Plant Combinations

Here's a pic of Cougar Annie's trellis: http://www.clayoquotalliance.uvic.ca/es481a/Album/Album%20files/pages/14_jpg.htm
and here's a few examples of what I was getting at: http://www.splitcedarproducts.com/
Put a few Clematis, an Akebia, a Parthenocissus henryana and/or a climbing rose and you've got yerself "cottage". I prefer the natural split to the cut cedar as it ages nicely, looks natural and is easier for a climber to clamber.

Murmur, I wish I had more than a stamp-sized garden. I really need to run a nursery (propagation). These are pics of Vancouver Parks Board gardens - they do a great job! I've done small design for many years but not recently. Always available if someone wants me - dirt cheap. I think the most important part, in my opinion, is getting it on the computer so that if a last minute substitution needs to be made, it can be made based on the original plant characteristics. Pixy is right though that many combinations come out of mistakes, trials, temp placements and substitutions. Observation, experience and plant knowledge is a good place fer combo pickin' if you have that or someone else's.

I propagated this Daphne x burkwoodii 'Carol Mackie' a few years ago and sold it to the neighbour. I suggested the Syringa x laciniata for backdrop fine texture height as the owner likes Syringa and then they planted the Brunnera to the left for low contrast on the step down side.

I've always like Garrya eliptica 'James Roof' for off-season show planted under large evergreens, mix it with an understory planting of Gaultheria mucronata 'Wine-something' and a few Viburnum x bodnantense 'Dawn' and it makes a good display. Estreya, you have such a large area you could always make a little meadow area with stream to a pond lower down. I came across this nice planting of Guara lindheimer 'White Fountain' with some cool grasses blowing in the breeze. Add a few Gentiana asclepiadea and some nice Ericas and some bolders and you've got a mountain-top meadow.

I've always like this one - Juniperus scopulorum 'Tolleson's Weeping' as it kinda creates a "scene" all to itself. Put a small sitting bench underneath and you've got a retreat. Underplant with some daisy-like maybe Echinacea, Crocosmia, Iris and its a low-maintenance reading "room".

I like this Persicaria virginiana 'Paint something', maybe mix it with the Splenium scolopendrium. I always like a sea of Rudbeckia which can be purchased as plugs for much cheaper. A mass planting of Lupins bordering this with strips of Lavender would be nice. Am I talking to myself at this point?

~ giggles ~

You most certainly are NOT talking to yourself. These images are scrumptious. I never tire of looking at beautiful plants and garden designs. Tell me something ....

My 2007 planting goal is to get more trees into the landscape. Bushes also, but it's the trees that buckle my brows. I have a sort of loose vision that goes something like this: A cluster of crabapples there; a few yummy eating apples over there; a cluster of figs in this spot; a nut tree down there by the wood line; a few strategically planted screening trios by the property line (consisting of maybe two evergreens and an ornamental deciduous); and ornamental dogwoods there and there. Am i "right" to plant a specific trees in multiples, or does it look more striking to have them sort of separated; i.e., a fig, crabapple, and whatever here in this spot .... another fig, crabapple and whatever over there. Do you know what i mean? I'm blathering. If you can even DECIPHER my question, much less answer it, you get a gold star! :)

In the garden spaces i admire, i've seen it done both ways. So i'm flummoxed.

It's a delight to read the thought processes going through both your creative brains! And, Growin, the photos are delightful and inspiring - the idea of a 'mountain top meadow' just captures my imagination!

Estreya, I truly can't wait to see the photos as we watch your new gardens take shape - no matter what you decide on, I know they will be gorgeous. I think the way you group trees (singly or in multiples) is a personal choice - I like them in multiples, but then the big joke about me at the garden center is "give her three of everything!"

For whatever reason I slept most of the day so am catching up now.

estreya, there is no right way or wrong but there is a right way that works for you. In the NW it is common for the same plant grouping and is my personal preference. Looks more natural in my eyes. It's relaxed design instead of formal and I like it more relaxed than formal. Use 1 or 3 but not 2 or 4.

I'd just put 1 fig in as they get fairly wide, more than tall in an open spot. I can't say I'm fond of Crabapple as they can have problems so I'd speak to an expert. Raintree Nursery is near Mt. St. Helens which I guess is near you? There's also Northwoods Nursery in Oregon and I'd rather you call them and get an expert opinion on which one to buy than a local nursery which might not have the best cultivars. I think they're shipping now so you might get exactly what you want and then some.

