A low wall surrounds a small stone patio off a raised wooden deck. Initially I planted a big swath of black eyed susans and daisies around the wall, but the look was way too overwhelming. In 2010 I removed all but a couple stands of black eyed susans and planted a mix of perennials. A Japanese maple ('Bloodgood') anchors the corner on the left.
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| May 1, 2007 |
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| August 17, 2008 |
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| May 13, 2009 |
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| August 7, 2009 |
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| August 26, 2010 |
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| August 17, 2011 |
In spring of 2013 I moved the sourwood from the corner of the patio to the gravel garden, and put in a fast growing river birch in that spot. The patio needs shade in the middle of summer and the river birch grew enough to begin to protect that part of the patio.
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| August 9, 2012 |
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| August 27, 2012 |
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| September 11, 2012 |
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| October 7, 2012 |
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| January 17, 2013 |
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| July 10, 2013 |
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| July 24, 2013 |
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| October 17, 2013 |
By 2014 the ajuga that I had planted in isolated clumps under the birch tree were spreading and blooming spectacularly.
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| May 19, 2014 |
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| June 1, 2014 |
I moved most of the 'Husker's Red' penstemons from the Birch Garden to this area, planting them right up against the patio wall. Their soft blooms are nice against the wall, and when the 'Blue Ice' amsonias are in bloom with them, it's all very frothy and pretty.
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| late June 2014 |
I like the way the river birch and the sweetbay magnolia now pair up to frame the entrance to the patio. And for the first time I could sit on the patio in the day time, since the river birch is finally providing shade from the west sun.
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| September 26, 2014 |
I focus on the garden area just under the river birch since it is the area right in front of where I sit, and it is the area I have fussed with the most, adding plants, taking out. Penstemons went in this year, 'Ruby Slipper' lobelias have declined, and thimbleweed has been moved. But around the patio wall on the other side, a pink anemone and a stand of Shasta daisies are full and lush. There is yellowroot groundcover there as well and a crowded rudbeckia too.
There is also a big lovely comptonia at the second entrance to the patio. It's a nice combination with the clematis that climbs the metal pyramid in summer. And I love to touch its soapy scented leaves as I come and go.
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| October 28, 2014 |
The beautiful 'Bloodgood' Japanese maple at the side of the patio did not leaf out in 2015, and I had to remove it.
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| 4/25/15 |
In 2015 the river birch finally provided plenty of shade on the patio and it was lovely all summer to sit out there. The frilly penstemons blooming at the same time as the 'Blue Ice' amsonias and white clematis were all very pretty.
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| 6/20/15 |
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| 8/14/15 |
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| 8/28/15 |
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| 10/17/15 |
