Landscape Ideas
flat cloth roman shades in oatmeal, optional backout lining, the shade store
Botanical name: Cotinus x 'Grace' Common name: 'Grace' smoke bush USDA zones: 4 to 9 Water requirement: Average Light requirement: Full sun Mature size: 10 to 15 tall and wide, but I like to cut it back hard in spring. This prevents flowering, produces larger leaves and keeps it around 8 feet tall and wide. When to plant: Plant it in well-drained soil in spring or fall.
By closely grouping clipped evergreen balls, a formal version of cloud hedging can be created. The best plants to use in any form of cloud hedging are those with small foliage that will take close clipping: boxwood (Buxus sempervirens), English yew (Taxus baccata), Japanese holly (Ilex crenata) and Osmanthus varieties.
1. A Romantic Border A classic white picket fence festooned with fragrant roses — what could be more romantic? The beauty of this one is that passersby can enjoy the flowers, since they're planted on the outside of the fence. Key design features: Restraint in both color and plants Repetition of colors and plants down the entire border Gaining height by using the fence to support climbing roses Color notes: A restrained palette of pink and blue is accented with chartreuse. The deeper shades of purple provide depth, ensuring that this combination will still turn heads even in late summer. Plant selection: Climbing 'Mary Rose' provides height and fragrance. Billowing mounds of golden creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia 'Aurea') and May Night salvia (Salvia nemorosa 'May Night') form the lower tier. These perennials are tolerant of low water, poor soil and hot sun.
Woodland paths naturally suggest a slower pace, yet they can be uneventful without a few highlights. Here groups of shade-loving caladiums have been repeated along the pathway, sweeping the eye easily from one side to the other and inviting us to see where the disappearing path leads. This contrast in foliage color and texture makes the journey more interesting, while the repetition of these groups makes the stroll memorable.
Straight paths can easily look like a runway, suggesting a fast entry and exit with no reason to linger. To create the illusion of curves, repeat a key plant. Purple catmint (Nepeta sp) and pink dianthus (Dianthus sp) have been used in this photograph on alternating sides of the path. As these mounds spill onto the flagstone, the straight lines become partially obscured, while the eye is naturally drawn from one purple haze to the next, all the way to the renovated barn. Who wouldn't want to linger on such a delightfully fragrant journey?
The color palette focuses on shades of purple provided by 'Beni Otake' Japanese maple (Acer palmatum 'Beni Otake') and 'Velvet Cloak' smokebush (Cotinus coggygria 'Velvet Cloak'). The chartreuse foliage of 'Mellow Yellow' spirea (Spiraea thunbergii 'Ogon'), 'Golden Spirit' smokebush (Cotinus coggygria 'Golden Spirit') and Bowles' golden sedge (Carex elata 'Aurea') adds high contrast, taking center stage. Rhododendrons add rich magenta accents, while black mondo grass (Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens') adds deeper black notes. Key plants and colors are repeated on alternate sides of the pathway, luring you deeper and deeper into the dappled glade.
hydrangeas, zelkova trees?
annabelle
boxwood, astilbe, hydrangea
hydrangea, hosta, pachy
brick walkway
pachysandra groundcover along patio, hydrangea at bottom right
Perennial border - sedum, mugo pine, etc
Dwarf sedum autumn joy with Shenandoah switch grass OR with mounding crimson pygmy barberry
Chartreuse with orange and red accents
Shenandoah switch grass 4x2
Japanese cherry trees - wowsers!
Boxwoods lining walk, with layered plants up top
Pachysandra and boxwood
Emerald green arborvitae in back hedge
Hostas in front of boxwood hedge. Also tall is arborvitae or hinoki cypress?
All gold hakone grass with ferns and hostas
Boxwood globes meandering randomly under shade tree with spiky perennials. Also look into mr bowling ball arborvitae
Annabelle hydrangeas with bluestone path
hydrangeas with arborvitae
Pyramidal arborvitae (15-20' tall and 4' wide) with Heritage River Birch for dappled shade, plus hostas = lovely!
Pyramidal arborvitae for privacy hedge
Forever goldie arborvitae - chartreuse with purples and reds
hydrangea mixed with small trees, hostas, coral bells
background is Spruce and Arborvitae. The middle layer is Viburnum, Hydrangea and Ligularia. The foreground is Astilbe, Hosta and Pachy sandra.
periwinkle, boxwood, hosta
hosta with astilbe
mature evergreens mixed with sun loving perennials
layering, light use of stone, color, texture
stepping stones
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