The west side of the house is the first part you see when you drive in. |
The second year after planting this area was looking pretty good (minus the creeping Charlie problem in the lawn). |
But the Hakonechloa happily took off and the Heuchera, which is not long lived in my garden to begin with, suffered. It’s still there, it’s just much shorter than the Hakonechloa, so you can’t even see it. I divided all that Hakonechloa three years ago to make the new garden by the garage and I’ll be able to divide it again for the new circle garden this year. Despite being considered a shade plant, it thrives in that spot with just a big of fading late in the summer. It’s an all-star in my garden, seemingly accommodating a variety of light conditions.
But several years later it’s less of a success. |
Clearly this spot is in need of a bit of a redo. The good news is that because of the large spruce we cut down on the south side of the driveway there will be more light on this side of the house. Also, it’s really more of a west southwest exposure, so there is light there by late morning. You can get a feel for the layout of the garden—this space is labeled as the “West side garden”—in the slightly outdated “artist’s rendering” of the garden that I did a few years ago, below.
An espaliered tree on a chimney like yours is one of my favorite garden dreams.
I really like your idea of the espalier. I have always wanted one of those and I have never had a wall to attach one to. They look their best on a wall. This will be perfect for you. When I first saw your stone chimney it took me back to a mountain home where we toured during a Spring FLing. That home had a HUGE stone chimney and the largest most beautiful climbing hydrangea I have ever seen climbing almost to the top. That would be my dream for this chimney. I have a picture of it but it doesn't do it justice. Sigh~~
And now my whine…I just love that Japanese Forest grass. I have never been able to grow it. I have tried it all over my garden without much success. It always dwindles away. Seeing yours and reading about how you spread it around, well, I have to try again.