Please help with my flower bed!

10 years ago

last modified: 10 years ago

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The above rendering is of the flower bed I'm currently working on, it's 9 x 18. I originally intended for it to look pretty much as pictured, but I think I've since fallen victim to ROSE FEVER, so I'm going to plant a few (for now) and make them the focal point of this garden.

The mailbox, bench and light post will remain as is, though without the planter boxes. To the left of the mailbox, where the tall evergreen shrub is in the photo, I'm planting three Alnwick roses together, and was thinking Walkers Low in front of them. Where the planter on the right is, under the lamp post, I'd like to plant a low ground-cover rose, perhaps Wedding dress?

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Any recommendations?

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Where the orange shrub is (front center) I'm going to plant three Munstead Wood, and I'd love some recommendations for what to plant around it.

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This is the back side of the garden, and where the climbing rose is I'm going to put this snail vine. I had it last year and it grew really well for me, then conveniently died after the frost. People driving by would stop to ask me what it was, it was that spectacular!

I had planned on a mock orange for the shrubs in front of where the climbing rose is in the picture, but I really love DA Susan Williams-Ellis. What do you think?

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or this Icecap shrub rose

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but it has no scent and there's conflicting info on how tall it will get. I want it at least three feet tall.

I welcome any suggestions, PLEASE HELP! I'm driving 120 miles to a nursery tomorrow, I'd like a plan of action so I don't have to go back, lol.

eta this bed is in full sun.

Featured Answer

Sheila z8a Rogue Valley OR

10 years ago

Mari, Your ideas sound lovely. The catmint will be great under roses and the exposure sounds ideal. You sound like you've got rose fever and are going to have a wonderful time making your dreams come true. Iris also would look great.

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Comments (7)

jim1961 Central Pennsylvania Zone 6a
10 years ago
Just wanted to stop in & say great ideas! Wish I could help but your a far better planner than I...lol...
Mari 5b thanked jim1961 Central Pennsylvania Zone 6a
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boncrow66
10 years ago
Bolero would be a great low growing white rose and it has an awesome fragrance. Beautiful home and garden. Can't wait to see it with the roses.
Mari 5b thanked boncrow66
Mari 5b
Original Author
10 years ago
Sheila, last year I planted walkers low and catmint and I remember liking one more than the other, but I was a gardening newbie and didn't think to label them so I would remember what they were. I'm going to try both again and go from there! I have irises along my foundation that have bloomed faithfully for years without any help from me. I plan on dividing them later this year so they will definitely make it into this bed.

Jim I broke my ankle so severely (gardening!) that I was wheelchair bound for over a year. Designing this helped me pass the time. There's a very real possibility it was all Percocet induced, lol.

boncrow I think we're the same age, lol. OMG Bolero, it's beautiful! I wonder how it would do in zone 5b? I have a feeling I'm about to find out.

Luckily for me I called the nursery this morning before making that long drive and was told that most of the roses wouldn't be ready to go for another couple of weeks, but I did reserve them, so there's that.
Sheila z8a Rogue Valley OR
10 years ago
Mari, I was agreeing with you that "Walker's Low" would be great in a general way, knowing it is one lovely variety of catmint: nepeta I thought. I also like "Six Hills Giant". I got "Select Blue" and found it slower to take off it seemed and paler somehow. I wonder if your other catmint was some less choice one, because I did like "Walker's Low" the best so far. I'm with you that I wish in retrospect I kept a nametag or noted a detail I only realized later was important on occasion.
Mari 5b thanked Sheila z8a Rogue Valley OR
Mari 5b
Original Author
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
Sorry Sheila, I meant Walkers Low and May Night is what I planted. My ADD is showing.
Sheila z8a Rogue Valley OR
10 years ago
May Night hasn't done that much here so far. It might need more time.