Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Green, Just Green

It's not easy taking a plan and sticking with it (at least for me.)  There are plusses and minuses to every choice, and that includes any addition or subtraction of plants in the garden.  Take the pond area for instance.  Every year I wonder if I should change this area.


I designed the pond area to be a soothing, refreshing area of green.  Boxwoods surround the area.  I chose them because they were evergreen.  Asian Jasmine, too, was chosen because of its evergreen quality.  I know it can be a maintenance nightmare, so it was not chosen without hesitation.


Pots are filled with different annuals each year.  These are difficult to fill because one is in full sun, the other in full shade. 


The only color comes from the plants in the pond.  Blue rush pickerel blooms and attracts butterflies and bees.  Lotus flowers (this is a picture from last year - it hasn't bloomed yet this year) are exotic and showy.  Water lilies also bloom in the pond.


Pond plants go dormant each winter, but the rest of this area stays evergreen.  Which is what I wanted.  My bedroom window looks out onto this area, and I wanted to see green all year long.


Many times I have wondered if I should include additional plantings.  White roses have come to mind.  Sometimes I'll picture it with tropical cannas.  Bulbs that pop up in the spring have been considered.  But I always decide to keep it green, just green.  


I doubt myself every spring and summer, but in the fall and winter, I'm happy to have an area of green to soothe my restless spirit.  If there were deciduous plantings in this area, there may be more interest, but it would not be as calming for me to look upon.  Especially in the dark days of winter right before spring when everything is dormant, brown, or grey (and I am the most anxious), I can look out at this area and see green.  Calming, soothing green.

What do you think?  Would you keep this area green, just green?

I'm linking this to Cottage Flora Thursdays.  Check out all the other garden blooms there, too!

25 comments:

  1. I have the honor of being your "linky neighbor" over at Fish Tail Cottage. Stopping by to admire your stunning garden. It's simply gorgeous, you've done a wonderful job!

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  2. Keeping it evergreen helps in the winter indeed. You can always dot around annuals in pots in the area for extra interest in the summer :)

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  3. I LOVE this area and would definitely keep it green. There's still plenty of lovely plants to admire but nothing that overwhelms. Perfection.

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  4. I think it looks beautiful the way it is. You are a talented designer.

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  5. Thanks for linking your post to Cottage Flora Thursday's, its a gorgeous pond area! xoox, tracie

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  6. I think the green is just perfect, Holley, especially since it surrounds a water feature. I also love the combination of deep greens with the white bench/statuary--even in the summer it must look cool and serene. That kind of classic, rich simplicity would just be disturbed by too much color. You've really created something beautiful there! (Perpetually debating other possibilities: both the pleasure and the curse of gardening.)

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  7. Your pond area is lovely. It must be very soothing to sit near it. And I love the statue you have .

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  8. lovely...it is so different planning for areas that stay green without snow all winter....

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  9. High Street Cottage - Hi! I'll be sure to check out your link. Thanks for stopping by.

    Mark and Gaz - You are so right about the annuals. In fact, the times I've enjoyed it most, I've had very bright annuals in those pots. I need to do that this year!

    Marguerite - I suppose it could become overwhelming, especially with bright cannas and such. Thanks for your input.

    Masha - I'm still learning - all by trial and error! A blank slate has so many possibilities, and I have a hard time sticking to just one!

    Tracie - Thanks for hosting. I look forward to seeing what others have blooming.

    Stacy - You said it perfectly - it's the pleasure and a curse of debating other possibilities. I could see this area planted in so many different styles. That's the hardest part for me - eliminating!

    Jeannie - It is nice to sit there, as the water bubbles up. There's something refreshing about the sound of water, no matter where it's located or planted. I do think every garden should have a water feature just for that sound of water.

    Donna - Yes, I would probably look at it quite differently if I lived where everything was buried under snow all winter. I wouldn't really care much about using all evergreens then, probably! I never gave that much thought before! Great comment.

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  10. What an incredible view you have from your bedroom! I can see both why you would be tempted to play with adding some color to it AND why you might like to keep it "just green."

    It is tempting to want to add things or make changes to spaces we've set up, indoors and out!

    I have to say, though, that I love the simplicity of what you've done here. Iove that the color comes from water plants when they bloom and I love that the overall feeling is cool, serene, and so calming.

    I think the bold statues and benches work beautifully with the understated "color" scheme and that they take the place of any colorful plants you might like to throw into the mix.

    I say keep on doing what you're doing and enjoy that blissful green!

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  11. I think it looks lovely and you have made all the right choices!

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  12. I think your pond area is just beautiful - I wouldn't change a thing! Thanks for your visit and for your kind comments on my water feature. I wish I had your green fingers though! Have a lovely day. x Sharon

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  13. It is nice to see seasonal change but I understand the the need for green in the middle of winter. Just green is perfect.

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  14. Beautiful pond! Green is beautiful because there are so many different shades of green. Often with color in the garden it lessens the chance to experience and appreciate just how pretty the different leaf textures are along with all the different shades of green!

    Thanks so much for visiting and for your sweet comments! :)

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  15. Maybe some iris for the fan of leaves. But staying with blue or white flowers.

    Water is soothing, and your choice of plants is even more so. Bright colours can sing in another part of your garden ;~)

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  16. I am a fan of green, just green too. As a matter of fact, I often think to myself that my favorite color in the garden is green. Sure I love the flowers too, but really more for their shape and their smell! I am slowly removing most colored foliage plants because in the end, a decided I like the massive green blob effect better :)

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  17. Dear Holley, I love your cool, green pond area! So different from mine which is surrounded by a colorful herbaceous border. Now I've seen yours, I am having second thoughts about my pond area. I guess "the grass is always greener ..." P. x

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  18. Love your pond! Paula from Idaho

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  19. Your pond area is beautiful. There are so many wonderful colours and textures in the nurseries, sometimes resisting the urge to have them all results in a more pleasing overall effect. I don't know, I second guess myself all the time.

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  20. Cindy - Great concept to think about - you're right, just the different variance in leaf shape can be very interesting!

    Elephant's Eye - Thanks for pointing out that the water is soothing, and perhaps this area should stay that way, also. I do have a lot of hot colors in other areas. This is my only 'calm' spot.

    Jess - Interesting that you are removing colored foliage plants. They are a favorite of mine, though I don't have any in this area. I guess all gardeners should love green!

    Pam - I think we second guess ourselves a lot. Through this post, I've realized that plants are a lot more permanent than we may first realize when we're putting something in. Our homes can change with paint color, new curtains, or new pillows, but it's a bit harder to change our gardens! Don't second guess yours - I know it's beautiful the way it is.

    Paula - Thanks for coming by and commenting!

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  21. Mac - You make a great point. It is really hard for me to resist all those plants in the nurseries. I have a very hard time saying 'no' to a plant! I guess it's just natural to wonder what it would look like if we planted areas in a different manner.

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  22. Your pond is lovely! I would probably put a spot of color in, but that's me, and this is your garden. Having a lovely green oasis in the blahs of winter is a brilliant idea.

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  23. Cynthia - I do love looking out in the winter and seeing green. I learned the hard way (isn't that how we all learn?) that a bed full of perennials is boring in the winter. So, I was determined to have this be more of an all-weather bed. I think I'm going to put some colorful pots of annuals around. That will satisfy my desire for color, I think.

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  24. mmm, love the peacefulness. Could we share a cup of tea together at that bench?

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  25. Carol - Come on over. I'd love to.

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