Many of us in New England have this ‘before’ view. A shrub and a ill defined edge. Not much to make us want to look out at it from our windows.
The homeowner wanted a Rhododendron border. There were a several in her front landscape creating a hodge-podge look and crowded into beds doing nothing for those areas. They were prime candidates for transplanting and in doing so offering a landscape improvement. Rhododendrons are relatively shallow rooted and transplant well in New England.
This recipe for transformation goes like this. Transplant existing miscellaneous varieties, buy new ones that are all the same variety but okay if different from the existing, create a bold curving lawn edging, echo it with the line of the rhodies, add a focal point and frame it with the plants, mulch! Voila!
Notes: I created a niche for the astrolabe formerly invisible on the woods edge nearby by placing it in the mid- curve of the border. I set one plant back out of the curve to create the niche.
I arranged the miscellaneous varieties by type echoing on each side of the curve so there will be an intended look to the planting when it blooms as a tapestry of colors.
Further note: I would change the color of the astrolabe. Maybe an orange, or pale blue, or teal, or the current rave color of pink! The current color may be a bit too subtle to read well from a distance.
Additionally, for a bit of wonder to lure one from the house into the gardens, I suggested planting a flowering groundcover to surround the astrolabe and fill in along the entire border. And, perhaps, spring bulbs, too.
This area, now transformed, offers year round appeal, a sense of place, and great views!
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