Hostas and Hydrangeas

It's a little overwhelming. The plantings around the house were a big selling point for me, but they're all in such need of TLC, that I could hardly decide where to start. Since curb appeal is about setting first impressions, I decided to start there.

I restrained myself as much as possible last summer - maintaining the mantra that I wouldn't change anything until I lived with it for a year. I waited to see what was growing in the gardens while trying to keep them somewhat weed-free. One of the problems, when you don't know what's there, is telling the weeds from the perennials. I managed to dislodge a few campanulas and God-knows-what-else along the way last summer. I learned to identify some unfamiliar weeds like gout weed and stinging nettles (my new arch nemesis).

Everyone has their own gardening style, but I'm continually shaking my head in wonder when it comes to  understanding the design sense of the previous owners. And the abundance of deciduous shrubs - especially hydrangeas - is baffling me. There is such little space for sun-loving plants and those are the places that seem to be overrun with hostas ... so many hostas and hydrangeas!

So, the big project was the perennial garden located along the fence line. I discovered a few perennials that I didn't even know existed. They were nearly choked out by gout weed and the battle for survival of the fittest taking place among the perennials already in place. There were three giant blue/gray hostas hogging the spotlight in this border. Although this garden gets lots of morning light, there's a fence and several mature trees that designate this patch of ground as only party sunny. The first order of business was to get those hostas out of the sunniest spot in the plot. I broke a shovel and a garden fork in the process - first time I've ever snapped a wooden handle before. I relocated the peonies and white irises, re-edged the garden, making it about a third bigger - giving the geranium, bachelor button and ladies mantle that were living in the front of the border a little more breathing space. I ripped out the gout weed by hand (as suggested by Donald, at Edgewater Farm - his knowledge is amazing). and put down some landscaping fabric along the fence line. A new Kerria japonica found a shady home at the back of the garden, between a straggly hydrangea (of course) and a spectacular mature Mountain Pink. I filled the middle of the planting with Ruby Star coneflowers, globe thistle, bee balm, digitalis and a selection of annuals to fill in the spaces while these new introductions take hold. It's a pretty traditional mix of pink, blue and yellow with splashes of chartreuse and white for punch. Overall, I'm pleased with the result and I look forward to seeing it all come together sans weeds, in the coming years.

Among the annuals I planted to fill in the holes were: snowland daisies, victoria blue salvia, cherry profusion zinnias, and rose nasturtium that I planted from seed. Although a lush layer of pine/spruce mulch has kept most weeds to a minimum, the area where the nasturtium seedlings were planted has been an incubator for nettle seedlings. One afternoon, while plucking nettles, a car stopped along the road behind me. I stood up and turned, expecting someone to ask for directions or something. The woman in the car shouted to me from the opened passenger-side window, "Your garden is beautiful!" I smiled and thanked her. She said it a second time and then drove away. I have to agree - it is beautiful.