Achieving Harmony with Simplicity

Our local Garden Center was running a special offering $50 Landscape Design Consultations, and so I took this as an opportunity to get some personalized professional advice to help me achieve more harmony in my garden. It was a worthwhile endeavor, and I received a gem of wisdom. There is always a tendency for many gardeners to plant one of this, one of that, but the Designer reinforced the principle of choosing fewer plants, and then mass planting them. She suggested that I use Liriope 'Big Blue' as edging for my woodland garden, rather than the rocks that I had lined up to define the bed. Brilliant! I am now incorporating this idea and will get all these plants in the ground over the next days.

I've planted several Peony Trees beneath the Cherry Tree, and will continue to build the collection in this space. The cultural conditions are a near perfect part-shade/part-sun, and so in a matter of time I think this segment of the garden will look great.

The Rock Garden will receive a mild makeover next Spring. My plan is to divide and transplant the Carex 'Evergold' to beneath the Serviceberry 'Autumn Brilliance' tree, and then to populate the deck-side bed with a row of Hosta 'Patriot', or some other sun-tolerant Hosta cultivar.

Tricks and Treats

My October garden is as much of a pleasure as my May garden, namely thanks to the amazing Sedum 'Autumn Joy' which adds so much pizzazz to the Sun Perennial Border at the front of our property. The cranberry red color mirrors the crimson foliage of the Japanese Maple 'Bloodgood', and it's a true statement plant. The chartreuse Sedum 'Angelina' also makes quite an impact, serving as edging for the border while contributing vibrancy and breaking up all the green-ness. What would an October Garden be without Sedums? They are such a treat.

Today I took corrective action and re-designed the Front Entry Border. The Astilbes (mixed) and Geranium 'Biokovo' have now all been transplanted from the sunny right side to the shadier left, and in their place I have planted Japanese Anemone 'September Charm' (5), 'Pamina' (3) and Verbena which can take a lot of sun. I added 5 Creeping Jenny to ring the root of the tree, and then directly front-center I've planted a patch of pansies and will add some Tulips in-between. On the trellis next to the garage, I've now planted Clematis 'Henryi' and Clematis 'Miss Bateman'. I think the trick to dealing with this tricky garden spot, is to forget about symmetry. It will be a real treat if this installation is my final and permanent solution to the sunny/shady conundrum I have faced in the past.

As I close-out the gardening season, it's always a nice treat to put out some seasonal displays, and these containers work like a charm to put a smile on my face