Ohio Gardens in December 2013 Fall Colors

Winter hit Ohio early this year with snow on the ground in October. Without any doubt, our weather continues to be strange in some manner each year. Thankfully it was a great gardening season this year and I can only hope for the same next year.

The beautiful Acer Palmatum Crimson Queen with some of the burgundy Mums around her and of course the little girl Yorkie statue peeking between.

The yard is always shockingly bare when all the perennials are cutback to go into the Winter season. The Japanese Maple Fireglow stands out with the Hydrangea Tardiva showing their lovely yellow Fall colors and I am so glad that I changed to all the flowering shrub to add the Winter interest for me.

The beautiful Ninebarks. Although these are burgundy year round, showing Diablo and Center Glows here, the color holding throughout the seasons, they intensify some in the Fall.

Hydrangea Limelight on left with Hydrangea QuickFire on right and the Cotinus Golden Spirit in the center. The Cotinus (Smoketree) is golden all season, but enhances with red into the Fall. Hopefully this backline of shrubs along with the others back here really takes off next year with growth.

The Picea Abies Reflexa along with the Viburnum Autumn Jazz, starting to show her Fall colors from behind.

Some more Ninebark Diablo's on the other side of the yard. I love these beauties. I do have some Spirea's in between there but moved them forward right before the photos and most of the leaves dried up on them. I found that the Ninebarks tend to be more weepers and because of that had to move forward some shrubs more than I originally had them.

The Hydrangea Pinky Winky on left and another Hydrangea Quickfire on right. Quickfire always has outstanding Fall color, more so then any other Hydrangea's that I have.

The beautiful Acer Griseum Paperbark Maple showing her outstanding Fall color. You don't get it long, around a few weeks but it's a nice bonus on top of the outstanding bark of this tree.

Not to forget some of the perennials. Hosta Brass Ring is one of the most outstanding to show the color change.

A beautiful Orchid a neighbor brought me down recently. Not the best situation here for inside plants but I'll enjoy it's lovely blooms for the time being. Of course you can see a couple of the other Yorkie collection items in this photo. Hope you all have some wonderful holidays.

Overview Ohio Fall Gardens Sept Oct 2013

Just breaking dawn with mostly rainy weather for picture taking. Has been a very different year compared to last, but much more appreciated with the additional rainfall. I only needed to water 3 times this year compared to last year where there may have been 3 days I didn't have to water.

Overview of the Japanese Maple Fireglow with surrounding Hosta and the Pinus s. Glauca Nana on standard. The beautiful Hydrangea blooms in the background on the other side of the path.

The bottom corner of the garden with the foliage still showing on the Iris, Daylily and Sedum. You can see the small Picea p. Glauca Globosa surrounded by Coreopsis and Heuchera.

Hydrangea Limelight off to the right of the corner along with a few others already mentioned.

The red Double Knockout Roses are still in bloom here. You can count on them no matter what.

On around to some of the Ninebark Diablo's and the lovely Hydrangea Pinky Winky and Hydrangea Quickfire along with the big Hosta garden. I added a few new shrubs to this area but they aren't real noticeable yet. Will be something new to look forward to next year.

The Caryopteris Blue Mist shrub is putting out lots of blooms now, with Sambucus Black Lace behind it.

Was outside one morning very early and Pagan ran over to the potty pad to potty and looked down and sniffed and when she moved I saw the little toad. Got my camera and got a shot. I think it's actually one of those tree toads. There were 2 under the patio, but the other one I took the photo was on concrete and it didn't come out very well.

Hydrangea Hosta Daylilies August Gardens

Hydrangea are blooming in the gardens. June always brings Quickfire blooming and July has the others blooming with TarDiva being the last to do so. To the right of them is a new shrub I just added, Fothergilla Mt Airy. I still have to add something to the right of that but nothing has struck me for it so we'll see what I do there. Still waiting for some of the Hosta to grow up here. A couple more years and this area should be just what I wanted.

Hydrangea Pinky Winky and Hydrangea Quickfire with Daylilies to each side, entering into the Hosta garden.

