I have enjoyed GPOD for many years and I am finally sending along some (many!) pictures of my garden in Wayne, PA (about 15 minutes west of Philadelphia) where we have lived since 1990.
This garden was created 35 years ago: we were so excited to finally have a garden! Of the hundreds of garden pictures taken over the 3 decades, I have selected these to show different parts of our property and how they have changed over the years. The prominent feature is the long perennial border of over 80 ft in length, originally 12 ft deep, but portions have expanded over the years as I attempt to move plants out from the growing shade of the red Japanese maple you can see in the background. I’m afraid I belong to the horticultural zoo school of gardening: I want one of everything! And then I follow the cottage garden method of allowing the plants to move around to whatever site they favor. In addition, I included some striking trees: a smoke tree and an elderberry which is my favorite recent addition. Finally, the last picture is a poster gift I made for my husband, “The Flowers at Beechtree Lane,” that features flowers from the garden. The garden steps shown in one picture were built by my husband. The birdbath with the hand emerging we call the Hand of God and was a Mother’s Day gift from my sons 20 some years ago.
Perennial Border Summer 2001: Either Sharon did a lot of digging to compile this array of photos to share, or she has excellent organization and record keeping. Either way, I was very impressed to see this stunning photo from 2001 make its way to the Garden Photo of the Day inbox. This is only about 11 years after Sharon moved to this property, yet she was already able to create a bountiful border of color and excitement. It’s a great introduction to the kinds of gardens Sharon continues to cultivate over the years.
Perennial Border Summer 2005: Four years later and the border has already gone through a major transformation. Many of the hot-colored flowers that we saw in 2001 have been swapped for a cooler color palette.
Perennial Border Summer 2005: Pinks, blues, purples, and plenty of white come together to create a combination that is colorful and fun while still being a peaceful and soothing scene. It’s definitely easy to see Sharon’s embrace of the cottage garden aesthetic.
Perennial Border Late May 2010: Of course, the cottage garden style is never complete without some big, romantic roses. A couple of arches give the roses something to climb on while adding more height to the border.
Heritage rose: Potentially one of the roses in the mix above, a soft pink Heritage rose (Rosa ‘Heritage’, Zones 5–11) is one of the most popular David Austin roses for a reason, and a classic choice for a mixed border full of pastels.
Full Garden Late May 2010: A wider view of the gardens and the “Hand of God” bird bath that Sharon’s sons gifted her, which is a fabulous focal point.
Garden Bench Late May 2010: Hidden amongst the thick plantings on the perennial border is the perfect spot to slip away from the world and immerse yourself in this floral wonderland that is Sharon’s gardens. I can only imagine how wonderfully fragrant this spot is!
Backyard Shade Late June 2010: Of course, not every spot in the garden can be all about flowers. A shady bed under a tree is the perfect place for an assortment of lush foliage plants.
Front Porch Plantings 2013: Where Sharon can’t plant into the ground, she adds color with a multitude of containers in various sizes. What could have been a cold, uninviting area with harsh lines and dark brick is transformed into a private oasis with the strategic use of annual flowers and lush foliage plants.
Front Step Planters Late June 2013: Utilizing the front steps, as well as a diverse assortment of containers made of different materials, makes these container plantings even more lively and layered. This also allows her to create a similar look and feel to the perennial border in her backyard.
Perennial Border July 2014: Speaking of that beautiful border, this bee’s-eye-view is spectacular! As much as this garden is a treat for humans, its a treasure trove for pollinators. Who wouldn’t be welcomed by this bursts of ballon flowers (Platycodon grandiflorus, Zones 3–8)?
New Steps Into Garden 2014: Lastly, the steps Sharon’s husband added to the garden also brought along more planting possibilities. A handful of small plantings bring more interest to this well-designed feature, but just wait until you see what this spot looks like today! Sharon sent a photo of these steps and the surrounding plantings from last summer that will be featured in Part 2 tomorrow.
So many amazing photos and captivating flowers, but we’re only half-way through this garden journey. Be sure to check GPOD again tomorrow to see how Sharon’s gardens continue to evolve over the years!
Have a garden you’d like to share?
Have photos to share? We’d love to see your garden, a particular collection of plants you love, or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit!
To submit, send 5-10 photos to [email protected] along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the photos. We’d love to hear where you are located, how long you’ve been gardening, successes you are proud of, failures you learned from, hopes for the future, favorite plants, or funny stories from your garden.
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