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Now that my courtyard garden is filling in, I can focus on achieving a more harmonious look be cutting down on the hodge podge variety (I'm looking at you, bromeliad collection) and including more of the shrubs and groundcovers that are repeated throughout the garden.
For example, the lady palm has performed admirably and also does a wonderful job of creating that Balinese courtyard garden look, so I'll be adding another one. Actually indoor lady palm has been suffering from our tapwater's high mineral content, so it deserves to be let free outdoors. This specimen will be added to the corner, to lend a bit of height where it's needed most.
I figure that goldmoss sedum is an ideal candidate for planting in pockets throughout the garden as a repeating element since it easily fills in the gaps between plants, looking like a carpet of chartreuse moss. Below is a shot of some sedum returning from the ground.
The area I really hope to work on this spring is the spot that has been the most neglected. Ironically it's also to the right of the house's entry! Those schillings dwarf hollies have irritated me to no end. The landscapers keep pruning them into these obnoxious little tuffets! I actually really like this dwarf form of yaupon holly, but not when treated like this... I was going to get rid of them, but have instead decided to strengthen the planting scheme and hope that my parent's landscapers eventually let them fill in.
So here's what I have planned! I want to continue the impression of a meandering stream from the rain garden on the other side of the sidewalk. I'll be using bulbous perennials such as agapanthus, blood lily, pineapple lily and others that exhibit a fountain like form.There will be another 'stream' of white rocks down the middle of the bed where water will collect and be absorbed by the plant's roots. I'm going for a 'jungle stream' look... any suggestions?
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Looks like a pretty good plan. I definitely approve of loquot. I wonder if you don't have enough spring interest along the right side with the agapanthus, liriope and spider lily? Lirope should provide some year round interest, I'm not sure what the other plants do in your zone. Eremurus gets started in the Spring I think and has the look you are doing for. Also: Ligularia, Aruncus, Rodgersias, Acanthus as perennials with similar effects. I lifed that list right out of a comment that Scott Weber of Rhone Street Gardens blog left on one of my posts.
ReplyDeleteWhat about blending in some Hippeastrums for spring interest among the agapanthus? Their leaves look tropical and a small clump might look nice and give the spring interest Ryan was talking of.
ReplyDeleteOh so fun to plan and scheme. I never put plans on paper I just can't keep my head from swirling with design ideas. I can only quiet them by getting the project accomplished. Then it starts all over again... especially this time of year.
ReplyDeleteIs that a crape myrtle already on the corner? If so, will you leave it there? You didn't say (or I missed it) if this area gets lots of sun but I'm assuming at least a good portion of sun. I definitely like the fact you are pulling this whole area out a little broader/deeper and the meandering streams are great additions, too. The plants you've chosen should work well together/mostly evergreen with some blooming interests as well.
Those lady palms are fabulous but I warn they will (even though slow to get started) eventually send out shoots all over whatever soil they are planted in... then become very hard to control.
Ryan: I am including a variety of other plants in pockets too, such as society garlic, bulbine, and now that m.krishna mentions it, hippeastrum would be nice too. I even have some pink rain lilies that I'll be naturalizing amongst the bulbs! The crinums should also provide some spring interest, but you're right. I do need to consider that when I make my purchases! Thank you!
ReplyDeletem.krishna: You're right! I gave that some thought before but if not for you it would have been forgotten.
ReplyDeleteMeems: I would like to remove the crape but will probably wait until the loquat grows in some more. Its still a little thing... Oh, and the garden does get a lot of sun too. I figure that the plants I've chosen do well in sun as well as shade, so they'll likely do well as the canopy fills in. I'm aware of the aggressive tendencies of lady palm, but don't mind so much. I can be an aggressive pruner if need be, and removing the suckers could even be a great way to propagate the plant!
ReplyDeleteFor a jungle stream look, use large rocks. Forget cobbles and gravel - boulders with pockets rule. Stand them on end so they don't get lost in the foliage. Wedge them together to keep them from falling over. Oh, and a pox on the crape myrtle!
ReplyDeleteBuford Nature:
ReplyDeleteHa! Love your pox on the crape myrtle. I can't afford any large boulders, but have been considering using a concrete mix over chicken wire like they do in theme parks or using hypertufa. Whatever i use, it would be cool to establish some moss too.
I like the sound and look of a "jungle stream"! Sounds perfect! That area neds some of your creativity, for sure!!! Will be fun to see when done!!! Oh...would a jungle stream include bananas??? That would be cool.
ReplyDeleteExpanding the planting area is a great idea and your choice of plants sounds perfect for the conditions. Can't wait to see the plan implemented.
ReplyDeleteWhat kinds of crinums do you think you will use? If you do the chicken wire/concrete thing could you do a post on it? I would love to see how its done. Also if this area is in a lot of sun you may want to consider adding an Allagoptera palm somewhere, we have been talking about them on Palmtalk some and I have had great results with them this winter, and I think Im slightly colder than you.
ReplyDeleteHi Steve...It looks like your first bed is filling in nicely. I think that sedum will be a great addition...such a wonderful color and texture as well. I agree with you on the way those yaupon's are trimmed. That drives me crazy. You've got some great choices, and I look forward to seeing this bed later in the summer. Do keep us posted.
ReplyDeleteI've been wanting to try hypertufa ever since I found out about it. Am interested in its porosity, as that would be great for epilithic plants starting with mosses and liverworts (if it has a basic chemistry?). I would like to experiment with high-limestone-content hypertufa, as that might provide a built-in pH buffer. But then again, do you want to grow acid-lovers or calcareophiles? Settling that decision is the fun part. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteWe used to have 2 loquots and they were messy,messy,messy.But the squirrels loved them.They would actually get drunk on the fermented fruit.Fun to watch them fall out of the tree!
ReplyDeleteOther than that,I love your plan.I guess all of us Florida gardeners are doing that this time of year,aren't we?
RG - what software do you use for your design plans? I really like the way it looks. Even though you are breaking into spring -- you are miles ahead of Zone 5. I'm looking forward to seeing how things progress.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you have quite a plan! that sedum looks great, I think it will fill quite well
ReplyDeleteJulie:
ReplyDeleteThanks for the support! I already have an 'ice cream' banana on the other side of the sidewalk, but I think I'll keep this area pretty simple.
NanaK:
Hopefully we'll start to see some results this year! I'm hoping to invest my time and energy into the front yard this year since its obviously the first thing people see.
m.krishna:
The more I think about it, the more confident I am about leaving rocks, real or otherwise, out of the picture for this planting. I want to keep it pretty minimal and rocks aren't naturally found in this area anyways. Oh, and that palm is a great choice! Probably a little big for this spot since I'll already be planting arenga engleri, but its on my list for future gardens.
Susan:
I will keep you posted! Hopefully a dense planting around the yaupons will at the very least hide the ridiculous cylindrical shapes of the bushes, and hopefully landscapers will be discouraged from trimming.
Buford Nature:
ReplyDeleteYou read my mind! I'm always seeing it used for succulents and alpine gardens, but what about mosses and epiphytes? When I do eventually use hypertufa, I plan on using drip irrigation to promote the growth of mosses and ferns. I just can't wait to experiment!
ChrisC:
I'm planning on harvesting the loquat fruits, but even the ones that fall will just compost with the bulb plantings. Its not exactly invasive here, so I'm not too worried about it. Oh, and drunk squirrels are fun to watch! :)
Shyrlene:
I use adobe illustrator... it's not exactly made for landscape design, but I like the graphic results. I simply repeated circles of different sizes, colors and strokes for a simple look.
fer:
I can't wait to see the results! That sedum will look amazing with the soap aloe.