Back Flowerbed Renovations

Our long fall has helped me get some gardening chores done that ordinarily would have been put off until spring. Case in point: the renovation of this back flowerbed.

 

Clear back in August, I bemoaned the lack of attention this bed had gotten.

It was in dire need of help.

So, I first tackled the obvious stuff:

cut back or cleared out the dead plants

and

weeded it all thoroughly--twice

 

Then I turned my attention to the aesthetics of the bed.

 

It was seriously lacking in fall color, so I purchased these 2 mums to fill in on either side of the mockorange. In order for the mums to fit, I had to move some other plants:

namely, the 'Bubbles' dwarf iris and the hardy geraniums on the left and geum 'Prairie Smoke' on the right. Oh yes, there was another plant on the right, at the base of the mockorange, but I can't for the life of me remember what it's called right now. Anyway, that one got moved as well.

'Bubbles' was transplanted amongst the irises out front.

The hardy geranium was likewise moved to the front beds.

 

The 'Prairie Smoke' geum got transplanted down further, next to the A/C unit: the feathery green in front here. I dug up the iris that had landed in front of the rose somehow, and after dividing, had enough rhizomes to put some on each side of this bed and the new flowerbed by the shed, as well.

 

The yellow rose got cut way back. With half of its stems completely dead, I didn't really have a choice. I'm not sure it's going to survive. Only time will tell on that one. 

 

So this is on the other end of the bed, now.

This little spot was getting very overcrowded.

The flowering almond had put on some growth this year, and the rest were doing very well also. So I chopped the geum in half, and moved it further down from the poppy and flowering almond. I also divided the daylily. I wanted more symmetry in this bed, anyway, so I was able to put the other half of the daylily down at the other end of the bed, which put my mind at ease.

The poppy did so well this year that I didn't want to touch it.

From what I've read they can be quite finicky about being moved.

As mentioned, I added a couple of irises along the back wall as well, for height and a pop of purple in the spring. 

 

This corner needed some serious weeding, which I did.

 

I also moved the penstemon with more purple flowers--on the right-- (shown here in June of this year) up to the front flowerbed, leaving the one that was more peachy pink.

 

What else did I do?

Oh yeah.

I spread out the 'Autumn Joy' sedums that were the only thing giving color to this bed this late in the season. There was a big clump right behind the flowering almond. As I mentioned, that shrub has started to fill in, so it was time for those sedums to move.

I planted several in the bare space behind the mockorange.

They'll have to compete with the tulips in the spring, but about July on, they'll have it all to themselves back there.

 

Several bulbs were excavated in the process of all this shuffling around, so I ended up dividing several daffodils and a few tulips and replanting them, as well.

 

I'm happy with how it turned out.

I think I'll be even more happy next year.

 

There's always something to work on in gardening.

I think that's one thing that keeps me coming back to it: playing with the arrangement, the colors and forms, then standing back and watching what happens. Then tinkering with it some more.

New Flowerbed (the last?)

 

Just when we thought all wall building was done forever, there remained one more wall to build. Fortunately, this one was short, and (comparatively) easy to finish.

And now I have a little flowerbed along the side of the shed.

Hooray for more flowers!

 

Overview

It was quite late in the season, but due to a delayed onset of frosty nights, I was able to get these plants in with time to spare. Also, there were some great sales going on at the nurseries. Dangerous territory, that. 

 

So, starting on the left side, this floppy wonder is half of my beautiful orange geum 'Totally Tangerine' from the other flowerbed. It was crowding its neighbors over there, anyway, and was due for a chopping. (I also moved it down some while I had it out of the ground.)

 

Remember this loveliness?

(picture from May of this year.)

Oh yes, this is the treat I will be in for on both sides of my yard, now.

 

Moving down:

We've got Gaillardia 'Commotion Moxie' on the left, Rudbeckia 'Chocolate Orange' in the middle, and a couple of purple irises transplanted from the back flowerbed.

