The Year That Was in Northwestern New Jersey

Today’s photos are from Phyllis Strohmeyer in northwestern New Jersey (Zone 6A).

We have a 3-acre lot on the side of Jenny Jump Mountain. We moved here five years ago, planting all along the way.

Kniphofia (Zones 5–9) and Invinciball Spirit II hydrangeas (Hydrangea arborescens ‘NCH2’, Zones 3–9) surround the birdcage gazebo.

A large ash tree (Fraxinussp.) by the road succumbed to emerald ash borers. When it was removed several beautiful stumps were left, so I made a stumpery.

These two stumps are surrounded by hosta, goatsbeard (Arucus dioicus, Zones 4–8), and Jacob’s ladder (Polemonium caeruleum,Zones 4–8).

Pots of ageratum (Ageratum houstonianum, Zones 10–11 or as an annual) hang by a clump of ligularia (Ligularia dentata, Zones 4–8) in bloom in a wet spot in the shade.

This scene of end-of-summer glory includes blazing star (Liatrus spicata, Zones 3–8), New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae–angliae, Zones 4–8), goldenrod (Solidago sp.), and tithonia (Tithonia rotundifolia, annual).

Fall in northwestern New Jersey

Crystal trees from an ice storm, December 2022

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