The Backyard Garden: Nanny Foster

Yesterday, we featured Nanny Foster in her front yard in College Park, just west of UNCG. Today, we are sharing a view of her backyard. Typical of Greensboro's urban neighborhoods, her back yard has several mature hardwood trees that keep the lot shaded. Most of the plants on this part of her property are partial sun and shade loving. Above, Nanny is showing us one of her oak leaf hydrangea plants. 

As we walk through the backyard, Nanny points out hostas and limelight hydrangeas. She tells us details about College Park from when she was a child. She recalls a sweet story about the couple who used to own her house and how they mowed the hilly lawn holding hands. Next, she pointed out a hellebore, named after an avid Greensboro gardener, Nell Lewis, who wrote garden articles for the News & Record. Nanny shows us two Japanese maples, one with cascading leaves and the other, featured below, with new pink growth. While showing us these beautiful maples, Nanny lamented not having purchased more when a local gardener was clearing her inventory.

Nanny is also a cat lover and the first two thumbnail photos below show her two rescue cats* who are ever curious when she brings home new plants. The orange lily below is one of many currently in bloom or about to bloom. The pink leaf is the new growth (mentioned above) on one of her Japanese maples.  One photo shows Nanny is in the middle of the backyard. She is holding a net as she is about to scoop a hydrangea, still in its container, out of her water feature. The final photo, taken by Nanny herself, shows an oak leaf hydrangea in full bloom and the hosta below it. While the back yard is as diverse as the front, most of the plant are not currently in bloom. We're hoping she will invite us back when the limelight hydrangeas bloom. Thank you Nanny, for the great tour.

 

*visit Goathouse Refuge's website (here) if you want a beautiful cat, too.

Comments

[Jacob]

It's a jungle out there - a very nice jungle and every jungle needs cats. If Nanny loves cats, that's all I need to know - she's got to be a good person!

[William Kendall]

The kitties are a sweet sight!