Work on the front garden continues between rainstorms. I thought I'd provide an update, although I'm far from done with planting (and don't expect I'll be done until spring, if then).
The biggest change since
my first report is that flagstones and the first plants have been installed in the area to the left of the walkway to the front door. My husband is once again responsible for setting the stone in place. For a change, rather than letting my collector tendencies run wild, I selected plants to create continuity with the area on the other side of walkway.
All the plants are drought tolerant to some degree. Here's what's in place thus far:
- 3 Coprosma (1 'Evening Glow,' 1 'Inferno' and 1 'Scarlett O'Hara')
- 1/2 6-pack Erigeron karvinsianus (aka Santa Barbara daisy)
- 1 6-pack Gazania 'Kiss Frosty White Flame'
- 3 Lavandula stoechas 'Silver Anouk'
- 1 Leptospermum 'Copper Glow'
- 3 Lomandra longifolia 'Lime Tuff'
- 1 flat Thymus serphyllum (aka creeping thyme)
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| Top: Coprosma 'Scarlett O'Hara' (left) and 'Inferno' (right); Bottom: Coprosma 'Evening Glow' |
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| Gazania 'Kiss Frosty White Flame' |
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| Lomandra longifolia 'Lime Tuff' (which looks very similar to the L. 'Breeze' I used on the other side of the walkway) |
I plan to use more thyme,
Gazanias and other perennials, possibly
Euphorbia, to fill in some of the empty space.
The biggest change on the right side of the walkway was the addition of 2 cubic yards of bark mulch around the
Magnolia tree. I also added a few more plants in the area beyond the tree.
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| View of the area to the right of the walkway |
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| View of the back section (more stones were needed to give me space to move without tromping through planting areas) |
Key additions included:
- 1 Abelia grandiflora 'Kaleidoscope'
- 1 Agave gentryi 'Jaws' (featured in my December foliage follow-up post)
- 2 6-packs of Ajuga 'Chocolate Chip'
- 1 Asplenium 'Austral Gem' (fern)
- 3 Plectranthus ciliatus 'Zulu Warrior' (grown from cuttings)
- 3 Zephyranthes candida (aka rain lilies)
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| Abelia 'Kaleidoscope' (there are 2 others in an existing bed along the house) |
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| Another look at the handsome Agave 'Jaws' |
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| The ferns, Plectranthus and Ajuga in the foreground will be part of an expanded shade bed including the existing Arthropodium cirratum (Renga lilies), Pelargonium tomentosum (peppermint geranium), and Geranium 'Biokovo' among other plants |
But it still looks bare.
All material
© 2012-2014 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
It may look a little bit bare now but when it fills in, it will be spectacular. I admire your restraint and thoughtfulness in planting your new areas!
ReplyDeleteI'm better at exercising restraint in public areas like the front yard than I am elsewhere in the garden, Peter - still, it's a challenge to keep my collector tendencies in check.
DeleteIt will soon fill out and already it looks so much more exciting than grass. I like how you've put in plenty of paths, they will make maintenance so much easier.
ReplyDeleteI was already walking across the beds too often, Jessica, so the additional path was definitely needed (and we had some extra stones, which made things easy).
DeleteOhhh that Jaws! Shaping up nicely Kris!
ReplyDeleteThanks! I hope it all comes together.
DeleteDear Kris, gosh your newly planted beds look fantastic! I also love the stones that your husband has placed! As always I am most interested in the drought tolerant plants that you are buying and see what I particularly like to maybe add it to my own garden in the future. I can't wait to see follow-up photos when everything has grown in a little bit more. Wising you a nice Christmas time with tons of good gardening weather, warm regards,
ReplyDeleteChristina
Thanks Christina! Best wishes for a merry Christmas to you as well!
DeleteI like what you have done with your front yard. I think it looks wonderful!
ReplyDeleteThanks sweetbay!
DeleteIt is looking wonderful, I love how the Magnolia is set off so beautifully by its circle of mulch, and what a good idea, as magnolias hate having their roots interfered with.
ReplyDeleteYou have been very restrained with your plant buying and made some great choices.
The Magnolia clearly didn't cohabit well with the lawn so I hope it appreciates the mulch cover (and forgives the pruning done to the roots it extended beyond the drip line).
DeleteDon't you just love that you got to write the words "Work on the front garden continues between rainstorms."!
ReplyDeleteEverything you are planting will be so much happier so much faster due to the rain you are getting. I'm betting you'll be admiring how rapidly your plants have spread well before you expected. I appreciate that you are not only buying new plants, but propagating plants you already have established. To me that is a sure sign of a true gardener at work.
The rain has been a real blessing, Deb. I worked hard to get plants in the ground before the heaviest storms hit.
DeleteI know it looks bare, but it will fill in sooner than you think. And hooray for the rain, even if it is interfering a bit with all your work. I am keeping my fingers crossed that all your new plants thrive.
ReplyDeleteThe plants seem so slow to fill in when I'm checking on their progress daily but perhaps it's like the watch kettle that never boils..I looked at early pictures of my side garden earlier this week and was startled to see just how much has changed since the beginning of the year.
DeleteIt will all fill out in no time I'm sure Kris and especially as you are now having rain. That will get them all off to a good start.
ReplyDeleteCoprosma are lovely shrubs, unfortunately not hardy here. I love the shine the leaves have. You must be thrilled to bit with what you've achieved this year. I know I would be.
I love Coprosma too, Angie. Fortunately, they're hardy here, although - with the exception of C. 'Plum Hussey' - most appear to be slow growers.
DeleteEverything is looking so beautiful. It may look a little bare now, but once everything starts growing, it will become so lush! The mulch around the magnolia has a big impact. "Jaws" is aptly named!
ReplyDeleteGardening is a good lesson in patience, Deb!
DeleteIt looks wonderful, not bare. Over planted looks bad and disrespects the plants.
ReplyDeleteDear Husband did a great job on the flagstones.
I have to laugh at that phrase, "done planting." Is there such a state?
ReplyDeleteThe new areas are looking great! I love the plant palette and can already imagine it filled out and gorgeous!
Kris I was looking forward to your wonderful update...it will grow in before you know it!
ReplyDeleteThe Jaws look so fun with its rainbow colored teeth! Your entire landscape and garden are beautiful!
ReplyDelete