By Barbara Schneider, Gibbs Gardens
Photos Courtesy of Gibbs Gardens
The Japanese Gardens are exceptionally beautiful in summer.
As June slips into summer, Gibbs Gardens’ 376-acre estate garden transforms into nature’s largest bouquet. Unique and inspiring arrangements line the entrance Flower Bridge as sweeping borders of white caladiums and begonias lead to the upper gardens.
Jim Gibbs, owner-designer-developer of Gibbs Gardens, loves to create new, original and colorful floral designs for his garden visitors. One of the newest, most unique — Le Jardin — all about color, design, texture and shape — has two different garden seasons. From March through mid-May, 15,000 plus yellow, purple and orange tulips and thousands of purple, red and yellow pansies create a spectacular garden. Gibbs uses early-, mid- and late-blooming tulip bulbs to provide more weeks of flowers.
At the end of May, Gibbs digs up the old tulip bulbs, pulls out the pansies and prepares the garden for summer flowers.
“After removing old compost, the soil is tilled and good, balanced, slow fertilizer— 10-10-10 or 8-8-8— is added. New plants— based on sun and shade needs — are selected and planted,” Gibbs added
The summer garden adds new color and vivid interest throughout the summer and early fall— until it’s time to plant new tulip bulbs and pansies for spring color.
A flawless Magnolia blossom.
Nature’s largest bouquet
Flowers of all sizes, shapes and colors are in bloom everywhere— from roses at the Manor House to stands of magnolia blossoms beyond the Japanese Gardens to larkspur and poppies in the Wildflower Meadow. An allée of more than 100 fragrant Southern Magnolias (Magnolia Grandiflora) is located between the Japanese Gardens and the Wildflower Meadow/Butterfly Gardens.
In the Valley Gardens, Knockout roses are planted in long, serpentine beds.
Roses, roses, roses— everywhere
“We keep planting a wide variety of roses— floribunda, grandiflora, Knockout shrub roses, Drift roses and heirloom roses— to accent or expand existing plantings” explained Gibbs. Heirloom roses he planted in the east end of the Valley Rose Garden two years ago are flourishing.
In the Valley Gardens an allée of Byers Red Crape Myrtles provides shade for viewing the Daylily Gardens as massive plantings of daylilies begin blooming in June. Thousands of blossoms in shades of red, orange, yellow, purple, white, apricot and pink flowers in long curving beds sweep across a background of vibrant green grass.
Not to be outdone, the Waterlily Gardens offer an array of tropical and hardy blooms— reflections double their exotic beauty and colors. Five ponds showcase more than 140 varieties of waterlilies in their natural environment.
Poppies and larkspur attract Monarch butterflies on their migration from Mexico to Canada. Their route takes them right over north Georgia twice a year.
Ready for the Monarchs return
Jim Gibbs always selects flowers for this garden that bloom in time for the Monarch butterflies’ spring and fall migration. Poppies are blooming now in the Monarch Butterfly Gardens. Gibbs choose poppies for this garden because their strong, vivid colors— bright orange, red and salmon shades — attract butterflies as they fly across Georgia during their spring migration from Mexico to Canada. Adding stark contrast to the poppies, blue, lavender and purple larkspur, bright orange Asclepias tuberosa butterfly weed and yellow coreopsis lure the butterflies to a delicious lunch at Gibbs Gardens.
Atlanta’s local ABC channel, WSB, named Gibbs Gardens one of Georgia’s Hidden Treasures during its June 1st program.
“We are honored to be named one of Georgia’s Hidden Treasures, and very appreciative of the wonderful recognition we’ve received this spring,” said Gibbs. WSB’s recognition comes just two months after Gibbs’ Daffodil Festival was voted “the best flower festival in America for 2025.”
Gibbs Gardens also is honored to be recognized by these organizations: National Garden Clubs’ Award of Excellence; Flower Magazine’s one of “The 10 Best Places in the World to See Daffodils,”; one of “Thirteen Best Botanical Gardens in America” and rated a top garden in Georgia by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. To learn more about Gibbs Gardens go to gibbsgardens.com.
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By Natalie Carmolli, Proven Winners® ColorChoice®
Photographs courtesy of Proven Winners® ColorChoice®
We can add a pop of pink to existing gardens or mix deep pink flowers with mid-to-pale pinks to make a gorgeous monochromatic garden statement. To learn more Click here for an interesting article.
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