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California Gardening

inspiration needed for reviving my old garden

14 years ago

After 3 years in the PNW, I've returned to the bay area, to an old house I used to live in... and found the garden I planted and cared for so lovingly...woefully neglected. Seriously, would it have killed them to water once a week? All of the small plants are long gone, and the grass (which I'm working on replacing). The bones are there... a handsome lemon tree, a small brugmasia I planted now 12' tall, covered in blooms, a mallow in a 4" plastic pot now a giant sprawling buzzing mass, and the 9 rosebushes are there, but scrawny and in need of love. Regular water, food, and pruning will bring all of these around.

Its the (dappled) shade garden I can't figure out. Nothing is left... its dirt. Two large planter beds that run along the fence, and surround a gum tree and a walnut tree... my blank canvas. The house has windows that run that whole length, so I'd love something handsome. Ideas? Challenges to consider: I now have a beagle. I can put up a little fence, and she will (mostly) mind me, but something that isn't too rare or dainty or poisonous would be good. I'd like more of a mass planting than a collection of individual plants. Even a groundcover could work, although there is ample room for medium height plants. There is a fence that could be used (climbers).

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. My creativity is falling flat...

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Comments (5)

mlevie
14 years ago
I'm trying to picture this, but send pictures! That will help us make suggestions...I'm glad to hear the trees are still healthy!
debbysunshine
14 years ago
Well sounds like you are so lucky to be able to start all over again just like you'ld like it. Stand across the street and take a good look and then drive around nicely landscaped areas and all of a sudden everything will fall right into place.
When hubby and I moved into this beautifully kept but empty home 23 years ago there were weeds everywhere taller than me. Dead animals, a few roses on their last legs. Ahuge mountain much too close to the house. Since I like to garden, I've played over the years with different approaches but have finally become very pleased with how it looks and especially with all the trials and errors how nicely everything is growing without too much effort which is very important the way the planet is going. So wing it and have fun creating something to be proud of.
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hosenemesis
14 years ago
I'm just posting to sympathize-- Sorry about your beautiful garden.

What did you have planted in the shade beds before? I'm quite partial to sword ferns, but I don't know what grows well in your area. Can't you grow azaleas and rhododendrons? I would kill for a rhodie...

Good luck.
Renee
queerbychoice
14 years ago
Think of it this way: the years of neglect put your plants to a perfect test to determine how drought-tolerant and low-maintenance they are. The surviving plants can be the beginning of a new drought-tolerant, low-maintenance garden! If you add some natives, you'll be even more in keeping with the latest gardening trends.
surfcityhb
14 years ago
I love my native woodwardia fibriata ferns growing under an outdoor staircase where they only get morning sun. Although they're called giant chain fern, in a garden setting I've read they usually don't get big. Mine are about 2-3 feet. I've seen in a book where they can act as a ground cover and that's the look I'm going for. Very pretty. I don't water them any more than I do anything else...not more than once a week. I don't know how they'll tolerate litter from a gum, though. I have hebes, pelargoniums, berberis darwinii and a native berrythornythingIcan'trememberwhatitis growing under the several eucs I've got, however.

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