Tuesday, June 10, 2014

The View From the Front

I'm happy with our front garden again this year.  It takes a lot of work still;  weeding, deadheading, etc, but not much watering, which is nice.  We water it about once a month during the summer.  (The phlox under the birch tree close to the house are the exception.  They get a weekly watering.)


That's Oenothera missouriensis (Missouri Evening Primrose) blooming right front.  The Russian Olive tree  (Elaeagnus angustifolia) on the right belongs to our neighbor.  The three Sweet Gum trees (Liquidambar styraciflua) on the left are ours.


Closer to the house is a patch of foxtail lilies (Eremurus).  Kim dug up the bulbs last fall and spread them around a bit.  Also represented in this photo is Russian Sage, some gaura, a Mock Orange shrub against the house, a tall yarrow on the right, and in front of it is some garlic Kim planted.  There are also two beds of tomato plants crammed in there.  The large tree belongs to the neighbor.
Everyone falls in love with the foxtail lilies, as we have.  If you plant them, try to plant something nearby to take over after their foliage gets ugly.  But their blooms are worth it.


The bright orange/yellow is of course gaillardia along with some blue flax, penstemon and mullein.
Kim set the bird bath out front this year.


The bright red valerian looks great against the fence.  More Russian sage here, a red hot poker, there's a lavender plant in there also.


I've forgotten what these little daisy-like flowers (weeds?) are called but they fill in well and look nice with the magenta colored Lychnis coronaria.  The iris are taking their time coming back after Kim divided them.  They usually really help to fill this space.


One of my favorites is the callirhoe involucrata (winecups).  It spreads around but is never invasive and is a great ground cover.


I also really like this perennial foxglove.  I believe it's digitalis goldcrest, but I lost the tag.  It's short, but sweet.

Other plants stuffed in the front yard are miscanthus sinensis (porcupine grass), a globe willow (sadly on its way out), viburnum lantana 'Variegata' that the cats sleep under, ornamental oregano, sedum, a scotch broom shrub (gift from a friend long ago), the occasional stipa tenuissima (Mexican Feather grass), Karl Foerster grass, liatris punctata, baptisia australis, and a Desert Four O'Clock (Mirabilis multiflora) which I'll have to post pictures of later.
Needless to say, but I'll say it anyway, I love driving up our driveway during the summer months.  There's always something new going on.

8 comments:

Kate said...

Seeing this view updated throughout the years is such a pleasure. As I recall, the first time I visited here was seeing a post about your front yard in someone's linky profile thing on the side of a Blogger blog! Thanks for sharing your beautiful garden.

Goneferalinidaho said...

Wow, that looks great. I just bought two red hot pokers- regal torch lilies to replace the salvias that are already drooping miserably. The plant I couldn't identify that will be purple are liatris "blazing star".

andrea said...

Wow! Can't believe you only water once a month! That is fantastic1 I assume you flood it pretty good on that day. I love how full and lush everything looks. I'm considering Red Valerian. I've never liked it all that much but I keep seeing great pictures of it (like yours) so now I'm considering it. I finally have foxtail lilies too! My inspiration came from some photos you posted a couple of years ago! I love them but just have 3 so no need to divide just yet. I also just planted a 'wine cups.' Mary Ann N. raves about it too so I decided to try one. Yours is gorgeous! I agree, love your front garden this year!

Priscilla @ Homegrown Delight said...

Your front garden looks beautiful, so many flowers in bloom. I know what you mean about weeding but it's all worth it. I'd love coming home and driving up my driveway if I had a lush garden like yours :) have a great weekend!

Priscilla @ Homegrown Delight said...

Your front garden looks beautiful, so many flowers in bloom. I know what you mean about weeding but it's all worth it. I'd love coming home and driving up my driveway if I had a lush garden like yours :) have a great weekend!

GRACE PETERSON said...

I love, love, love it! I wish I had more room, I'd grow Eremuris. Such a stately gorgeous blossom.

Great photos, Victoria.

Barbarapc said...

Really like the combo of Eremurus and Russian Sage - I'm thinking I've got to find a garden to put that in - very pretty combo. Looks like you're still weeks ahead. What a great show to the street - your neighbours are exceptionally lucky!

Chris said...

I love how WILD it all looks.