I gave up on mini's myself. I have slowly been trading them away. Good luck on your plantings!

I think minis look better spaced out a bit... maybe separated by a few stones here and there... or other gardening ornaments... like mini gazing balls... gnomes... possibly some in ground some potted... here is a link of a recent thread of what others have done with their minis...

Here is a link that might be useful: Previous Thread on Mini Bed Ideas

I'd put the bigger ones in back and the smaller ones in front. Stiletto would go in the back left pocket, Crepe Soul in the back right, keep Dragon Tails where it is, and move the other three to the front in the same arrangement they are in now. That's what I would do.

Karen

just a warning... Stilletto may very well double in size from its current size... haven't measured mine, but I know it exceeds 24" in diameter.

I build tiered planters to display the minis... like you might display any other collection.

these were taken early in spring when the plants were just emerging... they give an idea of how these work... and the final one is one I found from 2009 that gives a sense of what they look like when filled out...

from 2009

Thats good to know re Stilletto. I've been looking around wondering if I should find for a better spot for it. I guess I will look harder.

Great displays. More than I can take on.

One thing that bothers me is that most of these charmers barely grow from year to year. Is that typical of mini's?

Maybe I will divide Crepe Soul, which does grow nicely, and find some hardscape to tie things together.

I agree with Melissa, the minis are just not worth it. I have given up on most of mine and only have the Mouse series which are much more hardy and have all performed well for me. Blue Mouse Ears, Mighty Mouse, Pure Heart, Country Mouse, etc.

I just bought Cat and Mouse this year, but I expect it to do well too.

chris

I understand the sentiment... but even though I used to grow big roses, I also liked having some of the minis around as well. And now that I've got hostas, I like having some little ones to show as well as the big ones.

I do think the line between minis and smalls is often confused... the true minis can, indeed, be a bit precious and delicate (anybody still growing Uzo-no-mai?!) I could probably live without the real tiny ones. But the small hostas? I have six of the Lemon-Lime family - wouldn't be without them. Little Red Joy / Little Red Rooster... love em. Dixie Chickadee, Dixie Chick... got to keep removing the sports, but yup... love em. Ops, Paradise Sunset, Tick Tock, O'Harra... always room for them in my garden. There's lots more - just pulled those off the top of my head.

took a pic this afternoon of the same bed pictured above - 2nd picture with the lattice. Though some of the minis are young and still pretty tiny, you can see how the raised bed works as a display and a way to protect the little buggers from clumsy feet and winter slush...

Just had to say that I love the mini displays. Now I want to try that.

Kim

idiothe that display bed is gorgeous all filled out.
Cher

I have not had much luck with the minis. Except for Yakushima which seems to be thriving. Just looked at my Chikadee the other day and it has more green leaves than varigated. Why don't the voles get the ones that are reverting. Next year I should provide them with a schematic on what I want to get rid of and what I want to keep!

Idiothe so you're the one with all those tiered beds! I have been looking for those pics for awhile now!I saw them last year in that post and I want to make a couple of tiered beds like yours to give me some more planting room. You're also the reason I got the idea to use the creeping thyme in my herb garden over my big rock thank you.