Late Summer in Patsy’s Garden

We’re visiting with Patsy LaHue today.

My husband and I (80 and 84) have been gardening in Grand Junction, Colorado, since 1976, when the hill was nothing but 2,000 elm tree twigs. My husband and I have spent many fun hours moving rocks, planting trees, and digging holes. I tend to move plants around a lot because I am always looking for the perfect combination. We’re in Zone 6, and our average rainfall is 7 inches a year. Needless to say, we have supplemental water for our flowers. I have been featured on the GPOD once before (Patsy’s Tiered Garden), and thought I would send pictures from late summer.

Echinacea (Zones 5–9) with a cactus sculpture

This section of the garden features several types of sedum, including Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ (Zones 3–9), which is my favorite plant. It looks good year-round and does not require much maintenance.

There are three different garden levels, with a path between the second and third levels.

A sculpture presides over the brick wall that makes up one of the terraces, with a red rose blooming below.

Red Crocosmia and Echinacea bloom on the lower level, while white datura (Datura sp., annual) shows off above.

Patsy has had this beautiful phlox (Phlox paniculata, Zones 5–9) for so long that she’s lost the name of the variety. What great color and what beautiful, healthy foliage.

‘Helen von Stein’ lambs’ ears (Stachys byzantina ‘Helen von Stein’, Zones 4–8) boasts extra large leaves.

Red cannas (Canna hybrid, Zones 8–10 or as a tender bulb), Sedum, Echinacea, and a red rose bush

Mostly white flowers look great combined with a cheery yellow Rudbeckia triloba (Zones 4–8).

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