Field of Science

Landscaping challenge

One thing leads to another, and the Phactors done one thing, in this instance, removing several old declining spruces, a big old ugly yew, and a rear-view mirror-removing redbud with no other redeeming features (it grew immediately adjacent to the neighbor's driveway). This leaves a 65 foot, south-facing, bed, our eastern front garden without any trees. After so many years of seeking shade-tolerant plants, to be seeking full-sun plants is quite a different challenge. However, with several notable, specimen trees in the background, new trees are not needed, so the front garden will be converted to a flowering shrub border. So the Phactors are shopping. One very exciting find was a Japanese snowbell (an American snowbell is already in a shadier garden) of some size, but the front garden is probably too sunny and dry, but TPP cannot resist and will plant it near our patio. (More good news - the severe cold did not harm our young Pterostyrax, epaulet tree, although a new beauty berry may not have been so lucky.)  The winter also killed a small plum yew, but the locale nursery surprised TPP by having a nice size replacement.  Let's see, naturally a new magnolia will be included. Lilacs are being considered because presently only one small bush and a Korean dwarf are our only plants. TPP would love a giant dogwood, but finding good-sized nursery stock is a problem. So the hunt begins. If you know of something wonderful, do pass along the information.

2 comments:

Eric said...

If you're going for lilacs, I highly recommend 'Evangeline'. It is a hyacinthiflora that seems completely mildew resistant, the leaves, slightly smaller than typical S. vulgaris, are delicately wavy for added character, covers itself most years from top to bottom in a mist of pale slate blue-lavender flowers, not terribly large, maybe 5' here in zone 5b, less coarse that S. vulgaris cultivars and not given to running, and leaves often turn ruddy gold in the fall. Of the 40 or so lilacs of all types we grow, it is the best looking shrub of the lot.

Anonymous said...

I second the recommendation of the hyacinthaflora lilac. I have two, and they are exxcellent plants.