The pink Mums have been blooming since the first of July. The burgundy ones are blooming elsewhere in the yard. You can see Hydrangea TarDiva to the left here.

Hydrangea Limelight. Still one of the most spectacular Hydrangeas to own. The blooms are always spectacular and showy.

Hydrangea TarDiva is less showy than Limelight, yet I like it's more delicate blooms and is a little different than the bolder paniculatas.

Hydrangea Pinky Winky is one that I just adore since adding two to my gardens, the blooms are spectacular.

Hydrangea QuickFire I love for it's early blooming each year in June. The blooms quickly go from white to the pinkish shade and are delicate looking. I have 3 of these in the yard and they all look great this year.

Hydrangea Vanilla Strawberry has been in for several years now. I'm not happy at the slow amount of growth and lack of fullness. It really should have done better this year with the amount of rain we have gotten. I will watch it another year or so and see what it does.

Hosta Japanese Maple Lavender July Ohio

This Spring and Summer has been a world of difference from last year. No drought, although a lot more days in the 90's than in years past, but we have had lots more rain than we've had in numerous years and the plants sure appreciate it.

This side of the yard and the biggest garden area is really starting to fill in since changing to mostly flowering shrubs 3 years ago. I think a couple more years and it will be what I have envisioned.

The back line has been a little more frustrating. It's taking longer to fill in. For some reason the shrubs are growing a little slower, of course it's not all the same ones or they've not been in quite as long. I was hoping they'd all take a big leap this year growing, but so far just small amounts.

This side is doing a little better with it's growth also, although I still have to add one more shrub in the Hosta garden. The Japanese Maple here is Emperor 11 and is new of last Fall so it has a way to grow before it provides shade for the Hosta.

One of the Lavender plants in full bloom, I love these, you can smell them from quite a distance and it's wonderful. They are also evergreen here in zone 6.

Just to share, here is a photo of my Yorkshire Terrier, my newest Champion Quent. Relaxing before a show!

June Gardens Ohio Ninebark Sambucus Iris

Spring was a long time coming this year. We're to get frost again tonight though. I know it will do a little damage to Hosta but that's part of gardening. Things are behind but at least everything is finally growing for the season here.

The path is really coming alive after such a slow Spring.

The Mums are very slow coming in this year compared to years past.

The Ninebarks in bloom. I love the burgundy foliage after the beautiful blooms.

The Sambucus Black Lace, AKA Elderberry and the Peonies in bloom. Unfortunately the color did not show up for the Peonies.

The Japanese Maple Emperor 1 and Hosta garden. The Hosta in this area are taking off well finally.

Some of the Salvia in bloom with the colors complimenting one another.

Some of the Iris that have been in bloom at Sunray.

May Gardens in Ohio Zone 6 Long Shots

Spring was a long time coming this year. We're to get frost again tonight though. I know it will do a little damage to Hosta but that's part of gardening. Things are behind but at least everything is finally growing for the season here.

The beautiful Malus Purple Prince. Even with suckering, I love this Crabapple. It has bloomed faithfully for me ever year.

My Bloomerang Lilac must be in it's 3rd Summer for me this year. It had bloomed both the first year and although still not at top height yet, this year it bloomed abundantly and I am quite happy with it's 3rd year in the ground.

The lovely Heather Hill on the front side of my house. I have a few newer ones in there planted last year but they'll be up to size within a couple more years. The upper parts are my patchwork Sedums.

Going down the pathway of the garden. The Hosta are finally coming up along this path and doing well.

This is where the garden beds were taken out last summer. With what is left it's starting to grow in and you can see the Sambucus Black Lace leafed out.

The back line is coming along. Hoping to get some height and fullness on the flowering shrubs. Most everything else here was new last year and will take a couple more years to fill in the areas.

The Acer p. Emperor 1 was put in last fall so a lot of years yet for that to develop to a decent size, but felt it would be a compliment as well as some shade for this Hosta bed.

Hope your Spring has been a better growing season than mine has been so far although we sure have gotten the rain which should be a big bonus for everything growing well over the next month.