Big Garden, Small Space: Part 1

This Philadelphia gardener doesn’t let small space or shade limit his gardening vision

Today we ’re visiting the garden of Eric Sternfels .

I garden in Northwest Philadelphia in a backyard shade garden that is 18 feet wide by 150 infantry mystifying . With only some turkey - wire fence split up me from neighbors , the G does not finger too squeeze within this enclave of grind workers ’ housing , ca . 1840s . These photos are highlight taken between 2015 and 2018 , but I have been developing this garden since 2002 .

A little , shady garden may seem like a limitation , but Eric has fulfil this space with beauty , as you may see here in this path line with contrasting shades of leafage ahead of time in the year .

Bletilla striata(hardy ground orchid , Zones 5–8 ) shows off in front ofHosta‘Stained Glass ’ in mid - May .

Saxifraga stolonifera(Strawberry geranium , Zones 6–9 ) create a cloud of airy blossoms in early May and has beautiful , evergreen , silver grey - marked leave of absence all year .

This concrete urn is seeable in the background of the previous epitome . Its coming into court was amend by burying its gawky radix in pea gravel so that the bowl form seem to land gracefully on the primer coat . Bright white patterned leaves of a caladium ( Caladiumsp . , Zones 9–11 or as yearly ) brighten up this suspect area , and under the caladium is an African reddish blue ( Saintpauliasp . ) . We ’re used to thinking of African reddish blue as houseplants , but clearly they make the transition to a bloom annual for shade just fine !

In early October , Hosta‘Patriot ’ is yellowing whileTinantia pringlei(Zones 6–10 ) is grow a swarm of blue - violet blooms that will continue until a knockout hoarfrost . At right , Kirengeshoma koreana(Korean waxbells , zone 5–8 ) show its graceful form in front of forsythia ( Forsythia×intermedia , Zones 5–9 ) bush .

A garden can completely transform at different times of the year . Here is the same forsythia from the previous photo , but rather of being green and surrounded by perennials , the forsythia is accept center stage in full bloom while the perennials are still mostly hibernating .

A March snowstorm surprises the forsythia in bloom .

Check back tomorrow for part 2 of this wonderful garden !

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