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Landscape Design

What Flowers Can I Plant Near Lakefront?

16 years ago

We own a plot of land beside a brook that flows into a lake. We have a stone retaining wall and stone steps that lead to the lakefront. Our house looks right out to this from across a narrow dirt road, and I would love to plant some flowers by the roadside to the right of the stone wall.

It's about 16' x 16' cleared area which was filled with loam last summer when we built. Grass was sown to form a root base and prevent washout.

It faces southwest and gets moderate sun throughout the day. I cannot use fertilizers because it's so close to the brook that feeds into the lake. I would love to see a pop of cheery color there. Can you recommend a type of flower I can plant that would flourish in a woodsy setting, and not be too attractive to deer, etc.? Thanks!

If you haven't guessed from my description above....I am a novice gardener.

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Comments (3)

bullthistle
16 years ago
There are some woody plants that will bloom all summer and give a nice winter snow effect and my favorite is potentilla frusticosa which comesin fourt colors, the yellow is the hardiest, but pink, orange and white. K. Dykes is a cascading potentilla that grows to 4' high.

Here is a link that might be useful: Propagating Perennials
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laceyvail 6A, WV
16 years ago
Not sure what moderate sun means--dappled, morning, afternoon, number of hours??? And you don't give your zone.

But plants for sun that are hardy in zone 5 and highly deer resistant include Agastache foeniculum, Pardancandas, Belamcandas, Siberian iris, Bearded iris, peonies, Geranium 'Biokovo', 'Karmina' and related hybrids (but NOT most other geraniums), Echinops, Salvias, Penstemons, usually Baptisias, Achilleas.

BTW, you might get a bigger response on the perennials forum. This is not a landscaping question but one about perennial choices. AND, one other point, healthy perennials need little fertilizer; however, organic fertilizer in appropriate amounts present no danger to the lake.
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User
Original Author
16 years ago
Thank you for the above replies. Bullthistle, I enjoyed reading the link you attached.

Laceyvail, I was told by a neighbor that we are considered Zone 4, a cooler zone than the map indicates, because of the strong lake winds. The sun shines on the area I described through most of the day, but will be slightly dappled when the trees get their leaves. It will be our first season there to really observe, as last year was all about siting and building the house.

I need to landscape my entire front yard. Picture large stone retaining walls flanking a flat, grassy area with a stone path coming down the center. That's all there is right now. I was unable to get good pictures last weekend because we had driving rains throughout the time we were there. In the meantime, I thought I could get started on that little piece, but I will try the perrenials forum for that, as you suggest.

Thanks again for reaching out to help a beginner!
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