My name is Lyle Johnson. I have been gardening on a 60-foot by 180-foot city lot in Galesburg, Illinois, for a little more than 30 years. Over that time the garden has gone through many transformations. I submitted some photos a few years ago. I’m sure they will illustrate a lot of the changes. (Do check out the previous post; it is fun to see how much the garden has grown!) One of the things I like about gardening is observing the adjustments that have been necessary over the years. Several trees have come and gone. Just about the time you have a nice shady area to garden, something changes and you’re trying to adapt to a full-sun situation. It’s also interesting to observe the changes that happen month to month. A plant you barely notice one month becomes the center of attention the next.
In spring, most of the perennials are still underground or just beginning to grow, and the daffodils (Narcissus species and hybrids, Zones 3–8) dominate.
The spring garden
Daffodils are joined by tulips (Tulipa hybrids, Zones 3–8) and grape hyacinths (Muscari armeniacum, Zones 4–8) as other perennials begin to push up growth.
Everything is starting to look fuller and greener.
This lilac (looks like Syringa patula ‘Miss Kim’ Zones 3–8) is in full bloom.
Siberian irises (Iris hybrid, Zones 3–8) shine when in bloom, and their grass foliage will keep looking good the rest of the summer.
This tree is gorgeous; it looks like it might be Robinia pseudoacacia ‘Twisty Baby’, (Zones 4–8).
In summer, daylilies (Hemerocallis hybrids, Zones 4–9) step into the limelight.
The garden in peak summer growth
Just a lump of green in the last photo, this clematis (probably either Clematis terniflora or C. virginiana, Zones 5–9) transforms into a mass of fragrant flowers in the fall.
