To say the entrance sign beds felt pretty mundane would be an understatement. A vast sea of mulch spilling over the edges, it would probably take hundreds of annuals just to properly fill them. I knew the size was too much and the team did not enjoy having to water them so often. While I had dreams of dramatic tropical displays in the summer (why not go big, you know?) we decided on using only native perennials and that is definitely the smarter, more sustainable choice to represent Foulkeways. I can always be a drama queen with the container plantings.
Now, let me take you on a transformative journey!
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| Entrance bed 2023 |
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| December 2023 |
The sign beds have typically been planted with annuals. It's easy to find low growing annuals to add quick seasonal color and this is the traditional way of landscaping sign beds. Don't get me wrong, this girl loves her annuals. They're fun to experiment with, easy to use to fill in areas and you can grow them yourself with little trouble from seed or cuttings. Some provide the added bonus (or sometimes a curse depending on the plant) of self-seeding into open gaps, helping you effortlessly fill those areas.
But for these sign beds it really was enjoyable to think outside that predictable design of beds of pansies in the Spring.
The first step in this makeover journey was the removal of the overgrown spruce trees. They disappeared one day and I was very okay with that. This was followed by the large hollies and leatherleaf viburnums that also outgrew their place at the entrance beds. This helped significantly with improving road visibility when turning out onto Perimeter Rd. And we had a clean slate!
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| February 2024 |
After discussing how I wanted to go about planting the beds, I asked if we could reduce the size and Mike and Andy made it happen. They brought the beds in several feet on the sides and in the front, followed by laying sod to complete them.
The resizing resulted in two appropriately sized beds that look like they were always there. The beds were now calling for some plants!
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| March 2024. Resizing in progress. |
The next step both was fun but challenging - plant selection and design. I carefully selected native perennials that would be the appropriate height with staggering bloom times. From the ground to the bottom letters of the sign is only a mere 12 inches. Getting perennials that aren't just basic low growing ground cover, that display color and don't block the sign was somewhat of a challenge. But a fun one - plant shopping is never boring!
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| A look into my planning. Notes and sketches only I really understand ;) |
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| A look into my planning. Notes and sketches only I really understand ;) |
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| Sodded and planted. April 2024. |
Selected perennials include:
- Phlox subulata - spring color and evergreen foliage for the front of the bed
- Bouteloua gracilis - a grass that adds a fun airy element and added winter interest
- Liatris microcephala - an adorably compact blazing star
- Aster 'Wood's Purple' - a compact aster that blooms late summer into fall
- Rudbeckia 'Little Goldstar' - a compact black eyed susan
- Gentiana 'True Blue' - summer to fall blooming with gorgeous blue flowers
- Coreopsis 'Moonbeam' - creamy yellow flowers blooming all summer, delicate foliage. One of my favorites!
- Allium senescens 'Blue Eddy' - the only non-native. This allium has very fun pinwheel rosettes and blooms late summer into fall. Alliums are a wonderful garden addition as they are easy to grow, deer resistant and have multiple seasons of interest!
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The entrance sign at Meetinghouse was treated in a similar way. The size was reduced, oversized shrubs removed and the bed was filled with native perennials and grasses as well as some bulbs like Allium 'Gladiator' which is just beginning to bloom!
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| Resizing in progress! March 2024 |
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| Photo by Mike Gornnert. Plants ready to go in. |
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| Planting complete April 2024 |
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This has been a really fun project that will help elevate the look of the sign beds, reduce mulch and watering (once established, currently i'm fighting against these 80 degree, rainless days!), and act as small havens for little critters and insects. Right now the plants may look small, some are blooming and some are not, but perennials need a little love and patience (don't we all). As the saying goes 'the first year they sleep, the second year they creep, and the third year they leap.' I find this very true for many perennials but the excitement for what's to come gives something to look forward to.
-Julie
3 comments:
This blog is awesome! Love all the work you all are doing! Just amazing and much appreciated! The information and photos here are very educational and helpful! Thank you!
This blog is fabulous, even though I know nothing about plants. The writing is delightful and fun to read. And the pictures are awesome. Thank you Julie for helping to keep/make Foulkeways so attractive.
Thank you! These photos are lovely. It is wonderful to see so many familiar plants in bloom at Foulkeways.
The new entrance garden beds look terrific.
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