Welcome back to another edition of the Garden Photo of the Day, affectionately known to our community as GPODers. Today, we travel to the scenic landscapes of West Grove, Pennsylvania, nestled firmly within USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. As the vibrant energy of the growing season begins to gently wind down, many gardeners might expect a landscape devoid of color or interest. However, as our featured gardener Rhonda proves, there is still an abundance of life, texture, and unexpected color to enjoy as autumn settles over the Mid-Atlantic region.
Rhonda’s garden currently finds itself in a state of beautiful transition. While certain staples of the landscape—such as hostas, tradescantias, and anemones—are officially on their last legs, they leave behind a rich tapestry of late-season foliage and fading blooms that tell the story of a well-loved, deeply established outdoor space. Rather than forcing a rigid, manicured perfection onto her beds, Rhonda has adopted a more naturalistic and manageable philosophy for maintaining her property.
By allowing certain robust and vigorous plants to naturally take over specific areas of the garden, she has discovered a clever and low-maintenance solution to one of gardening’s most persistent chores: weeding. In particular, the garden beds populated by thriving colonies of Japanese anemones and hardy begonias are virtually weed-free. Because these dense plant communities occupy every available inch of soil, unwanted weeds simply find no room to establish themselves. This harmonious approach to plant grouping creates a lush, full appearance that reduces labor while maximizing aesthetic impact.
A winding natural stone pathway serves as the main artery through this serene Pennsylvania oasis, guiding visitors past dense shade plantings, delicate ferns, and sweeping perennial borders. Flanked by pink Japanese anemones and lush, textural greenery, the pathway invites quiet contemplation. The Japanese anemones, with their elegant pink blossoms rising gracefully above the foliage, provide a soft and sophisticated punctuation mark to the end of the growing season.
Elsewhere on the property, container gardening plays a vital role in extending the visual appeal of the landscape. On a weathered brick patio, an ornate stone urn serves as a magnificent vessel for a collection of bright magenta double begonias. Though these annuals are strictly non-hardy, they continue to put on an extraordinary show well into the autumn months. Even as individual blossoms reach the end of their lifecycle, scattered pink petals fall gently across the weathered bricks, adding a whimsical and colorful patina to the hardscape below.
Another delightful surprise in Rhonda’s autumn landscape is the presence of colchicums, often colloquially known as autumn crocuses. These fascinating autumn-blooming bulbs emerge to offer delicate lavender-pink flowers long after their spring foliage has completely disappeared and faded from memory. Rising seemingly out of nowhere against natural rock garden borders and mixed perennial plantings, they provide a welcome jolt of unexpected color just as the surrounding landscape prepares for its winter slumber.
At the heart of Rhonda’s late-season display are her absolute favorites: the hardy begonias (Begonia grandis, Zones 6–9). These resilient perennials prove that the genus Begonia is not merely confined to tender annual status. In Rhonda’s shade garden, their delicate pink flowers mingle effortlessly with broad green hosta leaves and a diverse collection of other shade-loving perennials. Thriving in the dappled light beneath mature trees, these hardy begonias anchor the autumn shade garden with quiet elegance.
For many gardeners, the arrival of fall immediately conjures mental images of fiery reds, deep oranges, and brilliant golds. However, Rhonda’s West Grove landscape offers a refreshing and unconventional departure from that traditional palette. By relying heavily on soft pinks, magentas, and lavenders, she demonstrates that the autumn garden can possess a gentle, romantic charm all its own.
As the season progresses and these final late-blooming treasures complete their cycle, Rhonda’s garden will gradually transition into its resting phase, shielded by the mulch of fallen leaves and the quiet architecture of evergreen shrubs. It stands as a testament to the beauty of thoughtful plant selection, resilient perennial communities, and the quiet joys of a Pennsylvania autumn.
