The Studio Garden of Donna Hamilton

Minneapolis GBF - Day 1 - Garden #2

Donna Hamilton transformed a grocery store in the middle of Minneapolis into her studio and, right alongside the bricks and mortar, she created a garden that is overflowing with colour & keeps pollinators very happy.

Donna made the most of every planting opportunity, including the “hellstrip”
...the narrow strip of land between the sidewalk and the street

Although she and her husband closed down their holiday décor company, Hearts & Ivy, in 2015, they did not give up the studio nor the garden, both of which are obvious sources of joy and satisfaction.

The best descriptor for this garden is abundant.

I'm all about the zinnias ever since some found their way into my garden this year:

I also adore plants that have interesting buds, such as these balloon flowers (thanks Helen for the ID!):

Balloon flower (Platycodon) bud

Balloon flower bloom

Lantana is another favourite for both their interesting, pillow-like buds and beautiful blooms:

I'm a sucker for pots, especially when they are grouped together and overflowing with colour:

I see some parsley and basil tucked in here too

But why limit pots to decks and patios - they look wonderful all planted up and placed in the beds themselves:

I mentioned in my post on the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden that Blue Wild Indigo kept popping up in the gardens - here it is surrounding a decoratively topped obelisk:

From a distance, the bird almost appears to be flying amongst the indigo

Another Fling favourite, bee balm, but not in the often seen red...look at all the glorious colours:

I'm going to find a spot for these in my garden...

At practically every garden, there is at least one plant that I need to track down the owner and inquire about.  In Donna's garden, it was a "mystery" yellow flower with it's eye-catching serrated petals.  Not a mystery for seasoned ornamental gardeners, I'm sure, but I had no idea what it was:

Coreopsis

I particularly liked how the beds were delineated by using both rocks and a different colour of mulch.

Rocks outline the beds

I have a TON of rocks from digging in our rocky soil, so I think I’ll be borrowing this idea for my own garden.

A birdbath is one other feature that I’m hoping to get into the garden next year:

Look at all those glorious coleus at the base of the birdbath

I've never been particularly interested in coleus, but several gardens in Minneapolis have me rethinking (that seemed to happen to me a lot during this trip!)

I truly loved this garden - it was informal, yet organized - something I aspire to in my own garden.

Our next stop:  Lyndale Park Gardens