Birdbath Garden

My new project for this fall and next spring is a birdbath garden. It will be a kidney shaped garden spot with the tree being on the right center of the kidney. The birdbath will be located on the back of the kidney curve on the left side. You can see their designated locations in the attached photo. I will be moving the hosta located on the backside of the tree and leaving the hosta on the front side of the tree. I may or may not relocate the removed hosta around to the left front side. I'm not to sure about that though, it doesn't seem right when I picture it in my head. I have planted 5 peonies around the back curve of the kidney up to the birdbath. Directly in front of the peonies on both sides of the birdbath I planted 'Purple Haze' Agastache. At the base of the birdbath I planted 4 NOID pink Amaryllis. I would like to make this spot for the birds as I have a hummingbird and butterfly garden on the other side of the house. I have two bird feeders in the tree and would like to keep the birds over here by the bird feeders. What other plants would you recommend planting in this area?

The first picture is looking directly from the street. This picture is looking from my driveway.

Catz, I answered you in the Birdwatching forum. Please keep us updated.

Carla

;)

Sounds like it's going to be very pretty. I'd plant something with berries: lantana or a beautyberry might be nice. They also might like some small ornamental grasses. Birds are suppose to like coneflowers, too. Can't wait to see pictures when you are finished. Of course if you're like me, you're never really finished ;)

Gotta ask -- peonies in TX? How do you keep them alive? Do they bloom for you?

I think the one I brought down from Montana succumbed to the heat this summer. I had it in morning sun only and kept it watered. It was a beauty and smelled like roses. I'll never be able to replace that one. Found it in the MT mountains. :(

LOL well to be honest I'm not sure how they will really do LOL however there is several people over on the peonies forum who live right near me and they grow them well. So, I thought I would try them. The worst that could happen is that they'd die on me, LOL , and with this past summer being what it was I figured it couldn't hurt to try LOL
Sorry about the one you lost though. They grow wild there?

grow wild -- in MT -- no. Those I dug up were from an old homestead. Yes, I had their permission. They were beautiful. Just too dang hot here. Dang!

OK, Here is what I have done so far today.

oops wrong pic.
This is the correct one.....
starting from the back of the bed and moving to the front
red circles are peonies with different flowering times and colors
purple circles are agastache purple haze
yellow circles are various flowering bulbs with different flowering times
blue circle is creeping lantana
black circle is guara white one and cherry brandy together
green circles are the hosta that were on the back side of the tree that I moved to the front border of the bed

This is where I still need help.
The orange circles I would like something darker colored and tall around4 ft or so
The grey circle I would like something that will fall/sprawl to go with the lantana

What do you think so far

Yes I will be getting a stand for the bath :)

This message was edited Oct 25, 2011 8:21 PM

Your sprawling plant could be Western bluemist, the taller plants could be Turks cap.

That's a great idea Josephine. I'll keep those in mind.

I am confused about the placement of the guara...I thought it needed sun but it is right near the hostas.
How wide is the orange circle? If you need sun: dwarf maiden grass or mexican bush sage or John Fannick Phlox might work

My hostas are in full sun 80% of the day. I know they are for shady areas and someday when the tree is large enough they will be in full shade :) They do very well for me, though the leaf edges sometimes scorch near the end of summer :(

Orange circles are about 2'

I never imagined that hostas could take so much sun! Of my suggestions, all would be easy enough to dig up if they got too big.Or you could put a hardy rosemary I can give you transplants/cuttings of any of these if you want.

Curiosity is getting the best of me -- what are all the colored circles?

And what kind of hosta will take TX heat and sun? I love them but gave up on them when moving to TX.