Designing a Garden Bed

When I started to plant flower gardens, the beds were all rectangular.  As more and more plants were given to me the beds became half circles, which I find are more pleasing to the eye.  Later a couple of c-shaped beds were created and eventually filled.

The bed featured here started as an oval.  As time went on and more and more plants were given to me it took on a fascinating shape.  It started with a planned weeping cherry and a hibiscus planted underneath with a stone path leading to a lawn chair added to the left.  

Originally the foxglove were planted on the south side.  As you can see, they have now self-seeded to the west side.  Due to its self-seeding, the bed was enlarged to accommodate.  These foxglove were a gift from New Jersey.

Slightly visible in this photo is the curved stone path leading to the chair.  Come July the Korean Bells campanella on the left will bloom.  I thought I was receiving the blue balloon flower campanella.  This Korean Bells campanella is a ground cover.  The creeping sedum on the right is in bloom now.

Behind the campanella is an orange daylily, that was given to me, with a hosta to the left.  Overtime an allium self-seeded behind the hosta.  You can see the seed balls in the photo above.  The tall spikes behind the daylily is a red crocosima that was given to me.  The pink behind that is a light pink peony that was a gift.  The yellow is speedwell.  As the season progresses, there will be the ligularia rocket sending up its spikes.  The taller green in the rear is a perennial sunflower that blooms late summer, another gift.

If you're starting a new flower garden, consider a tree for height, a flowering bush, something ornamental like a fountain or a bench, a path for easy access, and colorful perennials for continuous bloom throughout the season.  This bed will become more colorful as the season progresses.

Happy gardening!

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