Tuesday, February 10, 2015

More lawn gone…

Last September I posted about a beautiful container that I’d managed to hide behind other plants. This was the container…

And here’s where it was hidden, back there behind the melianthis, trachycarpus and hakonechloa…that level of camouflage takes talent I tell you!

So I pulled the plant to overwinter in the “greenhouse” and stored the container where it wouldn’t fill with water.

Then I took these photos so I could start scheming on how to right the wrong. The three pavers in the corner of the lawn were originally placed to provide a solid footing for a rotating group of containers, this was back when the huge privet loomed large over that area.

The containers made a nice focal point in the corner, as you enter the garden – kind of like in this image taken last summer.

What I’ve decided to do is remove a section of lawn in front of the melianthis, trachycarpus and hakonechloa combo. In fact all along the north end the concrete edging would move forward about 2ft, and thus the third paver would be eliminated. Here are my mad illustration skills of the concept on a photo taken last week (I cut back the melianthis and some of the hakonechloa, they’ll return in the spring).

That’s what I know for sure, after that things are a little less certain. Do I pull out the remaining two pavers and fill in the “holes” with the lawn bits I’m removing? Part of why they originally went in was because lawn had a hard time growing under the shadow of the privet. Obviously that’s not an issue anymore. The large brown urn could set in the newly uncovered soil in front of the palm, that would be nice.

My other thought was to do something like this, where the paver that would now fall behind the edging would be moved up, rather than being in a straight line they’d form a triangle in the corner.

Uhmm…am I trying too hard to keep a feature that needs to go? Perhaps I should share a couple other photos, before you make up your mind. The pavers in the corner do echo the pathway to the patio…

And back to the driveway…

So the question is…should the pavers go and their space be filled in with lawn? If so the urn will sit behind the concrete edging, in the (new) planting bed. I got lazy and didn't color over the lawn and paver - imagine everything behind the grey line is soil and plants...

Or do you like the pavers, the repetition and focal point they provide? The urn could still sit behind the edging or even on one of the pavers as I've so professionally illustrated below (again I'm lazy, the sod is removed behind the 3 pavers - 2ft worth - gone!)...

Does this craziness even make sense? And of course I want to know what you all think - I just can't promise I'll do what you say!

All material © 2009-2015 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

38 comments:

  1. What a lovely garden! Since you asked for opinions, mine is that lawn is only covering potential planting beds. The less grass to maintain, the better ;-) My husband and I disagree on this point... but I would absolutely widen the beds as much as you can get away with ;-) What a lovely challenge to face... Cheers! WG

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm so lucky that my husband has no big love of the lawn. I think he'd be upset if it all went away but he hasn't complained as I hack away at it.

      Delete
  2. I prefer the look of the urn inside the bed, tucked under the palm. But I do also like the idea of keeping the pavers, maybe as a triangle. Then you could continue to set more smaller containers on them this summer, like in your picture.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Alison, there is something about the urn being in the planting area that I really like too.

      Delete
  3. Ohh all nice options, you can't go wrong really. But that's not a helpful comment so my suggestion/choice would be to keep the two pavers where they are and position the third where you illustrated it above, forming a corner which will make a nice focal point/display area for pots.

    What about keeping the urn where it was last year but instead raise it significantly using a small tower of paving blocks (which will be hidden by the melianthus and hakonechloa)?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh see, I knew there would be good ideas like this that I hadn't even thought of!

      Delete
  4. I agree with first keeping the pavers but moving the one forward to create a right angle. Then Removing and enlarging the planting space. From one of your pictures, the plants seem like they need more room anyway and then you'd have more place for color and texture. I liked the pots on the pavers, or maybe just the big blue one in the middle of the right angle. I envy all your luscious tropical foliage being here in Maine!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're right - the plants do need more room! (that's the general theme around here - they all get crammed in too close together). Thanks for weighing in all the way from Maine.

      Delete
  5. I've always liked the look of your pavers, which add a formal counterpoint to your otherwise exuberant garden, so I'd be inclined to keep the 3 in the triangular configuration you showed or another configuration. I'm all for removing more lawn - if you feel like taking out more, you're welcome to visit and help me with the ample amount I still have left.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Careful Kris, when the winter blues hit (next year, winter seems to be over here for this year) I might just show up at your doorstep..."will work for Southern California lodging..."

      Delete
  6. Well...since you asked...I think I'd go for four pavers in a square supporting an ENORMOUS urn. You already have a lot of drama going on in your design and plantings (lovely!) ...but I have an urge to turn it up even more!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Square...interesting. We do have a couple of extras stored away, and I do like drama...

      Delete
  7. Well , here's what I'd do for what it's worth. Dig up all pavers , dig up lawn under pavers, dig up lawn in front of Melianthus. Reposition pavers in front of Melianthus bed to echo pavers going back to the patio. I love digging up lawn !

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hmm...why hadn't I thought of that, really one could stay and I'd only have to wrestle the other two...

      Delete
  8. I like the last photo,but don't ever set pots (except the large urn one the one)on the other two stepping stones leave them clean so you can see back into the beds behind them,having the planted urn be the drama.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That certainly would make mowing/edging the lawn a lot easier.

