"Leave room in the garden for the fairies to dance"
Perennial garden success is evident when your yard becomes an ever-changing canvas bringing joy and beauty throughout all seasons. To achieve success begin with a plan drawn to scale, a variety of plants, rich soil, mulch, fertilizer, water, sun and a bit of Tender Loving Care.
Planning a Michigan perennial garden - Make 3 distinct layers on a drawing to create equal areas of interest throughout each season. One layer mapping out Spring bulbs & plantings, one highlighting Summer bloomers, and finally an Autumn layer showing a burst of color before the snow puts the garden to sleep. A design plan allows you to visualize your garden all while considering plant textures, heights, colors, spacing, and lighting requirements before a shovel even graces the soil. When I plan my own gardens I draw very simple plans because most of the layout is already configured in my mind. When designing for a client the plans are very detailed and often done in color so the homeowner can visualize and understand the design.
Planning a Michigan perennial garden - Make 3 distinct layers on a drawing to create equal areas of interest throughout each season. One layer mapping out Spring bulbs & plantings, one highlighting Summer bloomers, and finally an Autumn layer showing a burst of color before the snow puts the garden to sleep. A design plan allows you to visualize your garden all while considering plant textures, heights, colors, spacing, and lighting requirements before a shovel even graces the soil. When I plan my own gardens I draw very simple plans because most of the layout is already configured in my mind. When designing for a client the plans are very detailed and often done in color so the homeowner can visualize and understand the design.
In early Spring this flowerbed has hot pink creeping phlox, dark purple and coral hyacinth, double yellow daffodils, pink and white daffodils, giant allium, bleeding hearts, a dwarf magnolia, and a hot pink blossoming crabapple tree. Shortly after they appear the purple irises, lupine, columbine, weigela, peonies, and cranesbill geranium burst open. This was the first Spring for these bulbs. Each year the bulbs should multiply making larger and more colorful plants. See pictures below:
Double Daffodil
Coral Hyacinth & Pink and White Daffodil
Bleeding Heart
Giant Allium
Hot Pink Creeping Phlox
Daffodils
Clusters of Daffodils
Blooming Crabapple tree
Lupine
Dwarf Magnolia
Big Root Cranesbill Geranium
Irises
Weigela
Irises
Weigela
One lesson I have learned about gardening - no matter how much planning and perfectionist work you put into a garden, the results will never be exactly how you imagine it to be because when you garden, your companion gardener is God and he has the final layout in mind before any plan is drawn up. This is so very true in life as in a garden! He will sow the seeds and adjust your layout according to His taste. In this garden and my life His plan has greatly surpassed anything I could have ever imagined. Watching this garden grow and change has me continually awestruck and grateful for the blessing of overseeing such a colorful canvas. From him and through him all things are made. To him be the glory Forever! Romans 11:33-36
"One is nearer God's heart in a garden than anywhere else on earth" -Dorthy Frances Gurney
Gardens are for all ages to enjoy!
Summer garden post is coming soon & you won't want to miss it!
Designing Dreams on a Dime 
Summer garden post is coming soon & you won't want to miss it!
Designing Dreams on a Dime 
Love all the beautiful flowers. Photos are fantastic.
ReplyDeleteYou are awesome! It looks grand. I just love it. Keep up the good work. Genice
ReplyDelete