This bed will mostly have hot colors, chosen by my daughter. I'm hoping the purple iris doesn't clash.

(Though if it does, it will be easy to move elsewhere.)

 

The star of the show: Little Lime Hydrangea

The dwarf form of 'Limelight,' this one should get to be 3-5' tall and wide.

Perfect for this narrow bed.

 

I have discovered that I really crave symmetrical plantings. This time I just went with it, so that's why I only took pictures of the first half of the flowerbed. The next half is exactly the same.

I also put some bulbs in here and there that were dug up in my renovations of the back flowerbed.

So I really have no idea what they are. I mean, they are likely either tulips or daffodils, I know that much, but as to form and color? I guess I'll be surprised come spring.

Could be interesting.

Once we turned the corner, the plan was to extend the raspberry patch, so that's what I did.

Awkward angle here, sorry about that.

 

The one and only 'Fall Gold' raspberry plant that I could find.

The rest I put in are black raspberries.

A little variety should be good, I hope.

 

 

The trellis' were all on sale, so we got 3 and actually use wire to make some sturdy raspberry supports, that should be a lot longer-lasting and more effective than the string variety we had up before.  Yay raspberries!

 

Now I think we are really done creating flowerbeds.

At least for this year!

May Bloom Day: Geums and snowballs

Welcome, Bloom Day friends!

I don't know about you, but my list of spring chores just keeps growing, while my time to do them stays about the same.

 

I love the month of May!

Everything is so green and beautiful flowers are bursting open every day.

 

Here's a peek at my garden:

 

Back flowerbed:

 

My geum 'Totally Tangerine' really sparkles this month.

In fact, it pretty much carries the bed between tulip die-off and rose bloom.

Every year I think I need to fit a few more in back there.

 

Do you see what I see?

Huge fuzzy poppy buds! I'm so excited!

I watched a little girl the other day who, unbeknownst to me, picked some off. No doubt she was also delighted with their fuzziness. I was very sad when I found the buds on the deck later.

I have not yet reached poppy abundance, where the loss of a few buds doesn't matter, but I hope to get there someday!

Dwarf iris 'Bubbles' just starting to bloom, with hardy geranium in front.

Back flowerbed, long view looking toward deck.

The lilies in the foreground were a Mother's Day gift.

I can't remember the name offhand.

I'll have to check the tag and get back to you.

This iris is not supposed to be in the back flowerbed.

They all got moved up front, except this one.

I have no memory of deciding to leave it or plant it here.

Ah well. Now that it's blooming I guess it can stay for a few more weeks, at least.

Fruits and Veggies:

 



Strawberry blossoms.

June is coming!!

 

 

(above and below)

Tulips on the back slope.

They're all bent over following a rainstorm we had.

 

 Front flowerbeds:

 

Sem False Spirea (Sorbaria sorbifolia) with columbine.

The colors echo so nicely, it almost looks planned!

Front tulips, lamb's ears, and candytuft in the background.

These flowerbeds face north, so the bulbs here are about 2 weeks later than in back.

I like it--I get to enjoy the tulips longer this way.

Snowballs in spring.

This shrub is quickly becoming a favorite.

I'm impressed with how heavily it blooms here in its second spring.

 

A few mini daffodils.

I'm not sure which variety this is, but it is the latest to bloom of all my daffodils, by at least 10 days.

Wide view of front beds.

Okay, I had to include this shot, because you can see the iris buds better.

So close to blooming!

Any day now...

Front bed, next to the house:

My dicentra is still going strong.

It's right next to the front porch, so I get to check in on it several times a day.

 

Lovely little heuchera ('Sweet Tart', I think), with oakleaf hydrangea, astilbe, and euonymous foliage in the background.

 

I didn't include the shade bed this time, but I may get out there to take pictures for a separate post.

I have a volunteer forget-me-not blooming right now, which is just delightful!

