New plans for the front yard

Category: FRED - the garden | Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 5:25 am

Now I am getting excited about creating a garden in the front yard. For a couple of years I have felt the pressing need for doing something out there since all my efforts have been put into the backyard and the front yard has been looking really neglected.

But nothing I have come up with has really sparked my desire....until this last week. Ideas have been boiling up in my mind, plans have been creating an overflowing froth like you get when the pot of potatoes is on a burner that is too high and the water and startchy foam flows over onto the stove top. Oh, geez, it's almost midnight and now I am getting hungry.

I have been going over all the plants in the backyard that need to be divided and the seedlings that need a place to call their own and have realized that I probably don't need to buy new plants this year. I have mentioned this to Randy too and like I told him, if you remind me I said that I will deny it.

The front of our house faces West, that means hot Texas summer sun from about 11a.m. until sundown. So my plans are.....

on the north side of the driveway I have already planted some free Canna Tropicana that I received last August, there are two Oak saplings I received free from the local squirrels hiding a winter meal and forgetting where they put it and a Rosemary plant that outgrew it's pot last fall.
In that area I will be transplanting, 3 Mexican Mint Marigolds, 3 Coreopsis, at least 3 of the Blue and Black Salvia that are trying to 'rule the world' from my backyard, some Lemon Balm that is the co-world ruler want to be, 2 Cardoon that are ready to leave their pots, a Maximillan Sunflower, the 2 Mystic Spires I bought at the grocery store and interspersed among them will be at least a dozen Gladiola bulbs.

The spot for the new mailbox I picked up for free will hold a red Morning Glory vine and loads of Zinnias.

In the main front yard,in addition to the shrub roses, two Hawthornes bushes, two squirrel planted Pecan tree saplings will also be ......
In front of the porch I want a 6 foot rectangular trellis with a potted Clematis (one named Celtic Skies that I ordered from Michigan Bulb) and loads of Zinnia to keep it's roots shaded. On the trellis hiding in the vine will be three birdhouse gourds that I made a couple of years ago.

I want to make a raised bed, size yet to be determined, that will hold a few rose bushes. In the fall I will scatter bunches of wildflower seeds in the raised bed, those will grow and bloom before the Roses next spring and look wonderful.

Have you ever seen the movie "Practical Magic"? It is one of my favorites, in fact the herb cabinet the Aunts have is what inspired the shelves Randy built me last month. Anyway, they have a fenced in herb garden that I love!!!! So, since I want to grow some herbs for teas and whatever, we are going to fence in, maybe an 8foot square area for the herbs using some picket fence panels and a gate.

I have a Texas Lilac Vitex that will be planted on the south side of the front yard. And I want at least one Snowball Viburnum too. I am planning on closing off the front yard from street view with the use of flowering shrubs.

Randy sprayed a soil sterilizer on the ground along the front foundation of the house to kill the old shrubs, St.Augustine grass and a patch of poison ivy. I will not be able to plant there until next year but I can put some planters along there for this year.

Tomorrow I start digging up, dividing and potting up the plants in the back yard that will be moved and
I will be taking pictures of the areas before and after the plantings. Oh, boy, I really hope this all turns out like the picture in my mind....otherwise I am going to be very ticked off. :)

Last edited: Mon Apr 14, 2008 5:32 am

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Biita wrote on Mon Apr 14, 2008 6:55 am:

With all that frothing going on i sure hope Randy and Amanda had good sense to either leave the room or wear a raincoat!

You won my heart with the herb garden plans, i know that garden from the movie and that is my goal also. but most of mine is in pots. (sigh winter) but what you have put down so far sounds like it will be absolutly beautiful,,, pics please, please, please when its all done.

ohh yeah thats one heck of tan you gon have there,,,,lol.

Good luck and successfull planting to you!!!

Droopy wrote on Mon Apr 14, 2008 7:31 am:

Your plans sound lovely. I can't wait to see your result, and I'm convinced those plants will do as they're told and perform well for you. I'll cheer you on, so go dig.

eileen wrote on Mon Apr 14, 2008 11:30 am:

I'll lay bets Toni that even although you SAY you don't need any more plants that you'll buy loads anyway!!! LOL How do I know that? Simple. I always seem to have space for just one, two three or more plants somewhere in the garden. Ian's given up on me!!!

You're in for a lot of hard work but I just know your garden is going to look fantastic when it's done. You'll have aches, pains, broken finger nails, cuts bruises, scratches and be tired beyond belief.... but....once you stand back and look at it when it's finished it'll definately be worth all the effort.

Looking forward to the progress photographs.

Netty wrote on Mon Apr 14, 2008 12:38 pm:

I'll bet you will need a few more plants too Toni LOL
A new gardens is THE perfect excuse to get some new plants!
Can't wait to see some before and after pictures Toni!

kaseylib wrote on Mon Apr 14, 2008 1:35 pm:

It sounds like you're destined for great things in your garden. I love the planning process and seeing the garden take shape as a result of your plans. Can't wait to see some pictures!

kuntrygal wrote on Tue Apr 15, 2008 3:02 am:

Toni, do you ever rest? Sounds like you have your work cut out for you, but I know it will look spectacular. Can't wait to see the pics.

SongofJoy57 wrote on Sat Apr 19, 2008 2:51 pm:

Toni:
Your yard sounds divine. Promise us pics when you have time. Have not seen the movie, but I am curious to see it now . . . the herb grden sounds lovely. You sound like a very cretive soul.