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Garden Reflections 2023

As the year winds down, I like to reflect on how the garden has fared over the year: What did well, what struggled, what I’m most (or least) happy about. While disappointments are instructive, I make a point of focusing on the positives. A garden is supposed to be a source of happiness and relaxation, after all.

Come along as I riffle through the archives for lessons and highlights from every month of the year. If you’d like to know more, each entry is followed by related in-depth articles.

And now for a look back, starting with last January…

An Independence Day Garden

July 6, 2023

How fast the garden changes at this time of year! It seems like just yesterday that I posted the Memorial Day tour. A month later it all looks so different.

Let’s take a quick walk around and see what’s in bloom.

Memorial Day Garden Tour 2023

The garden looks very different from last year at this time. We lost our Magic Carpet spirea hedge out front, which succumbed to root rot and died over the winter. I lost all my foxgloves and several deep purple salvias, which dominated the main perennial bed last year. And I coppiced our purple smoke tree, so its height is missing in the landscape. I also had to take out about a third of my roses due to disease.

When workers installed our new roof last fall, they managed to damage several foundation plantings. Several Sky Pencil hollies in the same area were languishing (not enough sun), so I ended up replacing half the foundation plants on the north side of the house. Even so it will take time for those holes to fill in.

But the peonies and iris are just wonderful this year, loaded with blooms! All the replanting gave me ample opportunity to try new things. There’s still plenty to see. Come along for a virtual walk-through!