Recently, on a trip to Pennsylvania, I was honored to receive an invitation to tour the backyard garden of a lovely couple. They asked that I don’t use their name, but the husband did say I could refer to him as “His Excellency.” He had a very good sense of humor and had me laughing the whole time.
The garden was amazing! I have never seen so many flowering shrubs in one place. It being early spring, everything was just putting on a show. It was even certified by the National Wildlife Federation as Backyard Wildlife Habitat.
These are some of my favorites from their garden.
![A wide shot of the garden in bloom](https://www.gardenexperiments.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/garden-wide-1024x768.jpg)
![The garden](https://www.gardenexperiments.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/backyard-1024x768.jpg)
![Phlox and more](https://www.gardenexperiments.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/phloxandmore-1024x768.jpg)
Koi Pond
Can you believe there was a koi pond in this garden? So peaceful. I could watch the fish all day.
Flowering shrubs
Flowering shrubs were just everywhere! They were just coming in to bloom. The variety and mixtures were stunning.
![Orange azalea](https://www.gardenexperiments.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/azalea-orange-1024x768.jpg)
![Yellow rhododendron](https://www.gardenexperiments.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/rhododendron-yellow-1024x768.jpg)
![Eastern Sweetshrub (Calycanthus floridus L.)](https://www.gardenexperiments.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/sweetshrub-1024x768.jpg)
![Arrowwood viburnum, Viburnum dentatum](https://www.gardenexperiments.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/viburnum-1024x768.jpg)
![Honeysuckle Bush](https://www.gardenexperiments.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/honeysuckle-bush-1024x768.jpg)
![Orange azalea](https://www.gardenexperiments.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/azalea-orange2-1024x768.jpg)
Shade plants
The garden had a mix of sun and shade, so there were many shade plants. The hostas, columbine, and Solomon’s seal were lovely.
![Columbine](https://www.gardenexperiments.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/columbine-1024x768.jpg)
![Hosta](https://www.gardenexperiments.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/hosta1-1024x768.jpg)
![Hosta](https://www.gardenexperiments.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/hosta2-1024x768.jpg)
![Hosta](https://www.gardenexperiments.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/hosta3-768x1024.jpg)
![Hosta](https://www.gardenexperiments.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/hosta4-1024x768.jpg)
![Solomon's Seal](https://www.gardenexperiments.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/solomons-seal-768x1024.jpg)
Tree Peonies
These are just lovely! I have peonies at home, but I’ve never seen tree peonies before. So pretty!