Happy Monday, GPODers!
As spring comes to a close and we roll into summer, color abounds! More and more lush greenery is unfurling, and bright blooms are filling our gardens. When I think of colorful spaces, Heidi Weirether’s garden in Fairfield County, Conn., quickly comes to mind. Her flower-filled beds have a layered, cottage garden vibe with a diverse array of really bright blooms. Heidi shared her garden twice during its peak bloom period last year (check those posts out here: Heidi’s Colorful Garden in Fairfield County and Peak Season in Heidi’s Connecticut Garden), and I’m thrilled she’s back today to share the color that emerged this May.
My May garden in Fairfield County, Conn. Today I attempted to capture its essence through photography. From the deep violet irises and lupine to the joyful peonies, each blossom feels like a small wonder. These photos are my way of sharing a piece of that beauty with you. Sending good vibes through the splendor of nature.
Happy Gardening!
Heidi Weirether
In spring and summer, Heidi’s garden is a collage of bright berry shades from flowers of various forms. Here, poppies and peonies create bursts of red and pink, while early lupine and foxglove blooms add a vertical punch.
Another view of the various pink flowers that glow against lots of bright green foliage
Heidi also treated us to some fabulous flower close-ups. While the outrageous blooms of a bright pink peony (Paeonia lactiflora, Zones 3–8) can easily get knocked down by the next passing rain storm, which have been particularly abundant this spring in Connecticut, the color they provide is worth their fragility.
Another incredible flower that fits into Heidi’s pink and purple color scheme is this incredible Siberian iris (Iris sibirica, Zones 3–9).
While the classic look of a single peony is striking, the double blooms have this fluffy texture that makes them extra enthralling. This appears to be a Sorbet peony (P. lactiflora ‘Sorbet’, Zones 3–8), with contrasting pink and light peach petals.
But it’s no surprise that Heidi also has a single variety that perfectly matches the incredible hues of the Sorbet peony above, which is this stunning Soft Salmon Joy (Paeonia lactiflora ‘Soft Salmon Joy’, Zones 3–8). She has a great eye for planting just enough difference and variation to make her beds interesting, while maintaining some consistency to ensure cohesion.
And one last photo captures the incredible pairing of those bright pink peonies with purple lupine. 😍
Thank you so much for sharing your vibrant garden with us again, Heidi! Seeing photos of your blooms is really like being a kid in a candy store—so many delicious treats for the eyes.
It’s June, and I know your garden is alive with color too! Whether it’s potted annuals that are starting to fill out or summer perennials putting on an early show, we would love to see the color in your garden right now. Follow the directions below to submit photos via email, or send me a DM on Instagram: @agirlherdogandtheroad.
We want to see YOUR garden!
Have photos to share? We’d love to see your garden, a particular collection of plants you love, or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit!
To submit, send 5–10 photos to [email protected] along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the photos. We’d love to hear where you are located, how long you’ve been gardening, successes you are proud of, failures you learned from, hopes for the future, favorite plants, or funny stories from your garden.
Have a mobile phone? Tag your photos on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with #FineGardening!
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