4 season gardening takes a lot of planning but when I look at my garden that is what I want to see. And it is definitely what I plan to work on with my new place.
First I have to figure out what beds will be in full sun, part sun, and full shade. Because that is the first catagory of plants I need to identify for each bed.
In one of the full sun beds I'll be planting crocuses (early
spring), Daffodils (
spring), Tulips (
spring), feesia, (early summer), Blackberry Lilies (Summer), Gladiolus, (Summer) and some of my annual miniature zinnias (summer & fall) because they don't develop massive root systems.
In the other full sun bed I'm thinking about using a burgandy hibiscus as one anchor plant and a sunset hibiscus as another, with mums, marigolds, dalhias, full sized snapdragons and such interspersed throughout the bed.
I have a fence so I want to put climbing
roses along it. I want a profusion of different colors in mid-sized
roses. Not tea or cabbage but inbetween. And those should bloom from late
spring through fall. I think in front of them I would like to have the peonies. They would bloom just before the
roses and I think that would be perfect. Plus the climbing
roses would give some protection from the wind for the peonies that are very fragile.
In the shade bed I have plans for putting my dwarf evergreens at the 4 corners as anchor plants. And then the hosta spread out in the bed with the dark green one towards the center and the two varigated ones toward each end They bloom in mid summer although have interest from
spring to the beginning of fall. Sprinkled among the hostas will be the variegated ornamental grass that blooms in the fall. Towards the front will be the miniature snapdragons for early
spring color. Behind them will be the columbines for
spring and possible some fall color. Interspersed with the ornamental grass will be the peacock orchids and the
lillies of the valley. The orchids for late summer color and the lilies for
spring color. I will also plant the jacobs ladder and see how that does. The lentil
roses for winter color didn't work for me from
seed so I may see about getting a plant or two to try. The new one with the pink spots looks very interesting. I'll also add some Malva to the back of the bed and see how that goes. They were really small the last time I tried to plant them in my clay soil but the soil over at the new place looks like it will be better.