For our third local tour of the season, we were able to peruse a charming garden in a newer suburb of the city. Unlike the previous two tours, this gardener was working with a plot of land closely bordered by neighbors. Creating the illusion of a quiet, tucked-away garden is even more challenging for an urban gardener because of these closely situated lots. After years of cultivating her garden, I feel this gardener did a great job of achieving a beautiful backyard sanctuary.

Growing Walls

Whether lounging on the back patio or strolling through the garden, I barely noticed any neighboring homes, walls, or structures. One could say this is because I am a nutty-about-plants gardener and was distracted by all the green pretties. However, a layered collection of mature trees, flowering shrubs, and ornamental grasses created a living wall encircling the backyard.

Nooks and Crannies

I enjoy exploring gardens with little “rooms,” or tucked away places not very noticeable upon first glance. This garden utilized a mature pine to create a hidden path and cubby linking the front and back garden. Loved the addition of the whimsical mushroom statues.

The backyard garden had multiple paths winding through a diverse collection. I enjoy specimen gardens like this, allowing you to view and marvel at many types of plants.

How great is this guy? There were many treasures to discover throughout the garden.

Low Maintenance, Fab Foliage

I briefly chatted with the gardener about this collection of succulents on the back patio. All plants in these containers are tender to our zone 6a, meaning they would not survive the winter. However, they do not require much water unlike many other blooming, annual alternatives. And look at all those colors! Lovely.

Some Favorite Picks

There were many great plants living in this garden, but here are a couple of my favorites. This cranesbill is blooming in September! Cranesbill on the Lot is only a spring-blooming plant. There were so many happy bees dancing around this one.

As a gardener I am constantly learning. I had no idea what the fruit of a flowering dogwood looked like. Here they are.

I’m a sucker for colorful foliage, like Japanese blood grass. It is noted as an aggressive weed in warmer climates, but the temperature in our growing climate keeps those lovely fronds well in check. Now, combine the color with fuzzy seed heads found on bunny grass all within a dwarf-grass. Squee!

Overall I feel the Open Gardens this season were a success. Not only can gardeners be inspired by different arrangements and applications of plants, we also are able to visit with another and swap ideas. Even better are the shared stories of how you all made mistakes, feel ridiculous afterward, learn (most times), and forge ahead.