garden design ideas for a raised brick flower bed.
midwestmelissa
9 years ago
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Need ideas: white flowers formal raised beds
Comments (16)Some Random Thoughts 1. I am no expert, but as I understand design, a symetrically balanced formal garden is among the most difficult to pull off. Upkeep and maintenance become more critical because flaws are excentuated by the effort to achieve a pattern. Here's a quote from a very brief on-line article that points out some potential problems  "A view demonstrates balance if the objects in it are sited so that their visual weight is evenly distributed. Formal designs often display symmetrical balance, with the left and right sides of the view being quite identical  "The Courts is one of Wiltshire's best-kept garden secrets, known to visitors for its water features with surrounding topiary and its imaginative use of color and texture. The formal water garden is a favorite area of The Courts  Symmetrical balance dominates this view: the water garden shape is rectangular, the Siberian irises on either side anchor the view, and the pair of simple containers on formal stone pedestals in the foreground complete the symmetry. The less-formal tree borders beyond the topiary and the less-formal arrangement of water lilies keep this garden from feeling stiff. The formal water garden actually helps the viewer make sense of the space, lending a feeling of calm and serenity. "There is one word of caution if you plan to use symmetrical balance to draw attention to part of a landscape. Maintenance is critical. A formally clipped hedge, for example, can become an eyesore if a section of it dies." 2. Some comments in your original post have me wondering about this issue of maintenance. You say, "We have had a lot of disappointments in the garden"  "so that even when the rest of the property is covered in weeds and is a mess"  3. I just did a search at this forum for "formal". That may bring up further clues and suggestions that will help achieve your goal. I hope that these early morning musings prove useful in somehow stirring your creative juices. Not sure they'll be of any help at all, but thanks for getting me thinking, too. Wellspring...See MoreIdeas for flower garden beds....
Comments (23)Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for coming back to hurrah me on even further, and for more pictures, melva and txspice! At the moment the plants aren't the issue, it's planning the space and the layout to accommodate the plants~i'm trying to *think* in small increments.LOL whitecap2, I wasn't really thinking of xeriscaping when I started planning the backyard~I just couldn't stand *that* St. Augustine anymore and still have it in the front yard(it will be 'dealt with' later). Anyway, less water is always good since I don't even use the dishwasher, and am almost fanatical when it comes to wasting. Cottage 'style', was 'in my head', but not necessarily plants you would find in a cottage garden because of the drought-like conditions~~don't want the mess of too many perenials/annuals either. That's why small bushes and other plants will work better, imo. I watched my best friend with her cottage garden, and before she knew it, her plants had gone wild and she was spending way too much time weeding. She eventually had to pull out a lot of plants which meant MORE work and a loss of time AND money! melva, cynthia, roselee, adn whitecap2, I also want to thank you for suggesting various blogs~~very helpful and makes for great reading of what others have done. Now I have to finish reading what I did't have time for earlier. Thanks again! ;o)...See MoreGarden help! Should I put a path around raised garden beds?
Comments (21)Beautiful garden. I think it will be difficult to keep grass looking good around raised beds unless you have a lawn mowing company and then it will not be a problem. As' localeater' mentioned I would not use pea gravel. Seeing your beautiful garden I would not use any kind of gravel, but I think a stone path between the two beds and from the patio would look good. Of course if later you decide that that is not the place for your beds then it would look silly to have a path from the patio to the middle of your lawn. Good luck on your garden....See MoreNeed suggestion for flower bed. For anyone with garden design skills,
Comments (19)If this was mine, I think I would go with a mix of plants that like it dry and look good for a long time: mixed alliums bulbs planted in the back, then 1 row of a medium grass (my favourite is Molinia caerulea variegata) and a row of low growing nepeta in front, like Little Trudy. You would get Spring color with the alliums, their ugly foliage would be hidden by the other plants, you would get at least 2 sets of blooms from the nepetas and the grass looks great later in the season. They’re perennials so you would not have to worry about snow. And before I commit to anything for such a long garden bed, I would try out the plants for a year, if you’re able to wait. Sorry, just read that you’re looking for deer resistant plants, I don’t know if my plant suggestions are. Hope this helps!...See Moremidwestmelissa
9 years agomidwestmelissa
9 years agoKim in PL (SoCal zone 10/Sunset 24)
9 years agomidwestmelissa
9 years agomidwestmelissa
9 years agocakbu z9 CA
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9 years agojosephene_gw
9 years agomidwestmelissa
9 years ago
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