Third trellis is going to the left of window

Could what you're calling "elephant ears" be Philodendron selloum (below each window)? Do you expect it to develop a fuller, leafier head? Can't say that I care for it below the lower window. It's going to block the window but have little to nothing below the window, where something should be. Wonder if you'd consider moving it to be with the other one (if it can be done) and put something more full looking below the lower window? Looks to me like you need a plant(s) below the left window that will get about 3' or so and place the very low growing plants, in groups or their like kind, in front of the trellis areas.

Thanks for the response! and yes, they I am very likely calling them the wrong thing. I do like these since they are nice and healthy and green! I really don't want to move them. I really dont mind if it blocks the window a little, I will simply trim it as needed.

I do want to group certain types of plants together. I am thinking maybe 3-4 different types of groups within the entire garden. I will def want to separate any other succulents I may add and group those together and maybe making the aloe the focal point of that particular group. Thanks for the response!! Keep them coming! =)

More than blocking the window, I think it is that they are naked below is what bugs me. I would want below filled with something so would maybe add to that area with whatever you can use to create some fullness. (We have selloum here, too, but they are usually grown in clusters with many trunks so look fuller even when the trunks exposed.)

Unless I buy additional (smaller) selloums to add around the larger existing ones? Still need to know what other varieties to add as a whole. Thanks for response! =)

I think to hide the base of selloum I would fill in with other, not quite so big plants. I'm on the other side of the country, but we share some plants in common. I just can't say what ones will grow where you are. Will Epidendrum radicans grow there? I could see it being useful to you with its long season of bloom, about 3' ht & loose looking. What abut some Mexican feather grass somewhere? I like Thai crown of thorns... the most bloomingest plant I have, 3 to 4'. Mexican sage is good. I cut to ground whenever too big, keeping it 2 1/2 to 3'.

You could plant that whole area with the anigozanthos along your wall (but not too close) and the blue fescue closer to the sidewalk . Depending on the ultimate height of the anigoznathos, spacing may be from 1' on center to as much as 5' on center. You have selected some great plants. Don't get carried away with too much variety in such a small space.

I love the big Selloum leaves. Maybe add a "Xanadu" underneath, a miniature version of the same plant, with a lower, bushier habit. Or go for contrast with a flowering plant.

The big red leaves are Ensete ventricosum 'maurellii', an ornamental banana. I planted one last year and it's now 8 ft. tall. Grows big-- fast! Put it in the ground approximately where the pot is sitting, or farther from the building, to give the huge leaves room to spread. I love this plant, and you will, too.

My similar plants, below, in March. They have since filled out in spectacular fashion and the hummingbirds are abundant among the flowers.

My concern is doesn't the selloum require more water than the succulents?

What plants do you have on the trellis?

Like your home. Looks like mine.

Would tell you to buy some ice plants but they are everywhere out there.

You can see ribbons of them from the air when flying in to Ontario.

Great advise thank you! Your landscape is beautiful! I am def going to get more blue fescue to plant towards the front. I think I have enough of the kangaroo paws that will be planted closer to the wall. I am kind of debating on adding the third trellis after all. I just don't like how the wall looks so bare on the left side but I also think it might take away from the contrast of the kangaroo paws against the wall, but we'll see. I have a good size "plum cordyline" in a pot which is about 3 feet tall that I am thinking of putting in the ground also. I am not sure if I should include the "coleonema pulchellum" (sunset gold) or if i should just plant it somewhere else completely. What do you think? I do agree that I can't have too many varieties. I think I will plant the two "lavandula dentata" (french lavender) towards the middle. I plan on leaving an open space in there hose-box will go. Maybe add some step stones. So I was thinking of planting the lavenders in the middle leaving the gap between the two to access hose-box. I also really like "leucadendron" (winter red), but again I don't want to go with too many varieties. Thank you again, please keep the suggestions coming. I have until the end of the week to make up my mind! =)

Josephene,

Yeah I was also thinking the same thing about the water requirements for different types. But as far as I know you can control the flow of water on each individual nozzle. So I figured I would keep the flow a lot lower on succulents vs ones like selloum.

Yeah..I'm really not crazy about ice-plants. Like you said they are EVERYWHERE out here and i've seen them since I can remember so I learned to dislike them, haha!

As far as what I have on the trellis, I'm not really sure (they have a small pink flower). Those were there when we bought the house and I just added the trellises. I was thinking if I do add a third trellis I may just add jasmine. I have a good established one on the arch on the right side of the photos (might not be able to see too well) that I really like especially this time of year since it lets out this amazing smell that wafts through the back yard...

The unknown vine looks like Pandorea Jasminoides. I planted one at my parents house. It is underused in my opinion. Very good plant.

Geradooviedo a lot of people who come here draw a scale a scale plan and then space the plants they will have. It might help you decide lay out.

