Today we’re in Old Chatham, New York, visiting with Shelley Haefner.
I have been gardening for a little over 12 years now. At the beginning of my journey, I just purchased what I loved and planted it wherever I wanted to plant it without giving much thought to the shape of the garden, the soil, the sun, proper location, or the mature size of what I was planting. So it was no surprise when I found myself constantly moving things around, consistently feeling like something was off. There was something I just didn’t love about the shape of the garden either. Today, 12 years later, my yard has evolved into my dream space; it’s organically grown and is a habitat to birds, insects, and all things living. I experience so much joy (after years of frustration, trials, and failures) that I share my experiences, photos, and videos on a Facebook page called Guiding Green Thumbs. Not only am I able to connect with other gardeners, but I can share my knowledge and experiences with others who are just starting (or they may be well into their gardening journey and offering their advice to me). Garden transformations take time, and nothing is more worth the wait.
The garden 10 years ago: I kept expanding this area around the rock, adding plants I fell in love with or plants that were given to me. It started out as two shrubs around a giant rock. After 10 years, it’s finally found an amazing shape, purpose, and a colorful palette that I enjoy every moment during the growing season.
Two years into my transformation
The garden today is filled with many varieties of Echinacea (Zones 4–8), daylilies (Hemerocallis hybrids, Zones 3–9), Euphorbia, and Sedum. There are shrubs used as the backbone of the garden: ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius, Zones 2–8), Viburnum (Zones 5–9), Hydrangea (Zones 3–8), and St. John’s wort (Hypericum, Zones 3–8), to name a few. The garden has evolved from a rectangular plot to a kidney bean–shape that cradles into the landscape and sloping terrain nicely.
This garden is now home to many gorgeous visitors. Echinacea purpurea (Zones 3–8) is a favorite for sure!
A hedge of ‘Little Quick Fire’ hydrangeas (Hydrangea paniculata ‘SMHPLQF’, Zones 3–8) lines a stone-step path at the end of the garden.
Bright colors are repeated in this garden to make the biggest visual impact and attract pollinators. Echinacea ‘Baja Burgundy’ is a repeated standout in this garden. ‘Blue Fortune’ hyssop (Agastache ‘Blue Fortune’, Zones 5–9) provides a nice contrast of purple under the birdhouse. Lobelia cardinalis (Zones 3–9) is in the background, a favorite of hummingbirds.
Summer is not the only time the garden looks colorful; there are plenty of Allium, tree peonies, and herbaceous peonies (Paeonia hybrids, Zones 3–8) to rev up the spring color!
Another huge pollinator favorite is Liatris (Zones 3–8).
We are lucky enough to have Eastern bluebirds nest in our white birdhouse every year. They bring such a sweet melody when scouting the boxes in early March.
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