 

To see what else is blooming around the world right now, click over to

May Dreams Gardens.

 

Thanks for visiting! See you again soon! 

Flowerbed Tour: Back

May 5:

 

Those tulips are so beautiful.

{sigh}

 

Overview from the deck-side.

...and from the gate towards the deck, complete with dead rose bush on the left.

 

Mockorange, surrounded by tulips.

 

May 23:

 

Overview

End of May is a lag time for this bed, without the big purple irises.

Tulips are done, mockorange and rose have yet to bloom.

I may have to do something about that.

 

'Yellow Topaz' rose.

Lots of buds--it should be gorgeous in another week or so.

Plus, see that one random iris in front?

I swear I did not plant that there.

It will have to be moved. 

 

Geum 'Totally Tangerine' is picking up the slack down on the far end of the bed.

Plus, poppy buds! (right side)

This dwarf pink iris 'Bubbles' has been a welcome addition.

 

The lipstick pink penstemon is going crazy this year!

I have 2 varieties planted, and they are both covered in blossoms.

 

Overview from the gate-side down.

Full, just not much blooming at the moment.

Back Flowerbed Musical Chairs

Back Flowerbed, 1 year ago:

 

Wow, the house looks really blue in this picture.

It's somewhere between this color and the washed out blue, below.

 

Back Flowerbed, 1 month ago:

 



So, with all the renovations and additions going on out front, it's only fair that the back got a little love, too. Plus, it was needed.

 

You'll have to excuse the dirt & weeds in place of a lawn.

Hoping to get that re-graded, re-seeded and actually green.

But it might not happen until next year, at this point.

 

Overall plan:

* replace the rose bush that got moved up front

* center flowering almond under the window

* clump together Asiatic lilies

*move smaller plants as needed to fill in

*dig up all raspberry starts and move to raspberry bed

 

What this flowerbed has needed all along is height.

Slowly but surely, we are getting there.

The flowering almond, mockorange, and yellow 'Topaz' rose all at least doubled in height this year.

My current color scheme back here is peachy oranges and pinks, with some yellow and deeper shades of orange and pink too.

To be frank, sometimes it all seems to wash out against the blue of the house.

I'm going to give it another year to see how it goes.

I may end up going more toward stronger colors back here, just for visibility, or who knows, we may paint the house. (Neither of us loves the blue!)

New rose bush: Weeks rose: 'What a Peach'

This is the rose bush that replaced my 'Watercolors' rose.

Small, abundant double blooms.

Here's hoping this one does better than the last!

 

I also put all the Asiatic lilies together, as you can see.

I had them spread out along the house, but I think they will make much more impact in one smaller section.

Not very visible here are the white peony transplants from VW Garden.

I'm hoping they'll grow up "big and strong" next year, and fill in this big empty space.

 

Somewhere in here are several tulips, as well.

I moved the potentilla up front and moved the flowering almond over by about 2 feet, to center it under the window. Should have done that to begin with--it's bugged me ever since I planted it!

 

 



 Last spring, I planted sedums and portulaca in the bone-dry strip right along the house.

So far both have been thriving.

More Asiatic lilies clumped up.

All the tall purple irises are gone now: some moved up front, and the rest given away.

These irises are miniature pink 'Bubbles' from VW Garden.

I'm excited to see them bloom next year.

In front is a Geum 'Totally Tangerine.'

This is a new spot for it, as well.

My daylilies (Hall's pink) and poppy (Papaver orientale 'Victoria Louise') in front stayed in the same spots.

 

This rose is holding on to some late blooms, even after 3-4 nights of frost.

I'm not complaining!

I moved the Asiatic lilies out from behind it, as well. Since the rose has tripled in size this year, you could no longer see them.

I also plan to move some of the mini daffodil bulbs from directly in front of it--same reason.

It's a sprawler, and it's taking up the space right where they'll be coming up.

