Need advice on what to do with dry, no light spot

I have a second story deck that spans the front of my house. My front entryway is under this deck. To the right of the entryway is a two foot retaining wall and then a little garden area. It is very dry there and very dark. The photo I have attached (sorry its not all that great) shows about the best results I have ever gotten and that was not the robust inviting entry garden I have been dreaming about.

Recently, I moved the plants you see about five feet out, away from the house, still in the shade of the deck (the house faces east) but where they will get at least a little rain. Then I covered the dirt with cocoa bean mulch. I also threw out a cute little terracotta planter of white impatiens that I had on the big stone you see in the photo because it was near death from lack of sun. : (

I need to have something inviting in that area. However, I have given up on the idea of plants. I'd like to just take the whole darn thing out, make it level with the sidewalk and put in cement, but the problem is that the brick on the house doesn't go down that far. I am also not ready to spend the cash to do that right now.

Our house is contemporary and we live in a wooded area. The area is about 8ft x 8ft.

Does anyone have any suggestions for what I can do with this space? Sculpture???? Something??? Anything??

I'd put in some sort of sculpture or a fountain or something along those lines. If you're willing to water occasionally, you could also put in a groundcover like ivy. Normally I wouldn't ever recommend ivy, and do make sure you don't let it climb up the walls of the house, but in this case it might be a good choice.

ecrane-- Thanks for the suggestion! I would LOVE ivy, however, it is not hardy in Minnesota. (Dang).

Hi, a bunch of ideas: You might consider a water feature - - like a gazing pool - without running water. Guests will find it very mysterious as they stand at the door. Dig a hole wide and shallow --(less than two feet deep) It could be any width you think would be right for the space. If it isn't very wide (like under 2 feet - I think it should be round since it will give the pool a deep deep well-like appearance) You would have to find a basin to fit it --but that should be easy since you could use a small pond basin and they come in many sizes. There would be no fountain/running water/ no fountainhead. The basin should be dark in color so that the depths are black.

Sink the basin in the hole right to the rim, edge the rim of the basin with flat flagstone pieces and fill it with water ..it will look like a dark gazing pool. You can even put some plants in it or float a clear glass ball. You really don't need plants around it - it looks fine without.

Place something contemporary... steel, granite behind it or that great rock you have there near the door. If you don't like the idea of the gazing pool, maybe you could fill the space with small sized stone mulch and in the stone place the same art piece as above or a nice big boulder..you could rake the stone for cleaner more contemporary feel. If you can locate it, you might consider a colored glass 'mulch' (one color -silver, grey, clear - etc., would be best since your space is contemporary...sometimes glass recycling businesses will sell the glass rock. If you do choose a statue or contemporary abstract piece, you might consider uplighting it if it is tall enough.

If you decide that you can manage a fountain as Ecrane3 suggested, (the sound is great near the doorway) would you consider drilling that stone you have there (with the planter on it) as the fountainhead? It is very nice and contemporary - It is hard for me to see just how big it is - or if it would get 'lost' in that space so you would have to figure that part out. If you found a piece of metal scrollwork or even your house numbers - you could fix it to the stone.

I like that space - I don't think it necessarily has to have something living especially if the conditions aren't right. If you feel the need to put a tree - maybe a local welder can make you a metal tree. I would check at the local community college maybe there is a welding class that would love to make your space their project - can't hurt to ask. Anyway, there are a few things you could do that I think would look great.

Sorry--I figured ivy was hardy pretty much anywhere! Well maybe not in zone 1, but I figured it would make it pretty much anywhere in the continental US. That area's protected enough though, I'm guessing you're in zone 4? I'm pretty sure ivy will make it in zone 5, and since that area looks a little protected it might make it, maybe mulch it for the winter to help it a bit.

Here's some ivy supposedly for zone 4

http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/128137/


BOSTON IVY

Boston Ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata) often takes a couple of years to become established, but then grows vigorously. It climbs by tendrils that often have disk-like tips that will adhere to wood or masonry surfaces. Leaves are three-lobed and are dark green, but turn a bright red in the fall. Dieback to the ground is common with young plants and occasionally occurs on older plants. Trial in zone 3; adapted to zone 4

ENGLEMANN IVY

Englemann Ivy (Parthenocissus quinquefolia 'Englemannii') climbs with adhesive disks at the end of the tendrils. It has a compound leaf made up of five leaflets similar to the woodbine, but the leaflets are smaller. It takes on a bright red fall color. Zones 3 and 4.

Ornamental grass like dwarf Hamlin surrounding an ornament, statue or small fountain of some sort shouldn't be a lot of work to keep up. I have some dwarf Hamlin surrounding a crepe myrtle tree with blackeyed Susans around the edges. It looks real nice all summer long and doesn't require much upkeep.

Re: the ivy.....I live in zone 5b and I have never had any ivy fail on me. LOL Most of my ivy is actually whatever happens to be in the mixed containers I purchase each year from the local nursery. I can just never bear to throw out a healthy living plant so I always pop it in the ground come fall. It takes about three years for it to really take off, but when it does - look out!

--Ginny

Thanks for all the great suggestions! Missingrosie, I am going to think hard about your suggestions for a gazing pool. There is an enormous one at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis with a fish, that I could use for inspiration.. Hey I found a photo. Isn't this wonderful?

On the ivy: Yes, I have seen Boston ivy growing here. I guess my mind went straight to English ivy which I saw growing in the winter in Salt Lake City and that I was so surprised and so envious of... In any case, the spot really is too dry and too dark for any kind of ivy, I'm afraid.

You will figure it out. your gazing pool in photo is grand! Is that a fish's tail end with the silver mirror scales?

the gazing pool I had in mind was round, deep (appearing anyway) and not more than 3 feet across. Sitting in the ground right up to the rim and ringed with flat stone. Only thing in it would be the reflection of the art piece or the stone that you stand behind it. Shouldn't be more that a few dollars to construct - especially if you can find someting to use as a basin (maybe a round aluminum tub style basin - maybe it could be painted dark color marine paint). (hey put a sign invite folks to toss a coin and make a wish (leave them a bucket of pennies!) (smile)

Yes, each fish scale is a square of glass. It has to be thirty feet tall. The pool is only about 18 inches deep but it is lined with something very black which (you are right) gives the whole thing a very calm feeling.

I will let you know what I do.

Green

This message was edited Jul 20, 2007 8:55 PM

Perhpas Hostas, if they are hardy in your area; a metallic shiny garden ball set up on a tripod structure. White flowers to create like a Night Garden. Good luck.

rebecca30