Hi GPODers!

There are many different kinds of gardeners, but some would argue that we all fall into one of two camps: designers or collectors. While designers focus more on the bigger picture and how all of their plants will come together (even if that means planting a lot of the same plant for cohesion and coordination), a collector strives to acquire every plant that they find interesting and worries about arrangement later. However, I would argue that most of us fall somewhere in the middle, and Connie Klingaman in Helena, Montana (Zone 3/4) is a perfect example of that. Connie has decades of gardening experience and certainly knows how to craft a stunning landscape design, but also has acquired a fascinating and wide range of plants over the years.

I’ve been gardening for over 40 years, this latest garden is 9 years growing. I have over 350 cultivars of trees, shrubs, perennials, and roses, and a vegetable garden. I’ve been growing roses here after hearing that you can’t grow roses in Montana, over 40 varieties. And just about anything else that will possibly grow here! Besides roses, my favorite plants to grow are flowering trees, from lindens to crabapples to hawthorns. Two years ago we had a several snowstorms where the snow melted and formed a layer of ice over everything. I lost more plants than ever before, even iris and several young trees that are normally perfectly hardy. Usually, we have no snow cover so dryness is a bigger issue. But one thing my gardens do for me is to keep me young, hopeful and stronger and it’s an outlet for my creativity. All the iron work, fences, and art in the garden are made by my husband and I. About an acre and a half of gardens and lawns will do that! There are many pictures of my gardens on Facebook at Terra Bella Tales and a stories on terrabellatales.com. Welcome to Montana!

Our front sidewalk of stamped concrete: Marguerite daisy (Argyranthemum frutescensZones 10–11 or as an annual), creeping thyme (Thymus brushZones 4–8), pussytoes (Antennaria plantaginifoliaZones 3–8), armeria, ‘Bioko’ geranium (Geranium x cantabrigian “Biokovo”Zones 4–8), dianthusninebark (Physocarpus opulifoliusZones 4–8), ‘New Hampshire Purple’ geranium (Blood geranium ‘New Hampshire Purple’Zones 3–8), ‘Sparkling Star’ peony (Pioneer ‘Sparkling Star’Zones 3–8)and iris

This garden gets shade most of the day, the plants are: hostasblack snakeroot (Actaea racemosaZones 3–8), viburnumbee balm (Monarda didymaZones 4–9), ‘White Nancy’ lamium (Lamium maculatum ‘White Nancy’Zones 3–8), ‘Montrose White’ calamint (Calamintha nepeta ‘Montrose White’Zones 5–9), Veronicaobedient plant (Physostegia virginianaZones 3–9), and ‘Thunderchild’ crabapple (Malus ‘Thunderchild’Zones 3–7).

A perfect after storm light, plants are Turkestan burning bush (Euonymus dwarf ‘Turkestanicus’Zones 3–7), purple coneflowers (Echinacea purpureaZones 3–9), ‘Canada Red’ chokecherry (Prunus virginiana ‘Canada Red’Zones 2–10), ‘Spring Snow’ crabapple (Malus ‘Spring Snow’Zones 4–8), alpine currant (shores alpineZones 2–7).

A rare August foggy morning-the plants are ‘David’ phlox (Phlox paniculata ‘David’Zones 3–8), purple coneflower, ‘Overdam’ feather reed grass (Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Overdam’, Zones 4–9), yellow columbine (Aquilegia chrysanthaZones 4–9), rudbeckia, ‘Morden Sunrise’ rose (Rosa ‘Morden Sunrise’Zones 3–7), ‘Baby Joe’ Joe Pye weed (Eutrochius doubt ‘Baby Joe’Zones 3–9), mock orange, ‘Miss Kim’ lilac (Syringe pubescens subsp. poetic ‘Miss Kim’Zones 4–8), ‘Lemon Queen’ sunflower (Helianthus ‘Lemon Queen’Zones 4–9), Diabolo® ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Monlo’Zones 3–7), dogwood and annual coreopsis (Coreopsis dyeingannual).

Sunrise Garden on the east side of my front yard, plants are: Thornless cockspur hawthorn (Hawthorn leg-cock our. unarmedZones 3–7), lobelia,’Snowdrift’ rose (Rosa ‘BARift’Zones 4–9), ‘Double Down Orange’ rose (Rosa ‘JACedocaing’Zones 5–9)Mandarin Tango® potentilla (Potentilla bushy ‘Jefman’Zones 2–6), baptism‘Bleeding Hearts’ false sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides our. scratch ‘Bleeding Hearts’Zones 3–9).

Hot sun area on the south side of my sun/plant room. From left to right: Above and Beyond™ rose (Rosa ‘ZLEEltonStrack’Zones 3–7) just starting it’s second bloom in September, ‘Moonshine’ yarrow (Yarrow ‘Moonshine’Zones 3–9), zauschneria‘Smoky Hills’ skullcap (Scutellaria resinosa ‘Smoky Hills’, Zones 4–9), ‘Champlain’ rose (Rosa ‘Champlain’Zones 3–8), sedum, Kannah Creek® buckwheat (The umbrella of Eriogonus our. golden ‘Psdowns’Zones 3–8), ‘Bill Reid’ rose (Rosa ‘Bill Reid’Zones 3–9), ‘Denim ’N Lace’ Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia ‘Denim ‘n Lace’Zones 4–9) and lavender.

Two bees on an Iceland poppy (Oreomecon nudicaulis syn. Poppy nudicauleZones 3–10), they bloom for months here.

‘Hope for Humanity’ rose (Rosa ‘Hope for Humanity’Zones 3–9) and a Hot Wings® Tatarian maple (Acer tataricum ‘Garn’Zones 4–10) behind it. A little symbol of my love for plants and the Boulder Mountains in the distance.

And a poem I wrote that speaks to all gardeners I should hope! Complete with a Fibonacci spiral found everywhere in nature-check out those unfurling fern fronds.

Thank you so much for sharing your stunning garden with us, Connie! Your passion for plants is palpable, and the landscape you have crafted is something any gardener can envy.

What plants have defied expectations in your garden? Have you made a plant work that is considered impossible to grow in your area or did you find joy in a species you never had interest in before? Let us know in the comments, or consider sharing photos of that plant putting on a peak performance in your garden. Follow the NEW directions below to submit your photos to Garden Photo of the Day!

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