Glorious Plant Combinations

Introduction and Opening Slides

     When I combine plants together for various combinations, I think of two main things: creating contrast and creating unity.

     The contrast is created by one or several plant elements. It may come from the colors of the leaves or the blooms or the texture of the plant, bold or refined. Contrast also may come from the overall shape of the plant or its leaves. Also, contrast may be created by combinations with things that aren't plants at all: brick walls, stones, birdbaths, orbs and more.

     Too much contrast confuses the eye so unity is important to tie a combination together. This is achieved by repetition of one or more elements. One might repeat a color throughout a planting. Other elements can be repeated as well. Don't forget restful plantings of one thing. A lawn or groundcover can provide a beautiful foil for the plants surrounding it.

     Above all, it is important to have fun and enjoy being a part of God's creation. He gives us so much with which to create beauty, so go forth and enjoy!

Introduction Photos

Click on a thumbnail to enlarge. Click the arrows on either end to see more thumbnails.

The Front Border at the Driveway

The Northside Front Border

The dry stream bed flows by the South lawn.

The view from the deck overlooking the North lawn.

The Independence Shade Garden.

I used this slide on the title page. In summer this is the view as you enter the driveway. This grouping includes a Musella lasiocarpa, which is the banana looking plant. It is very hardy and even the stems and blooms have survived the winter. Also included is a red sun coleus, the duckfoot coleus named 'India Frills" and a dwarf Lespedeza thunbergii called "Spring Grove." I love the bold foliage of the banana with the fine textured leaves of the lespedeza.

I enjoy the repetition of the yellow Rudbeckia Goldstrum playing around the pond. The pinks and roses also repeat in the canna, crinum, petunias and coneflowers. The urn plays into the pink colors as well.

I use cypress mulched paths throughout the garden. The dry stream bed of river rock carries away rainwater and serves as a front for the big semi-shade bed flanking the house.

This lawn is fescue (Rebel III) and has done well for me for a number of years. The soft texture of the southern shield ferns counterpoint well with the bigger evergreen leaves of the cast iron plant and various shrubs.

So named for the Independence fountain that anchors the entrance. I built it on the Fourth of July several years ago. Thus the name. The hammock is seldom used, but looks restful none the less.

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The Front Border at the Driveway

I used this slide on the title page. In summer this is the view as you enter the driveway. This grouping includes a Musella lasiocarpa, which is the banana looking plant. It is very hardy and even the stems and blooms have survived the winter. Also included is a red sun coleus, the duckfoot coleus named 'India Frills" and a dwarf Lespedeza thunbergii called "Spring Grove." I love the bold foliage of the banana with the fine textured leaves of the lespedeza.

 

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