About the Selloum. I don't mind that the base shows or that the wall behind is visible. They do look sad though. You planted them in an area that will never allow them to show their true beauty.

It is low water plant up here. I don't know if it would differ down there.

thanks for the response. I think the selloum are kind of interfering with the overall look I am going for. Thing is these were also here when we bought the house and were actually in worse shape. They have since improved even with the moderate watering I gave them. I do like them and think it would be a shame to get rid of them, which is why ideally I would like to try to integrate them in the design. That brings the question..would these have any chance at surviving if I tried to moved them?? I now have an overall idea of what I like. I like how the red banana looks next the kangaroo paw like kiminpl has. That also makes me glad with my choice of those two. I also really like the look of the blue fescue in front which I also already have some of and plan of getting more. I want to add more flowering/covering plants which is why I also like how the leucadendron "winter red." I will try to post a picture I found online that I really liked...

I guess a combination of these three looks, but also integrate the ivy on the wall plus the selloum...? Is that even feasible?! haha

Go for it. You can always change things later if they don't fit what you had in mind. A garden is never finished anyway. Your inspiration photos are really great. Now you are giving me ideas for my own garden. Your house style and color is the perfect backdrop for your plant selections.

If the Selloum gets better care than it did before, it may sucker, no? Then it could fill in more -- possibly. Planting something around the base to fill out temporarily, and to shade the roots may help.

Lovely photo, emmarene! Dig the Alpinia zerumbet variegated leaves. I'm a fan of the tropicalesque, for sure.

It is just a google image I happened upon. You have good eyes. I did not know the name of the Alpinia.

One thing that is remarkable in your garden is the border size. Someone laid the foot path a full five feet from the house wall. Usually borders I see here are to narrow, but not yours. Good job.

Thank you very much for the advise and compliments. =) Gotta love the forum community. So I will probably take a trip to Evergreen Nursery tomorrow and pick up some more plants. I will just experiment with placement while they're all still in their pots. I am going to try to incorporate the selloums in the overall design. As far as more succulents go, I think I will just go with what I have now and go from there. I will update post soon. Thank you again! =)

Update

So this is the latest. I like how it's looking. I am still going to add trellis on left side for the jazmin. The cordyline in the pot is going to get planted but the spot where I wanted has a pipe under it so I'm going to try to get it as close I can. I'm think I may add a row of annuals in the front. Nothing to dense maybe two per foot or so. I'm kind of designing as I go I guess. Please let me hear any and all opionions. I always appreciate the feedback. Thanks !

...maybe some of these guys along the front

=P

You did a wonderful job!

Thank you! It's not quite done yet, so I will post more pics as it's completed.

=)

Some updates

Very nice. I like your water urn.

Thank you very much. I might add a second one since this one is supposed to fill quickly during a good rain storm..

I like your water urn, too.

I commend your efforts on the project and see you've gotten some favorable comments. I hate to be a bubble-popper, but think there's something you should consider adjusting at some point. (I understand people are not excited about re-doing things ... me too!) Nevertheless, I think this project would be vastly improved if plants were arranged in blocks instead of lines. You are creating these very narrow stripes and I'm just being honest with you, that things will read artistically stronger if they are in some form of blocks. These plants are small so it wouldn't be hard to do a little re-arranging. I'm only talking about the LITTLE plants. Almost regret posting this. Sorry.

Haha! Don't worry about it. I am not easily offended and appreciate the feedback and I see your point, but I think I will let it ride the way it is for now. I am considering adding some kind of ground cover so it would look more "filled-in." I just don't know which route to go. I really don't like using the typical bark since I can't use a blower unless I want chunks of bark all over the place. I was thinking some type of rocks/pebbles/gravel...? Either that or use a type of plant for ground cover. Any suggestions???

I hear people comparing a line of plants to a line of toy soldiers. It is not so much unattractive, but it does look as if a human planted them. I like to pretend my garden just all came up on its own. I can see how you attempted to place the fescue in groups as you were recommended. When I place three plants in a clump like that I do it in a triangle shape. The triangle can be standing on its head or on its base. I just do what I feel like on that day. You would not have to move all the fescue. Just a few. It would look more natural that way.. If this will not bother you in the future then just leave it. You still did a wonderful job.

There are many sedums that would work for a ground cover.

I see your point! I guess moving a few of the fescues won't be a big deal. Another thing I am kind of worried about is that the aloe might get too much water. Unless I close it's drip nozzle completely. And I googled images of "sedums" and there are TONS! Any ones in particular?

If you do lines, they should be straight lines. I'm OCD that way. ;-) I think you've done a really nice 'first pass' and it will grow, fill in, and you will enjoy the results for a long time. If you move things around, fine. If not, fine. As you probably know, a garden is never finished.