Gardens
Create a Private Entrance The romantic garden is not open to everyone. Unlike the garden of the extrovert, where the gate may be transparent and open, the entrance to the romantic garden is solid and private. The gate comes with a lock. Softening this hardscape with delicate vines or softly textured plants gives a subtle hint of what is to come while establishing boundaries.
Layer Your Plants Layering will give this garden depth and interest, not unlike weaving a tapestry. Consider varying heights, textures and visual weights when it comes to choosing plants. Plants with an open form, such as this tall verbena (Verbena bonariensis, USDA zones 7 to 11; find your zone) act as a sheer lacy curtain, adding depth and drama to a planting scheme.
‘Mardis Gras’ sneezeweed Sneezeweed (Helenium spp.) Native to North and South America Look past the unattractive common name for what is a gorgeous late-summer bloomer. Flowers bloom from August to October, with petals in yellow, orange, red and striped variations that grow from the center like rays of the sun. The plants grow in clumps that can mature to be about 3 to 5 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide.
Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) Native to North America The cheerful golden-petaled and dark-centered blooms of black-eyed Susan, also called gloriosa daisy, enliven late-summer and fall borders. The plants, native to prairies of the central United States, are much beloved by butterflies. Cultivars may be available at your local nursery, producing flowers in shades of red, bronze and orange and with bicolored petals. For a fall bouquet garden, pair black-eyed Susan with other late-summer blooms that work well as cut flowers, such as shasta daisy (Leucanthemum x superbum; shown here with black-eyed Susan), annual sunflowers, chrysanthemums and coneflowers (Echinacea spp.). Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 35 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 37.2 degrees Celsius (zones 3 to 7) Water requirement: Moderate; low once established Light requirement: Full sun Mature size: 2 to 3 feet tall and 1 foot to 2 feet wide
Pink Muhly Grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris) Native to prairies, pine barrens and open woodlands from Massachusetts to Kansas south to Florida and Texas It’s difficult to find a native grass that puts on a show as dramatic as pink muhly. In fall the medium-green, fine-textured grasses explode with clouds of pale magenta blooms, best appreciated when planted in drifts and masses. Despite their delicate appearance, the plants are tough — able to withstand high summer temperatures (particularly in partial shade) and grow in poor soil. Try pairing pink muhly with blue-green agaves for dramatic form and color contrast. Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 5 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 20.6 degrees Celsius (zones 6 to 9) Water requirement: Low Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade Mature size: 2 to 3 feet tall and wide
To create an alternative lawn in shade, you can use native Carex species. Carex is a genus of sedges, or grasslike plants, with a fine texture. There are Carex species native to all regions of the United States. However, sedges tend to be more sensitive to foot traffic. Recommended by Benjamin Vogt: I’m starting with my most recent sedge crush. Why am I in love with bristleleaf sedge? It stays low, less than 6 inches tall, while holding its green through almost all of my Nebraska winter. The foliage is soft and a joy to touch, and it slowly spreads out from the center to create a lovely fine-textured mat. I’ve never watered it, ever. In dry clay in full shade, it’s as happy as can be. For years I’ve struggled with the north side of my house, where, depending on the time of year, a plant may be in full sun or full shade, sitting in very moist soil or extremely dry ground. I have lost plant after plant but have slowly discovered true gems that will thrive while adding some stunning texture. So I present you with bristleleaf sedge (Carex eburnea), a little miracle worker for the trouble spot in your landscape. Bristleleaf Sedge (...
woodland composition with Tiarella, viola, goldenseal, columbine and sedum. After these finish flowering in the spring, there will still be a great variety of foliage texture to maintain interest. Other woodland species that could work well with Tiarella include Solomon’s seal, green and gold (Chrysogonum sp) and creeping phlox.
Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia) Native to New Brunswick in Canada, south to Georgia and west to Michigan With cloud-like blossoms from white to light pink in late spring, this woodland ground cover forms a bright carpet in shaded garden settings. Plant foamflower where you don’t mind a natural carpet. Plant heartleaf foamflower (T. cordifolia var. collina) where spreading is not desired, as it stays put in a clump. Also plant colorful Tiarella hybrids in beds for more interest once the blooms of the natives fade. Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 30 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 34.4 degrees Celsius (zones 4 to 9) Water requirement: Moderate to regular; keep soil consistently moist Light requirement: Partial to full shade Mature size: 8 to 15 inches tall and 1 to 2 feet wide; some selections are more aggressive spreaders
Japanese Forest Grass (Hakonechloa macra) This shade-loving deciduous grass is a favorite among gardeners looking for soft mounds of bright chartreuse foliage. Cultivars that are variegated with gold, such as popular ‘Aureola’, shown here, turn brighter yellow hues with more exposure to sun and may lose variegation in deeper shade. Plant in shaded beds, nestled alongside boulders or along dry stream beds where the cascading foliage mimics the flow of water. Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 15 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 26.1 degrees Celsius (zones 5 to 9) Origin: Japan Water requirement: Moderate Light requirement: Partial shade Mature size: 1½ feet tall and wide Seasonal interest: Showy foliage
Black Cohosh (Actaea racemosa) Native to woodlands of Eastern and Central North America, this pretty perennial grows well in garden borders with light canopy cover from trees. In summer, delicate white flower spikes sway gently on slender stems and attract native pollinators. Black cohosh (sometimes called black bugbane, black snakeroot or fairy candles) is closely related to Southeast native mountain bugbane (A. podocarpa) and Appalachian bugbane (A. rubifolia). Consider planting what’s native from your region for maximum benefit to local pollinators. Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 40 degrees Celsius (zones 3 to 9) Origin: Native from Massachusetts south to Georgia and west to Missouri and Arkansas Water requirement: Regular; plant in moist, well-drained soil rich in organic matter Light requirement: Partial sun to full shade; expect fewer blossoms if planted in full shade Mature size: Foliage reaches 2 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide; flower spikes grow 5 to 6 feet tall Seasonal interest: White summer flowers More about growing black cohosh: https://www.houzz.com/magazine/great-design-plant-actaea-racemosa-stsetivw-vs~44849390?vm=thumbs
Create a Meadow Effect With ‘Moonbeam’ Coreopsis This easy-care perennial will make itself at home in any garden Marianne Lipanovich February 24, 2017 Houzz Contributor. ‘Moonbeam’ coreopsis should be high on your list when you’re looking for a reliable flowering perennial. This popular cultivar is readily available, easy to start from seed or by setting out plants, not fussy about soil and known for its long bloom season. Best of all, it’s versatile. It’s at home when nestled among other annuals and perennials in a traditional flower garden, but it’s also equally effective when allowed to naturalize and spread. It creates a meadow-like setting that recalls the plant’s prairie roots while maintaining a contemporary vibe that can work with almost any landscape design. Look for seeds or plants to include in your garden once spring has arrived. Botanical name: Coreopsis verticillata ‘Moonbeam’ Common names: ‘Moonbeam’ coreopsis, ‘Moonbeam’ threadleaf coreopsis, ‘Moonbeam’ tickseed Origin: The straight species is native to the eastern and southern U.S. Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 30 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 34.4 degrees Celsius (USDA zones 4 to 9; find your zone) Typic...
handmade door inspired by a trip to India.
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