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Penny Carnathan
Penny’s a Nurture And Hold (NAH): Nah, I won’t pull that out yet, it’s still got a green shoot. She likes dragonflies, lady bugs and new stuff only after weeding, pruning and fertilizing.
Kim Franke-Folstad
Kim’s a Want It Now (WIN): Everything pretty, everything now. She will resort to full-spectrum insecticides in desperate situations, and believes it’s her duty and right to buy new plants every weekend.
Both advocate Plant Choice (SOMEthing besides crotons. Please!), lots of color and low maintenance. We don’t agree on everything, but we’re smart enough to learn from each other - and from you.
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Blue bird brings happiness to sad garden
Posted Feb 1, 2010 by Kim Franke-Folstad
Updated Feb 1, 2010 at 06:02 PM
I took my own advice and bought this adorable, although not tiny, trinket this weekend to brighten up my sad backyard.
Where?: Target. How much?: Too much. How happy did it make me?: Very.
And no, I didn’t name him Big Bird. I named him Josh, after the Target associate who seemed sorry to seem him leave the garden department Saturday.
Sorry, Josh. I needed a pick-me-up. As you can see by the potted plant in the background, it’s still very dreary out in our yard.
We yanked out all of the ixoras, back and front, and I couldn’t resist pruning a couple of vines, some lantana and one of 10 plumbagos. But that’s it. Really. That’s all I did.
It is now time to decide what will go where the ixoras in the back once lived. The bed is close to the pool and the house. It’s a sunny spot, easy to get to with a watering can or hose. Something that could be trimmed into a nice hedge would be fabulous, but not essential. I like blue, purple, orange and yellow better than pink. And I prefer perennials to annuals.
Something low would be ideal – low in height, low in maintenance, low in cost.
Any suggestions, please drop a comment here. I keep coming up with the same-old, same-old. I could use some fresh ideas.
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Reader Comments
Posted by (Iluvpumpkins) on February 01, 2010
This does not bloom but might work Cuban Gold Duranta, Riverview Farms has this in SausEdge. Pumpkin
Posted by (Kim Franke-Folstad) on February 02, 2010
Ooh, I’ve been wanting to try a SausEdge—that’s a great idea. I was hoping for something that has flowers, though. Hmmm ...
Posted by (kgardens) on February 02, 2010
Love the bluebird. It definitely makes your yard look happier. How about sunloving bromeliads or Knockout roses or those Encore azaleas (not sure about sun on that one)? I have just bought one - one gallon size Knockout rose based on Pumpkin’s rec. and it is already blooming with 2 blooms!
Kay
Posted by (Susan Gillespie) on February 02, 2010
I love Josh. He’s handsome and made me laugh. Two things I love in a guy.
The knockouts are definitely a winner in my yard too. Color most of the year and they withstand our hot and wet as well as our cold. Several colors are available. My sausedge didn’t make it through the cold but I am hopeful for a comeback and could try it again because I love the color.
The two bushes that made it through were the Mrs Schillings (they have some white flowers but not very often and not showy) and the thryallis, which has yellow flowers. For low there’s always Indian Hawthorn. I think they have a pink flower version. The azaleas might be a good idea too.
Posted by (Iluvpumpkins) on February 02, 2010
Kim, I would diffidently go with double knockout roses! Send in the pictures. Pumpkin
Posted by (Chip) on February 03, 2010
Kim if you are willing to try something different a herb garden would do very nice there. the hard part is picking out what to plant. The difference between fresh and dried when cooking is quite surprising. And yes some flower and then there is the mints so many to pick from! putting mint in ice tea is one of my favorite. Herbs are mostly simple a few are highly invasive [mint] but mostly are plant and forget low to the ground and all the nice smells! Something to think about…“Chip”
Posted by (Susan Gillespie) on February 03, 2010
That IS a good idea, Chip. I have a rosemary plant that is certainly as big as a 3 ft bush and smells divine. It’s inexpensive to plant and made it through the cold too.
Posted by (Susan Gillespie) on February 03, 2010
Your favorite Rose food and some deadheading once in a while with a big pruning in Feb/Mar should do the trick on those knockouts, Penny
I do love the color contrast those Cuban Gold durantas bring to a yard. You could always plants a row of colorful perennial flowers in front of them for a flower fix.
Posted by (Chip) on February 03, 2010
I have got some Zinnia’s started if you like cut flowers they are great as long as you keep cutting them they will just keep coming back. they start so easy from seed the biggest drawback with them is the seeds are so light they get washed out very easy I have started these guys in trays if it looks like we have a week or two with out rain I will start some more right in the ground got to keep the bee’s happy!...“Chip”
Posted by (Iluvpumpkins) on February 03, 2010
I am adding Zinnias to my garden this year too. can’t beat the color.
Now to the rose question, go to shells get Gro Mor and Mills Magic and your roses will go crazy. Pumpkin
Posted by (kgardens) on February 04, 2010
OK Pumpkin, now you’ve done it. I’ve never heard of Shell’s but I just went to their website and I guess I’m going on a field trip! Sounds like I need some time to explore the first time I go. Kay
Posted by (Chip) on February 04, 2010
Shells is great! I went to lowles and home depot looking for fish emulsion and they didn’t carry it the manager at home depot garden shop said he had never heard of it before. the folks at shells know what they are doing and have it on hand or they will order it for you. The few veggie plants they have are the best in town we mostly grow from seed but the few we do not I will only buy from them
....“Chip”
Posted by (kgardens) on February 04, 2010
Nice story Penny. Impulse shopper that I am, I hope I don’t come home with a chicken! Kay
Posted by (Iluvpumpkins) on February 04, 2010
Kay, Martha Stewart has chickens running around in her gardens, so I know they would look cute in your yard. My daughter and I gave my neighbor Sally 6 peeps for her birthday last year from Shells. They run free in her garden and love to be picked up and petted. Her gardens have an oriental look to them so I got her Japanese silkies, they have hair and feathers. Have fun at Shells. Pumpkin