Landscaping - Misc. Ideas
Columnar Norway Spruce (Picea abies ‘Cupressina’) Norway spruce are native to northern, central and eastern Europe; ‘Cupressina’ is a hybrid Loved by: Phil Steinhauer of Designscapes Colorado near Denver Why this tree: “It is a beautiful, narrow, fast-growing spruce with short, dark green needles,” Steinhauer says. “It is known to withstand heavy snow loads better than most fastigiate evergreens.” Special features: “Because of its narrow, upright growth habit, this spruce makes a great evergreen screen in narrow spaces,” Steinhauer says. He adds that it also has the appearance of an Italian cypress, which won’t grow in colder climates. For that reason, the landscape architect often uses these trees in Tuscan-style gardens, as well as in traditional style landscapes where other evergreens are too large. Growing tips: Steinhauer says these trees are fairly easy to grow and prefer a sunny location. He adds that the trees are deer-resistant, free of pests and only need “a little water during dry spells.” Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 45 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 42.8 degrees Celsius (zones 2 to 8) Water requirement: Moderate Light requirement: Full sun Mature size: Grows t...
‘Red Obelisk’ Beech (Fagus sylvatica ‘Red Obelisk’) Beech are native to Central Europe and England; ‘Red Obelisk’ is a hybrid Loved by: Kathy Molnar Simpson of KMS Gardens and Design in Chicago Why this tree: “Its columnar form maxes out at 5 feet wide when mature, which is great when height is needed in a tight space,” Simpson says. She likes to use these trees in front of a house or along a foundation, where they can help balance the scale between the home and lower garden plants. “I like to pick up the leaf color in other plants grouped with this tree. The leaf coloration also pairs well with chartreuse and periwinkle colorations,” she says. Special features: “The narrow, columnar form and coloration are the highlights of the tree,” the designer says. “It also has a glowing mahogany fall color and winter interest from the tight branching form, undulating branches and smooth, silver bark.” Growing tips: “This tree likes good, organic, loamy soil with plenty of regular moisture. It is pretty trouble-free and can handle some urban pollution,” Simpson says. Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 25 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 31.7 degrees Celsius (USDA zones 4 to 7; find your zone...
Lakota Santa Fe Coneflower (Echinacea hybrid) This new coneflower hybrid stands out for its incredibly bright mixed flower colors — one can spot blooms in sunset shades of red, red-orange and magenta pink on a single plant. The carefree plants resist deer, tolerate a range of soil types, are drought-tolerant once established and attract bees and butterflies. Lakota Santa Fe stays fairly short (topping out between 12 to 16 inches tall), and makes a nice addition to containers or as a hot-colored accent in mixed borders. Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 25 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 31.7 degrees Celsius (zones 4 to 8) Water requirement: Moderate; low once established Light requirement: Full sun Mature size: 12 to 16 inches tall and 16 to 18 inches wide
1. Constant Coral Lewisia (Lewisia Constant Coral) This low-water beauty blooms continuously from May to October with a watercolor range of coral pink to soft orange flowers, each petal ringed with white. Plant in rock gardens, well-draining containers and sunny beds, paired with other low-water favorites like Sedum and Coreopsis. Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 25 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 31.7 degrees Celsius (USDA zones 4 to 8; find your zone) Water requirement: Low Light requirement: Part shade to full sun Mature size: 4 inches tall and 10 inches wide
‘Oso Easy Hot Paprika’: An easy-care ground cover rose with great heat tolerance. The electric-pink-orange blooms of this rose have an almost highlighter quality, nearly glowing amid the glossy medium-green foliage. Bred as a ground-cover rose, the plants stay low, growing in mounds from 1 to 2 feet tall and twice as wide. The plant is exceptional for both its cold tolerance (can grow down to Zone 3) and heat tolerance (blooms resist fading in hot climates). Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 30 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 34.4 degrees Celsius (zones 3 to 9) Water requirement: Moderate Light requirement: Full sun Mature size: 1 to 2 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide
‘Lady in Red’: Ruffled true-red blooms that hold their color. As decorative as the skirt of a flamenco dancer, the flowers of ‘Lady in Red’ have a double form and highly ruffled red petals. Instead of fading to pick up more pink or blue tones like most red roses, the petals of ‘Lady in Red’ stay ruby-red until they fall to the ground, even in hot climates. As a climber, the plant naturally has a sprawling habit but is more compact and bushy than other climbing roses. Plant where it will have some space to sprawl, such as along a fence or trained up the side of a garden shed. Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 25 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 31.7 degrees Celsius (zones 4 to 10) Water requirement: Moderate Light requirement: Full sun Mature size: Climbing habit with canes reaching between 8 to 10 feet tall
