I think it looks good. Just fill in the gaps. you could plant the tall thin plants that are now in the containers in the ground. They are a bit tall.

If you just removed the two tall shrubs in containers, it would make a huge improvement.

The blue container in the third pic looks great. But I would get rid of the white urns.

If those are arborvitae ever greens they will get HUGE and will not be in your liking if I am hearing you correctly. Is the yellow potentilla? If so once it's done blooming it can be manicured back to nice tight rounds which will be more in your theme. When creating a new bed the hardest thing to do is not over fill. All plants grow and swapping them out each year because they did --well if that is your bent then I suggest you go with annuals vs all the perennials. You can fuss to your hearts content them and really switch things up as you are inspired.

My only problem right now with the front of your house is the off-center bush in front of the window. If it can’t be drastically pruned down much closer to the ground, I would relocate it.

I do think your blue-potted tropical is looking to break out into more open spaces. Wants to be a show-off. For now, I would try moving it to the other side of the garage, just into the sharp corner where the walk meets the driveway, right near where you have an identical plant. I think they sort of yearn to be together. You could fill in the spot after moving the blue pot (beautiful item) with any annual for now. I’m not sure this is the right time to move a canna, but maybe later you could try a canna there. Yours look very happy where they are, so maybe buy another bulb.

Many mediterranean gardens are pretty skimpy because the summer sun just burns everything up. So it’s probably true that you have too much for a typical Mediterranean garden, but it’s delightful nonetheless. One thing you can never have too much of is herbs (but not invasive mint) so if you have holes to fill, think about herbs first, especially the ones you like to smell an eat.

how about you pull out the car.. and give us a pic of the whole front of the house ...

i agree.. nothing need be done soon ... with a new garden.. we often suggest.. just living with it for a few seasons.. in other words.. plan for the next proper planting time .. which lead to ...

big city location is always imperative ... else how will we be able to suggest much of anything ... and what direction does the front of the house face?? .. it looks like full sun all day .... but knowing heat would also help ... e.g. AZ or CA ... or wherever ...

ken

Hi, thank you all for your suggestions. Im thinking to maybe move the urn to the right of the door to the other side of the window and just frame the window, or move it more to the right and have that in front of the pillar instead of the bird of paradise, thoughts? Also I’m in Los Angeles, and the front of the house faces east.

I think framing the window with the white urns + tall trees is a very good idea.

I’m wondering if your big blue planter should have pride of place front and center in the bed to the right of the door, but with a lemon tree in it, or kumquat. or tangerine/clementina

Gardens · More Info

The photo was taken at a house in LA

Cannas, birds of paradise, etc. are a better fit for tropical-style gardens. If you want a Mediterranean landscape, consider plants that are more appropriate for that region, like citrus, lavender, rosemary, bay laurel, roses, oleander, etc. Even succulents like agaves and prickly pears, as well as yuccas (even though they are not native to that region).

Also, Mediterranean landscapes are covered with gravel -- not grass. Something to consider if you are committed to the look.

Check out the plants in this beautiful front yard:

https://www.gardenista.com/posts/best-curb-appeal-2018-urban-oasis-landscape-design-vibrant-mediterranean-front-yard/

I live on the Italian Riviera and there are beautiful cannas in the garden — along with hydrangea (or ortensia, as they are called here) and roses — all of which are crammed beside the lemon trees, rosemary, geraniums, fava beans and zucchini. The garden is rather shady most of the day, so the vegetables and fruit get the sunny spots, and the roses too. Spain, Sicily and Sardegna get most of the agave and prickly pears. The Med is a very big body of water.

ital,

I was referring to the "design" aspect of the Mediterranean garden, rather than actual gardens people have in the Med.

I'm not saying people don't grow cannas around the Mediterranean, just that they are not the "Mediterranean-style" plants. The come from the tropics, so when it comes to "design," they are a different style of plants. Folks also grow cannas here in the desert, by the way... It takes a lot of work and water to keep them alive!

The olive tree looks good as well but I really like the blue pot with the bird of paradise.

I agree about the urns...not a fan.

The olive tree looks great!

Yeah I’m kind of torn too because I also like how the bird looks. I’m going to do a poll and whatever wins is what I’ll do there lol, it’s a tough choice

Why can’t the bird of paradise and the pot be in the front of the house? I think it’s rather lost at the corner of the garage, especially since there’s a car in the driveway.

Yeah i was considering that. Right now I put it where the cannas were

Here it is

And also about the off-center salvia, I called my gardeners and they’re coming tomorrow to center it with the window

Glad it it out in front of the house — but now bring it forward into the sunshine!

Jacob, love your olive tree! It's such a classic combo with the terracotta pot and the white wall. Works great!

Had some fun with the lighting

Any thoughts on using bougainvillea here in the front climbing on the side of the bay window?

Or is it too colorful/ tropical looking

I do not think it is tropical or too colorful but maybe it would take over if added to the front. It is very vigorous in sunny dry places.

The place I would put it is on the left side of the house, but rather far back, so the real effect would be to see it on the roof, near the 2d story windows.

by the way there are bouganvillea that have a lot of white mixed into them, or pure whites, plus light salmon pinks

Blue plumbago can be a lovely addition in mediterranean gardens. it climbs very well

Casa Rustica, Mallorca, 2015 · More Info

Oh that’s a good idea! I’m going to try and train one to climb up there. Also, I ended up framing the bay window with the trees instead of the entry and it really opened it up

I forgot to take a picture of the bay window though but this is the entrance, I was thinking of maybe putting an address plaque on the right side of the door where the wall is bare?

Already it looks lovely.

Where I live you would get a handpainted ceramic plaque with your address, if anyone bothered to put up an address because everyone knows where everybody lives. You might be able to find ”numeri civici” for your needs online, or get them handpainted and sent to you from Italy