Garden experts will tell you that when you’re planning the garden around a new home, it’s important to take your time, study the site, and put your plans on paper first. I must admit, though, that I didn’t follow that advice when I moved from a tiny and shady town garden to my current home, Hayefield, on a 4-acre former farm field in southeastern Pennsylvania. I just wanted to get this garden started!
Fifteen years of gardening experience suddenly became almost useless, as I had to learn a whole new palette of plants suitable for full sun. No more delicate woodland wildflowers or tiny, rare treasures—I needed plants that would grow quickly, fill lots of space, and be relatively inexpensive or easy to propagate. Fortunately, I found many outstanding options…