Hello GPODers!
For these unfamiliar, just a few occasions this 12 months I did “GPOD Vignettes.” These have been compilation-style posts that featured a handful of brief submissions (solely a photograph or two). Again in June, within the very first GPOD Vignette (test it out right here), I featured a hanging ‘Lemon Zest’ hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Lemon Zest’, Zones 4–7) submitted by an nameless contributor. Just a few weeks in the past, I used to be thrilled to get one other e-mail from that nameless contributor. Steve Schmidt in Atlanta, Georgia not solely revealed his identification, but in addition shared many extra photographs from his sensational backyard.
My title is Steve Schmidt in Atlanta. I’m the “thriller submitter” who despatched the hydrangea “Lemon Zest” picture final June. I’m retired and making an attempt to get a deal with on gardening in these altering occasions – local weather change and making an attempt to be extra ’native’. My yard is roughly 1 / 4 of an acre which is the floodplain for a stream which borders the again of the lot. The residence sits atop a really steep slope – 27 steps from the floodplain to the subbasement stage – therefore 2 extra tales of peak to get to the road stage. The entrance of the residence faces south – scorching with dry clay. Plenty of shade in entrance, nevertheless, on residence facet of the general public sidewalk. (Energy traces stop something really shady between the sidewalk and avenue within the verge.) The again is just about all heavy shade (tall bushes in floodplain and on the hillside above) aside from a triangle-shaped space on the NE nook. When acquired the again was stuffed with kudzu, privet, ivy, and cherry laurel.
I’ve fairly effectively tamed the non-native invasives in again (aside from ivy on the steep slope and the kudzu which might creep over the stream). I’ve come round to concentrating on autumn to spring curiosity (accumulating berry crops for autumn, native azaleas for spring, but to flesh out mid-winter concepts) as summertime with the humidity, gnats and mosquitoes generally is a problem to doing a lot work regardless of the shade offering reduction from the recent solar! Initially I used to be planting what I favored, however have come round to planting native crops that I like (with some non-natives interspersed) and doing extra analysis – plant habits fluctuate broadly relying on situations. Paths in again are principally laid out and set. My focus at present is on planting shrubs to create corridors and ‘rooms.’ In entrance of the residence my present strategy is to have a number of shade, virtually all in pots, from spring to autumn for all the parents who stroll by.
So, as summer time fades, the final couple of months are bearing fruit in yard for the birds: Winterberries ‘Winter Gold’ & ‘Winter Crimson’ (Ilex verticillata ‘Winter Gold’ and ‘Winter Crimson’, Zones 3–9). 5 different berry-producing shrubs are in again as effectively, just one mature sufficient to have produced berries this 12 months.
Strawberry bush (Euonymus americanus, Zones 6–9), which appeared by itself. I’ll let most issues develop that seem on their very own in order that I can determine earlier than deciding to maintain or take away.
I seen this 12 months for the primary time the flowers on the ‘Shoal Creek’ chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus ‘Shoal Creek’, Zones 6–9) left seeds – apparently appreciated by cardinals.
Turning to the entrance yard: I’ve virtually completed transitioning many of the tropicals I introduced up from south Florida to go inside. Additionally, as we dip into the 30s I’ve taken cuttings from the annuals I want to develop once more. The next photos are from the entrance in the previous few weeks as annuals have reached their most progress for this 12 months.
Within the entrance pot are a ‘King of Siam’ croton (Codiaeum variegatum ‘King of Siam’, Zones 10–11), ‘Kingswood Torch’ coleus (Solenostemon ‘Kingswood Torch’, Zones 10–11), heuchera (from a buddy who moved – crimson veins washed out in brightness of solar), East Indian holly fern (Arachniodes simplicior ‘Variegata’, Zones 6–9) and creeping Jenny (Vitex agnus-castus ‘Shoal Creek’, Zones 6–9).
The pot behind the previous has a begonia (additionally from buddy who moved),‘El Brighto’ coleus (Coleus scutellarioides ‘El Brighto’, Zones 10–11), ‘Mrs Iceton’ croton (Codiaeum variegatum ‘Mrs Iceton’, Zones 10–11) & ‘Citronelle’ heuchera (Heuchera ‘Citronelle’, Zones 4–8). The heuchera and coleus being in full shade all summer time aren’t as vibrant or colourful as they are often. Smaller pots with cuttings & rooting from current crops are on the base – future crops for planting within the yard. The plant with the bigger leaves behind the pot is a Colombian petunia (Suessenguthia multisetosa, Zones 9–11) which was introduced up from Florida together with the crotons. It should be wintered inside which I feel robs it of the timing it must bloom.
The entry sidewalk is lined on each side by pots, the east facet being extra colourful than the west facet (which has three blueberry shrubs briefly awaiting preparation of their spot in again). 5 coleuses are within the following picture: for positive ‘El Brighto’ & ‘Kingswood Torch;’ the opposite 3 have been propagated year-to-year = maybe ‘Vino’ (darkish one), ‘Kong Crimson’ & ‘Flame Thrower Chili Pepper.’ A ‘Mamey’ croton buried within the ‘Kong’ coleus. ‘Gartenmeister’ fuchsia (Fuchsia ‘Gartenmeister’, Zones 9–11) to the facet. Within the entrance pot is a Florida Sunshine anise (Illicium parviflorum ‘Florida Sunshine’, Zones 6–9) rooting awaiting dimension to enter the bottom someplace!
Within the driveway – too steep so no automobile! – are rows of pots to behave as a display screen for the basement stage. Right here an oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia, Zones 5–9) is altering colours. Additionally in pots are a burgundy viburnum and ‘Popcorn’ viburnum (Viburnum plicatum f. plicatum ‘Popcorn’, Zones 5–9). Rounding out the highest row is a powderpuff (Calliandra haematocephala, Zones 9–11) – introduced up from Florida. In entrance are euphorbia, salvia and coleus.
Additionally crossing the driveway are a pot of seagrapes (Coccoloba uvifera, Zones 9–11) (from FL), double impatient, coleus ‘Kingswood Torch,’ variegated schefflera, coleus ‘Flamethrower Chili Pepper’ and a croton the title of which I can’t discover (maybe ‘Golden Bell’).
I actually benefit from the critters within the yard. The Carolina anoles keep in entrance the place there’s solar. As a consequence of shade, moisture, and loads of fallen trues there are many salamanders. After all, the same old assortment of birds, small mammals, snakes, and many others.
Cloudless sulphur butterfly on a powderpuff flower.
Gulf Fritillary butterfly on river oat grass (Chasmanthium latifolium, Zones 5–9).
Thanks a lot for sharing this farewell to summer time, Steve! It was so nice to study extra about you and your lovely backyard. I hope we get to see extra updates sooner or later 🙂
And a reminder to everybody which you could begin wherever when submitting to Backyard Photograph of the Day. Although the instructions beneath say to submit 5-10 photographs, I’ll actually besides much less and hold them on file till I’ve sufficient to compile one other GPOD Vignette. Whether or not you may have one picture to share or 20, please contemplate sending them over to [email protected] and your backyard will be featured on the weblog this winter.
Have a backyard you’d prefer to share?
Have photographs to share? We’d like to see your backyard, a specific assortment of crops you like, or an exquisite backyard you had the prospect to go to!
To submit, ship 5-10 photographs to [email protected] together with some details about the crops within the photos and the place you took the photographs. We’d love to listen to the place you’re situated, how lengthy you’ve been gardening, successes you’re pleased with, failures you discovered from, hopes for the longer term, favourite crops, or humorous tales out of your backyard.
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