It time for some plants!!!

So I am sure you can all image how excited I was to draw up a planting plan for around the patio.

I had ideas for the front, and I had ideas for the perennial garden along the side, but to be honest, I hadn't given the plants around the patio too much thought.  There were existing over-grown plants along the side and back of the house.  As much as I wanted them GONE Colin convinced me pruning them and keeping them for the time being, to not spend too money, was the way to go. BUT as I had posted earlier, when we had a crew of men and a machine, we decided to take advantage and have then all ripped out.

So now I had a empty canvas to paint with planties!!!

I know I do this for a living so I should be able to come up with a planting plan no problem, BUT I like so many plants I had a really hard time narrowing it down! ha! And the beds were only 2-3' wide, so I couldn't go crazy.

I whipped up a couple of plans and narrowed it down. I had a plan I liked, but I realized there was no drift roses in it, so I drew up a few variations that would incorporate them. Ultimatley we went with the original 'drift rose free' plan, so I will need to find another place for them. : )

Now that the planning was done, it was time for the shopping!!!! We didn't get all the plants on the plan, just enough to get the space looking nice, and we can fill in as we have the time and money.

I dragged my two main men to the nursery with me on Sunday of Memorial Day Weekend. (I think my Dad came willingly, but I bet I did "drag" Colin, especially since we were there as soon as they opened! haha)  They mainly talked sports as I spun around like a little plant tornado chosing the right boxwood variety and picking and chosing which perennials I wanted to get with the budget Colin had laid out.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Look at me with TWO carts of shrubs and perennials in front of me ready to come to my house and be my plant friends! YAY!!!

 

 

 

Ok, back to the plan....I wanted a classic plant palette with went with our classic patio. For around the lounge area, which can be seen everyday from the driveway, I decided on Boxwood, Endless Summer Hydrangea, Frances Williams Hosta and Rozanne Geranium.  A lovely combo, if I do say so mysellf! I love Boxwood and Hydrangea so that was an easy pick. I also love the 2 green tones of the Hosta AND the geranium variety I chose has purple blooms from spring to frost! Can't beat that! You should get some too!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now that we shopped, it is time to plant! And then to mulch!

 

 

I did pack the plants in more than I would suggest a client do, but I wanted what I wanted, and I am fine with moving around perennials as needed as things grow.
 (I packed perennials in, NOT shrubs. Don't be deceived, little shrubs get big!!!! Always pay attention to mature size when spacing plants!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the eating area I had some thoughts, but less concrete ideas. I knew I wanted something to screen the gas meter, so I went with 3 boxwood, but a different variety as on the other side, a variety that grows more tall than wide.  I don't love ornamental grasses, but I do like them, and I thought they would be a good fit for the corners of the eating patio.  They would add texture and movement to hard lines of that space.  So 3 Dwarf Hamlin Grass went on either corner.

 

 

 

 

Side Note - Landscape Architects like things in odd numbers, not even ones.  We do ones or threes or fives or sevens.  We do not do twos or fours! NO NO NO! 

There are some bare areas around the eating patio and the whole one side if empy, but plants are expensive, so we will evenually fill in those spaces with more perennials! I think everything came out great and the areas without plants, at least have a nice layer of mulch so they look tidy until we get around to getting the plants in.

YAY PLANTS!!!!