Landscape
Concentrating on blues and purples in a pastel palette creates a calmer and more tranquil feel than pastel schemes that include yellows and pinks. In the same garden, catmint (Nepeta sp.) blends with dark purple ‘May Night’ sage, lavender-pink ‘Globemaster’ allium and lady’s mantle (Alchemilla mollis) for a calming walkway planting.
pastel blooms mixed with plants that have silver to medium green foliage. Here we see white peonies, dark purple ‘May Night’ sage (Salvia ‘May Night’), lavender-pink ‘Globemaster’ alliums (Allium ‘Globemaster’), silver-leaved Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia), lamb’s ears (Stachys byzantina) and evergreen inkberry (Ilex glabra).
Dry stream beds use a combination of raised berms and sunken areas lined with rocks and gravel to create the illusion of a stream running through a garden while adding dynamic level changes within the yard. In this garden by Sage Ecological Landscapes in San Luis Obispo, California, the designers suggest water with a dry stream bed that can be traversed by a small bridge.
Winding pathways combined with layered plantings of varying heights can create the illusion of land rising and falling, as shown in this level backyard in Washington, D.C. Emphasize this trick of the eye even further with the addition of low berms in the planting beds and a few vertical elements, and a yard that started out as flat will feel more dynamic.
In small gardens the color of a plant container can make just as much of an impact as the plants themselves. Bronze-colored containers in this garden in Bainbridge Island, Washington, add a warm hit of color, emphasized by their repetition against a dark stone backdrop. For a similar effect in your garden, start with a container in a seasonal hue, such as bronze, terra cotta, burgundy or dark red, and fill with foliage plants in a similar or complementary color. Plants include: ‘Sweet Tea’ heucherella (x Heucherella ‘Sweet Tea’, zones 4 to 9)
The white of the paper birch trees is all the more beautiful next to the flaming red of the Japanese maple and the sunlight-grabbing wheat color of the purple miscanthus.
Sneezeweed and Beebalm The magenta-purple flowers of ‘Scorpion’ beebalm (Monarda ‘Scorpion’, zones 4 to 9) complement the red-orange sneezeweed pictured in this Dutch meadow-style garden. Aptly-named, beebalm (Monarda spp., zones 4 to 9) is a bee and butterfly magnet wherever it’s planted. Sneezeweed (Helenium spp., zones 3 to 8) offers a late-summer to early-fall floral show. Try the speckled orange and red ‘Mardi Gras’ sneezeweed variety for petals that look like they’ve been tie-dyed, or try yellow-flowered Helenium autumnale for a North American native. Gardening tip: Deadhead sneezeweed and beebalm regularly in late summer in order to extend their blooms as long into fall as possible (up to October for sneezeweed or September for beebalm, depending on care and climate). Light requirement: Full sun Water requirement: Moderate
Red Barberry and Conifers A dynamic, cold-climate-friendly planting of red barberry, gray-green juniper and a dwarf pine stand out against the golden backdrop of ‘Tiger Eyes’ staghorn sumac in this Milwaukee garden. Barberry (Berberis spp., zones 4 to 8) have a wide variety of species available, both deciduous and evergreen. Deciduous barberry — such as the commonly planted Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii) — lose some or all of their leaves in winter, depending on climate. The leaves turn from green to yellow, orange, red or purple before they fall. Pair with dwarf conifers for color and texture contrast. Caution: Japanese barberry can be invasive in some areas (branches that touch the ground often root). Check with your local nursery before planting. Light requirements: Full sun Water requirements: Moderate
White Coneflower and Feather Reed Grass Pair neutral and bronze tones — as was done in this stunning combination in Colorado Springs, Colorado — with a planting of cream-colored ‘White Swan’ coneflower (Echinacea purpurea ‘White Swan’, zones 3 to 8) and ‘Karl Foerster’ feather reed grass (Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’, zones 4 to 9). Feather reed grass adds height and movement to planting beds with its reedy stalks rising to nearly 5 feet tall, topped with tan-colored seeds that won’t spread. Light requirement: Full sun Water requirement: Moderate
‘Autumn Joy’ Stonecrop and Switchgrass A popular fall bloomer, ‘Autumn Joy’ stonecrop (Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’, zones 3 to 10) is a fleshy, easy-care succulent topped with flowers that turn from white to deep mauve in fall. The designer of this Seattle garden paired a dwarf variety of ‘Autumn Joy’ stonecrop with pink-tipped ‘Shenandoah’ switchgrass (Panicum virgatum ‘Shenandoah’, zones 4 to 9) for a matched fall pairing. Light requirement: Full sun Water requirement: Moderate for switchgrass, low to moderate for sedum
