Today we’re visiting with Joyce Hannaford.
My 22-year-old garden continues to evolve here in Natick, Massachusetts. I’ve been gardening for 70 years, and both my parents were avid gardeners.
The property that we bought was totally overgrown, so we had a blank slate once we removed the out-of-control shrubs and trees.
We love to share our garden with friends, neighbors, and the many daily passersby, who get a lot of joy walking through the winding paths.
A pretty stunning water feature forms the focal point here. On the fence behind is a climbing hydrangea (Hydrangea anomala, Zones 4–8). Covering the ground is variegated Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum odoratum ‘Variegatum’, Zones 3–8), and in front is yellow creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia ‘Aurea’ Zones 3–9) and Japanese painted fern (Athyrium niponicum var. pictum, Zones 3–8). The foliage-focused plantings allow the water feature to take center stage.
The neatly mown grass path invites you to wander and explore this garden filled with lush plantings. Gold foliage is a repeated element in this scene, helping to unify the design.
A wide view of the garden from the street shows just how inviting this garden is to those who walk by.
Masses of garden phlox (Phlox paniculata, Zones 4–8) and spires of blue and purple delphinium (Delphinium elatum, Zones 3–7) make it hard to imagine that this garden used to be nothing but weedy, overgrown trees and shrubs. What a magical space it has become!
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