Mailbox Area - Never Will Be Done

11 years ago

A few years ago my mailbox was falling apart and in desperate need of replacement. The flag snapping in two was the final straw. I decided that it would be a great idea to put a flower bed around the new mailbox. Years later, I'm still working on it.

Here's the mailbox, freshly planted:

And here's the area today:

I think the area looks better than the pic shows. Maybe I need to read some tips on taking photos of plants.

Anyway, the crape myrtle hasn't grown in the years it has been planted. YEARS. Long, sad years. So I recently dug it up and replanted it hoping that it fixed any problems (air pocket was the suggestion from the guy at the nursery). Since it is supposed to provide some afternoon shade for the area, it has caused me problems with the plants.

Here's a closer pic of a couple of the plants:

I've tried various plants over the last couple of years. Some just didn't work at all and I just changed my mind on others (apparently I like to create more work for myself). For example, purple fountain grass did well, but every year it seemed to come back a little less full.

Current Plant list (what I can remember):

Red Rocket Crape Myrtle

Guara

Purple Lantana

Flax Lily

Liriope

Mexican Petunia

Agapanthas

Day Lily

White Penta

Plumbago

Purslane

Schefflera

Sedum

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Comments (13)

hester_2009
11 years ago
That looks really pretty!
I think all the plants you have will be fine without shade.
Congrats...you did a great job!
Hester
kayjones
11 years ago
Very pretty! I just planted (on Mother's Day) an area surrounding my mail box - it's not going gang busters, but it still looks good. Maybe next year it will take off and fill in.
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tomncath
11 years ago
I think it looks great! What is that with the pinkish blooms in the second picture? Does it attract bees or butterflies?

Tom
jellybobelly
Original Author
11 years ago
Hester, the only plant in there that currently struggles with the lack of a little shade is the agapanthas. Originally I had some different plants in the area but have tried to change to things which handle the lack of shade a little better. Thanks!

kayjones, I'd love to see it. I've been working on this area for years. I slowly expanded it each year. Here's a pic from a couple of years ago:

Tom, that is the guara aka whirling butterflies. The newer ones from this year are a dark pink and the ones from last year are a lighter pink and just starting to send up flowers. I believe they also come in white. They do attract butterflies and bees although I don't notice them as much there as on tall red pentas or a butterfly bush. I have noticed an iridescent green sweat bee (had to look it up to identify it) repeatedly enjoying the plant.
crueltyfre
11 years ago
very nice!
Lori
annafl
11 years ago
Ooooooooohhh... I really like it. Great plant selection, echobelly! Will you show it to us again at the end of the summer? Curious to see how big/full the pretty gauras will get. Thanks for showing us.

Anna
annafl
11 years ago
Oops! Meant jellybobelly.
jellybobelly
Original Author
11 years ago
Lori, thanks!

Anna, sure I'd be happy to post pics later when things have grown. I love looking at everyone's pics so the least I can do is post what I have.
Carol love_the_yard (Zone 9A Jacksonville, FL)
11 years ago
Jelly, I think the revision of the bed looks nice. Too bad the crape myrtle hasn't taken off - it would have been nice to get some shade. Still, all the plants look good. I think you did a nice job.

Carol in Jax
jellybobelly
Original Author
11 years ago
Carol, thanks. I have no idea what is wrong with that crape. I've had a stern talk with it and explained to it that it grows this year or it will be replaced.
FLgardenmom
11 years ago
I just started a little patch (that will probably never be finished) around my mailbox. Planted cat's wiskers and coreopsis....because they were discounted, already regretting my choice since I have no sprinklers. :)

Becca
jellybobelly
Original Author
11 years ago
Becca, I have no sprinklers either so I feel your pain. I considered cat's whiskers since one of the nurseries said they were drought tolerant. But when I looked them up online it seemed like they weren't quite as drought tolerant as they said.

I've had a lot of plant failures in that area. If you look at that early pic of the area a few posts above yours, the only plant still there is the crape. Which may not be there much longer. None of the other plants worked out. So I know regret.

Currently the only one struggling is the agapanthus. It really could use a little shade from the afternoon sun. I've actually considered buying a little umbrella or something for it until the tree grows.

Good luck with your area. If you have any pics I'd love to see them.
natives_and_veggies
11 years ago
I love the progression! My beds often start out one shape and then get expanded and changed around.

Mailbox Area - Never Will Be Done

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