Purple Coneflower and Russian Sage Purple coneflower and Russian sage make an all-star combination for late-summer and fall perennial beds. Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea, zones 3 to 8), native to Eastern North America, are cold-hardy perennials that bloom for months, attracting native bees and butterflies. After the bloom, the flowers’ spiky deep-orange centers can be left in the garden as decorative seedpods (and a feast for birds). With its pale stems and delicate lavender-blue flowers, Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia, zones 5 to 9) adds an airy quality to beds, appearing like a pale-colored cloud when planted in drifts. Russian sage blooms from July to October. Both plants are drought-tolerant, making them a good pair for a tough, low-water spot like this sidewalk garden in Portland, Oregon. Light requirement: Full sun Water requirement: Moderate to low, once established
Autumn Fern and Japanese Forest Grass You can get a delicious dose of fall foliage color — without allocating the space for a tree or shrub — with autumn fern and Japanese forest grass. Both plants thrive in partial to full shade and look lovely in woodland settings or mixed in containers. The leaves of autumn fern (Dryopteris erythrosora, zones 6 to 9) turn from medium green to a rich gold-bronze in fall. The foliage of Japanese forest grass (Hakonechloa macra, zones 4 to 9), particularly hybrids like ‘Aureola’ or ‘All Gold’, doesn’t change color in fall, staying golden throughout the growing season (early spring to fall in cold climates; year-round elsewhere). Light requirements: Partial to full shade Water requirements: Moderate water for autumn fern; moderate to regular water for Japanese forest grass
Black-Eyed Susan and Joe Pye Weed North American native black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta, USDA zones 3 to 9; find your zone) is a fall favorite for good reason. They start blooming in midsummer but really come into their own by early fall — just when many other summer bloomers are looking tired. Plus, their vivid gold petals and dark centers catch the eye in an autumn garden. In this Chicago garden, the black-eyed Susans mix with eastern North American native Joe Pye weed (Eutrochium purpureum, zones 5 to 10), which bloom from July through September with butterfly-attracting mauve-pink blossoms. Light requirement: Full sun for black-eyed Susan; full sun to partial sun for Joe Pye weed Water requirement: Moderate
mulch around tree
[lagoon] ‘Smaragd’ arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis ‘Smaragd’), ‘Green Mountain’ boxwood (Buxus sempervirens ‘Green Mountain’) and variegated hostas in front 1. Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis) Native to the upper Midwest, eastern U.S. and eastern Canada Arborvitae is a tough hedge plant that can withstand harsh conditions such as high winds and cold temperatures, and is useful as a dense privacy screen or windbreak. The plant thrives with regular water, so it is best planted in areas with regular rainfall. Traditional Landscape by Glenna Partridge Garden Design Glenna Partridge Garden Design ‘Smaragd’ arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis ‘Smaragd’) Arborvitae grows quickly to between 12 and 15 feet tall and 6 to 8 feet wide. To form a dense hedge, space plants twice as close as recommended on the planting label and keep them pruned to the desired height. Where it will grow: Varies by species; many are hardy to minus 45 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 42.8 degrees Celsius (USDA zones 2 to 8; find your zone) Water requirement: Regular Light requirement: Full sun
How to arrange plants. While butterflies and hummingbirds aren’t particularly picky about how plants are arranged, it’s best from a design perspective to plant the taller plants in the center of the pot or toward the back of the container. Surround taller plants with medium-sized plants and finish with trailing plants around the outer areas. Shown: Purple coneflower and butterfly milkweed
Fountain-turned-planter. If you have an old fountain or birdbath you’re no longer using for its intended purpose — whether that’s due to water restrictions in your area or in an attempt to keep mosquitoes at bay — consider repurposing it as a planter instead. Trailing plants with a lush look mimic the effect of water spilling over the rim.
