I need a few suggestions

I would like to add at least 1 tall spectacular plant at the back of this long narrow shade garden. Something that would look wonderful backed by the brick wall. I would love to add a trellis with a vine but I don't think I'd be allowed the trellis.
This is a school garden so spring, fall and winter appearance are important. No one sees it in the summer so I try to pick plants with the other 3 seasons in mind. It also would have to be low maintenance. There is no easy water access so after the plant or shrub is established it would have to hold it's own and not be aggressive.
Any ideas?

This message was edited Oct 20, 2007 5:09 PM

Here is a longer view of the garden.The mulched area in the front was added this year ( it was grass). Now you see a long line of hostas marching in two straight lines from the distance. I just added forget-me-not plants and winter pansies in that area.

Along the back wall the bare spot on the right is occupied until mid summer by a very large bleeding heart. I keep trying to plant in front of it and behind it with limited success.

This little grouping of Lady in Red fern, variegated Solomon Seal, Heuchera Autumn Bride (all you can see is the white bottle brush bloom) and Toad lilies moved out of the corner on their own to form a congested little grouping. I'd like to separate these a little and move them over to the left, where they are heading any way, and fill that space with the tall, narrow, vase shaped, unknown plant.

This message was edited Oct 21, 2007 5:41 AM

The other area I'd like like to place a more substantial taller plant is at the center of the wall of the original garden. Right now there are mostly heucheras there now.This photo shows both areas that need taller plants.

There is a circular setting of the stepping stones to try to break those long double verticals at that center point. That would be more obvious in the winter. Because this garden is viewed from above, over the railings, I wanted to add some ground level structural interest.

This message was edited Oct 21, 2007 6:22 AM

Ok, this is the last photo showing a nice grouping but the color and delicacy of the toad lilies get lost against the brick. I can move the dwarf goats beard and push the "toads" forward but what can I put behind them? A Tall Fern? Any suggestions?

Interesting project! First thing that comes to mind for the spot against the brick wall in your first photo is Eleutherococcus sieboldianus ‘Variegatus’ http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/76515/ (another link: http://www.greatplantpicks.org/index.php?page=display&id=2188&searchterm=all) . The white and green variegation would look lovely against the dark backdrop of the brick. I've seen both good and "bad" specimens - some tall and narrow with dense habit, and some with more of a sprawling habit. Suspect the taller, narrow ones have been pruned to achieve that form - with very little maintenance in the first few years you should be able to easily prune it to maintain an attractive form. Although PF lists it as Full Sun, other sources and our experience, it actually performs very well in a shady spot - in fact, the variegation is much brighter in shade.

In your last picture, since the Tricyrtis and Variegated Solomon's Seal seem to be thriving in this situation, what about using one of the taller Solomon's Seals - Giant Solomon's Seal http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/102800/. This plant grows to about 3' in our gardens, however when I grew it in the cooler climate of my gardens in Maine, it was about 4' tall! A great vertical accent with sturdy arching stems and clean foliage.

Just a few suggestions - I'll think about it and if I come up with anything else I'll be back :)

Perhaps a Himalayan poppy http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/54011/ or an astilbe http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/b/Saxifragaceae/Astilbe/none/cultivar/0/ ? In your zone, in that location you could push things and try a ginger like http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/60083/

-Joe

rcn, Thanks for taking the time to offer suggestions in the midst of your major arbor,steps project.
The Eleutherococcus sieboldianus 'Variegatus', is a plant I am totally unfamiliar with. It could be an interesting solution for the back of the bed and I will look for it in the nurseries in the spring. I see they have thorns, do you think they are hazard for a school planting?
The native giant solomon seal looks very beautiful and seems like a good choice backing the toad lilies. Do they spread vigorously for you? I see this seems to be a concern in some of my readings but I have just 1 stalk in my garden that has never bloomed in the last 4 years.

Joe, Blue poppies and ginger, wow, talk about special.
I have 2 smaller astilbes, 'Red Sprites' in the garden. I would like to find a late blooming astilbe for the garden,do you know of any that blooms into the fall ? Good suggestions, thanks.

I still like that Japanese Anemone that you had in another pic, but never having seen it in real life, it's pretty diffcult to say whether it would fit or no.

I can't say as I have a great suggestion, but I wonder if there's any of the ornamental grasses that might do okay in those shady of conditions. There's one, I want to say one of the muhlys? that has an almost minature bamboo/ oriental feel to it. I have some of the black Mondo grass, but I think you're looking for something taller.

Maybe a stunted Jap maple, lol ...

Pagancat,
I just didn't think of adding the Japanese Anemone, thanks for the reminder, probably because I started out trying to put as many native plants in as possible. I'd still like natives first but will settle for any non-invasive exotics. If I could get a Japanese Maple to grow along the back wall that would be perfect, a heavily pruned golden leaved variety. The Eleutherococcus sieboldianus could also work in a espalier form. I'd have to research the grass you suggest. Adding the black mondo grass among the stepping stones in the center would be very pretty.

I just learned how to scan photos, etc., and can show the original layout and plant list. This photo shows the top half of the garden.

Here is the bottom half.

