
Happy Monday, GPODers!
Last year we were introduced to Dot Lenahan’s new garden in Broomall, Pennsylvania (Dot’s Three-Year-Old Garden). While the garden only had a few years of growth at the time, it was already looking lush and lively. Less than a year later, Dot’s plantings continue to evolve and expand. And despite some challenging weather in March, April, and May, her landscape was still able to pull off an incredible floral display in June.
Hello from Dot’s Garden in Broomall, Pennsylvania, outside of Philadelphia. I don’t think I can remember a more challenging spring; March and April were consistently cold, while May was one of the rainiest in the Northeast. We are finally at the end of a heat wave after a storm that spawned tornado-like winds and loss of power. Despite all of this, roses and clematis bloomed and filled the air with fragrance.
First up is the beautiful bell-shaped bloom of an Ada Moon clematis (Clematis ‘Ada Moon’, Zones 4–11).
The much larger blooms of a Vancouver™ Danielle clematis (Clematis ‘Danielle’, Zones 4–9) climb up both sides of one of Dot’s many arbors, and pair beautifully with the yellow glass birdbath placed in the center and bright purple irises in the lower right corner.
One of my fairy statues landing in Sally clematis (Clematis ‘Sally’, Zones 4–11)
A pink hollyhock still blooming after being munched upon
A photo by my grandson, as roses reach upward
A beautiful pink rose that filled the garden with fragrance
Princess Charlene de Monaco (Rosa ‘Meidysouk’, Zones 5–10) has long been a favorite among rose lovers. Their ruffled blooms, packed with hundreds of petals, will blow you away once you get close, but their sweet scent is what will draw you in from across the garden.
Lastly, more arbors getting completely consumed by James Galway climbing roses (Rosa ‘AUScrystal’, Zones 4–11) and Betty Corning clematis (Clematis ‘Betty Corning’, Zones 4–9): it’s a perfect pairing of the two plants that put on standout performances for Dot this spring.
Thank you so much for this update on your garden, Dot! It’s inspiring to see how much growth and beauty you’ve cultivated in a short time, and I hope you continue sharing your garden’s evolution with the blog.
Gardens new and old are always welcome on Garden Photo of the Day! As Dot’s garden demonstrates, you don’t have to tend a space for decades to create something spectacular and worthy of our admiration. Whether you’ve been working on your garden for a few decades, a few years, or a few months, consider sharing photos with the blog! Follow the directions below to submit photos via email, or send me a DM on Instagram: @agirlherdogandtheroad.
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