So it has been rainy and wet the past few days, which means I've been stuck inside looking at plant sales and thinking about how I'll fit it all in my front garden. Down the line I want to expand the beds to surround the front yard, with more cottage garden flowers. But I also need to come up with something for the parking strip and around the front powerline pole. Right now it is grass and weeds, with mostly weeds around the pole. In the summer the grass tends to get crispy on the north side because it is so hot and dry and the long strip is difficult to water consistently along the whole length (I think it is 10ft by 35ft)

I'm thinking a bed with iris, daylillies, spring bulbs, and some drought resistant plants like Russian sage. These could be watered once a week during the summer, I think, rather then the every day the grass requires.

I've never grown these before, so I'm not sure how they will work together, or if they will require less water then the stupid grass. If anyone had pictures of them together I'd love to see them.

Also, I'm thinking of doing a lasagna style of bed, with newspapers and then mulch on top. If I put it down soon, will it be ready to plant the iris in the fall? I'll post some pictures of the spot later.