Hey GPODers!
While it’s always exciting to see the array of garden beds and plantings scattered throughout someone’s space, sometimes the best inspiration can come from a detailed look at one specific planting that was particularly successful or a perfect solution for a tricky spot. Today’s submission is a great example of the latter. Today we’re in Amy Palmer’s garden, looking at a small garden bed that is a simple but beautiful solution to a garden problem most of us northern gardeners face: snow piles.
Hello,
This is Amy Palmer once again from Bridgehampton, Long Island, NY. Years ago you published a little something from my garden (Check out that post here: Highlights from a Long Island Garden). These pictures show the solution to a small problem that we had at the end of our gravel driveway. In years past the snow plow in the depths of winter would dump piles of snow where you now see the bench and planting. We did not create a planting for the area at the end of the driveway because we thought whatever we put there would be ruined by the weight of the huge snow pile that would be left there by the plow in the winter time.
Last year we decided to place in that area a curved planting that would disappear with the first hard frost or two, but then reappear each spring. The answer was nepeta and Royal Standard hostas (Hosta ‘Royal Standard’, Zones 3–9). We added a bench and two small lightweight planters. We curved the planting area since curves are always nicer than straight lines in the garden.
Thought you might like to see the solving of a problem area that has given us great pleasure. It always looked so lonely there with nothing at the end of the drive.
What came first: the plants or the bench? Either way, Sarah found complete harmony with these hardy plants and an elegant bench with slats that don’t block the view of the purple nepeta flowers behind.
From another angle you can really see the vigor of this planting, and it’s hard to imagine that this very spot in winter is a heaping pile of snow!
Not every garden bed needs to be an elaborate mix of varied plants. If an area of your garden is giving your grief, take a page out of Amy’s book and create something simple but absolutely effective.
Even beautiful from behind!
The edge of a driveway isn’t the first place I would think to sit back and relax, but who ever said our gardens can’t bend and break the rules a little? Make design choices that you like and your garden will always look good.
Lastly, the view of the bed as you’re pulling into the driveway. What a wonderful welcome to the garden!
Thank you for this little garden update, Amy! Would love to see more updates from your garden soon. And to everyone reading, what garden solution are you most proud of? Let us know in the comments or send me the story to [email protected]!
Have a garden you’d like to share?
Have photos to share? We’d love to see your garden, a particular collection of plants you love, or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit!
To submit, send 5-10 photos to [email protected] along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the photos. We’d love to hear where you are located, how long you’ve been gardening, successes you are proud of, failures you learned from, hopes for the future, favorite plants, or funny stories from your garden.
Have a mobile phone? Tag your photos on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with #FineGardening!
Do you receive the GPOD by email yet? Sign up here.
