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Does anyone else plant in mirror reverse?

13 years ago

I have this "thing" where I plant most of my garden beds in mirror reverse. Either I have two beds that mirror each other from a central path, or I put one type of plant in the middle of the bed, and mirror from that point. Does anyone else do this?

I don't know why I started doing this, except maybe to instill a little order in the chaos. I use a lot of companion plants with my roses (mostly old-fashioned, hybrid musks and a few rugosas) and it gives a cottage style feel to the garden. I also add in shrubs, annuals and a lot of herbs, so without the careful planning, I guess I'm concerned it will look like a big mess :)

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Comments (5)

harryshoe zone6 eastern Pennsylvania
13 years ago
There is little order to my chaos. This summer I have dried up dead chaos.

OK. In the front beds I attempt to have some level of consistency and try to repeat certain plants across all beds.
mad_gallica (z5 Eastern NY)
13 years ago
How I order the chaos is with rather formal, geometric beds. They are symmetrical, more or less, though the axis of symmetry is parallel to the house, not perpendicular. Then the beds are planted in fairly normal, taller towards the back, fashion. Originally, the roses were arranged in the beds somewhat symmetrically, but over time some got larger than expected, others smaller, and more than one was asked to leave. Currently, about the only plants used that way are large ornamental grasses.

What I find most interesting about the layout is that visitors immediately recognize it as a garden, even if the beds are full of weeds, or almost totally cut down.
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ingrid_vc so. CA zone 9
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It's an interesting idea but not one I'd considered, partially because my property doesn't lend itself to that arrangement. I've tried to impose some sort of coherence by having certain colors predominate in different areas, sometimes having multiples of one rose and having multiples of companion plants such a day lilies in some areas, sea lavender in others etc. The different planting areas are all surrounded by hardscaping of some kind and this really helps to make the garden look more "planned".
harborrose_pnw
13 years ago
I don't do that, LL, but it may be because I don't have much room to garden in. Your garden is pretty large, from what I remember?

If I had a great deal of room for my garden I might well do what you describe. As it is, I try for variety to make the small areas interesting and color repetition to try to tie the parts together. Repetition as you describe in a larger area I think makes it feel more controlled, or homey, maybe. I think it's a good idea. Pictures?
socks
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Lavender, I was thinking of you today as I reworked the two flower beds which flank the walkway to the front door. I don't think Mother Nature will allow perfect mirror gardens--the existing plants grow out in different directions, and for me today, the ones I left in didn't match. So I just have similar plants, but definitely not mirror!

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