While I wait for the weather to warm up, I made some plans for new flower beds. Having a new patio put in earlier this year caused some major changes in the yard. I'm ready to dig in my yard and start on my newly designed backyard flower beds (thank you Chris S.)
I want to see some color! I want my yard to be green again. Is that too much to ask? Obviously it is since we won't really see any warmth for a while and April is so dicey. It is warm one day and then we get a crazy freeze in the middle of the month.
This will become one large bed of shade loving plants. I have two hydrangea planted here. The limelight is planted, and the variegated leaf lace cap hydrangea is plopped after moving it when we had the patio replaced. The hydrangea will remain plopped until the soil arrives. This bed receives some afternoon sun, which really isn't great for hydrangeas, they need morning sun, but the sun is filtered by the silver maple that stands near.
If my beds had been established I would have purchased some gorgeous wintery-early spring perennials that I saw at Home Depot today. (I still may go back and get them!) Home Depot had Candytuft, English Primroses, English Daisies and Creeping phlox. Even in the misty rain, these flowers were amazing and happy!
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| English Daisy |
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| Candytuft |
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| English Primroses |
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| Creeping Phlox subulata
Creeping Phlox is another beautiful late winter, early spring flower that gives hope that spring is on its way. The Subulata variety likes full sun, but can tolerate some light shade. This flower makes an excellent ground cover. After bloom time, shear it, for a nice green color that will be much appreciated when we are all complaining of the hot sun! ;)
This year, what are you planning on planting?
Mary
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I am more into vegetables than I am flowers but this year I am incorporating more flowers as companion plants in with my vegetables. I'll be growing marigolds, nasturtium, purple flax, chamomile, and zinnia. Not only do some of these flowers deter certain pests, but they also attract beneficial insects and pollinators. Not to mention they are all pretty!
ReplyDeleteI'm also going to attempt a Hummingbird garden with a seed mix that I bought.
I replied and it disappeared. I had written that I love chamomile too. I think your ideas sound great and I know your garden will be wonderful, is always is! Post lots of pictures.
DeleteYour plans sound lovely!
ReplyDeleteWe're here in East Texas, and my beloved (who's the gardener in the family) always says to hold off on spring planting until the mesquite trees do whatever it is they do in spring.
Hmm, I am going to have to look up the Mesquite tree and see what it does. I was in Mesquite Texas one time, but no one told me of Mesquite trees!
DeleteI don't know what to plant. I want to get my backyard border beds going but I have no inspiration and no drive to do it. But I think I want big things to fill up space quickly. I like an old fashioned look.
ReplyDeleteBetter Homes and Gardens has tons of garden plans. We need to get out with a tape measure, then we can draw some plans based on what we find in BHG files.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.bhg.com/gardening/plans/by-style/garden-plans-for-cottage-style/#page=2
http://www.bhg.com/gardening/plans/by-style/garden-plans-for-cottage-style/#page=7
http://www.bhg.com/gardening/plans/by-style/garden-plans-for-cottage-style/#page=14
Hey Mary, Sounds like you will hit the ground running once the temps get bearable and the rain STOPS! I have hellebores seedlings if you would like some. They should do good in that somewhat shady bed. You are right about the dicey April temps in our area. My rule of thumb is to try and not plant any annuals or seed for annuals until April 15th. The word is we will not get below freezing after April 15th.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you have a great plan for your garden...I think we all are ready to get the flowers planted as our winters have been so harsh and so long!...Love the Tidewater area!
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