One of the hardest parts about gardening is getting started. There is so much wonderful information available that it can feel overwhelming for a beginner. One thing that has helped me tremendously is seeing what others in my zone have growing in their gardens and taking note of when it blooms. What looks beautiful in a garden in zone 5 may struggle in zone 8. For example, lilacs are a spring staple in cooler climates, but few varieties will flower and thrive in warmer climates. If you aren’t sure what your cold hardiness zone is, you can check here.
Last fall, I started a series of regular posts on my Instagram page that show what’s blooming in my garden throughout the year. My intention with these posts is to help and inspire other gardeners in my cold hardiness zone. However, this week, I noticed that I could not quite fit all of the tips I wanted to include in my Instagram post. Therefore, I thought it might be helpful to start a similar series on this site so I can add more details.
Our Zone 8 Garden in Early April
Here in zone 8b in South Carolina, we had a very mild spring and no late season frost so everything in our gardens is thriving. Around our home, we have a mix of different types of gardens: formal gardens, cottage gardens, and a kitchen garden.
Camellias
In our gardens, we have at least a dozen camellias. Some must be at least 50 years old, and the variety is unknown. We have also planted a few ourselves. Our sasanquas start blooming early in the fall and taper off by the end of January. The japonicas start in December and usually finish in April. We still have a few trees with flowers on them. So, I’m savoring their beauty until I see them again next winter!
Roses
My mother and grandmother both sent me roses for my birthday this year. I had no idea so I purchased even more. Now we have over 30 roses in our yard, which is a dream come true! Growing up, my mother always had roses growing around our houses so they remind me of my childhood.
Most of our yard receives full sun so roses thrive here. The roses that we planted only a few weeks ago already have beautiful flowers.
Viburnums
Snowball viburnum is quite popular here in South Carolina. I definitely understand why! These plants are semi-evergreen here in zone 8 and bloom repeatedly throughout the year. They are a great, drought-tolerant alternative to white hydrangeas. Mine are in full bloom right now. The only drawback to planting snowball viburnum is that they require quiet heavy pruning throughout the growing season to maintain a pretty shape.
Foxgloves
We bought foxgloves the first spring we lived here, planted them in the deep shade, and did not regularly water them. They died a slow death… We decided to try planting some again this year in our cottage garden. Now that we aren’t clueless new gardeners and we have a working sprinkler system, they are thriving! They receive several hours of sun in the afternoon and are regularly watered with drip irrigation.
Blueberries
My husband and I are both from Maine, where wild blueberries grow everywhere. In South Carolina, growing conditions for blueberries aren’t as favorable so you should plant rabbiteye or highbush blueberries for better results. Blueberries have beautiful, delicate white flowers in the spring, making them not only a practical plant for their fruit, but an eye-catching choice as well.
I hope you found this helpful. If you have any questions, please let me know in the comments!
You May Also Like:
Creating a Kitchen Garden from an Overgrown Lot: Our Plans
How to Create an English Cottage Garden – Tips + Inspiration
