In Bunny Lloyd’s James Island backyard, ‘Powis Castle’ artemisia shines against white ruellia, while butterfly pea climbs the archway toward giant elephant ear, inviting visitors into a bloom-lined path-cum-hummingbird highway.
Now & Then: The Lloyd home looks out on Charleston Harbor, with Sunrise Park just off to the left.
A 1989 shot of destruction wrought by Hurricane Hugo, which hit just months after Bunny and her family moved in.
Always Hopping: “Rich and I are out here all the time,” says Bunny of the deck that’s outfitted for gatherings, such as the Masters Tournament watch party they host for their kids and grandkids.
Quite a Transformation: Hurricane Hugo felled many of the lot’s mature trees. Bunny brought it back to even more vibrant life.
Rabbit statues stand sentry by the front walkway.
Island Life: A pair of Sylvester palms rustle over a mix of tropical plants, pollinator-friendly perennials, and grasses such as Platinum Beauty lomandra, which headlines one side of the bed.
Platinum Beauty lomandra.
Winging It: The white blooms of gaura, or whirling butterflies, flit among dinner plate hibiscus and hot-pink zinnias.
To create a focal point for this space, Bunny filled a birdbath with succulents and one of her namesake statues.
The pencil cactus enveloped the rabbit, and she found its tenacity too impressive to curb.
Beneficial Blooms: A Gulf fritillary butterfly drinks nectar from milkweed.
A container of low-maintenance ’Superstar‘ sedum nestles up to pink gaura.
Variety Show: (Clockwise from top left) Elephant ears, including ‘Black Magic‘ (shown with pink hibiscus and ‘Wendy’s Wish‘ salvia) and the variegated ‘Mickey Mouse,‘ bring dramatic form and color to the garden. The blooms of scarlet beebalm, leopard plant, red hot poker, angel’s trumpet, and lantana all feed the pollinators. “There’s no gardening plan here,” says Bunny. “I just buy plants that I like—always in odd numbers—and stick them in the ground. If they work, wonderful. If they don’t, I move them to another area.“ -- ‘Black Magic’ Elephant Ear
‘Mickey Mouse’ Elephant Ear
Scarlet Beebalm
Leopard Plant
Red Hot Poker
Angel’s Trumpet
Lantana
Sweet Spots: With poor soil, the bed near the marsh is tricky, says Bunny, but azaleas, giant liriope, fatsia, and star jasmine create a pretty swinging spot for visiting granddaughters.
For Bunny, her plumeria trees’ fragrant blooms make it well worth the effort of moving them into the garage each winter.
Hidden Treasures: Rabbit statues gifted by friends and family are tucked throughout the garden.
‘Bengal Tiger‘ canna lilies
Milkweed (Asclepias)
Salvia ‘Cathedral Deep Blue’ (Salvia farinacea)
Turk’s cap (Malvaviscus arboreus)
Gomphrena (Gomphrena globosa)
White gaura (Oenothera lindheimeri)
American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana)
White trailing lantana (Lantana montevidensis)
Society garlic (Tulbaghia violacea)
Bunny Lloyd created herJames Isl oasis with help from a host of green-thumbed neighbors
