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Gas Lantern Flower Bed Ideas

2 years ago

We have a beautiful gas lantern that was recently reconstructed. Now that the lantern looks like new, I'd like to do a better job with the surrounding flower bed. Looking for any recommendations or ideas. Yes, those empty stalks are tulips - likely a tasty snack for a visiting animal.

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Comments (7)

callirhoe123
2 years ago
Is it in sun all day? Where are you located?
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
if you want plant suggestions.. you need to tell where you are.. big city name ... and how prevalent are the vermin critters.. and what are you battling.. deer or rabbits???

id neaten up the brick work surrounding the bed ... i would leave the grass there between the bed and the walkway ....to get in and out of cars.. my first thought was expand the bed.. but i rejected that ..

i would also work on removing the ugly old.. over-sheared shrubs near the window ... doenst have to be this year.. just planting a seed for your future ...

in other words.. you should redesign the whole front landscape ... not just the bed with the light.. and as i said.. it can be a 2 or 3 year plan ...

ken
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Certainly consider using at least one dwarf gardenia ('Radicans'). Although small at purchase, it can get large enough to need occasional pruning (but it is not a chore). I would plant it about 2/3 of the way towards the front so it has room to spread naturally to the back and it should also spread over the end of the bed. A native Christmas fern or two in the narrow area might be nice. You could mix it with a native Ebony spleenwort fern as well for a different look. A good native evergreen ground cover (very low growing) is Mitchella repens, Partridge berry. Dark, glossy leaves, bright white star-shaped flowers and vibrant red berries. I definitely think that initially putting several different things in there would be better than all one thing, as you said. If things don't work, pull them out and put them elsewhere and regroup - surely that is part of the fun of gardening for many of us.
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The somewhat complex gate being visible from the area in front of the house does distract from the house - are we supposed to be looking at the design of the house façade or that feature gate behind? I would therefore plant an evergreen shrub of some size to the left of the house so that the gate is less apparent, a separated feature that a body walks around to discover after first taking in the porch area. And because the front of the house is geometrically symmetric I would plant an identical shrub to the right of the façade also.
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Good to know about Botanus - colchicums are hard to find but they carry a variety that I could settle for but was wondering about shipping so far - good to hear they're sound. I found Breck's but Vesey has some reasonable options that I think I'll go for instead. I'll look into Ms. Harris' writings - I have so much to learn...every time I look up smth, I realize how much more I still do not know! If you sign up for Vesey's catalogues and their online newsletter, you'll get discount codes for free shipping. I live in rural Alberta where mail order is pretty a much a necessity for a lot of plant items. I don't begrudge any small independent Canadian company the need to charge shipping, especially when Canada Post rates are constantly increasing. And particularly now during a pandemic when maintaining a business is so fraught. We have so few mail order nurseries and garden supply outfits in Canada compared to the US, it's always a tragedy when one closes or goes out of business or the owner retires. The best thing you can do to keep costs down and increase your success rate, especially with mail order bulbs, live plants, and seeds, is to do lots and lots of reading and research into varieties for your area. Phoenix Perennials in BC is also a very good mail order source I can recommend, and I believe they've had Mont Blanc alliums in the past. Again, sign up for the online newsletters so you find out what they have available when. Rare and/or popular varieties go fast. A list like this -- perennials by bloom time through the season -- is helpful. You want plants blooming throughout the season; it's also helpful to choose plants that have interesting/attractive foliage, https://landscapeontario.com/perennials-in-bloom-month-by-month Annuals are a good way to have interest throughout the growing season, and also good to fill in blank spaces. You could plant California poppies (Eschscholzia) in orange, for the cost of a package of seeds : ) .
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jmgundy
Original Author
2 years ago
We're in Northern VA in a neighborhood so the critters are generally limited. This area is mostly sunny. It does receive some shade but only in the evening hours when the sun is on the back side of the house.
cecily 7A
2 years ago
Ken's suggestion to remove the round shrubs (boxwood?) and coordinate the two beds is brilliant. What's your color preference (pastel or bright, warm tones or cool tones)?
jmgundy
Original Author
2 years ago
Bright and warm sounds delightful. The hedges by the front window are azaleas (pink blooms).
cecily 7A
2 years ago
My northern Virginia suburban garden (Woodbridge in Prince William County) is plagued with deer. You're fortunate to have intact foliage on your hostas, I gave away my hostas and daylilies because they were a deer salad bar. So I shall only suggest deer resistant plants in bright warm tones. Since deer aren't hanging around your yard, let's not attract them ;)

For the lamppost bed, consider achillea Moonshine, coreopsis Zagreb or echinacea Cheyenne Spirit. Add marigolds along the edge for an extra burst of color. Personally I'd remove the hostas from that bed but you may be attached to them.

Plant sources: Merrifield Garden Center has locations in Gainesville and Merrifield. If you're close to I-95, Lake Ridge Nursery on Old Bridge Road (route 123 exit) has a good selection.
PRO
Dig Doug's Designs
2 years ago
Here are some ideas:

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