An Unexpected Garden

Nicki Snoblin in Lake Bluff, Illinois, found a wonderful little treasure to share with us.

Today I would like to share some photos of a tiny garden in an unexpected place in my neighborhood. I don’t know who owns it, but it’s clearly a labor of love. Encountering a garden like this is like getting a wonderful gift.

This garden is nestled under two oak trees in a carveout between a parking lot and an alley, just off a major two-lane road. It’s packed full of eclectic edging and path materials, plants in pots and in the ground, and half-hidden delights.

The centerpiece of the garden is a three-level fountain.

A creative use of branches made this path and edging.

This large and beautiful hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, Zones 9–11) in a pot must be overwintered indoors.

A rectangular planter contains what I think is a rooted cutting from the hibiscus, about to bloom.

This trellis covered with wisteria (Wisteriasp. Zones 5–9) has a little pot of oxalis (Oxalis triangularis,Zones 7–10) hung from it with a bent shirt hanger.

Blackberry lily’s (Iris domestica,Zones 4–10) namesake shiny, berrylike seeds are the follow-up to cherry-orange flowers.

A blue chair provides a pop of color.

Just visible behind this rosebush is a metal decoration hung with crystals.

A few colorful mushrooms

A concrete turtle makes its home beneath the edge of the fountain.

Have photos to share? We’d love to see your garden, a particular collection of plants you love, or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit!

To submit, send 5-10 photos to [email protected] along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the photos. We’d love to hear where you are located, how long you’ve been gardening,