I am delighted to accept the invitation from Christina to join gardeners for her suggested Garden Bloggers Foliage Day. This will be my first humble attempt to participate on the 22nd of the month.

Here is a view of my side garden which has a southern exposure. Consequently, it spends most of the day in blistering sun and high heat. I have been pleased with its development since it was planted seven years ago in deep, well drained soil that I prepared after the wall was constructed. I am careful to provide water when needed. It consists primarily of plants of different color, texture, shape and size. The iris and peonies, of course, are quite colorful in spring, and the Montauk daisies and reblooming iris brighten the fall. However, it is the foliage that carries the bed through the year.

My side garden

A narrow path runs through the center of the bed.

At the front of the border are (left to right): Cleyera japonica (Ternstroemia gymnanthera), bearded iris ‘Clarence,’ several peonies, rosemary and other plants not quite visible here, Thuja occidentalis ‘Globosa Aurea,’ three Montauk daisies (Nipponanthemum nipponicum), purple barberry Berberis thunbergii ‘Gentry,’ bearded iris ‘Immortality,’ Clematis ‘Comptesse de Bouchard,’ Phlox sublata ‘Emerald Blue,’ gold barberry Berberis thunbergii ‘Aurea,’ and English boxwood (Buxus sempervirens).

Along the border next to the house are (left to right): ‘Emerald Green’ arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis), ‘Baby Gem’ boxwood (Buxus micro. var. japonica), Clematis ‘General Sikorski,’ Nandina domestica, Berckman’s arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis berckmanii), Nandina domestica, and Clematis ‘Comptesse de Bouchard.’

Some detail from the area not quite visible in the photo above:

From the left: heirloom peonies, ‘Winter Gem’ boxwood, Euphorbia martini ‘Ascot Rainbow,’ Phlox sublata ‘Emerald Blue,’ Carissa holly (Ilex cornuta), Rosemary, and ‘Globosa Aurea’ arborvitae. This area is truly a garden of foliage.

An additional look at the border detail next to the wall:

From left: ‘Globosa Aurea’ arborvitae, three Montauk daisies, purple barberry ‘Gentry,’  and bearded iris ‘Immortality.’  Behind are the Berckman’s arborvitae and nandina.

Visit Christina at Garden of the Hesperides and see how she and other participants are using foliage in their gardens.