Maxine Brisport in Rotterdam, New York, is welcoming us into her garden today.
I started this garden four years ago. It took hours of cutting down very thick foliage (weeds, vines, small trees), as well as removing very large roots, before we could get to the point of preparing the soil for planting.
All the hard work clearing this space has paid off! It is now full of beautiful flowers.
This variegated foliage is from a different plant than the shasta daisy (Leucanthemum × superbum, Zones 5–9), but they sure look amazing together!
This pretty spectacular rose looks like it might be the classic grandiflora variety ‘Love’. These classic roses can be a bit fussy to grow, but the incredible blooms sure are a good payoff.
And here’s a huge Oriental lily (Lilium hybrid, Oriental group, Zones 3–9). Oriental lilies have some of the biggest, most beautiful, and most fragrant blooms of the lily world. They thrive the best in rich soil and in areas with summers that don’t get too hot. Clearly Maxine is giving this one everything it could want!
Perennial hibiscus are huge-flowered plants bred from species native to North America. As you can see from this gorgeous example (Hibiscus hybrid, Zones 5–9), they make an over-the-top statement in the summer garden.
Another hardy hibiscus
Many hardy hibiscus—especially newer breeds and those with darker flowers—have beautiful red-tinted foliage. Even without flowers, this one looks great complementing the bright red monarda (Monarda didyma, Zones 4–9) behind it.
It’s hard to beat daylilies (Hemerocallis hybrid, Zones 4–9) for durable, reliable beauty.
Formerly a patch of weeds, this garden is now filled with beauty.
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