      Delete
  9. I know I'm not qualified to give input, since I've maniacally chiseled away at useful paths and seating areas, but I love the extra 2 feet of planting space back there. I'd either keep the two pavers for staging pots or get rid of the pavers altogether. But I don't like much the one paver dog-legged out into the lawn. But...that little paver area for staging pots is like a foreshadowing of the patio with all the pots, which is a nifty reason to keep at least two pavers. Gosh, this is hard.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Of course you're qualified and for just the reason you give for disqualification. And you're right - it's hard, so many options...

      Delete
  10. It's fun to be invited into the design process of one who thinks things through this thoroughly. Maybe some of that will rub off. Using things in threes is good practice and everyone seems to agree about that. I like the idea floated by Mark & Gaz about raising the pot. You could then use it to feature one really spectacular plant.
    Different subject: I spent the morning yesterday trying to work out email kinks. I'm not altogether happy with the solution, but my brain was threatening to explode after two hours of computer-speak. Anyway, could you try sending me another email to see if comes through?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ya, I am kind of hung up on the idea of 3, thank you for reinforcing that.

      Regarding your email I got the one you sent me yesterday at 2:21 pm and replied right away, also sent a second to test what happened to a new email, one that was not part of a thread. I got auto-replies right away for both. Same message: Technical details of permanent failure: Google tried to deliver your message, but it was rejected by the server for the recipient domain centurylink.net by mx.centurylink.net. [205.219.233.5]. The error that the other server returned was: 554 5.7.1 [P4] Message blocked due to spam content in the message.

      I'm seen as spam! Sorry rickii, this sounds like a major headache!!!

      Delete
  11. I would keep the pavers in a right angle as you illustrated in the last picture, I like how it echoes the other pavers in other parts of the garden :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lots of people like the triangle, thanks Lisa!

      Delete
  12. First, and as always, your garden is stunning! I like the idea of the 3 pavers forming a corner (triangle) over there, but not putting anything on them & placing the empty pot nestled into the melianthus/palm in the newly enlarged bed. That blue is gonna look especially great with the hakonechloa over there, even in winter when it's all faded. Or, just remove those pavers entirely and have it as grass as on the other side of that "T" of lawn. I also like the idea of raising up the container in the back (and still enlarging the bed), but would be concerned about winter views unless you found a great all-weather column of some sort. There are no wrong decisions here, only potential future adjustments, and isn't that true of just about everything in the garden? If only making decisions about ones own garden were as easy as weighing in on someone else's!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Would it change your mind if I told you the container is actually dark brown (trick of the light)...and yes! "There are no wrong decisions here, only potential future adjustments, and isn't that true of just about everything in the garden?" thanks Kate.

      Delete
    2. Nope, I feel the same even if it's brown, which gives you lots more future options color-spectrum-wise than blue anyway :-)

      Delete
  13. I think keeping some pavers there is important as a repetitive element, but is 3 better than 2? I don't know. To be honest I've forgotten the question because that melianthus is distractingly beautiful...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It had a very good year, and in fact would still be that big if I hadn't cut it back - thanks to a mild winter. However since it did loose a few leaves at 21F, and it would be GInormous if I hadn't, it gets to start over at the ground level this spring (or actually now, since it's already growing).

      Delete
  14. I like the triangle pattern. And the pavers you've already placed work so well in your garden. I, too, would vote for keeping the pavers free of pots--to make mowing and walking easier. Of course, you could move a potted plant around anyway. So, if you want to change things up, you always have that option. Have fun!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Fun is what it's really all about, right?

      Delete
  15. I'm pro-paver. What about a line of pavers parallel to the planter area?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You and Kathy think alike! And I would have never thought of it, funny huh?

      Delete
  16. I do like the pavers. LIke you say, they echo the path, plus are a perfect spot for pots in the summer. How do you keep them so tidy and perfectttt. Not a stray blade of grass!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well as I recall I had just mowed and edged when I took these shots.The secret to edging is my half-moon edger I inherited from my Grandpa, I love that thing!

      Delete
  17. Why have a lawn at all??? I'm a firm believer in never having to mow.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I kind of like mowing (with a reel mower), and do like the peaceful bit of green to break up the chaos. It is getting ever smaller though.

      Delete
  18. I agree with the majority, keep the pavers because it echoes the path and I like the triangle pattern. I also kind of like Emily Kahn's idea of 4 pavers, but with my OCD I would need to bump out the edge of the bed with the Acanthus sennii to line up with the pavers. "Oh look, even more planting space! But I needed to line it up!" But then I'd have to look at how the edge of that bed lines up with the pavers on the pathway, too. Hmm, maybe it does look better not lined up. You can see where this could go. I'm not sure I would put a big urn on the 4 pavers, though. I like the urn in the bed, either where you show it nestled in front of and between the Melianthus and the palm or, as Mark and Gaz proposed, floated in the back. If you plan on putting the Grevillea back in, I would be inclined towards the former. Nobody puts Grevillea in the corner (or hides her in the back of the bed).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A dangerous look into the mind of Evan Bean....haha. Seriously though I am the same way and could have made this post about 3 times as long as I explored all the options. Thank goodness I don't have a great illustrating program (or skills) or that just might have happened!

      I do agree about the grevillea, and yes - it's definitely going back in the container, love them together.

      Delete
  19. These pictures bring back good memories of visiting your garden in July. For what it's worth, I would go with the urn inside the bed. The pavers are attractive, but somehow in that spot they don't seem right to me ... to my mind they don't go with the flow of the garden. However, I'm always in favor of expanding beds at the expense of lawn.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for taking the time to comment. Comment moderation is on (because you know: spam), I will approve and post your comment as soon as possible!