I've been couped up in my little bachelor pad with the flu with all the winds and snow for the past month so I guess this was my therapy session. Here's an espalied Ficus carica 'Desert King' at UBC Botanical Gardens which I thought was a good idea.

Gosh - step away for a day or two and whooooooosh. Growin, I feel like I have just power walked through a dozen gardens with you - what energy comes out of our messages!!! Excellent. And wonderful choices. And if this is you recuperating from Flu, how will we keep up once you are back to full steam?

Estreya - I like the idea of planting some in clusters other in single. I am thinking about some of the early gardens - 16/17 Century which there are still remnants of today. The orchards were smaller, for the use of the family not for market. And you will find a small stone enclosure with 4-6 apple trees - all different both for pollination and purpose. It would be nice to create that effect. Nice idea. It might be worth thinking about growin's idea of using a scissor fence (great name!) as a bit of a demarcation of the 'orchard', and maybe leave the grass longer in that area with spring bulbs. Mow it off late summer. and a bench of course.

Exciting times.

MMM, delicious feedback! Thank you all. It seems my instincts, faint though they are, have been steering me towards the "right" direction.

Having said that, I should maybe re-think the crabapples. My motivation for crabapples were wildlife related, and quite honestly, I love the way they look in winter! They have that muscular build that always makes me wish I were handier with a sketch pad and pencil. Although there are other trees that have similar proportions. I dunno. Maybe just one crabapple in the rear where the deer inevitably pass through? And the rock enclosure .... So very much to ponder! ... :)

Is an espalier design very maintenance intensive?

What wonderful ideas .... i don't know why i harbor such trepidation. I guess you can't really go that far wrong when planting a tree ....

PS to Growin: Mowing, by the way, is my job. And nothing get’s between me and my John Deere. :) And i do hope you feel better soon ....

Oh Laurie1, the mini-orchard idea with swaths of Muscari is enchanting!

Go for a crabapple but be selective of which one as they seem to have problems on the coast here but might be better where you are. Don't be afraid to try something experimental - Japanese Persimmon, Chilean Guava, Pomegranate - I think you're in a warmer zone than you think. If you don't have the Western Garden Book yet, pick it up - you're listed as Zone 6. The espalier can be intensive or relaxed but I'd prefer espalier because it is cleaner. My friends large fig was dropping fruit everywhere and the hornets were eating them and what a mess the fallen fruit made!

Gardening/landscaping is a learning, growing thing so try trees that push your limits. I can't say how many times I'm driving through the city in heavy traffic and *screech* I come to a hault to inspect an interesting planting. "Now why didn't I think of that!" You're in a great climate with a huge property and you're surrounded on DG by enthusiasm (aka Peer Pressure lol) with some great nurseries nearby - ie Forestfarm, Cistus, Colvos Creek, etc so throw in some interesting/cool stuff in your plans. Magnolia 'Butterflies', Araucaria araucana, Acer pseudoplatanus 'Brilliantissimum', Davidia involucrata, Xanthoceras sorbifolium, Sambucus nigra 'Albovariegata'....gosh, the selection is endless.

Start with the plan on paper and work from it. Get a list going so you can do some effective compartive shopping. Don't forget to amend the soil on planting.

Estreya - I planted a small orchard on my property, surrounded by ornamentals. I have dwarf: apples, pears, cherries. I also have blueberries (3 each of 4 varieties), Loganberries, Boysenberries, Kiwi & an Italian Plum.
Do be selective about what you plant where & if you are going to try fruit trees, check out the dwarfs. Easy to maintain & gather fruit!
I have quite a few different crabs & no problems with any of them. I am in Zone 7 - east of Seattle. I tried to select varieties that would flower at different times - I have been rewarded with multitudes of songbirds.
Raintree has never let me down with their mail-order nursery stock, but I have purchased from local nursuries as well. Have fun & don't be daunted by the scope of the project.
The only negative for me is that now I need to fence it off from my dogs: they love fresh fruit!

Fruit-eating dogs? Surely you jest!

Growin, it sounds like it might be prudent for you to have a bumper sticker on your car that warns, "I break for exotic foliage!"

;)

Katye, you're right. The scope of it can actually make my breath catch at times. On those occasions, i remind myself that it doesn't all have to happen in one swell foop. Or i come here to read all of these encouraging words .... you guys are the best!

Drive-by exotic foliage with my truck. I have a big bumper.

My dog loves carrots and most veggies & fruit 'cept lemon.

Doing drawings of your designs takes off from the overwhelming feeling of the project.

