![Inspiration fra Carol's have i North Carolina Inspiration fra Carol's have i North Carolina](/images/articles/s13/2015/5/22/inspiration-fra-carol's-have-i-north-carolina.jpg)
Butterfly weed, lantana, and hibiscus bloomed all
summer. One application of slow release granular plant food did an
amazing job of keeping the hibiscus leaves glossy and flowers blooming nonstop
for weeks on end.
![Inspiration fra Carols have i North Carolina](/images/show_images/2015/5/clip_1432305369830.png)
Soaring 'Snow Queen' oakleaf hydrangea blooms, mimicking the
tree branches in the background, make my heart sing!
![Inspiration fra Carols have i North Carolina](/images/show_images/2015/5/clip_1432305369834.png)
Foliage of Hydrangea macrophylla 'Mariesii Variegata', blue
black salvia in the upper left (loved by hummingbirds), Purple Diamond
loropetalum. I love garden paths.
![Inspiration fra Carols have i North Carolina](/images/show_images/2015/5/clip_1432305369837.png)
Flowers from my garden in a favorite bud vase
![Inspiration fra Carols have i North Carolina](/images/show_images/2015/5/clip_1432305369839.png)
Birthday flowers from a friend and a painting by my sister
made a happy pair.
![Inspiration fra Carols have i North Carolina](/images/show_images/2015/5/clip_1432305369840.png)
I planted around 50 tulip bulbs in one container, as I saw
demonstrated on a P. Allen Smith TV show. I was so happy the purple and
yellow bloomed at the same time.
![Inspiration fra Carols have i North Carolina](/images/show_images/2015/5/clip_1432305369845.png)
My daughter planted this gorgeous combination of tulips this
year for her yard in Durham, North Carolina! She purchased the only tulip
bulbs she could find at the end of the fall season on sale. Don’t you
love the colors!
![Inspiration fra Carols have i North Carolina](/images/show_images/2015/5/clip_1432305369847.png)
Rain lily given to me by my sister-in-law, blue plumbago,
and ‘Immortality’ iris foliage
![Inspiration fra Carols have i North Carolina](/images/show_images/2015/5/clip_1432305369849.png)
'Jade Princess' millet (which I grew from seed).
![Inspiration fra Carols have i North Carolina](/images/show_images/2015/5/clip_1432305369851.png)
Flax lily, coleus, caladium, torrenia
![Inspiration fra Carols have i North Carolina](/images/show_images/2015/5/clip_1432305369852.png)
Caladium in a container
![Inspiration fra Carols have i North Carolina](/images/show_images/2015/5/clip_1432305369854.png)
'Bengal tiger' canna, coleus, pentas, and lantana. I
forget the name of white little daisy. Plants Delights Nursery carried it
at one time. It’s perennial and blooms all summer.
![Inspiration fra Carols have i North Carolina](/images/show_images/2015/5/clip_1432305369856.png)
'Mojito' elephant ear, 'Black Magic' elephant ear. and
'Black Coral' elephant ear
![Inspiration fra Carols have i North Carolina](/images/show_images/2015/5/clip_1432305369858.png)
![Inspiration fra Carols have i North Carolina](/images/show_images/2015/5/clip_1432305369859.png)
![Inspiration fra Carols have i North Carolina](/images/show_images/2015/5/clip_1432305369861.png)
![Inspiration fra Carols have i North Carolina](/images/show_images/2015/5/clip_1432305369863.png)
Ostrich fern, 'Frances Williams' and 'Krossa Regal' hostas
![Inspiration fra Carols have i North Carolina](/images/show_images/2015/5/clip_1432305369865.png)
Joe Pye weed and persicaria
![Inspiration fra Carols have i North Carolina](/images/show_images/2015/5/clip_1432305369868.png)
![Inspiration fra Carols have i North Carolina](/images/show_images/2015/5/clip_1432305369874.png)
Today's photos are from Carol Thompson in Charlotte, North
Carolina. She says, "I took these pictures late one spring afternoon in my
garden. With the sun backlighting several of the plants, it was amazing to
see the play of light and dark, the shadowing, and the lovely transparency of
the colors. Included are 'Dr Tinsley' camellia, 'Blue Lady' hellebore, an
unnamed daffodil, 'Fireglow' Japanese maple, an unnamed azalea, and 'Ivory
Prince' hellebore.