Today we’re in Phoenix, Maryland, visiting Sally Barker’s beautiful garden:

While my garden has been featured many times on GPOD (Sally’s Garden in Maryland, Up Front , Sally’s Maryland Garden), it’s been a few years since I sent photos. As any long-time gardener knows there are always changes and additions to be made! One edits continually as certain plants don’t live, or don’t live up to expectations. I finally removed two sections of forsythia and created new and very happy opportunities. Even favorite plants sometimes need to be removed as, for instance, a group of Annabelle hydrangeas (Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’, Zone 3 – 9) which were popular deer food. I can’t wait for spring to redesign this area.

Here are some photos from past seasons.

Imagine that this whole area was full of forsythia! Now azaleas and rhododendrons, a magnolia in the left corner and colorful ground covers are abundant.

Another more shady part of the same area. An oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Sikes Dwarf’, Zone 5 – 9) nestled amongst hostas and ferns, a blue hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla, Zone 5 – 9) and Geranium macrorrhizum (Zone 4 – 8), my favorite ground cover.

Same bed with Ajuga ‘Black Scallop’ (Zone 4 – 10), Acorus gramineus ‘Minimus’ (Zone 5 – 10), Stachys ‘Hummelo’ (Zone 4 – 8) and Alchemilla (Zone 3 – 8). It’s all about texture.

More acorus, ferns, and a wonderful Heuchera ‘Raspberry Regal’ (Zone 3 – 9), which will bloom pink for a long while.

Another view of the new garden. Oenothera ‘Siskiyou’ (Zone 5 – 9) blooms pink in the early summer.

My patio garden with maidenhair fern (Adiantum pedatum, Zone 2 – 9), heuchera and lysimachia (Lysimachia nummularia ‘Aurea’, Zone 3 – 8).

The patio garden in the rain.

A view from the patio under a Japanese maple (Acer palmatum, Zone 5 – 9).

Ogon spirea (Spirea thunbergii ‘Ogon’, Zone 4 – 8), hakonechloa (Hakonechloa macra, Zone 5 – 9), Geranium macrorrhizum and the star of the backyard, a Natchez crepe myrtle (Lagerstroemia ‘Natchez’, Zone 6 – 9) on the right.

Sally sent in so many great photos we’re going to revisit this garden again tomorrow, so come back then for more!

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