A Garden Built on Foliage

Careful plant choices elevate this garden

My name is John Cannon , and I garden in Madison , Wisconsin , Zones 4b–5a . I have been gardening on this residential flock for more than 30 years , and I am work to create a four - season garden . Like many of you , I journey and visit gardens often to observe and learn all that I can . I can interpret and use ideas that will work in my own garden . Although there are now established bones in the garden , it is always a body of work in advance . I really love alright - tuning by make plantvignettesand interesting combination using harmonizing or contrast foliage colors , shapes , and textures . If the plant has prime , it is considered a bonus ! I ’m looking forwards to making more change to other parts of the garden as this spring unfolds . I have love check other nurseryman ’s garden on GPOD for years , but I have n’t mail until now . These exposure were all take in the garden in the last few years in June . In these times , as ever , the garden is a resort that I am so very thankful for and bask daily .

A north - facing garage layer withHydrangeapetiolaris(climbing hydrangea , Zones 4–8 ) and Virginia creeper ( Parthenocissusquinquefolia , Zones 3–9 ) scrambling up the service department wall , Hakonechloamacra‘Aureola ’ ( fortunate Nipponese timberland grass , Zones 5–9 ) , a massiveHostamontana‘Aureomarginata ’ ( Zones 3–9 ) , lacyAdiantumpedatum(northern first hair fern , Zones 3–8 ) , andHosta sieboldiana‘Elegans ’ ( Zones 3–9 ) .

Border impart to right field : A spring favourite for fragrant blooms isViburnum×juddii(Judd viburnum , Zones 4–8 ) with the pink - floweredGeranium striatum(bloody geranium , Zones 4–8 ) in front , Actaearacemosa(black herb Christopher , Zones 3–8),Hosta‘Paul ’s Glory’,Heuchera‘Frosted Violet ’ and ‘ Caramel’,Hosta‘Halcyon’,Cotinus‘Nordine ’ ( smoke bush , Zonse 5–8 ) , creamy plumes ofAruncusdioicus(goat ’s beard , zone 4–8),Actaea‘Brunette ’ ( white hellebore , Zones 3–8),Corydalislutea(yellow corydalis , Zones 4–8),Iris‘Ego ’ ( ‘ Ego’Siberian iris , Zones 3–8 ) andFothergillagardenii(dwarf fothergilla , Zones 4–8 ) for wonderful autumn colouring material . GiantAlliumchristophii(star of Persia , Zones 4–8 ) with flower heads reminiscent of pyrotechnic supply to the merriment .

Detail of above edge with theCotinusthat I coppice every year in spring , along withHosta‘Halcyon’,Corydalislutea , Alliumchristophiiflowers , Siberian iris seed promontory , andHosta‘Guacamole ’ along the front . Aruncusdioicus , Cimicifuga‘Brunette ’ , andFothergillagardeniiare in the background .

In another corner , left to right : Actaearacemosa , Hosta‘Krossa Regal ’ and ‘ Regal Splendor ’ withAthyrium , Hakonechloa‘All Au ’ , a bronzeHeuchera , Tricyrtis‘Gilt Edge ’ ( toad lily , Zones 4–9 ) , and a pinkish astilbe in front of a hedgerow ofTaxushicksii(yew , Zones 4–7 ) .

Border leave to rightfield : Tricyrtis , Carexmuskingumensis‘Oheme ’ ( Oheme sedge , Zones 4–7),Kirengeshomapalmata(yellow wax - bells , zone 5–8),Dicentraspectabilis(bleeding heart , Zones 2–8 ) in back ofHosta‘Big Daddy ’ with a dwarf hosta , Astilbechinensispumila(dwarf astilbe , Zones 4–8),Hosta‘Pearl Lake ’ and ‘ El Niño ’ , andAthyriumnipponicum(Japanese fern , Zones 3–8 ) along the front border .

Continuing along the back border withActaeaatropurpurea , Carex’Silver Sceptre ’ ( ‘ Silver Sceptre ’ sedge , Zones 5–9),Hosta‘Halcyon’,Aruncus‘Misty Lace’,Hosta’Sum and Substance ’ , with small Funka , ferns , andepimediums . I get it on the color echoes , harmonies , and textural contrasts provided by the perennials ’ fresh foliage .

This is one niche of my pond fence byHakonecholamacra , bronze - leavedLigularia‘Britt Marie Crawford ’ ( leopard plant , Zones 4–8 ) withTsugacanadensis‘Golden Dutchess ’ ( eastern hemlock , Zones 3–7 ) behind , Juniperuschinensis(Chinese Genista raetam , Zones 3–9 ) , andHosta‘Blue umbrella ’ along the edge of the pool .

Another glimpse of the pond and garden withHosta‘Blue Umbrellas’,Miscanthussinensis‘Morning Light ’ ( Nipponese silver grass , Zones 4–9 ) , andChamaecyparis‘Gold Mop ’ ( ‘ Gold Mop ’ put on cypress tree , Zones 5–7 ) . A 25 - year - oldAcerpalmatum(Japanese maple , Zones 4–9 ) allow a focal power point and dappled spook for the pond and planting in this seam .

This bench provides a slap-up spot to relax and take in the surrounding garden .

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