Progress on new front garden

I have been working on this garden almost exclusively for the last month. I say almost exclusively because I have also been getting a shade garden created on the north side of the house...that one was dependent on my getting this front one done first.

This is what the front garden looked like in April, 2008.

Getting started 04-08 ( photo / image / picture from toni's Garden )

The new bed is now dug up from the Rosemary down to the sidewalk. We are making the bed slope to below sidewalk level and will be installing a long cedar board to create a rain garden there. I have a wagon full of Canna's I dug up out back to put in the end near the sidewalk. IF and when we do finally get rain, that area should keep the rainwater from just rolling off the yard and into the street...and the Canna won't mind being in a wet area either.

All the digging is done. 03-09 ( photo / image / picture from toni's Garden )

The perennials I planted there last year are just beginning to green-up and grow. Coming back are the Milkweed(joined by three new ones I bought recently), 2 Coreopsis, Daisies, Bat-faced Cuphea, 2 Mystic Spires Salvia, a Fennel I thought had died last year, the Texas Rock Rose and the red Valerian I thought had died too. Still waiting for the Maximillan Sunflowers to show signs of return but it is early yet.
Staying green all thru the winter was a Malva Zebrina and a couple of other standard Hollyhocks I moved from the backyard last fall(joined 7 Hollyhock roots I bought recently), two Scabiou Black Knight and the getting pretty invasive Pink Evening Primrose which should make a very good ground cover by the end of the summer and a Powis Castle that will be joined by two more from the back yard.

From the backyard to this garden I have moved 4 Fall Asters, about a dozen Snap Dragons, a Cardoon that has lived in a pot for two years and I will be moving a Mint Marigold and a clump of Lemon Balm in a few days.

There are a few more wagonfulls of dirt to move before I can plant the Canna out there.

 

Your new front garden is going to look terrific once everything settles in and matures Toni. Oh I soooo want to be able to be outside playing in the dirt!!