an (almost) no-lawn landscape ...
How fun for me, an invitation to meet another gardener and her garden! Patty has been creating this garden in McKinley Park for the last 15 years. The first thing I notice is the generous flagstone path. Wide paths have a way of making you feel welcome, don't you think?
Her sun border has some great perennials, like this Bee Balm. Hummingbirds love it!
Ferns in containers are a great way to garden under a large shade tree, especially one with gnarly surface roots like a magnolia!
More perennials ... this one looks to me to be the tall spiky Liatris, with another hummingbird favorite, California Fuchsia,
and a Black and Blue Salvia. Salvias attract hummingbirds, bees and butterflies. Do we see a trend here?
Away to the back yard for more horticultural bounty! Here we have a nice mix of tomatoes and other veg in containers,
and, some member of the squash family with a variety of annuals and perennials.
(Rosalind Creasy would be proud!)
Did I mention the bamboo? Of course there's bamboo! I love the sophistication of these colors and and the variety of shapes.
The bamboo grove extends to 5 neighboring yards and was here before Pat bought the house. She's created a pathway so she can get in there and control it.
What's a garden without some funky homemade art projects? Boring!
... a closer look. I love rusty tin things, and this would be a project any of us could do!
The next project is tackling the remaining front yard lawn, a small skimpy grass having trouble doing anything in the shade and roots of the magnolia. Most likely it will go to be replaced by another lovely border and some paths. Then she's an official "No-Lawn Gardener". No lawn, no mower, no edger for her! Patty says her spring garden bursts with tulips ... I'll be looking forward to seeing that! Thanks to Chris, a Facebook Fan, for inviting me to visit her mom's garden. I really enjoyed it.
