My name is Jill Beringer, and I live in a development in Hockessin, Delaware, on about half an acre. I submitted photos once before when my garden was in its initial phase, but my passion for gardening continues! I keep finding ways to add water features and hardscape walls and paths, partly out of necessity (to raise the plants out of my swampy yard) but also for interest. My husband and I have moved over 7 tons of rock multiple times and dug ditches for drainage piping, and we’re still not done. I also overwinter many nonhardy plants in my basement, as they add needed height and color to the garden once they get going again in the spring. But as the trees mature, it’s getting harder and harder to find the sunlight. This, combined with my desire to help the birds and the pollinators, inspires me to keep reducing the lawn area. That means less work for my husband but more for me! It’s a work in progress, but here are some photos of my garden to date.
Here’s a summer view of the garden. Lantanas (Lantana camara) are usually grown as annuals, but they grow into small shrubs in warm climates. By bringing this one inside to overwinter, Jill gets dramatic height out of it.
Spring blooms include dark red primroses (Primula japonica, Zones 3–9). This type of primrose loves moist soil, so it is a good fit for Jill’s swampy yard.
This wider view of the garden in spring includes all the fresh green of new foliage.
In looking from above you can see how much of the lawn has been transformed into garden beds.
A beautiful visitor to one of the water features
Clouds of blue flowers from glory of the snow (Chionodoxa, Zones 3–8) make a beautiful, romantic effect in early spring.
Huge flower heads of smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens, Zones 3–9)
A rich diversity of foliage in the shade garden
Luckily, this is the kind of rabbit that doesn’t eat plants.
Wide view of the shade garden