I left the a 2nd geum between the mockorange and yellow rose, along with Veronica spicata, or Speedwell 'Inspire'.
 

Once I get my bulb order in, and a few more bulbs planted back here, it'll be time for mulch and the long winter's sleep. My guess is 4 weeks to snow (if it's the same as last year.)

Front Landscaping: Bottom Terrace Shrubs & Plants

The Plan:

 

1. Complement but not compete with the blossoms in the middle terrace.

2. Add evergreens for winter/early spring interest.

3. Fill in & help soften all that rock, but not get taller than the next wall up!

(No pruning to see the flowers, please!)

 

So, here's what we've got:

 

Starting at the driveway.

 

Some of my gift plants!

hardy geranium, liriope, and purple bellflower 

 

Potentilla 'Primrose Beauty', moved from the back flowerbed. Why the move?

 

Its gray foliage against the strong blue of the house made it practically invisible back there.

Plus, it was fighting with tulips for space in the spring, and probably would be too close to the flowering almond when they both grew to full-size.

 

But mostly, it was invisible!

You could hardly see it from 5 feet away.

 

So, anyway, I'm liking it up front here much better.

I can actually see it, for one.

Also, it should be just the right size for this spot.

As a bonus, its wiry stems don't mind getting snow thrown on them in the winter, so it's perfect for right next to the driveway.

 

Moving down front more:

English Laurel 'Otto Luyken'

Prunus laurocerasus

3' tall, 6' wide

Cold hardy to -10 (zone 6)

Dwarf form, with showy white flower spikes and small black fruit.

 

1-2 more each of the bellflower, liriope, and hardy geranium.

Surrounding the water meter are purple bearded irises, transplanted from the back flowerbed.

I plan to tuck some bulbs in here as well.

I'm thinking mini-daffodils and crocuses would be charming.

Another 'Otto Luyken' Laurel

 

As these laurels grow to fill in the space, the irises will be easy to transplant elsewhere. In the meantime, I'm really hoping the foliage of the irises will cover most of that lovely water meter, while still providing access when needed.

Nothing like a big slab of cement in the middle of a flowerbed to improve aesthetics.

Moving left:

blue Siberian Iris (from VWGarden)

purple bearded iris (transplanted from back flowerbed)

pink daylily (in front--also from VWGarden)

 

There's at least 2-3 or each type here.

I hope they play nicely and look good together!

It will be interesting to see how bloom times coincide...or not.

After that they're supposed to provide some height, leaf shape contrast, and greenery the rest of the summer.

At least, that's the idea.

2 Boxwoods 'Green Velvet', 3-4' tall & wide

'Rosy Glow' Red Barberry (Berberis t atro), 3-4' tall, 2-3' wide

 

I'm hoping the barberry will echo the purple coneflowers planted above it, without competing.

 

This little section is very similar to the first one.

Siberian iris, bearded iris, and pink daylily.

 

I can't remember what kind of hydrangea this was and I've lost the tag.

If I find it, I'll come back and add the info.

I know it was not Endless Summer or Incredi-Ball.

Hmmm... ? ? ?

  

 2 'Green Gem' Boxwoods, 2-3' tall and wide

'Golden Ruby' Barberry, 2' tall and wide 

Closeup of the 'Golden Ruby' Barberry

 

The wall gets shorter on this end, hence the smaller shrub varieties.

 

 

Oregon Grape, or Grape Holly

Mahonia aquifolium

3-6' tall and wide

Evergreen.

Bright yellow flowers in spring, followed by edible blue-black berries.

This corner of the terrace gets a bit more shade, which should be fine for this shrub.

 

The only problem is it's small size (this was the only one the nursery had left!) Right now it's got a whole lot of empty space around it, but I figure I can always put some annuals to fill in until it grows up a little.

All this rain we've gotten the last 2 weeks has been great for all my new transplants.
I hope they get all settled in just in time for frost.