Charlene’s Pennsylvania Garden

Today we’re in the town of North East, Pennsylvania, visiting Charlene Kerr’s garden.

We are located on the south shore of Lake Erie, in northwestern Pennsylvania (even though the town is named North East!). The lake provides cooler springs and warmer falls, making it ideal for grape vineyards and cherry and apple orchards, and our gardens. We began gardening when we purchased this home, which was started in 1796. In 2005, we removed a 100-year-old addition, put on a new addition, restored the 200-year-old portion of the home, then started rejuvenating and adding to the gardens. We added native and unique plants with the help of Brett Maloney Landscaping.

Fringe tree (Chionanthus virginicus, Zones 3–9) and an old spirea (Spirea prunifolia, Zones 5–8) accent the two-level deck that overlooks Lake Erie.

Candytuft (Iberis sempervirens, Zones 3–8) and dwarf Korean lilac (Syringa pubescens, Zones 4–7) thrive under an ancient apple tree and an old fireplace. A pergola and patio were added for use with the fireplace.

The detached garage serves as a storage shed, with a potting shed on the far side. It is flanked with Rhododendron, hostas, deutzia (Deutzia gracilis, Zones 5–8), pachysandra (Pachysandra terminalis, Zones 5–9), iris (Iris hybrid, bearded group, Zones 3–9), and a yellow wood tree (Cladrastis kentukea, Zones 4–8).

Tree peonies (Paeonia hybrid, Zones 4–8) and Allium (ornamental onion, Zones 4–10) in front of the old chimney and pergola.

The west tree row buffers the neighboring home with a variety of hostas, sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum, Zones 4–8), ostrich fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris, Zones 3–7), Cotoneaster divaricatus (Zones 4–7), doublefile viburnum (Viburnum plicatum, Zones 4–8), weigela (Weigela florida, Zones 4–8), and a weeping false cypress tree (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis, Zones 4–7).

Crabapple trees (Malus sp., Zones 4–8 ) bloom in mid-May.

A ‘Tricolor’ beech tree (Fagus sylvatica ‘Tricolor’, Zones 4–7) protects ‘Johnson’s Blue’ geraniums (Geranium ‘Johnson’s Blue’, Zones 4–8) and daisies.

The first purple irises (Iris hybrid, bearded group, Zones 3–8) bloom around the lady statue, along with hostas, the last of the daffodils, and peonies.

Have a garden you’d like to share?

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