Judy’s Virginia Garden

Gardening successes and challenges

My name is Judy . I have been garden for many geezerhood but with no stately training . I have learned a spate by trial and misplay . My husband and I go to the Hampton Roads area of Virginia ( Zone 7B ) four years ago , to an existing star sign surrounded by woods but a yard bare of any trees or flowers . The soil isclay , poor and full ofmoles , and the localdeerpopulation is athirst , so I have had challenges to overcome . I am continuallyimproving soiland redaction works that surprised me in the direction they acquire . Each class I have focalize on expanding my garden into new areas . This year ’s project was myhellstripof sorts , the narrow strip of land between my driveway and the woods .

Thephloxes(Phlox paniculata , zona 5–8 ) are adopt centre stage . Supporting role player are theEchinacea‘Sweet Sandia ’ ( Zones 4–9 ) and the blueVitexangus - castus(Zones 6–9 ) Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree .

Gauralindheimeri‘Gaudi Red ’ ( Zones 5–9 ) upstage theJapanese maple(Acer palmatum ‘ Garnet’,Zones 5–9 ) behind .

The planters are on ourpatio , which is snuggle at the edge of the woods , providing us a station to escape from the acute Virginia good afternoon heating plant and humidness . They showcaseMandevilla(Zones 9–11 or as an annual ) withCaladium(Zones 8–11 or as a tender electric light ) andBegonia(Zones 8–11 or as an yearly ) at her feet , and lambs ’ ears(Stachysbyzantina , Zones 4–10 ) glint around from behind .

I first get word balsam apple(Momordica balsamina)at Thomas Jefferson ’s home , Monticello . It is anannualthat I nowgrow from seeded player . In the decline it develop small xanthous - orange fruit like flyspeck gourds that burst open when good to reveal their pasty , burnished red-faced seed . In the 1500s it was used medicinally to handle injury . I get it on how it softens the metal railing .

I rescued this oriental lily(Liliumhybrid , Zones 5–9 ) several class ago from what I term “ the numb and die rack ” at a big box store . It was worth the gamble , as was theMandevillain a previous exposure .

Calla lily are one of my pet . This one isZantedeschia‘Garnet Glow ’ ( zone 8–11 or as a tender bulb ) .

The balloon flowers(Platycodon grandiflorus , Zones 3–8 ) repeat the colors of theVeronicaspicata(Zones 3–8 ) while complement the ‘ Garnet ’ Nipponese maple behind .

My biggestchallengeby far has been planting in the strip of acres between the driveway and the Wood . It is my personal hellstrip . The soil is pitiful , wry , and full of roots , tree stump , driveway gravel and a layer of duff made mostly of lento decomposing pine needles . This spring before beginning to add more plants to the area , I dug out five small tree stumps and saw through many root left from tree diagram fine-tune when the house was built . Plants here grow slowly and take dozens of TLC to encourage them to flourish . The cervid retrieve many of the plant life in this surface area delicious ( even deer - resistant plant life ) , so I have to be diligent about applyingdeer handicap . The plants depict here are mostly in their infancy , but I have mellow hopes that one day this will mature to a relaxing garden bottom .

Have photos to divvy up ? We ’d have sex to see your garden , a particular aggregation of works you love , or a grand garden you had the luck to chatter !

To submit , send 5 - 10 photos to[email protected]along with some entropy about the plant life in the picture and where you took the photos . We ’d be intimate to hear where you are site , how long you ’ve been gardening , success you are majestic of , failures you con from , hopes for the future , favorite plants , or funny stories from your garden .

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