Pirl, here is a Cornus Variegata american red twig dogwood in my garden next to the shed in Vt last June. Nice in summer, beautiful in the winter.
I agree that if you can avoid the trellis, it would be far better for both your pocket book, the house itself, and for the nice visual that clematis make when growing through other shrubs. Patti
Well can anyone maybe suggest a small shrub and I mean small - like no bigger than 3 feet tall by 3 feet wide that doesn't require full sun??? I am open to suggestions....I am just toying with ideas. Thanks. I do appreciate your input....
How about a dogwood? Hee hee. The same Clethra 'Sixteen Candles' would work there too. Do you want summer blooms only? Any color bloom?
No it doesn't have to bloom.......a nice compact shrub would be nice.....or something tall and skinny....
do you have a photo of your 16 candles???
I don't have Sixteen Candles - I have a larger, less well-behaved one called 'Rosea'. Then Itea 'Little Henry', as Anita suggested, or Fothergilla 'Blue Shadow'. There are dwarf rhodies. Lots of choices. You can go with just foliage plants.
Thanks, Patti. I had never seen it before.
Dawn, have you checked out the various gardening magazines for ideas? Sometimes a visual helps too. Fine Gardening is one [I have to subscribe to this one - I really like it] that has an online presence http://www.taunton.com/finegardening/ . Garden Gate I do subscribe to and love it - http://www.gardengatemagazine.com/ .
Great idea, Anita, and such a good winter experience.
You could also, if you wanted to try them, use dwarf barberries. There are some really nice yellow ones, and also the red/burgundy ones are nice. The one I have in my front yard, can't remember the name, only gets about 18" tall or so, and about 2' wide...I trim it way back in the fall. The Itea that Victor is writing about are stunning, and the winter color, dark purple/red has that added interest to it.
Some of the "bush" clematis might work nicely too. Need to find one of my Klehms catalogs to search the name of them. I've seen them growing at a local garden center, pretty purple flowers, last awhile, and get mabye 18"-24" tall, and have a bushy growth to them.
Since you have some everygreen already in the spot, think it's a rhodi you have there, why not try planting some of the dwarf conifers that have yellow tips...that might be nice too. Then you'll have color there all year 'round.
I think I want to try some blue berries this year. Can anyone recommend a good hybrid and nursery?
I have these:
Patriot- Bush: Fairly vigorous, moderately erect, open, very productive. Fruit cluster: Tight. Berry: Very large, slightly flat, medium blue, firm, small scar; flavour excellent. Concentrates ripening to two main pickings. Berries show a "red back" when immature, and fruit can be soft in very hot weather. Plants are tolerant of heavier, wetter soils, cold weather, and frost.
Semi-Dwarf Northland Blueberries
Northland gives you loads of medium size, nutritious fruit on a beautiful, spreading bush.
Jersey Blueberry
Medium-blue fruit so large and juicy, you'll have a hard time getting it to the table.
Anita is this within driving distance for you? Afton, in Chenango County New York
Or maybe just call these people and talk to them. Here is the link to the web page, tells you about the BB they sell, where they are located, ect.....
http://www.stone-hill-blueberry-farm.com/index.html
Can't get away from Patriots!!!!!!!!
Nope, not with a Mainer around.
With a gun to her head?
Yes, but only when I am out of DD coffee!
Dear Daughter??
No silly, Dunkin Donuts....if you got to be addicted to coffee..DD is the way to go!
Speaking of DD...she called last night and wants me to go to Tampa in March. I am seriously thinking hard on this, it will be up to Brian's foot in the end.
Brian's foot has a mind of its own? I say GO!!
Maybe his foot will boot me on the plane!
My neighbour has a barberry bush in her yard and I love it...they can be very prickly right? Anyhow the colour is just amazing all year long....I am starting to think I might want one of those!!!
Yes, Barberries have wicked thorns. At least the ones at my inlaws' house do. WICKED. I freak out every time I see my bug eyed Boston Terriers go near them. Very pretty, though.
For a blooming perennial to replace the daylilies, why not just more of that pretty pink astilbe you have in there already?
Will Barberries stay small and compact?? Seems as though my neighbours does.....
Only certain ones.
I saw this thread a bit late... but how about some foxgloves?
How about columbines?? They do like some shade right??? Would you recommend them??
They're lovely, Dawn, for springtime. Then you'd have a vacancy until the end of the year without any blooms.
I think Heuchera has already been mentioned...I have a couple that bloom pretty much all season and like the shade, but they may be smaller plants than you were thinking of for that spot. My favorite is 'Gypsy Dancer', which bloomed from Spring all the way up to the first frost. The other one I have that is a long bloomer is 'Hollywood', with coral red blooms. Here is Gypsy Dancer..I'm going to be hunting for more of these this Spring because I really love the way it performs:
Are you still asking about the DL replacement, Dawn, or the Dogwood replacement? You're confusing me!!
Hahahaha yes I guess I could see how that would happen...right now I am thinking of the DL replacement. Would this be a good alternative???
Pirl is right about nothing after the spring bloom. And leaf miners can make the foliage look disgusting. Plus, they do re-seed a lot. I would stick to the earlier options.
Reseed? Really?
Hahaha ok thanks guys - I knew I would get the bestest advice for you guys!!! Nice garden though pirl - I think it looks pretty!!! I guess they spread more than you wanted them to? I always thought they stayed in a clump - dohhhh!!!! So much to learn so little time.
Actually I don't mind them there. Though you can't see them there are three paths in the photo so it's not one big mess of plants. Columbine love to self-seed in paths with wood chips.
Okay I just have to ask are leaf miners what makes the leaves look coloured with veins?? Do they always get them???
They don't always get them but, yes, that's how the leaves do look.
Yes - I always get them. Don't know about everyone else.
Okay yup that is gross!
Just cut them down to the base and discard - do not compost them. New leaves will pop up and look just fine.
I think the patterns they make are cool.
I just think bugs are gross period!!!! I like gardening I just don't like bugs!!!
