My identify is Dodie. I’ve been gardening in northern Alabama for 15 years. Our city property is in a historic neighborhood in Decatur. It had a beautiful spine of plantings created by house owners of the house within the mid-80s. We moved to pretty Zone 7b in 2008 from Zone 9 (Houston space), and I’ve completely reveled in it!
Despite the fact that the backyard had been uncared for for years, the Japanese magnolias (Magnolia liliflora, Zones 5–8), star magnolias (Magnolia stellata, Zones 4–9), oakleaf hydrangeas (Hydrangea quercifolia, Zones 5–9), native dogwood (Cornus florida, Zones 5–9), American boxwoods (Buxus sempervirens, Zones 5–8), Magnolia grandiflora, and bigleaf magnolia (Magnolia macrophylla, Zones 5–8) had been in good condition and supplied the inspiration and construction for our backyard renovation. The previous house owners had additionally planted a ligustrum hedge alongside two sides of the fence within the yard, which had grown into small bushes through the years. They created an ideal cover for azaleas (Rhododendron ‘Pink Ruffle’ and ‘George Tabor’, Zones 7–10), which had been planted the yr after we moved into the home.
The gardens have been a steady work in progress. They’re my playground, my fitness center, and my sanctuary. Final yr we eradicated the little little bit of garden that was left within the again, enlarging beds and making a brick sidewalk, bubble rocks, stone benches, and mushy lighting all through the backyard. We additionally upcut three arborvitae ‘Inexperienced Big’ (Thuja ‘Inexperienced Big’, Zones 5–9), which resulted in loads of room for brand spanking new shade crops. I added hosta (Hosta ‘Golden Tiara’, Zones 3–8) and heuchera (Heuchera ‘Dale’s Pressure’, ‘Catching Hearth’, and ‘Carnival Rose Granita’, Zone 4 – 7). Within the solar areas, I added Baptisia ‘Blueberry Sundae’ (Zone 4 – 9), oriental lilies (Lilium ‘Casa Blanca’, ‘Stargazer’, and ‘Presidente’, Zones 4–9) to the prevailing mixture of pink Knock Out roses (Rosa ‘Pink Knock Out’, Zones 5–9), ‘Rose Glow’ barberry (Berberis thunbergii ‘Rose Glow’, Zones 4–8), daylilies (Hemerocallis fulva ‘Keanso’, Zones 3–9), tall backyard phlox (Phlox paniculata, Zones 4–8), and sweetspire (Itea ‘Little Henry’, Zones 5–9). I really like the explosion of pinks and oranges in early summer time! Canna lilies ‘Australia’ (Canna ‘Australia’, Zones 7–10 or as a young bulb) are like purple exclamation factors within the sunny areas.
Two images present an outline of the backyard in winter. The opposite images present largely views of mid-to-late spring and early summer time. I can’t wait to see how a lot the brand new crops have grown. Hopefully the hostas and heucheras will fill within the naked areas. My aim this yr is so as to add late-summer perennials that may hold the colour coming by July and August and to discover a low-growing perennial to edge the beds and change the white impatiens I planted final yr. I do know that it doesn’t matter what I plant it is not going to match what’s in my mind, so I at all times have one thing new to work on! Pleased spring y’all!!
Spring bloom from azaleas and tulips
Overview of the again backyard in early spring, with magnolias simply coming into bloom
Bigleaf magnolia in bloom
That is the backyard in early spring, however plenty of lovely bushes and evergreens hold it filled with curiosity all yr.
An explosion of coloration in summer time from daylilies, phlox, lilies, roses, and extra
New plantings settling in and already trying nice
One other view of the brand new plantings of their spring bloom
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