The area on the west side of the garage, sandwiched between the hedge that fronts the street and and the driveway, was the last area we addressed in our campaign to remove all our lawn after moving in. In addition to the fact that we were running out of steam at that point, the area has been a challenge from the start. Finding the right mix of plants has been difficult, complicated by a good deal of shade and soil riddled with roots from the hedge and four surrounding trees.
This photo, taken at the end of March 2019, shows the area at its best. We had heavier-than-usual rain leading into spring that year. |
By way of history, we didn't begin addressing this area until September 2015.
Instead of changing out three or fewer plants at a time as I've been doing, I decided the area needed a more extensive makeover, although I wasn't prepared to pull everything out and start all over so I'm calling this latest effort a refresh rather than a wholesale renovation.
This photo, taken for a wide shot post in October 2021, is the best I can offer of the area in its "before" state |
This photo, taken last week, shows some of the shrubs that particularly bothered me prior to starting my "refresh" |
I'd already removed the coleus (Plectranthus scutellarioides) shown in October's wide shot when I took the last photo shown above but I dug out three Duranta erecta and the floppy Polygala fruticosa late last week. After adding soil amendments, I filled in with recent purchases and some seedlings. The replanted area still looks bare but hopefully the new plants will bulk up within the next couple of years.
This is an "after" shot taken yesterday, looking roughly northwest |
This "after" shot was taken from the area's other end, looking southeast |
I added Stachys byzantina and Saxifraga stolonifera here to fill in among the existing hellebores and Renga lilies surrounding the pineapple guava tree |
I added a barely visible Boronia crenulata shrub, Gaura lindheimeri and groundcover Erodium here to fill spaces in between daylilies, Renga lilies and Cuphea 'Starfire Pink' |
I removed a large clump of Aeonium arboreum that was crowding the Festuca california and a Dombeya burgessaiae in this area. That removal also uncovered two Veltheimia bracteata I thought I'd lost. |
A passalong gift of the Dombeya burgessaiae late last year started my reexamination of the area. I decided to lean into a pink, purple and white color theme with my subsequent plant choices.
The Dombeya was passed to me by Denise of A Growing Obsession. She'd had it in a pot but thought it might prefer a spot in the ground. I gave it that here but was concerned whether it would be a good fit. It seems happy enough thus far. It's even developing flower buds. |
The seedlings I added are still tiny but, as there's little rain in the future forecast, I decided they'd have a better chance of survival in the ground where they'll receive irrigation on a regular schedule than in pots, dependent upon me for keeping them watered as temperatures start to climb. I didn't take photos of the seedlings but they included Echium handiense (3), Paeonia cambessedesii (4, aka Majorcan peony), and Plectranthus zuluensis (2). I potted up several peony seeds a year and half ago and was surprised when some germinated but, still small, they died back in the summer just as the parent plant does. They recently reemerged, still small, so into the ground they went. They may not make it but I remain hopeful.
I left a lot of plants in place, only a small number of which I photographed for this post.
Existing plants not shown in close up photos include the following:
- Acer palmatum 'Sango Kaku (1)
- Arctotis 'Opera Pink' (3)
- Barleria obtusa (1 clump)
- Carex 'Eversheen' (5)
- Eriocapitella hupehensis (3 or more, aka Japanese anemone, currently dormant)
- Feijoa sellowiana (1, aka pineapple gauva)
- Festuca cineria 'Festina' (12+)
- Freesia (numerous in blue, pink and white)
- Helleborus 'Pacific Frost', 'Wedding Bells', 'Confetti Cake', 'Flower Girl', and 'True Love'
- Hemerocallis 'Apollodorus', Joan Senior' (2), 'Plum Perfect' (3), and 'Prairie Moonlight'
- Hypoestes aristata (1, aka ribbon bush)
- Iris douglasii 'Santa Lucia' (several in addition to those purchased recently, aka Pacific Coast Iris)
- Oenothera speciosa (numerous, self-seeded plants)
The above list is as much for my own reference as it is for general interest. While I've had some success with hellebores and daylilies elsewhere in my garden, these plants are questionable selections for this area, especially as rain levels remain low. If they don't do well over the next few years, they'll be out in a future "refresh."
This project was the focus of my efforts in my garden this week, undertaken in part to distract my attention from newscasts reflecting the upheaval in Europe instigated by an authoritarian bully seeking to dominate his neighbor. As that bully escalates his meritless claims, my heart is with the Ukrainian people and their desire for peace without relinquishment of their rights.
All material © 2012-2022 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
So glad you're giving the dombeya a chance in the ground. If I had any room I'd have done so too. And the lomandra looks happy, so that's great to build around that. The Renga lilies you gave me were planted under Grevillea 'Moonlight' and look in good shape -- woohoo! They seem to work well in this area with bromeliads and astelia, Callisia fragrans, all tough customers. And so true, our thoughts are with the Ukrainians this week, what a disappointing retread of the 20th century!
ReplyDeleteI briefly considered adding even more Lomandra 'Platinum Beauty' in that area just because it has done so well but that would be overkill, especially as I have 3 others in the back garden and 3 more on the slope near the lath house ;) I trimmed the Dombeya lightly to encourage it to bush out a bit but I'm pleased overall at well how it fits that spot - and I was a little amazed that it's already developing buds. I'm glad the Renga lilies responded well to your garden - they're pretty tough plants for dry shade too. I love Astelias but apparently so do the local rabbits, which ate 3 of mine to the ground!
DeleteTransformation posts are the most fun, seeing the change from the grassy garden in 2015 to the paved garden of today. Even when plants rotate and change over time, it's a whole lot of improvement. A shout out to your husband for his pandemic project: I absolutely love it.
ReplyDeleteMy husband is very enterprising - and like me, he tries to make use of what we have on hand. Between us, we've made a major dent in the concrete patio bricks removed during our 2019 kitchen renovation but we still need another project - or two - before they're gone ;) Maybe I'll build some raised planters somewhere - or a concrete brick bench...
DeleteLooking great, Kris. Stay busy and productive is good! Hope that rain arrives, fingers crossed.
ReplyDeleteSadly, there's currently no rain showing in our 10-day forecasts and the only extended forecast shows a single day of rain possible in mid-March.
DeleteDombeya burgessiae is a new one for me, I love the leaves and looking up the flowers it looks like a natural for you and your garden.
ReplyDeleteI'd actually considered buying the Dombeya from Annie's myself a couple of times but was concerned about where to put it. Denise's donation gave me the opportunity to try out the plants in various spots ;)
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