I have finished my "great wall" and now need some suggestions if anyone is willing. My great wall ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden ) The area on top next to the fence is a constant war against bindweed coming in from the neighbors. I figured I will lay a thick layer if cardboard and bark and transplant plant the sword ferns that can take our dry summers. They have out grown their first homes in the yard. Those are the stems you see. I have three or four more to move. The bottom bed at the foot of the bricks I was thinking of hostas. Any other shade loving plants that you really love? Something that has a little winter structure would be nice too. That bit of grass is the last of the main yards lawn and will soon be covered in cardboard and bark. Yeh!
Looking good Jewell! Hosta fever hit me last year and I seem to have started collecting them. You can't have too many Hosta! I think they would look great there and there are thousands of varieties to choose from theses days. I love Impatiens spread out around Hosta's for some extra color. How about a Rhododendron for some winter interest? I have some other favorite shady plants ... Bleeding Hearts, Jacobs Ladder, Columbine to mention a few. Good luck with battling the Bindweed!
Are you in Zone 7? I have all of these in various shade areas (except I don't have Mahonia repens) ... they are all evergreen so there will still be color in the bed. If the winter is mild the Abelia will bloom off and on all winter. The Cape Fuschia will grow in full sun but if your sun is extremely hot like our's in summer it needs at least part shade to keep the roots cool and the leaves from scorching. Aspidistra elatior (Cast Iron Plant) Abelia x grandiflora 'Edward Goucher' (Pink Abelia) Mahonia bealei (Beale's Barberry, Leatherleaf Mahonia) Mahonia repens (Creeping Oregon Grape, Creeping Mahonia) Phygelius 'Devil's Tears' (Cape Fuchsia, Devil's Tears)
I have no suggestions... just wanted to mention how much I like your wall. Can't wait to see that area covered in plants.
A coupla suggestions for your shade garden. Arisaema Dicentra Primula vialli Trillium Corydalis elata
Cherylad, thanks! I am really impatient to see it filled in. Toni, we are a dry cool summer 7 for a planting zone. That abelia looks interesting. Sjoerd, I have to have a cobra lily! WOW! Netty, I'm afraid I've caught the hosta bug. I got several on sale last fall, and a few at the big box store. Just got five more on EBay. I have an area all prepped for them close to my shed so I can water during the dry summers. Ok, I'm writing down the suggestions and taking them with me. Actually they will be on my notebook until all is finished. Thanks Netty, Toni and Sjoerd. Any other ideas to offer anyone?
There are several species of Gaultheria, an evergreen with white flowers and red berries. As a ground cover could cascade over the rocks at a few places. I like the way the curves define the different levels. Jerry
