Hi GPODers!
It’s officially summer in the Northern Hemisphere, but it’s not too late to celebrate some spectacular spring displays! Today we’re exploring the exciting blooms and bright foliage of Fran Watson’s sensational spring garden on Martha’s Vineyard, an island off the coast of Massachusetts. Fran has shared her lush garden with us several times over the years (Fran’s Island Garden, Gardening on Martha’s Vineyard, and Jewels of Fall in Fran’s Garden) but most recently has been sharing photos from the incredible public gardens she visits on her travels (Fort Worth Botanic Garden and United States Botanic Garden in D.C.). This update brings us back to New England to see how her home garden is looking this year.
Hi, my name is Fran Watson. I have submitted my garden several times, and also gardens we visit in our travels. I really enjoy looking at GPOD during my breakfast time. In fact, I never miss it! I took these photos on June 6, the end of spring here in coastal Massachusetts. The past month has been cool more than warm. I think that helps keep blooms looking good for a longer time. My gardening challenges are deer, wild turkeys, and shade. I feel that I have found plants that work for variety, texture, and color in spite of the challenges.
As you scroll through these photos, you’ll quickly notice two key elements in Fran’s spring designs: bright, lush foliage and a diverse collection of pink blooms. Right away, these light pink lupines are scene stealing, but the gorgeous array of diverse foliage shapes and textures are a strong second billing.
The tall green stalks are an herb, but I don’t know the name of it. I like it for its architectural presence.
More pink blooms: this time, sweet columbine flowers looking like little alien spacecrafts floating down to earth.
As this was early in June, Fran’s peonies were still very perky. I love the subtle blush of pink on this mostly white variety.
Here’s another pairing of pretty pink blossoms: hardy geranium crawling out from under a large spirea covered in fuzzy blooms.
While Fran’s flowers are a delight, her foliage is also sublime in spring. Some plants provide green interest before their summer blooms appear, while others—like the deep burgundy Japanese maple and blue hosta—add another element of color.
Another great shot showcasing the diversity in foliage Fran has achieved
This photo shows my two favorite ferns: the autumn fern (Dryopteris erythrosora, Zones 5–9) and the red lady fern (Athyrium filix-femina ‘Lady in Red’, Zones 2–9).
Thank you so much for sharing this sampling of your spring garden with us, Fran! Whether you’re showing us your gorgeous plants or taking us along on your public garden visits, it’s always marvelous to see these spaces through your eyes and lens.
Before your camera roll gets inundated with summer photos, think about sharing some of your spring snaps with Garden Photo of the Day! 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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