The Courtyard - 2010 Annual Containers

This post will display my annual designs for a client in Minnetonka, Minnesota. She has extensive containers all around her house, each area with a different theme. I'll start at the entrance and work my way around the house. To prevent this from becoming an insanely long post, I will make a series of posts highlighting each area.

The Courtyard

This is the first thing people see when they come to the end of the driveway that winds through the woods. The area gets dappled sun until 1pm or so, then it has full sun until 4:30pm when the sun goes behind the trees.

September 7, 2010 - Week Sixteen

June 9, 2010 - Week Three

Plant List
Capsicum 'Black Pearl'

Coleus 'Dipt in Wine'

Diascia 'Rose'

Dichondra 'Silver Falls'

Heuchera 'Silver Scrolls' (Coral Bells)

Lantana 'Dallas Red'

Plectranthus 'Mona Lavender'

Scaevola 'Blue'

The Lantana was very vigorous and never stopped blooming. It could have been pruned throughout the summer to prevent it from looking over-grown; something to keep in mind for next year. The Dichondra was plenty long, but didn't spread as wide as I had envisioned. I think I'll go back to Mezoo, The Wonder Plant. The Coleus seemed to have varying growth habits: one or two grew beautifully, one grew laterally, while the rest were mediocre. The Capsicum was great, as usual, but I need to figure out how to prune it to encourage more branching. The Heuchera shown in spring and early summer, until the more vigorous annuals stole the show.

August 31, 2010 - Week Fifteen

June 1, 2010 - Week Two

Plant List for two containers closest to the door

Brunnera 'Jack Frost' (False Forget-Me-Not)

Coleus 'Strawberry Drop'

Fuchsia 'Stand Up Red White'

Heuchera 'Snow Angel' (Coral Bells)

Impatiens 'Fiesta White'

Oxalis 'Charmed Wine'

Pachysandra 'Green Carpet'

Polystichum acrostichoides 'Christmas Fern'

Spathiphyllum 'Peace Lily'

These two containers are always a challenge: deep shade and soil that seems to stay wet and then suddenly dry out. It has been a constant trial-and-error process in regards to the plant selection. So far, the plants that make it to the end of the summer are: Peace lily, Kong Coleus, Mezoo (moderate success), Pachysandra, Asarum canadense (wild ginger), Fuchsia (mild success), Hosta, and Brunnera. I have a few others to try next year, so we'll see how that goes. The container with the fern actually gets a fair amount of sun, so I think next year I will include it in the plant scheme of the other containers.

This hanging basket is to the left of the first photo. It is under a substantial eave so the only water it receives is from a watering can. The area gets the same sun as the containers. 

August 17, 2010 - Week Thirteen

Plant List

Begonia 'Dragon Wing Red'

Chrysocephalum 'Flambe Yellow'

Euphorbia 'Diamond Frost'

The Chrysocephalum was a little disappointing. As you can see in the photo, it looks scraggly and flowered poorly, and I removed it by the middle of the summer. Usually odd numbers of plant types are best, but the Begonia and Euphorbia played well together without a third plant variety. I think it's because the Euphorbia doesn't compete with the Begonia for center of attention. By the way, the Begonia bloomed from May to November. I felt awful pulling it out 

Fun note: when pruning a Euphorbia in a hanging basket, don't walk under it - it drips!

This little bench is on the far right of the courtyard and is in dappled sun all day.

August 31, 2010 - Week Fifteen

August 31, 2010 - Week Fifteen

Plant List

Browallia 'Blue Bells'

Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola' (Gold Variegated Hakone Grass)

Impatiens 'Fiesta White'

Perilla 'Magilla'

The Browallia did wonderfully, although next time I'll place on the back side of the container. The Hakonechloa ended up being trampled by the Browallia so that by the end of the summer it could hardly be seen. I was expecting the Perilla to be taller, but it had nice color even in the shade. I was happy with Impatiens' performance of both growth and flowering; unfortunately the deer liked them also.

The Brunnera, Heuchera, Pachysandra, Hakonechloa, and Christmas Fern were all transplanted to various locations throughout the gardens.

Stay tuned for Terra Cotta and Triple Pots!