I also have a photo after the garden was just planted in' 04.
It's fun for me to see how it changed and what worked, and what I lost .
Originally the garden was mostly ditch lilies and hawkweed with hostas and the one big bleeding heart in the back. It is such a narrow garden I needed the stepping stones to reach the back without stomping plants. The 5th and 2nd grade class helped me plant after I prepared the soil and set the bluestone. This is a memorial garden to remember lost classmates. The 2nd graders had lost a classmate to fire that year.

I think you're making a great deal happen in such a small space without crowding... impressive. That's really a lovely tribute. too.

Lovely artwork with the details of the planting! And what a wonderful idea to get the students involved :) The Eleutherococcus used to be called Acanthopanax, so maybe you'd know it by that name? It is thorny, but figured since it would be in the back corner against the wall it wouldn't be a problem. My Giant Solomon's Seal does spread, but I wouldn't say it's vigorous - takes several years for it to establish itself before taking off. Speaking of vigorous, I'm not sure you'd want to include the Japanese Anemone in that small area - that's one plant that IS vigorous and you might be sorry, after several years it would definitely be crowding out some of its neighbors!

A lovely "vase shaped" fern that would add some height for that area is the Ostrich Fern
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/159/. I've always loved their elegant form although, again it can be very aggressive if it really likes the conditions you plant it in. We also have another very tall fern, Dixie Wood Fern http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/65332/ that is about 3'-4' tall in the gardens that might work for you and isn't as aggressive.

assuming that anyone could walk down the path you have created to enjoy the garden; imagine this... a large butterfly bench at the end up against the brick wall (the width of the area) as your main focal point

soaring above the bench... colorful metal butterflies zig zagged up the bricks, a total of 5 (more or less) depending how high the wall is.

get permission for your idea from the principal and powers to be, the same way you did for the garden, and then consider involving the school by making up a fundraiser for the materials needed.

The butterflies would add year round color, interest and serve as a symbol to all the importance of ecosystems/nature/insects etc. in education today.

Here are a few links to check out :)
http://www.livias.com/shopping/fe/index.php
http://www.cerzanstudio.com/cricketforge/butterflybench.html
http://www.tropicdecor.com/Butterflies.html
http://www.epa.gov/teachers/ecosystems.htm

another idea for just a plant would be aucuba japonica

I have the one with the plain, solid green leaves here, in dry shade (heavy clay soil) and it does great. It is a beautiful plant. The varigated aucuba is really beautiful and would look stunning up against the brick wall :)

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/93691/

I keep trying to think of plants I see here (meaning not in the desert) that have architectural interest. That's one thing the desert has in spades....

I think some art would be cool as well .... actually, I'd kind of like a mobile. Or something that reflected the kids faces.... even a mural on the wall? Ceramic chips?

Boy, I'm all over the board t'night!

It took be awhile to go through all the links and suggestions. Thanks wind, for all the ideas you offered. A mobile would be a very pretty addition for the spring garden. The butterfly bench is lovely but you are right about the area being too narrow. Thanks for the funding info. I see many very large acuba japonica in the neighborhood used as foundation plantings. Do you think this shrub could be heavily pruned to keep it narrow? I believe it is evergreen? An evergreen would be a plus along that wall if I could find one that fit the space. It would also add winter interest with the 2 hellebores blooming just in front on either side.
I have a Oregon Grape Holly in my garden with hellebore but it does suffer browning leaves in the winter.


Thanks rcn and Pagancat for the compliments.

rcn, I can use at least one of the ferns you suggested. When I decide what to use along the back wall I'm going to move a few things around adding some more ferns.

Pagancat, There is a local artist working in metal who donated a piece of his work for the front of the school. It was a lovely rust color backed by evergreens. Someone unfortunately decided it would look better painted silver. So much for group projects, you must be willing to adjust. But if I was the artist I would have been LIVID!
It would be nice to get a metal tree/trellis for the back of the garden.

OMG. Silver? I'm surprised that any artist wouldn't put some kind of contract clause that states their work cannot be changed w/o approval or must be returned.

I'd go back at night and scratch it off with my fingernails, lol!

Such a pretty area! Love what you've done already. The first thing to come to my mind was a climbing hydrangea creeping up the brick. They grow pretty slowly and have a structural interest in winter.

gemini,
Thank you. Do you think the climbing hydrangea will need a trellis support?

You're very welcome:) They're supported by those little areal roots that stick to porous surfaces, so I think against the brick would work better.

If you don't mind me asking, how slow is slow? Like, 5' in a year or less? I've seen those advertised for my area and always wondered how they'd do. They like shade?

I only obtained my first one this year, and it held its own quite well in this drought year. The tag said shade to part shade, and I've got mine under a limbed up blue spruce to grow against the chimney. From what I've been told by others with experience with them, they're slow to get going, then grow well. Not something you'll need to worry about pruning for several years. I'm thinking less than 1' per year. I picked this one up from Lowes in a 3 gallon pot marked wayyy down. It's about 2' tall now and didn't grow much this year. There is a mature one growing in the prayer garden of a church in my hometown, and its stunning. Its been there many years and forms a gorgeous network of woody, bonsai-looking, clinging stems, with glossy leaves and those lacy blooms- can you tell the vision is burned in my brain, LOL.

I guess! Sounds lovely .... uh oh... hey - you were enabling in co-ops, too!

hehehe....just spreadin' the love, LOL