‘Top Gun’: Intense color and excellent disease resistance. With richly colored red-burgundy petals around centers with decorative yellow stamens, ‘Top Gun’ is a real head-turner in garden beds. Plant where you’re looking for rich color, either as the focal point of a mixed bed or where it can stand out among evergreen shrubs. The plant has excellent disease resistance — coming out at the top of the charts in trials in the Eastern U.S. — and a rounded, bushy habit. Leaves are glossy and medium to green. Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 25 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 31.7 degrees Celsius (zones 4 to 10) Water requirement: Moderate Light requirement: Full sun Mature size: 3 to 4 feet tall and wide
Shade Plant Largeleaf brunnera (brunnera macrophylla) 'Jack Frost' Zones 3 to 8
Shade plant (larger leaves) Rodgersia pdophylla 'Rotlaub' grows 3-5 feet tall and features bronzy spring growth. Zones 3-9
Jacob's Laddar Bloom season: Spring Cold tolerance: Zones 3 to 7 Water requirement: Moderate Light requirement: Partial sun to full shade When to plant: Spring or fall; bare-root or potted plants are available from many native-plant nurseries
birdhouses (add metal to openings though)
‘Silver Shimmers’ lungwort (Pulmonaria ‘Silver Shimmers’,
Botanical name: Penstemon palmeri Common names: Palmer’s penstemon, scented penstemon, snapdragon penstemon Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 30 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 34.4 degrees Celsius (USDA Zone 4; find your zone) Water requirement: Low Light requirement: Full sun; filtered shade in low-desert regions Mature size: 1 foot tall and wide; 4 feet when flowering Benefits and tolerances: Drought tolerant, deer resistant, fragrant, attractive to hummingbirds and native bees, summer flowers in cooler climates
Groundnut (Apios americana) Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 40 degrees Celsius (zones 3 to 10) Water requirement: Tolerates moist to average soil moisture Light requirement: Grows best in partial to full sun Mature size: Resprouts each spring and climbs 4 to 8 feet in a season
‘Hillside Black Beauty’ Autumn Snakeroot (Actaea simplex ‘Hillside Black Beauty’) The dark leaves of ‘Hillside Black Beauty’ stand out in the understory of a woodland garden. The foliage itself reaches only about 2 feet tall, with showy flowers appearing in late summer that can bring the plant’s height up to 6 to 7 feet. Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 40 degrees Celsius (zones 3 to 9) Water requirement: Regular; prefers moist, well-drained soil Light requirement: Partial shade
chairs
'Argentea' variegated alternateleaf dogwood - mature height 15 feet http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/75061553/list/try-this-plant-for-autumn-color-in-the-woodland-garden
‘Hameln’ Dwarf Fountain Grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘Hameln’) The soft bunny-tail plumes of ‘Hameln’ are almost impossible not to touch. This warm-season grass is a moderate grower to 2 to 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide. It works well planted along walkways, dry streambeds and in containers mixed with other water-wise perennials. Note: In some regions, ‘Hameln’ can be invasive and inappropriate for use in gardens bordering wild areas. To prevent self-seeding, deadhead plants in fall to keep seeds from reaching maturity. Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 25 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 31.7 degrees Celsius (zones 4 to 11) Water requirement: Moderate; low once established Light requirement: Full sun
http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/72643720/list/american-basswood-provides-garden-shade-and-forage-for-pollinators
http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/73306904/list/plant-rocky-mountain-beeplant-for-late-summer-color-and-pollinator-buzz
Golden Currant (Ribes aureum) Early flowering bush (March - April) and Zones 3-7
The yellow variety of pineleaf penstemon, ‘Mersea Yellow’, with the more common orange variety in the background. Pineleaf Penstemon (Penstemon pinifolius)
Fringeleaf wild petunia "Combine it with native perennials that also thrive in dry soil, including partridge pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata), bluebell bellflower (Campanula rotundifolia), red columbine (Aquilegia canadensis), whorled milkweed (Asclepias verticillata) and hoary vervain (Verbena stricta)." http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/70358921/list/ruellia-humilis-thrives-in-rock-gardens-and-along-boulevards
Butterfly plantings: http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/69891947/list/15-native-flowers-that-attract-butterflies
Canadian Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense)
expensive but really cool!
Black Cherry Tree (what's in the back yard behind the crabapple http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/67621489/list/plant-black-cherry-trees-for-the-birds-and-bees
Love the lanterns
Window boxes
Cool design, but would have to find out more about mason bees
Butterfly Magnet The perennial beds surrounding a lake house in Madison County, New York, abound with color from spring through fall. The planting design by A J Miller Landscape Architecture includes a diverse range of native and ornamental perennials, many chosen to attract bees and butterflies. The long season of staggered blooms provides interest for months and also ensures a steady food source for pollinators. Plants include: Beebalm (Monarda ‘Scorpion’, USDA zones 4 to 9; find your zone) Culver’s root (Veronicastrum virginicum, zones 3 to 8) Dense blazing star (Liatris spicata ‘Kobold’, zones 3 to 8) Hyssop (Agastache sp.) Masterwort (Astrantia major ‘Moulin Rouge’, zones 4 to 7) White turtlehead (Chelone glabra, zones 4 to 7) Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea ‘Fatal Attraction’, zones 3 to 9)
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