Perennial Garden Overhaul, Phase 2

We have been living in our house for one year now. Last year I pulled out the unexciting shrubs that were in front of the the right side of the house and put in a perennial garden. I planted Limelight hydrangeas, Annabelle hydrangeas, purple coneflowers, purple sage, coral bells, and bleeding hearts. In the fall I picked up two rose bushes on a BOGO sale and also planted a dozen allium bulbs for spring interest.

The allium bulbs are just starting to open up in their purple spheres:



The left side of the house had an existing perennial garden when we moved in. Last year I left it as it was, in order to see what I had inherited (hoping for the best!). I ended up really hating most of what was growing, and spent the winter planning what I would replace the mess with. Yesterday I tackled the overgrown, invasive periwinkle vine that had taken over the majority of the flower bed. It took a lot of sweat and muscle to dig out the mess of roots, and I am pretty certain that it will reappear. I did end up saving the shasta daisy plant and the lilies that were growing. I also decided to give the blue delphenium plant one more year to prove itself worthy (last year it was a floppy disappointment).

Once I had cleared out the old it was time to put in the new! I transplanted one of my limelight hydrangea shrubs so that it was in a sunnier spot. I replaced its old shady home with three astilbe plants and a hosta:



My vision for my front flower beds is to give our home a cottagy feel. The colour palette that I have used throughout all the plants is shades of pink, purple, white, and green, playing with different heights and textures of plants, as well as using plants that bloom at different times of the year so that there is always something interesting going on in the garden for curb appeal.

I planted quite a variety of perennials yesterday. I am "trying out" plants that I don't know much about, and some that I do, and am interested to see how it will all grow together.

Peonies, sedum, veronica, asters, lavender, oriental and asiatic lilies, columbine, summer garden phlox, blazing star, and a butterfly bush are the plants I chose to create my perennial bed. Once they grow to their mature spread and height the garden should be very full and lush, with lots of variety. Now the hard part is waiting for it all to grow!

Hydrangea bush, delphenium, peony, sedum, and veronica where the periwinkle vine used to be:



A massive daylily plant used to be here. I dug it up and divided it a couple of weeks ago. I planted five pieces in my backyard, and gave another large piece to my mom. Now this area is filled with phlox, columbine, lilies, and my two rose bushes:



It was a hard afternoon of work, but well worth it! I can't wait to see how the garden turns out this summer!