Terrain at Styer's

Lots of Evergreens!

Today I thought I would share some of the interesting and pretty plants that we saw while at on Terrain visit on Saturday.  We were looking mostly for shrub options for Stacey’s garden (both medium and smaller size) to mix with a couple that she has already selected. So far the shrubs that are on the list include:

Already Selected:

Purple Smokebush (Cotinus coggygria) Info: Zones 5-9, Full Sun to Part Shade, 8'-10' tall. Known for its purple leaves and giant "smoky" flowers.

Red Twig Dogwood (cornus alba) Info: Zones 3-8, Full Sun to Part Shade, 8'-10' tall. Known for it red branches in winter and its varigated leaf.

Some New Considerations:

Larger Shrubs/Bushes:

Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) Varieties vary from 5'-10' tall, evergreen leaves. White flowers in late spring.

Cryptomeria Japonica variety elegans viridis. Grows 10'-20' tall and wide. Beautiful soft feathery green foliage.

Magnolia Grandiflora variety 'Little Gem', Beautiful glossy evergreen foliage with soft brown underside. 15'-20' tall. Large white flowers in summer.

Burkwood Spice Viburnum (Viburnum x burkwoodii), 6'-8' tall. In spring pink tipped buds open to fragrant white flowers. 6'-8' tall w/ semi-evergreen foliage.

Smaller Shrubs/Bushes:

Arborvitae variety Mr. Bowling Ball (Thuja occidentalis bobozam). Forms a perfect dense ball without pruning. 3'x3'. Full to Part Sun.

Pieris Japonica variety 'Little Heath". Variegated evergreen foliage. 2'-3' tall and wide. Part Sun to Part Shade.

Stay tuned for a few interesting perennials that we spotted!

Backyard: From rear of property

Backyard: From the back entry

Backyard: From the sunroom

Stacey lives in the most charming house! It is a Tudor style cottage built in the 1930s. She has lived there for several years now and has been busy working on the house. She has also started to work on the yard, but she was lacking a cohesive plan. So we met and did a detailed analysis of her yard. We also looked at a number of garden books to help define the general style she was after.

Goals:

-Create a county style garden with a more formal lawn in the center of the yard, while minimizing the lawn elsewhere.

-Create several garden “rooms” to help define the yard.

-Minimize the view of the neighbors.

-Maintain the existing trees where possible.

-Maintain the sunny vegetable garden.

-Provide a location for the apple trees, a water feature and a swing.

-Locate future patio/deck and steps from the sunroom.

The Design:

The Garden Plan!

The Design Elements:

Element #1:

Create a large curved planting bed that will divide the main lawn from the veggie garden.  This will incorporate a number of existing trees and shrubs. This will have 2 zones. The front zone will be for smaller perennials, shrubs and annuals. The taller zone behind will be for taller shrubs, perennials and grasses.

Element #2:

Locate a Patio at the rear of the house.

Element #3:

Locate a new tree opposite the existing crabapple tree to help balance the yard and create some symmetry. This will also minimize the view of her garage from the house.

Element # 4:

Locate the apple trees at the rear of the property. These will also provide a visual buffer to the ugly garage on the adjacent property.

Elements #5,6,7 & 8:

Locate the major architectural elements throughout the yard to provide multiple points of interest. This includes a water feature, bird bath, swing, and arbor.

I will be describing these elements in more detail posts so stay tuned!