By Pat Dray
The Garden Spot
Pat Dray
One of the first decisions that we make when we plan a garden is deciding where it should it be. The answer to that is that it depends on what you want to grow.
These first questions allow us to think about our property and make a survey looking at a few critical issues: the availability of a water source, the amount of sunlight throughout the growing season and overall topography. This column will focus on ornamental, rather than food, gardening.
When you look at planting strictly for aesthetics, start by thinking about the different areas of your property and how you use them – the patio or deck, the front entry, the mailbox/driveway and the view from different windows. You may want to plant some summer flowering plants near the patio so that you can enjoy them while sitting outside, with bulbs of varying bloom times near the mailbox since you go there every day. If there is something unsightly outside one window, perhaps a flowering tree at a distance would block that view.
Focus on the layering of the two design elements of color and texture to create year-round interest in the garden. When planning, repetition of plants throughout the landscape will create a restful, pleasant view. Plant in drifts or masses to give a sense of movement. Use of color echoing will give a cohesive effect. This is a practice in which plants of different matching tones of the same color are chosen, such as yellow spirea in one spot and yellow iris in another. On the other hand, contrasting colors or whites will provide an exclamation point within the bed.
The foliage of the plant when it’s not in bloom will become important as you go through a season of successive blooms. Grey plants, such as lamb’s ear, break up the different areas and provide a transition from bed to bed or color to color.
Another key design element is texture – especially in a shade garden. The texture of the leaves and the variation of leaf size and shape will create interest, such as a combination of ferns and hostas. Use of plants with strong vertical lines growing among the lower-growing plants will create additional interest.
Using evergreens mixed in with deciduous plants, such as broadleaf evergreens like rhododendron with needled evergreens such as pine, will also give you a different winter silhouette. The evergreens will provide a barrier to sight and sound, becoming a strong backbone for the garden.
Finally, give some thought to landscape lighting. Well lighted paths and entries are key, but think about if there is a particular feature that would benefit from up lighting? Keep fixtures simple so that they blend into the landscape and don’t become a “feature” of the design. Most importantly, have fun.
Pat Dray is a past president of the Garden Club of Orange and a master gardener.