see OneNote under Landscape - Bubble Rock
Firecracker Penstemon (Penstemon eatonii) In warm climates, firecracker penstemon’s delicate-looking flowers appear in winter and last through spring, in cooler climates, they appear in summer. Small orange-red spikes project above soft gray-green foliage, welcoming hummingbirds in for a drink when not much else is in bloom. Firecracker penstemon reaches 2 feet tall when in flower, and about 1 foot to 2 feet wide. Bloom season: Winter through late spring; in cooler climates it will bloom during the summer Cold tolerance: Hardy to minus 15 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 26.1 degrees Celsius (zones 5 to 9) Origin: Arid regions of the American Southwest Water requirement: Low Light requirement: Full sun When to plant: Fall
California Fuchsia (Epilobium canum) California fuchsia offers a pop of bold red in summer gardens where dry, sunny spots might need some special attention. Reaching 1 foot to 4 feet tall, depending on the variety, California fuchsia can trail over rocks or be massed with other California natives or Mediterranean plants. It’s a big attractor of hummingbirds, which are its primary pollinators. Bloom season: Summer Cold tolerance: Hardy to minus 5 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 20.6 degrees Celsius (zones 6 to 9) Origin: Southern Oregon south to Baja California and east to southwestern New Mexico Water requirement: Low Light requirement: Full sun When to plant: Early spring or fall
Knock Out Rose (Rosa ‘Radrazz’) There are a lot of red roses out there, but Knock Out rose is a crowd favorite, known for its prolific blooming and easy care. It’s also exceptionally disease-resistant and tolerant of cold and heat. So, if you’re interested in venturing into the rose gardening world or want to add a tested survivor into the mix, Knock Out rose might be what you’re looking for. Bloom season: Spring until the first hard frost Cold tolerance: Hardy to minus 25 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 31.7 degrees Celsius (zones 4 to 9) Origin: Garden hybrid Water requirement: Consistent moisture Light requirement: Full sun When to plant: Spring, or after the last frost
Indian Pink (Spigelia marilandica) Indian pink fills a void in the hummingbird garden, with its crimson and yellow tubular-shaped flowers appearing in late spring or early summer in dappled shade or full shade. It is considered a top native plant for attracting hummingbirds, and grows in upright clumps to 1 foot to 2 feet tall and about 1 foot wide. Caution: All parts of the plant are considered poisonous. Bloom season: Late spring or early summer Cold tolerance: Hardy to minus 30 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 34.4 degrees Celsius (zones 4 to 9) Origin: The southeastern U.S., from Maryland south to Florida and west to Texas Water requirement: Prefers moist soils; does not tolerate drought Light requirement: Prefers dappled shade to full shade When to plant: Spring
Eastern Sweetshrub (Calycanthus floridus) This shrub, which grows to 6 to 10 feet tall and wide, is also known by the name Carolina allspice, due to its unique scent that has been described as cloves mashed with pineapples and bananas. Tolerant of clay soils and generally avoided by deer, eastern sweetshrub can make a nice focal point where its sweet scent and distinct flowers can be appreciated. It can also be planted in the garden where it can be allowed to spread, as it produces suckers. Bloom season: Late spring Cold tolerance: Hardy to minus 30 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 34.4 degrees Celsius (zones 4 to 9) Origin: Southern New York to northern Florida and west to Arkansas and Illinois Water requirement: Moderate Light requirement: Mostly sunny to partial shade; prefers afternoon shade When to plant: Fall
a deeply saturated combination of bronze and burgundy coleus, red-flowering begonia, brightly striped dracaena, and lime-green sweet potato vine (Ipomoea batatas, USDA zones 9 to 11; find your zone) form an eye-catching entryway duo.
fence between the driveway and backyard
blue hydrangeas border the lawn
plants in front of porch
walkway
note "terrace wall" -- retaining wall
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