Foliage-rich pond garden: Kuster Garden at Madison Fling
We visited a number of gardens with ponds at the Garden Bloggers Fling in Madison, Wisconsin, last month. Tom Kuster, who was not a gardener at the time, inherited his pond with the house he and wife Cheryl purchased in 1990. Did the pond work its magic on him, converting him into a passionate gardener? He didn’t say what sparked his interest, but by 2004 he’d hired a designer to create a design he could install himself, and he soon became obsessed with “the vast array of plants available.”
Tom characterizes himself as a plant collector. On an ordinary suburban lot, he’s amassed more than 600 different varieties of plants, organized by genera into 20 sections of his yard. Not being a collector type myself, I simply wandered, admiring the pretty pond and waterfall realistically tucked into a wooded slope along the back of the yard.
The fishpond is nicely fringed with low plants and sedges and a couple of accent conifers.
I also admired this foliage combo — shapes and shades of green — along the property line.
Orange nasturtiums tumble over the edge of a tall cobalt (or purple?) planter against a golden-green shrub — a nice color combo.
And I love the shaggy texture and shade-brightening gold of this stepping-stone path lined with Japanese forest grass.
No idea what this is, but it’s handsome with forest-green leaves and snow-white flowers.
Ah, hostas. Such a foreign sight for these Texas eyes, and so pretty among the reddish tree trunks.
Another eye-catching shade combo
Nice hair
Clematis were blooming all over Madison. Spectacularly. I dub them the Madison Fling’s signature plant.
Allium fireworks in the front garden
And near the front porch, these two grassy-headed pot people — representing the plant-loving owners, perhaps?
Up next: The native-prairie, wildlife-friendly Grosz Garden. For a look back at Part 1 and Part 2 of the Brazill-Golbach Garden, click here.
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Digging Deeper
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Nice coverage. Lots of inspiration, too, for those of us with mostly shade gardens.
Very true, Beth.
Pam, I think the unidentified white one is a double form of mock orange (Philadelphus sp.).
Thanks, Kylee. My first thought was mock orange, but the frilliness of the flowers threw me off. I appreciate your ID.
Pam, I think this is the one I remember sniffing. 🙂
I’m sure enjoying your posts on the fling! You always do such a nice job with both your words and images.
Aw, thank you, Kylee! 🙂
Another wonderful example of a palette comprised mostly of foliage colors and shapes. It’s cool to see familiar plants that I grow as well, in the PNW. Hosta, Japanese painted ferns, conifers, Acer, Japanese forrest grass… so familiar and yet half way across the country.
That cool summer climate sure lets the PNW and Madison grow beautiful shade plants!
I am totally inspired ! I love your post and your lovely garden full of delightful plants . I am turning my dead grass ,from an invasion of japanese beetles , into a wilderness of shrubs , grasses and plants .It is a labour of love . Time will tell . I am in New Brunswick Canada . Different zone but …….. Hey , check out what grows .
Hi Monica, I’m glad you enjoyed my post! To clarify, it’s not my garden but rather one I visited on a tour. 🙂 Enjoy your own labor of love in New Brunswick!