One Large Island Garden That Provides 3 Seasons of Gorgeous Blooms.

Gail Wilson
by Gail Wilson
In south North Carolina ( zone 7b) I have now the task of cleaning the spent flowers and foliage from the spring and summer blooms and growth
I have cut back the Hosta foliage, fanned the Irises, cut back the Phlox stalks and planted Tulip, Hyacinth, Astilbe , and other bulbs.
Wire mesh cover bulbs from Squirrels.
This area has 4 O' clocks and Daffodils Black eye Susans ,Lily of the Valley, Narcissus, and a huge clump of Woods Violets. I leave the Hosta in the pots all winter. There are Tiger Lilies and Irises in the area so always something in bloom.
Area packs a lot of punch
Purple plum trees with a 3 season show set the stage for roses, azaleas, day lilies, irises, spice bush, flowering peach tree, peonies, ajuga ground cover, phlox, lamb's ear, tiger lilies ,clematis, dutch irises shasta daisies, mums, english ivy, and even shamrock plants. I have added new bulbs for the spring.. This is a large area and there is something blooming all 3 seasons here.
over 20 different items this section
This is the second stand of day lilies.. Bloom heads are showing again. I use fall leaves to mulch this island. I add some pine straw from our pines added in for the acid loving plants. The island is so easy to maintain. So if you are looking for a lot less work, the island is the way to go. I have borders and corner beds, but this island is the easiest to care for.
Second growth for dayliles, blooms again
Moms are so nice for come back blooms next year, I have grown new plants from cuttings. Not hard to do at all. I get blooms twice a year .
These are 2nd year plants
Another yellow come back kid of mums grown from cuttings .


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  • Carole Carole on Sep 25, 2014
    I look forward to seeing your Spring photos. We are in Spring here at the moment and I wish I had planted more bulbs. We have daffs and freesias in planters and the bluebells at the foot of the garden (if they survive wildlife attack!). I want to gradually get more bulbs into our garden that will naturalise and come back year after year. Love colourful bulbs!
  • Gail Wilson Gail Wilson on Sep 28, 2014
    Thank you for the comments, I think it will be worth seeing... ( I hope) I have not had many bulbs in the past due to the animals.. but I have since then used small wire mesh and I hope it works as well for me as it has others. I would love to see some of your blooms .. I always love to see new plants and varieties of the same as we have... Please share...
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