From what you've posted in the past, it looks as if you know what grows in your climate. I guess you saved all gottagarden's previous posts to read and re-read?

I look forward to seeing updates about how your Red Bed comes along. How will you address the winter season with 'bones' and winter interest?

Nell

Good question, I have not even thought about winter interest, or bones yet.

Right now I am waiting to see if the DH will actually build the fence. It's looking like he is serious! In fact the local lumber yard had some of those wooden trellis's on sale, and he went out and purchased it yesterday. Even put it together already! I am thinking finding something red to climb the trellis, will be challanging. But then I love challanges!

Jenny P

Hi Jenny - Good luck with your red bed! My suggestion is to start with perennials, and use lots of annuals to fill in until the perennials get large sized.

I figure this will give me 3' of garden space, with 1' of grass border before the gravel.
Not sure I followed your garden description but I had 2 comments.

1 - If possible, try to make your redbed at least 5 feet deep instead of 3 feet. It's easier to get better combinations if you have more depth to work with.

Not sure why you would want a 1' grass border. Why not have it garden right up to the drive and skip the grass border? Perhaps I'm just not following the description properly.

Have fun!

Thanks Gotta
The 1' grass border isn't my idea, my DH is insisting on it. Our drive is gravel and for some reason he thinks we need the buffer between the gravel and the flower bed. Since he mows the lawn and is building the fence, and helping with digging the beds in. I don't want to push my luck! But once we start actually digging and preparing, it might stretch out a bit!

I don't know that I am going to be able to make the bed deeper. There are some things in the yard the fence has to join up to, or run in front of. (a 5 year old small apple tree is one) These will determine the depth of the bed. BUT I am planning on have some space on the back side of the fence too. SO I can plant some taller things there. I told the DH that will will need to have it on the back side, so the grass and lawn won't creep through. Good idea huh!! LOL! Only thing is that the back side will be shaded, so I might have trouble growing some things there. The fence will run east and west for most of it, then make an angled turn towards the north for a short run. The shorter run will have the Arbor in it for entrance to that side of the yard. So I will need to finding a hardy red something to put on the Arbor.

I love planning this stuff almost as much as actually playing in the dirt!

Jenny P

I've been reading about Boulevard Gardens. I think I comprehend the thinking about the grass strip, but it needs to be as wide as a cut of the mower. Not knowing about your space, can't speak to moving the fence back even further. What about stones along the drive, as gottagarden has?

The linked article addresses lots of concerns about a bed near the street, grass strips to keep soil from washing away, and other considerations. Don't know how much pertains to your situation, but it's very interesting.

Nell

I luv the concept of a 'Boulevard Garden' though I haven't a boulevard. There's a redundantly named street in town called 'Boulevard Street.'

Here is a link that might be useful: Twin Cities Boulevard Gardening

Even though there are some stationary things that dictate where the fence will need to go...is it possible that the fence could wind in and out? More like an undulating ribbon instead of a straight line? Then you would at least have some areas that are a bit deeper than others. Three feet isn't a very wide border/bed considering that many perennials will fill that space by themselves. I once had a retaining wall in a backyard that was put in with curves and it really was much more interesting to look at than a straight one would have been. I was able to layer more effectively both in front of the wall and on top of it because of the different depths. Just a thought for you to consider.

MeMo

jenny,this is my first yr. for a replica of gottagardens red bed.BUt mine is different.Mine runs east to west and is in the middle of my backyard-which is very large and is being sectioned into "rooms.I put up 2 sections of split rail fence.On the south side (the side facing toward my house is alot like Brendas with castors ,amranthus,dahlia,lilies,salvias,,red roses etc.on the north or back side,which is still in an open area and showy on that side of the yard,I planted things like red hibiscus,red passion vine,canna,red sunflowers,and climbing roses.I have red cypress runing trough it all and it is guiet gorgeous to me.Next yr.I am doing one with all pinks but using the same types of plants and will put up more fence sections.so,I would plant both sides of the fence that is appealing on each side.I need my camera so I can post some photos,will have to break down and get mine repaired or buy a new one.:-(
moonphase

Also look into Euonymus alatus compactus and compare the mature size to Euonymus alatus. You might prefer the Compactus.

Lime

You guys have the bestest ideas!

Nell I don't live on a Boulevard, in fact I happen to live down a gravel road, and my driveway is gravel too. My nearest neighbors are the deer across the road in the woods. I do like that idea though, I hope the Twin cities can get people to participate!

Memo, I like the idea of a fence that undulates in and out. But unfortunetly my DH is making this, I don't want to come up with to many ideas, or he will get frustrated and not do it! As the plan looks now, there will be 2 8' sections, then 45degree angle with 2 more sections. Then another 45 degree angle with one section, the arbor and a 4' section. In the first section I can make the bed up to 8' deep, at the start, but where the angle starts, there will only be about 3' of space. On the angled portion, at the start is about 3' of space, but by the time it gets to end expands to about 6 or 7 feet of space. The last portion I can make as deep as I want. I will have a better grip on it, once he actually starts.

The driveway side of this fence will face south. The back side actually faces the house. Although there is so much space and other things between it and the house, I can't see it. Actually most of the back side of this fence will have my DH's vegetable garden in it. And the vegetable garden is the DH's for a good reason. I used to do it, but a few years ago he decided he wanted to help. But he won't listen to me! I would say I wanted to mulch the aisles, and he would argue. I would say I DIDN'T want to plant some things, because we never harvested and actually ate it. And he would argue and plant it anyway. I want to plant 6 tomatoe plants, he buys 24! SO I quit!

Now, he does the vegetable garden, and the only thing we eat out of it are tomatoes. And this is because he never weeds it. I did for a few years, but he never helped, so I quit that too! This year the weeds are worse than ever! 4' tall and so thick you can't see anything or even walk in there. In fact this year I am going to insist he burns the weeds off, so he kills the weed seeds. Then the whole thing is going to be covered with cardboard, 2 layers thick, and that is going to be covered with grass clippings and leaves. And I am not going to let him play with his rototiller next spring. I actually think the only reason he says he likes to garden is so he can play with his rototiller! He likes to push the lawnmower too!

Jenny P

Jenny p,thank you for the laugh,I needed that.So funny about your DH..I hope you post photos as you progress with your red bed.I love the idea of staggering the fence sections.Now,how can I incorporate that idea..lol but it sounds fascinating and I can vision it..Thanks to gotta,my garden is gorgeous and I love to just go out there and admire it.
moonphase

Jenny LOL - boys and their toys! I wanted to suggest cardinal flower vine for your arbor. It is an annual, grows like a weed and has the most gorgeous red flowers. The leaves are delicate feathery fans! I direct sowed mine a bit late and it is not blooming yet- next year I will winter sow and get it going earlier. If you like and when it blooms I will take photos for you. I let the vines die on the arbor for winter interest. Your plans sound great, and I think it sounds fun to plan and work on. Sue

Thanks! That cardinal flower sounds interesting, the only think I wonder about is the growing season. We have a very short season here. May 21 to September 21, only about 90 days. I don't know if that would be long enough for them to bloom. Right now I am leaning towards a red rose, there are a couple hardy red climbers I am looking at.

Jenny p