A promise yet to be fulfilled [05/24]
![A promise yet to be fulfilled [05/24]](/content/images/size/w1200/2024/05/05.01.1ac8e7a8a9d441ffb5211fec0c4ae147.jpg)
I’m Nathan Langley and this is A promise yet to be fulfilled, a seasonal weekly newsletter on my garden developments at home in Sudbury, Ontario!
I’ve been working through a “concept” plan for the backyard this past week and have landed on something a little different from what I originally imagined (which is always the case). I have also paired down the perennial plant list while adding in more woodies to frame specific perspectives and to act as visual barriers throughout the backyard.
In my head, I’ve split the garden beds into three areas: the two beds surrounding the lower pond, the large horseshoe bed surrounding the upper pond, and the two beds in between the fire pit and the newly added raised veggie boxes.
To make the entire backyard feel cohesive, 30% of each section is made up of grasses / sedge. They are different in each section, but the feeling will be the same: relaxed. There are also several perennials that can be found in each bed: Geum, Paeonia, Nepeta, Salvia, and Stachys.
The lower beds surrounding the pond have the most perennial interest in spring, largely because that is the closest section to the main view from the kitchen table. This interest is also carried into the horseshoe bed to a certain extent using the same plants, essentially combining the three beds surrounding the pond into one large interesting bed (even though the grasses / sedge used within those beds are wholly different from one another).
There are a number of perennials within this section that are not used in the beds found between the fire pit and the veggie garden area: Aquilegia, Calamagrostis, Perovskia, Veronicastrum, and Vernonia.
The beds in between the fire pit and the veggie garden also have some unique perennials: Baptisia, Eupatorium, and Sanguisorba.
The difference between the sections is apparent when looking at the fall interest. I love fall, particularly the slowing pace as we get ready for winter. With that in mind, I wanted the active space in the backyard (the fire pit) to be a relaxing space where I can enjoy my favourite season and not think about all the chores I need to do before the snow starts to fall.
On the flip side, I still wanted to keep some flowering interest present for the main views in the house. That way, as the weather starts to turn, I will still have something interesting to look at within the garden.
What do you think?
n