The last time Gardening Gone Wild chose to feature front gardens as part of Garden Bloggers' Design Workshop, I confessed to the world that my house had a Green Mustache. After much hard work, we've eliminated the Mustache, raised the level of the bed, and installed a retaining wall. The retaining wall isn't quite finished. After I add more gravel and more topsoil, I'll put on the top layer of recycled concrete. I've decided to reduce my anxiety level when work needs to be done on the house, such as painting the window frames, by designing a catwalk so that my plants will not get stepped on or broken by those focused on the task at hand.
The catwalk is paved in gravel to slow down the flow of rainwater to allow the soil to absorb it all, as I learned to do from Marcus de la fleur's Pilot Project. The garden also needs more larger rocks for the top layer.
I think I'm going to install a few raingarden plants in this area, something that can be trampled a bit. The fountain has been installed, but we still have to put the pump in it. I placed it on a thing I found in the back corner of the back garden. I don't know what it is, but it feels like porcelain. We had to have an outlet installed on the front of the house, which was done this week.
I wish I could say I've drawn up a design or planting plan for this garden, but I'm really a "by the seat of my pants" designer. I need to see how things look. I like the Wisteria macrostachys 'Blue Moon,' which I'm training into a standard, in the center.
I also like the Hydrangea quercifolia 'Little Honey.' I'd like to add two more of those. It's turned out to be too shady for the Peonies, so they'll have to be moved.
I also like the Hydrangea quercifolia 'Little Honey.' I'd like to add two more of those. It's turned out to be too shady for the Peonies, so they'll have to be moved.
The color scheme is ruby/chartreuse/purple. The plants installed so far are, in addition to the Hydrangea and Wisteria: Aquilegia 'Sunburst Ruby' seedlings, Viola 'Mars,' Heuchera 'Frosted Violet,' and for continuity from the garden across the walk, Phlox pilosa 'Eco Happy Traveler,' which has pink flowers, but they don't clash with the Aquilegia.
I don't know what to plant behind the fountain.
There isn't room for a shrub. I'm thinking about moving the fountain towards the center of the garden to allow room for something larger to go on the left end, which is in full sun. The rest of the bed is in partial shade, with only a few hours of direct sunlight in the middle of the day. I'll be putting succulents into the retaining wall, and Callirhoe involucrata to spill over the edge. Beyond that, I have no clue what I'm going to do with it. I'm open to suggestions.
There isn't room for a shrub. I'm thinking about moving the fountain towards the center of the garden to allow room for something larger to go on the left end, which is in full sun. The rest of the bed is in partial shade, with only a few hours of direct sunlight in the middle of the day. I'll be putting succulents into the retaining wall, and Callirhoe involucrata to spill over the edge. Beyond that, I have no clue what I'm going to do with it. I'm open to suggestions.In the immortal words of Rocket J. Squirrel, "And now here's something we hope you'll really like." This is a garden in Barrington that Trudi Temple designed for her daughter's family, who have now moved to the East Coast.
14 comments:
Looks great so far! I did not realize the fountain was meant for your front garden. It's cool!
Wow! It's coming along nicely. How about a contrasting grass in there. They have all colors and sizes, I really like the red ones.
What a change! The fountain looks great and once the wisteria starts feathering out it should be quite a feature.
So you've totally banished evergreens from the front, MMD? Can the fountain stay out in winter so there's some hardscape when everything else is dormant?
If the fountain attracts birds they'll look like flying flowers from the windows ;-]
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
PS thanks for the look at the Trudi-designed garden. It's fun to imagine the black metal fence as an urban echo of the tall deer fence on Trudi's garden.
Hi MMD, This is only a quick stop. I'll be back to watch the video and read a little better next week (!).
Your moustache area turned wonderful garden area is Just That - Wonderful! :-) Don't you Love making new flowerbeds when they turn out like this? You're incorporating such Great Ideas.
For behind your fountain... Cimifuga or Ligularia (the Rocket)?
Have a great weekend. :-)
WV: desiger (It should be designer!)
I love the fountain and the logs for the edging! Will the new hostas go in there??
I've just seen another Heuchera for the 'must have' list :)
I like your idea of moving the fountain so there's room for a shrub. It would be a shame to waste all that space after all your hard work.
After Prairie Rose's remarks on how good the street planting she saw at Spring Fling is, I've not been able to find a Spring Flinger with some photo's for this month's Out on the Streets. Can you help - we need some good examples to counteract all the bad ones!
Have a great weekend :)
I like it! Is there a spot for the new clemmie you've been talking about?
I love Trudi's design...she knows evergreens. gail
Everything is coming along nicely. What about another heuchera behind the fountain?
I like your catwalk idea, and the permeable cement. I would love to have a rain garden, but it won't happen any time soon.
Now you've gone and reminded me how much I need to trim our house's boxwood mustache, ha. Some day, many years from now, I hope to rip it all out and replace it with cenizo - but that's a project for another day. Love your 'catwalk', the natural log edging, and the idea of some rain garden plants too. Looking good!
This is looking good, MMD! You're really making me look at my own "green moustaches" and wanting even more to rip them out. I think moving the fountain nearer the center so you can have a larger plant in that spot makes sense, especially so it can take advantage of the sun. The gravel "catwalk" is a good idea--I've read people too often plant too close to the house, which can cause some drainage problems.
The video is wonderful--wish Trudi could help me design my own front garden:)
Thanks, EAL. Traditional fountains just don't go with my house, so we looked for something a bit abstract.
Darla - I have some Hakonechloa I could divide & put there, but I've just been told that they spread by rhizomes. It would look so nice fountaining over the wall...
Annie - I haven't banished evergreens, just reduced them to the Box hedge and one upright Yew. Got to have something to look at in the winter other than the wrapped up fountain.
Shady - if only I could grow Ligularias! I admire the darked leaves one so much.
ROR - the new Hostas are to replace the Albo marginatas that look so terrible after the slugs get through with them.
VP - the official Spring Fling tour didn't go down Michigan Avenue, where the cool planters are, so I doubt anyone got over to photograph them. Sorry.
Gail - I don't have the Clematis yet. It might not be there the next time I get over there, but if I did get it, it might fit in there somewhere.
Sue - one can never have too many Heucheras.
Caroline - just shave it! You'll feel so much better once it's gone.
Rose - get rid of those mustaches & start planning something better. Maybe you should ask around about design services & get some professional ideas for your front. Sometimes fresh eyes come up with fresh ideas.
Dear MMcD, I agree that moving the fountain to make room for something larger might be a good idea.
For that "something", how about a dappled willow (Salix integra 'Hakuro-nishiki'), which has multi-season interest, including red twigs in winter and pink, white and green variegated foliage. The pink would pick up the other pinks and reds in your bed, and the red twigs would look great against your wall.
By pruning, you can keep it to a more compact size and get the best colouration of twigs and foliage. It should be hardy in your zone, as we can grow it up here in Toronto.
MMD, I love how it's coming along! I don't know the Salix that Helen mentioned but those colors sound gawjus! Have fun shopping for/buying plants and planting!
hi good day ! nice post you have . about this ornaments .they are beautiful and necessary to us . sometimes we need this ornaments to add attraction in our house or garden. it depends only on how you put it or the arrangement in order to fit it in your interiors . like me i have some ornaments which i contrast with my garden accessories and wind spinners and they blend perfectly .
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