When Janice moved to a new garden in Clyde, North Carolina, she saw an opportunity to start fresh. In just a few years, she has begun transforming the property into a colorful, fragrant space filled with favorite plants, new lessons, and plenty of personality. Janice says:
We have been living here in Zone 7 for almost three years. Before moving here we were in Zone 8, so it is very different. I have had to adjust my thinking about timing and what will do well here. This place had nothing but grassy areas and a green lawn when we arrived. I love flowers, trees, and shrubbery in my gardens. I also love veggie gardening, So all those things are what my gardens reflect. Zone 7 is much more forgiving than Zone 8—we love it here. I have been gardening for many years and have enjoyed the new challenges and starting anew with a new space. I have started over with my rose gardens with the trials and tribulations of that. However, this year, I am seeing and enjoying the many scents of my new roses.
Entrance to our home, These are Sunjoy Neo Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii Sunjoy Neo® Barberry, Zones 5-8). I love the contrast of the red with all the green grass.
This is coming into our driveway. There are several last boulders that were here when we bought the place. I love the texture that the boulders provide, so I wanted to highlight that area with the Japanese maple (Acer palmatum var. dissectum, Zones 5-9) in the large planter that we brought with us.
Walkway with butterfly bushes (Buddleja cvs., Zones 5-9).Filling up the grassy lawn was a priority, I love butterfly bushes and their beautiful scent as you walk along the path. There are Black Knight butterfly bush (Buddleja davidii ‘Black Knight’, Zones 5-9) and a few ‘Miss Molly’ butterfly bush (Buddleja hybrid, Zones 5-9).
Petunias (Petunia cvs., annual) and Foo Dog (or Fu Dog statue). I had to bring our Foo Dog along. He protects the home!
Walkway with hostas. I wanted to make the walkway (which had been bare) must more welcoming. The common milkweed plants (Asclepias syriaca, Zones 3-9) were a pleasant surprise the first spring we spent here. I didn’t plant them, but have enjoyed their lovely scent and the butterflies that visit.
Million Bells calibrachoa (Calibrachoa Million Bells®, annual) with Fountain. I love having water features whenever I can. These Million Bells have not disappointed.
Tree hydrangea with butterrfly bushes. A restful place with my favorite plants and shrubbery.
Coleus and Coneflowers. Coleus never disappoint with color. And the contrast of the Coneflower is always fun.
Daylilies. I couldn’t have a happy place without daylilies. I always choose reblooming varieties, and if they have a fragrance, it is a bonus!
Greenhouse in the veggie garden. I love growing my own veggies and Zone 7 has been such an improvement over Zone 8 for the vegetables that we like. I have never had such a success with tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, and beans, but maybe that is just me!
What a beautiful example of how a new garden can become your own one plant, pathway, container, and season at a time. Thanks for sharing your Zone 7 garden with us, Janice!
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