Photos & flowers by Lynn McDonald, AGC Member
May flowers in a rock garden
Tag Archives: Gardens of the World
Today in the Garden
AGC member, Carol Walker, provided photos of her front yard where red poppies (Papaver) and Bachelor buttons (Centaurea cyanus) are in full bloom.
Today in the Garden: May 24, 2023
Blooming today in Lynn McDonald’s Ashland garden
Photos by Lynn McDonald
Lithia Park: Japanese Garden
May 2023 Garden Tour
Photos by Janie Burcart, Lynn McDonald and Carlotta Lucas, AGC Members
Garden of the Month: May 2023
784 Park Street
A riot of color greets passersby at 784 Park Street in April and May as many bulbs burst into bloom. The garden was developed by Lois Breedlove, owner of the condo at that address. It is the Ashland Garden Club’s Garden of the Month for May.
The landscape was previously entirely water-thirsty grass until Breedlove arrived eight years ago. A financial windfall allowed her to redesign the space and hire Gustavo Rodriguez and his crew from Alpine Landscaping to install and maintain plantings of Lois’ choice. Daffodils, tulips, and grape hyacinths dominate now, but peonies are on their way. Daphne, euphorbia, barberry, and spirea provide contrast of size and color. Lois especially loves older varieties of hellebore. She has a beautiful “cameo” flowering quince near the sidewalk.
The bulbs thrive because their bloom time coincides with leaves off the maple tree in the side yard that, once leafed-out, provides needed shade in the summer. She spaces allium plants among other bulbs to discourage deer.
Bulbs are a drought-tolerant way to add color to a garden, Breedlove says. They’re punctuated with other drought tolerant perennials and shrubs. As the garden matures the shrubs will eventually play a larger role. “But there will always be the bulbs for color.”
Breedlove says the garden isn’t a garden retreat, but a ‘garden advance’ — something to be enjoyed by others in the complex, and by passersby as well.
Lois relies on Alpine Landscaping for much of the work, but she tries to walk through the garden daily. “The best garden advice I ever heard is that a garden profits most from the daily touch of the gardener’s hand,” she says.
Article by: Ruth Sloan, AGC Garden of the Month Chair
Photos by: Lois Breedlove, Larry Rosengren, and Ruth Sloan.
April 2023- AGC Garden of the Month
344 Helman Street
While all the rain and snow we’ve enjoyed this winter bring hope of a fabulous spring and along with it fabulous gardens, it does mean that the season of renewal is running a little late this year. Last year at this time, the garden at 344 Helman Street—home to Suzan and Marshall Malden—was blooming gloriously and lush with plants ready to burst forth. It’s obviously poised to do that again, but perhaps a little later than usual. This is the Ashland Garden Club’s Garden of the Month for April 2023
When the Maldens purchased the property in 2001 the cottage was smaller, and both front and back yards were little more than lawns with a few trees, including the wonderful mulberry. After completing a beautiful sunny addition to the house in 2006, Suzan set about establishing lovely gardens with help and advice from family friend Dave Mizerak. The bones of that design remain much the same, but Suzan has fun adding and subtracting plants as conditions change over the years or as enthusiasm strikes her.
Lilacs and grapevines at the perimeter contribute to a feeling of privacy in back. A delightful water fountain is visible from most spots around the yard as well as from rooms at the back of the house. Among Suzan’s favorite plants are peonies, rhododendrons, daphne, and azaleas. Fig trees in back not only produce delicious fruit but are gorgeous sculptural plants. The Japanese maple in front is stunning all year.
A tall flag pole in back features an ever-changing display of flags, some to honor countries where the Maldens have lived (such as Sweden and Norway), some to honor countries of origin for visitors, and some to honor events
Suzan does almost all of the gardening herself, averaging a half-hour to an hour a day in the busiest seasons, with occasional help from Nathanael Brees on the biggest projects. She sees the garden as her sanctuary and gardening brings her great joy. As she says, “life is beautiful in the garden.”
