Happy Monday, GPODers!
Fall is in full swing, but we’re lucky at Garden Photo of the Day to enjoy summer longer than most. Sometimes that means visiting gardens in the Southern Hemisphere, but usually we’re slipping back to summer days via photos of our contributors’ gardens when they’re at their peak. Today is one of those days, as we dive into the colorful landscape of Lee from the Mohawk Valley in New York State. Lee is a frequent contributor, who always has beautiful photos and some wise words to share (check out some previous submissions here: Lily Pre-Bloom in the Mohawk Valley, Lee’s Spring Garden in the Mohawk Valley, There Is Always Room for More, Flower Close-Ups from Lee’s Garden, Anticipating the Colors of Summer, and more). Today (and tomorrow) we’ll be enjoying his outstanding collection of true lilies and daylilies as he reminisces on the peak season and looks ahead to next year.
Well, I do believe that summer is over, seeing that it’s now November 1. With that said, I’m going to drag us back into the warm summer for a few minutes. I hope that people won’t get too upset about leaving the wet and cold for a bit.
Even though I have a sizable property, I “labor” in thinking about what is next. Now in my seventh decade, after gardening for decades and decades, I think my additional plantings and extra flair items are starting to wane—not in spirit—just in actual additions. I’m dropping in five new lily bulbs soon, and that will be it for newbies next spring. I now will be counting much more on all of my previous seasons’ plantings to provide me with my spring and summer energy, color, and enjoyment. Not the worst thing in the world, I guess. . . .
It’s not quite a sad point, but certainly one that shows how time has its effect on what we do, how we do it, and how much. Maybe my melancholy is due to the cooling temps and the change in daylight, and with the knowledge of winter on the threshold. Anyone else in their seventh decade get feelings like this? Enough said.
As always, I hope you and all of the great gardeners and readers out there find some enjoyment in these photos, and we WILL be back in the spring . Who knows, I’ll probably get bored and put together a submission during the dark days of winter. Yeah, I see that happening. . . .
Peace to all—have a great holiday season, and enjoy the color I’ve provided for the ol’ eyes.
We were blessed with a visit from a few deer in our backyard! We are quite a ways from the park where they came from (where I continually release possums and skunks—seven thus far this year), and it was quite a surprise to see this within the village. The photo may be a bit blurry, but it’s worthy of posting—especially when one of the two deer seemed to like a tall lily to munch on (he’s hiding behind Rose and Fang).
It’s easy to see why so much wildlife is drawn to Lee’s garden; it looks like it’s absolutely filled with candy! ‘Always Afternoon’ daylily (Hemerocallis ‘Always Afternoon’, Zones 3–9) is a tempting treat with its berry-colored flowers.
During peak bloom, Lee’s beds and borders are lush tapestries of diverse foliage and countless flowers that all mix and mingle together. Within this frenzy of flowers, bold lilies act like anchors throughout his designs. Even with so much to take in behind, this Rainbow Rhythm® ‘Star of the North’ daylily (Hemerocallis ‘Star of the North’, Zones 3–9) pulls attention.
A mix of pink lilies and coneflowers makes this bright white ‘Casa Blanca’ lily (Lilium ‘Casa Blanca’, Zones 5–8) stand out from the crowd.
True lilies and daylilies are easy to get addicted to, as they come in such a wide range of colors and forms. This buttery yellow daylily looks sublime all by itself, shining among a sea of green.
Another great example of the meadow-like effect that Lee creates through his dense plantings: A peachy pink lily, potentially the cultivar ‘Morpho Pink’ (Lilium ‘Morpho Pink’, Zones 3–8) is the perfect bridge between purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea, Zones 3–9) and black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia hirta, Zones 3–9).
We’ve seen flowers mixing and mingling, but this pairing takes that to the next level. A vibrant pink lily, maybe the cultivar ‘Robina’ (Lilium ‘Robina’, Zones 4–9), is acting as support for a white morning glory (Ipomoea tricolor, annual) growing up its stem and around its larger blooms. Lee has created a living bouquet in his garden!
As I alluded to at the beginning of this post, Lee shared so many spectacular photos of his summer garden that we will be returning tomorrow to see more of his amazing lilies and their companions. Keep an eye on your inbox so you don’t miss Part 2 of this beautiful submission.
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