Thinkin' of planting some Ivy - Am I nuts?

I have a problem with some areas of my back garden, I think it looks too arid...

The pathways are pea gravel and they are lined with stones I dug out of the ground when I was preparing the beds.
I love the way the paths meander and I love the sound of the gravel under foot.

But all that rock makes it look too desert for my tastes.....

The ground-cover I'm using now is creeping thyme, it looks kind of dry to me also
I want lush - something to balance the rock since replacing the rock is not an option

Soooo, I had this idea to plant a small leaf ivy, like Needlepoint Ivy or something.
Am I...
Would I...
Be making a huge mistake?
How invasive is it?
Any other suggestions?

Thanks
Dovey

Hi Dovey,

I'm not a big fan of ivy myself, so won't give you a yea or nay about it.

If your wanting to give it less of an arid feel, why don't you try putting in some larger leaf type plants. They don't need to be large plants, just the leaves. It will give you more of a greener lushier look....which I think is what your looking for.

Donna

That's it exactly Donna!
Larger leaf plants, hmmm.... so do you have any suggestions?
I think I have a hard time thinking outside of roses, bulbs and herbs.... what a combo, none of them are large leaf.
The area is pretty much full sun and gets overhead watering.

Dove

How about agapanthus and siberian irises Dovey!!! I have 2 boxes loaded with both of them. No takers on my offer yet.

Really... Siberian irises? And the foliage doesn't die back in the winter?
I have dwarf agapanthus, is yours full size? White or lavender?

I love my variegated agapanthus. Tinkerbell is the dwarf and silverstreak is the full sized

http://www.smgrowers.com has pics of them.

Hate Ivy myself. Sagebursh kind of girl Lol. I love my artemesia but it is grey not a lush looking green. It was a ladybug breeding station this summer which was fun.

The Siberians do die back but they quickly replace their leaves. We just chop ours off to the ground and then they come back. The agapanthus is full size and purple. You're welcome to both boxes, stuffed full, if you want them or know someone who does, hate to throw them away and I don't compost.

This is probably lusher that you had in mind. Why, oh why, can I not grow a normal sized plant?

This plectranthus clumps nicely and can be trained beter than this one is. It smells wonderful and is very nice in flower arrangements. This one is Fiona's chair.

Darn it! I knew that car was around here somewhere!! LOL!

There are lots of very pretty sedums and iceplants out there if you want low growing. In my garden, there is always room for one more sage Lol.

What about some sort of ajuga? Evergreen and flowers are always good.

Louise,
Two boxes... ?
Are these boxes bigger than breadboxes?
I have a bunch of daffodils planted in there already, so maybe just one box, about how many would that be?
I was never too interested in Siberian irises until I planted one (to be polite, someone gave it to me) and realized I really like them.

Flowers are always good... smelly flowers are even better.
I like Donna's suggestions about adding something with a wide leaf.
I'm wondering if wide leaf and full sun go together.

These boxes are big boxes, yes way bigger than a breadbox! You're welcome to as many as you want...there must be 6 or 7 large clumps. Let me know.

I have the same curved paths lined with rocks we collected from creeks and lined with pea gravel we did in '98. My garden has changed drastically as my collections and interests change but I now go for tall, large leafed or foliage interest for that lush look. Here is when we first did it in '98.

back then it was only perennials for bloom color.

Back then it was all pinks, lavenders and blues and soon I started collecting daylilies and warmer colors, leaving pots everywhere while deciding what goes where.

I have lots of tall large drought tolerant plants in small beds now, no need to see the garden all from one vantage point, better to go meander and see whats hidden.

Still too many plants in pots but it's a riot of color now.

All in large pots under an orange tree, an easy wat to add a bit of height and change things throughout the season.

I only take closeups of plants now since I am still working on changing my small beds, oring compost to amend them as my back allows.

I toured deviant_deziner's lovely garden and she has narrow beds just packed full and lush, giving a feeling actually that's it's much bigger, a jungle perhaps!

And lots of succulents on one side of the house with large pots added for height and interest

Lots of color and texture to spill over the paths

This message was edited Sep 17, 2006 9:08 AM

This is part of Happenstance's former garden

She added palms, arches for height and shade and added foliage interest everywhere

Sue,
I loved seeing the evolution of your garden. Thanks for giving me the great tour.
I'm going to have to do some research and find an assortment of broad leaf plants to add to what I already have.
You've given me a lot to consider
Thanks again

Dove

Grasses and plants that spill over the edges are great.

SF Botanical garden

You have a nice layout already and some fun artsy peices here and there, I just picture some shots of color and larger leafed plants to go with the greyish and pink tones you already have, like the image above. The pop of the lime greeens and soft yellows should make them pop and somthing like the tall yellowish phorium above toward the back of the fence line will draw your eye out toward it. Repaeting that color throughout the beds is nice too.
Masses of color or texture works better too rather than a mix of smaller bloomed things mixed around the yard (like my tapesty mess, don't copy that because it's not that soothing! LOL) These Rozanne geraniums spill over nicely (SF Botanical garden)


This message was edited Sep 17, 2006 9:32 AM

Well, shoot, I had trouble uploading so tried again but I guess it worked the first time after all!

This message was edited Sep 17, 2006 10:00 AM

frogsrus mentioned plecanthrus, there are so many great varieties to choose from! This is my favorite, great fuzzy variegated leaves and it didn't even get bothered by the heat wave. I didn't realize it would get this tall either.

One problem you may be having is that most plants that are drought tolerant are only that way after they have established themselves and need watering until then. Some plants are established after one year and some can take up to three. Treating new plants as if they are already drought resistant will certainly kill or stunt them.

Lavender is drought resistant as are the lovely smaller nandinas. The iris with variegated leaves add a nice texture.

And as far as ivy - it's an open invitation to rats. So you can see my vote for ivy.

I knew Ivy really wasn't a good choice, I just didn't know what to do to achieve a lush garden look.
Southern California may be a desert but I don't want my garden to look like one. *S*

I think it's interesting to learn that my tastes run towards small leafed plants. Hmmm, I never realized that.
Anyway I need to accent the garden with larger leafed shrubs. (And not everything has to flower)

Calf_Sue I was thrilled to see your garden. My sister and I have loved your post. The imprompto tours around your neighborhood are terrific. We loved hearing what you liked and disliked about each house. It really helps to train your eye to identify these thing so you know why something works or doesn't. Did you ever have a yard full of grass? Was it a hard choice to give it up and start the garden you have now? Please keep sharing your insights and more tours please, we throughly enjoy them.

Have you ever tried Erodium???? I've used it many times for pathways...and it blooms...either a pale pinkish lavender or white...it grows in little clumps and fills in fast. The leaves are small and kind of look like a "true" geranium....

Also, Dymondia is a really tough ground cover and is drought tolerant once established. I used it in Valencia at my sisters house...where it get's hot like where you are, and it does really well....it even takes foot traffic.....and two dogs.....so if Dr. Don comes over it'll be just fine !!! LOL

Another idea is Myoporum parvifolium 'Davis'. It blooms white in the summer and grows very quickly but from a single stem and it can easily be kept in line. The leaves are very fine. Also drought resistant. It looks great with some of the darker blue creeping evergreens and grasses.

Statice is one of my favorites too.