This is the other side of the front entry. Someone planted a few ornamental grasses, which are too small and see-through to screen the air conditioner. Also, there are a gzillion daylilies (stella d'oro, I think) planted all along the walkway and around a tree on this side. Despite the fact that I've seen daylilies on lists of deerproof plants, the flower buds on these daylilies keep getting eaten by deer.
So, we need a screen, a welcoming entry, more variety and some deerproof plants here. My suggestions:
* a juniper 'Moonglow' in front of the airconditioner. It will match the other two already planted there, and echo the smaller 'Blue Arrow' on the other side . It will get up to 1.5m wide, so it must be planted to ensure access to the air conditioning units.
* 3 ninebarks 'Centre Glow' or 'Coppertina' which will contrast nicely with the blue juniper and also echo the gold tones on the house
* a spirea 'Dart's Red' in the corner between the front patio and the walkway
* move and replant the daylilies so that they form more dense groups - one group in a semi-circle around the front of the shade tree, one group in a clump between the spirea and ninebark shrubs
* some groupings of bearded iris, festuca glauca and dwarf shasta daisies should be planted (more than once) to repeat the plantings on the other side
* other "deerproof" perennials to be added could include columbine, lamb's ears, penstemon 'Husker's Red', perennial geranium and sedum 'Matrona' as well as a variety of creeping sedums. Remember the rules of plant combining here - these plants are selected for their variety of leaf colour/texture/shape and plant shape as well as their sun-loving qualities.
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