My name is Heidi Steffes, and I’ve been gardening on six acres in Waukesha, Wisconsin, for 38 years. While I have many gardening areas, today’s photos are from our pool area that was added six years ago. My goal was to make the pool area a sort of sanctuary while also hiding (or blending in) the required fencing around the pool. Our winters are long here in Wisconsin, so I made an effort to include some conifers in the design for off-season interest. This part of the yard brings us much joy in our very short summers, even when we are not in the pool. While there are mostly shrubs and perennials in this area, I leave room in designated areas for annuals to ensure some color for the whole summer. Annuals change from year to year, which leaves room for some creativity.
Containers clustered together make a little mini garden next to the water.
This planting pocket was added to break up the large cement surround visually. Conifers provide interest right through the winter, while the Liatris spicata (Zones 3–8) blooms in the summer.
Yuccas (Yucca filamentosa, Zones 4–10) has dramatic, evergreen, spikey foliage. This one is just sending up the flower spikes, which will open to big sprays of white flowers.
The garden in summer is filled with beautiful sweeps of color.
Yellow-leaved smoke bush (Cotinus coggygria ‘Golden Spirit’, Zones 4–9) with purple blooms of Siberian iris (Iris siberica, Zones 4–10)
This garden angel was a gift from Heidi’s family for her fiftieth birthday and is a focal point in this garden.
Perennials such as garden phlox (Phlox paniculata, Zones 4–8) and echinacea (Echinacea hybrid, Zones 5–9) add color to this bed.
Assorted succulents in these containers bring a lot of beauty and interest while being drought tolerant and easy to care for.
A beautiful pink and purple moment is provided by Asiatic lily (Lilium hybrid, Asiatic group, Zones 4–8) and bee balm (Monarda hybrid, Zones 5–9).
The garden angel again, presiding over the beautiful blooms of summer.
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