Yard Renovations Continue–Summer 2013

Documenting our continued yard renovation has been on the back burner for several weeks, due to yard renovation.  I really wanted to take advantage of the (finally) good weather of cool temperatures and periods of dryness. Although much more is planned, I have a rainy day to show  what has been done. 




This Solar Eclipse Redbud will anchor the back corner.  With it’s variegated green and cream leaves, it will be a showy addition all year.  I may be unimaginative, but the base of the Redbud is ringed with a green with white edge Hosta. ( I lost the variety name, sorry.) 



Epimedium was transplanted from another area to flank the tree.  It too has lovely chartreuse leaves all season with red-tinged new foliage in the spring.



This area – the former home of the Epimedium – also had miles of Creeping Jenny, an invasive ground cover,  which I hope will not invade the new plantings.  So I literally pulled the roots of the plants apart and tried to pull even the littlest portion of roots of the Creeping Jenny and Solomon’s Seal before I moved anything. Primrose and a lovely purple Ajuga did make the cut. 


Not sure when or where so many rock came from, but apparently over the years of scavenger hunting in construction sights, I had quite a few.  We used them to create a border along a now cleaned out area along the fence where firewood was stacked.

 



These four shrubs were chosen for several reasons.  The Viburnum have blooms, and fruit for winter interest and food for wildlife, and the Quince was just pretty!


The shrub on the left is ‘Alfredo Compact Viburnum’, Viburnum trilobum ‘Alfredo” Although it’s name suggests it is small, the mature size is 5’ to 6’ tall and wide.  Careful plant selection and knowing the space will allow for less pruning and possibly moving the plant from it over-crowed location in the future.  Less maintenance is my goal for this new garden space. ‘Alfredo’ will get masses of white blooms followed by bright red fruit.  Fall foliage turns a purple-red for a stunning finale.
 


The second shrub is Viburnum lantana ‘Mohican’’.  This viburnum has a leathery texture to the leaves, and get white flowers in the spring. The orange-red fruit comes on in summer.  The 6’ – 8’ mature size will fit well in this new border.




Next new shrub is a Quince called Double Take (t), ‘Pink Storm, Chaenomeles speciosa’Pink Storm’ USPP20920. The coral blooms caught my eye and the occasional re-bloom in summer will be an added bonus to this lovely shrub. I don’t have deer in my area, but for those who do, this Quince is deer resistant, topping out at 4’-5’ tall and wide, I placed in in front of the honeysuckle vine for a vertical color splash.





The shrub on the right is another Viburnum called ‘Blue Muffin’, Viburnum dentatum ‘Christom’ .

I’m really looking forward to the blue fruit in the fall which follow white blooms.  Blue Muffin is  popular with birds.  This compact shrub likes well drained soil and will grow to 5’ – 7’, so give it room to grow.   

When planting container or balled and burlapped plants, keep a few things in mind.  Plants should only be planted to the depth they were in the container, or just at ground level to the top of the root ball. Enrich the soil  only minimally with organic material like humas or compost.  The majority of soil should be the native soil that was dug from the planting sight.  This allows to transplanted roots to adjust to their new surroundings and reduce stress.

If our summer gets as hot and dry as last year, these shrubs will need supplemental watering for the plants to completely get established.




As my project continues this summer, I’ll be making more decisions about hardscapes, and landscape.  Keeping in mind the general use we plan for this area will go along way in the decision making.  Budget is very small but I do not want to have an unusable space for our needs or have to undo an area in the future which will be more costly in the long run. Having a plan always keeps the project renovation on track. 

Garden Gifts Are Blessings

Gift of Sights – Blessing #8

Certainly the actual gift of sight is what is viewed with the eye.  But for this exercise, I am referring to the views we see with those eyes in the garden.

Gazing up through the trees, to a cloudless sky is a blessing.  Looking across a field of wildflowers, gently swaying waves of color is certainly a gift. Watching a pollen laden bee tirelessly working another blossom is a gift.

 Pleasing sights are truly a blessing.  Some elements that the eye finds pleasing are symmetry, proportion, shapes, and color.

These shapes of the oval or the columnar work as features in the garden.

 

Trees and shrubs come in various sizes and shapes.  Shapes that are tall in the landscape draw the eye upward and take in the vastness of structures and views.  Plants that are low and round enclose and area and make us feel cozy.  


By grouping plants in sets of odd numbers, the eye picks this out to be pleasing.  Use three, five, seven, or more is lovely, and a gift from the garden.




Multi-trunked  River Birch is used as a focal point. The eye seeks out the structural element and its shape and texture add to the beauty the eye sees- a place to let the eye rest on its journey.

 



This Redbud, Forest Pansy, stands out a specimen tree in this landscape.  The leaves keep this pinkish mauve color and grouped here among the foundation plants, is a great focal point. The subtle shades in the garden are calming, refreshing and often come with a sigh putting the body and the mind at rest.


 

Something as simple as this fountain creates a lovely sight and a focal point too.  The peachy colors tie into the surrounding plants, and the tall, burgundy cannas to the back offer balance.

 Bouncing colors against another in the same hue, or shade, is not difficult.  If you like the combination, the combination is perfect. A gift of color and style create an interesting sight.



Any border in the garden  should move the eye around from front to back, and draw the visitor along into the garden. Here the taller roses are at the rear, with a medium planting of sage, and the low, front of the border is parsley.  This is a nice combination of color and balance; a blessing of a beautiful sight in this border.




Two common elements of these borders are the smooth curved edges.  This feature is done well and is a gift for the eye to behold. The smooth transition from the lawn and border gives the eye a continuous line to move it along. Cut deep so the grass isn't running back into the plants, or with an edging of stones to keep the line crisp, these beds are enjoyable.

Curves offer an easy transition for the eye and act as a frame of a masterpiece when outlines of grass and mulch define the view.


If this straight lined garden pleases your eye, perhaps it is the offset of the center path.  Or the placement of round, curved stones. The eye can find pleasure in this lovely space. Cool colors and a quietness fill the space.The uncluttered space lets the view become a meditation area as the eye and mind reflect on life.





Containers can be simple with just one plant type included.  But when a large planter is being featured, remember the combination of, ‘Spillers, Fillers, and Chillers’.  Spillers refer to the draping plant around the outer edges; the Filler is the middle plant of medium height, and the Chiller is the tall centerpiece. This arrangement is stunning and the eye will appreciate how the motion moves up and down, and back again.  Truly a blessing.




This entry way is done well.  The curve of the walk, the varying heights of the plants, and the focal point of the globed standard in front of the window make this landscape a pleasant sight for the eye.  All is proportioned well.  ( Front beds depth needs to be 1/3 of the height of the outside wall.  If the side of the house is 12 feet high, then the border bed should be at least 4 feet from the foundation.  Proportion in plant height should be considered too.  A bed of 6 inch begonias against a 12 foot siding, would not please the eye.)

The eye goes to color.  As in this photo of a contemporary garden, the orange artwork is accented by red/orange mulch.  In this case the plant material is the backdrop of the art. Very well done, and a blessing to the eye.

Likewise, moving a single color of plant - say a white phlox - through the garden lets the eye move from white to white. Viewing the landscape in this way allows the eye to see the whole area, and take in the subtle changes in shadows, light, and color and is truly a gift.  .



So many views of the garden, and each one changes from week to week, and season to season.  As a few colorful plants spend down their bloom time, another scene comes into focus, just as interesting, and just as pleasing.   Each is a gift, and a blessing to see.
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Thanks for visiting Gardening Naturally with me today.  Do you have a favorite view in your garden?  Please share it with us.