Structure, water, vertical growth - Phormium & bacopa. Simple but effective.

Rudbeckia hirta 'Prairie Sun' & Limonium something.

Awesome - I absolutely HAVE to have that combo!!!!

Sedum, clematis, trellis, lawn. Semi-formal.

Oh-oh, I'm having another episode. A surprise Solanum laciniatum that popped up with a Sambucus nigra Aureomarginata. This is in my garden.

Sophora japonica street tree which has nice winter affect, great shaped branches and fine foliage with white flowers and a small boxwood hedge. The 2 could be combined for a nice small herb garden with the Sophora at the centre.

Fun to see something that is yours, Growin!! That very impressive! You've shown me two blue plants tonight that are must haves for me!!

Sorbus are great for attracting birds and this Sorbus commixta can have very nice fall foliage colour. Put a few Callicarpa below and some native SnowBerries and it's a bird smorgasbord.

I have some seed of that Solanum. I liked this natural combo of some type of Viola, Polystichum minutum, moss & rock.

I sure need to hang onto this thread - I can write down the names of the plants, but the visual is so incredible!

The bumper sticker made me laugh outloud and the dog bark!

Wow, growin, this thread like a good book on desing. Great work! thanks

It really is. Your collective breadth of knowledge is just immense!

I have a weakness for blue flowers also, although i've only just come to realize it. And in combination with that yellow? Those are "must haves" for me also! I really love boxwoods, though i'm resistant to anything that requires a weekly manicure (you should see my nails!).

Woof! "Goofy" is used to waiting for long periods of time next to a plant while I inspect, photograph and mumble.

Thanks for the comments! In-person I often ramble on until the other person gets that glazed look in the eyes.

Take the blue Corydalis flexuosa 'Blue Panda' and mix it with a complementary Heuchera. There is a Penstemon with purple with hints of electric blue but the name escapes me.

Heucheras come in so many different colours and are readily available. Good for mix n' match.

I've always liked doing the design stuff and have been doing it with a Landscape Architect www.terraluma.com for about 15 years. It's when you have a great design, go through the nursery availability list, and you visit the nursery and the plant looks like it's been in a shredder is when it becomes frustrating. Getting it all on paper just makes it so much easier instead of visualizing it in your head or if you need to make changes and showing the client something in-hand.

Magnificent! Look at the size of that root ball in project three, the fourty foot oak! WOW!

Growin - I am so addicted to Heucheras - and they divide so easily . . . and so soon after planting them! I divided a bunch for my summer plant sale last Fall and have probably 60 or so. Nice part is, if they don't sell, I'll just keep them!!!

This photo only shows part of them.

This message was edited Jan 23, 2007 7:00 PM

Great collection! How do you walk up and down the stairs? I seem to like them more and more each year. There's so many colours to choose from and so well suited to the Northwest. I'm gonna have to try some out in my garden this year.

Labels, labels and more labels.

I rarely use that door (it is in the laundry room). We have another back door as well, plus our front door. Good thing as I barely left enough room to walk by!

Are those labels you have made? Looks like you have a few - lol!!!

I am plannig to make a map of my yard to facilitate better planning, rather than the helter skelter "plant purchase and plunk it in" method I have been using. What is a good scale to use?

Those are labels at VanDusen Botanical Gardens - I just thought it was kinda neat. I just threw that in there. Hopefully soon I'll be a volunteer labeller there. :-)

mauryhillfarm - honestly the scale is always different and I always get confused. I start with a rough sketch with measurements from the site. I put it in Visio with the site boundary to set the scale as I can change that. If you have an area which is a bit more intense you may want to just have a plan for that area so you can focus on it seperately from the overall picture.

Here's that Cimicifuga simplex 'Brunette' I mentioned. Even looks good with that Euphorbia on the lower right.

Oooooooh I could easily become a fan of that plant!!

Volunteer labeler, eh? Will you be "making" the labels, or putting the right label with the right plant? Sounds like a pretty darn nice place to hang out!

Estreya, my apologies if this has already been shared (I don't feel like going over the whole thread!) . . . it looks interesting and fun. I don't know how to put a link into a post, so if you just copy/paste, you should be able to get there. A friend of mine in Olympia sent it to me this morning.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/htbg2/module2/

Murmur! That's awesome! You can do a little design in a few minutes. Perfect and simple.

I'll be making and adding the labels to the plants. Should be fun.

How 'bout that - the link did show up! LOL I'm so much smarter than I think I am (maybe).