Happy Friday, GPODers!
Winter isn’t over yet, but we are inching closer and closer to spring. Some parts of the country are already experiencing the slow swing away from the coldest days of the year, and gardeners are starting to get a jump on their earliest spring chores. But just because we have spring interest at the top of mind, that doesn’t mean we still can’t look back on last year’s growing season and give credit to the parts of the garden that put on their best show. Marty Oostveen in Douglassville, Pennsylvania (Zone 7a), has already shared two days’ worth of sensational garden highlights from 2025 (check out those photos here: Marty’s 2025 Garden Highlights, Part 1 and Part 2), but she is back with even more photos from a phenomenal year in her garden.
I finally got around to getting some more pictures from my gardening year 2025. We started out dry, after a very dry 2024, but then it started raining in spring, when suddenly the garden really came back to life.
My dappled willow (Salix integra ‘Hakuro Nishiki’, Zones 4–9) with Pennsylvania sedge (Carex pensylvanica, Zones 3–8) underneath, as well as hostas
The path through the gates going to the back with Golden Thunberg’s spirea (Spiraea thunbergii ‘Ogon’, Zones 4–8) on both sides, as well as Diabolo® ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Diabolo’, Zones 3–7) (blooming with white flowers) and sand cherry (Prunus × cistena, Zones 3–7) in the foreground.
I couldn’t help myself: The “idea nook” is indoors, but here is where I peruse my gardening books (with three more single bookcases in bedrooms) and of course back issues of Fine Gardening and Garden Gate to get ideas for the upcoming growing season.
The hellstrip: The perennial flax (Linum perenne, Zones 5–8) is in full bloom while the columbines are done. Throughout spring, summer, and fall, this strip remains colorful.
The back of the raised bed has a variety of evergreens, shrubs (‘Tiger Eye’ sumac [Rhus typhina ‘Bailtiger’, Zones 4–8]), and perennials (hostas, heucheras, and ground cover [sedum]).
The same general area seen from the other side of the path
The same bed with hostas, heucheras, sumac, and the crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica, Zones 6–9) has finally leafed out.
Waterfall surrounded by evergreen shrubs and ground cover: I also use different varieties of sedum everywhere as ground cover. The variegated iris (Iris ensata ‘Variegata’, Zones 4–8) is done blooming and grows in the water without any soil. So far it has survived nine winters.
Marty had such an incredible year in her garden, we’ll be returning to Douglassville on Monday to see even more 2025 highlights.
If you’re looking back on your 2025 garden this weekend, consider sharing some of your favorite photos with the blog. Follow the NEW directions below to submit your photos to Garden Photo of the Day!
We want to see YOUR garden!
Have photos to share? We’d love to see your garden, a particular collection of plants you love, or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit!
To submit, fill out the Garden Photo of the Day Submission Form.
You can also send 5–10 photos to [email protected] along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the photos. We’d love to hear where you are located, how long you’ve been gardening, successes you are proud of, failures you learned from, hopes for the future, favorite plants, or funny stories from your garden.
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