Welcome to Modern Agriculture!
Happy Friday, GPODers!
Celebrating a garden is a celebration of the plants and the dedication that brings them to life. Carol Gibson of Quarryville, Pennsylvania (Zone 7a), has turned a blank lot into a thriving cottage garden over the past two decades.
“I bought my home in 2005 on a clean slate. The surrounding gardens provide privacy, and the layout follows a free‑flowing cottage style filled with my favorite trees, shrubs, and perennials.”
The lupines launch a vibrant display in May, joined by Weigela shrubs in a former fence line that once harbored scrub trees and poison ivy.
Wildflower seeds planted three years ago have produced a prolific sea of sweet William (Dianthus barbatus, Zones 3–9), bursting in color and fragrance.
Behold the fringe tree (Chionanthus virginicus, Zones 3–9), complemented by a cheerful Weigela.
This bed honors my parents, featuring hellebores, a young photinia, several sizes of Hinoki cypress (my favorite evergreen), a red‑tipped Japanese pieris (Pieris japonica, Zones 4–8), and an abundance of perennials.
A view from the front of the house shows silvery evening primrose (Oenothera biennis, Zones 3–9) surrounded by bee balm, purple coneflowers (Echinacea purpurea, Zones 3–9), and yellow loosestrife (Lysimachia vulgaris, Zones 4–8). Invasive species are kept in check, and weeds are rare.
My favorite holly fern (Cyrtomium falcatum, Zones 7–10) thrives in a bed of lush green foliage.
This bed has evolved over time, now featuring a star magnolia (Magnolia stellata, Zones 4–8), ninebark shrub (Physocarpus opulifolius, Zones 2–8), turtleheads, ‘Silver Mound’ artemisia (Artemisia schmidtiana ‘Silver Mound’, Zones 3–9), salvias, and the striking ‘Little Redhead’ Indian pink (Spigelia marilandica ‘Little Redhead’, Zones 5–9).
The heuchera in this bed was rescued from a funeral home arrangement 10 years ago—here it thrives. Expect vivid color when the lilies bloom this summer. An easy‑care ‘Soft Touch’ holly (Ilex crenata ‘Soft Touch’, Zones 5–9) graces the right side.
The ‘Major Wheeler’ honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens ‘Major Wheeler’, Zones 4–8) attracts hummingbirds, provided my dog stays away.
Final view of the upper bed: evergreens first, then shrubs, and wildflower seeds sprinkled across central areas.
Thank you for sharing your beautiful garden, Carol! With so many stunning vignettes and mature plants, it’s hard to imagine this space as the blank slate you began with.
How did your garden’s journey begin, and how has your vision evolved? Whether you garden on a sprawling estate or a tiny city lot, we want to hear your story and see today’s photos. Submit your garden to Garden Photo of the Day!
Have photos to share? We’d love to see your garden, a particular collection of plants you love, or a wonderful garden you’ve visited.
To submit, fill out the Garden Photo of the Day Submission Form.
You can also send 5–10 photos to [email protected] with details about the plants and location. Tell us about your gardening journey, successes, lessons, hopes, favorite plants, or funny stories.
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Upgraded Dual Granary Bird Feeder. G11 Smart Bird Feeder with Camera – The upgraded dual granary design allows separate food dispensing, giving birds the freedom to choose while preserving the food’s original taste. With a 2 L extra‑large capacity, it reduces the need for frequent refills. The drainage design keeps the food dry and prevents spoilage from rain. Ideal as a camera bird feeder for birdwatching enthusiasts. 2K HD Camera & Close‑Up Bird Watching. Experience clear bird watching with the G11 smart bird feeder. This bird feeder with camera features a 170‑degree wide‑angle lens and a 1296P HD camera, ensuring vibrant images and videos. With AI‑powered recognition, it can identify over 16,000 bird species (subscription required, first month free) and provides extensive birding knowledge. Its unique design helps attract more birds to your backyard. App Alerts & Super Night Vision. The smart bird feeder camera detects motion within 0.5 seconds and sends instant notifications through the “VicoHome” app. With a 2.4 G Wi‑Fi connection, you can view real‑time updates on bird activity right from your app. The video bird feeder also features night vision, ensuring vibrant images and videos even in low light conditions. Ideal for wild bird feeders, this advanced functionality enhances your bird‑watching experience day and night.
Planting in a Post‑Wild World: Designing Plant Communities for Resilient Landscapes
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Featuring gorgeous photography and advice for landscapers, Planting in a Post‑Wild World by Thomas Rainer and Claudia West is dedicated to the idea of a new nature—a hybrid of both the wild and the cultivated—that can nourish our cities and suburbs.
