2009 garden reflections Part 4. (To go back to part 1, click here).
The front Shade Garden (year 4)
Ugh. I almost don't even want to post these pictures at all. The only reason I am is for comparison purposes - I am sure that next year, once I take down that tree that is smack dab in front and too close to the house, these poor little struggling shade plants will do a little better. You just wait and see.
Mid-June. There are some nice shade plants that bloom well here in spring. They include yellow leopard's bane, pink bleeding heart, lamium and epimedium rubrum (the latter 2 not seen in this photo.)
Early July. There it is. The doomed tree. Oh, I can't wait to have it down!! Some environmentalist I am. But it's ugly, don't you agree? Not to mention the red shale below it that I have been trying to remove from my property since I moved in 5 years ago. Curse the person who put red shale everywhere...
Mid-July. I purposely put this mockorage shrub (I believe it is variety 'Waterton') beside the door because (a) it will bloom in shade, and (b) the flowers smell amazing! I love coming to the front door when this is in bloom, and it's only going to get bigger and better each year.
Early September. Here's a look at the rest of the front shade garden. Those stepping stones are temporary until I get around to putting in some kind of a nicer pathway here. As for the plants, there are hostas that don't flower, dwarf cranberry shrubs (virburnum 'Bailey's Compact') in front of the bay window that increase about 1 cm in size each year, and a struggling dogwood shrub on the far end that must be replaced with something else next year. I expect everything except the dogwood to do better next year. Even with that one spruce tree gone, this shrub still won't get enough light, water or nutrients. Hmm, any suggestions for what to put there? It must be shade and drought-tolerant.
Early October. There's a skinny little purple bugbane with a white flower in bloom next to the stairs - if you look hard you will see it! It should do better next year too, once that tree is gone. I topped this garden up with fresh compost this fall, in hopes that the compost plus the tree removal will kick things off to a great start next spring...
Seriously, this is the most embarrassing section of my garden. Please don't judge me on this garden! Please look at the other garden areas below if you don't believe me:
Other parts of the garden:
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