Over the winter, I was already thinking about working on the front garden.  It was going to be a massive project landscaping this wide, rambling, unsymmetrical house, but we were at a place in our 1970 home renovation where we could get started once Spring arrived.  We had painted the siding and trim, removed the overgrown trees and landscaping, replaced missing shutters, installed new windows along the front of the house, and a new roof.  All of the bush-trampling jobs were behind us and we could start reestablishing the beds and planting.  But, I felt very overwhelmed at the idea of planning it all out myself.

I reached out to a few landscape designers about quotes and the process for getting a virtual plan.  For a virtual consultation, I would have to have the property professionally surveyed and most of the quotes were in the $1,000 neighborhood.  While I felt like this investment would be worth it, I was a little skeptical about my own ability (or perhaps willingness) to follow a detailed plan.  I will read instructions, but I rarely follow them to the letter.  My creativity, individualism, and problem-solving kick in and I just can’t help but march to the beat of my own drum.  So, I had it on my to-do list and it languished there.

When March rolled around, I finally made a trip to a local nursery, which I pass frequently as I’m running errands.  I can’t believe I hadn’t been there before, but I stopped in, bought a few perennials that could be planted early, and inquired about assistance with a gardening plan.  It would be $20 for the nursery owner, who’s been doing this work for decades, to come out to my house and draw up a plan.  Not following a $1000 gardening plan is a stupid waste of money.  Not following a $20 gardening plan is pretty low risk.  I wouldn’t feel pressure to follow it exactly or even at all.   At the very least, it gives me a chance to chat with someone very knowledgeable about gardening in this immediate area and learn which bushes will do well in my specific beds.  He can look at light conditions, knows what is regularly ordered and in stock, and can consult on some of our grading issues.  So, I made an appointment.

Jack of Lovell’s Nursery came out one afternoon and took a look at the house and front garden area.  We chatted a bit about what kind of plants I liked and what look I was going for.  I let him know my strong preference for a green and white garden, but there is a willingness to add some small touches of soft blues and purples.  I don’t want pink, red, yellow, orange, rust, burgundy, bold blue, or vibrant purple, or any that fell outside of my green, white, and muted blue palette.

Some of the plants I expressed a desire to plant were Annabelle hydrangeas, boxwoods, liriope, spirea, viburnum, and evergreens I could keep trim and tidy to add structure.  I told him I liked layers, texture, and an English/European garden vibe and that I was planning to do the work myself and add the garden over a few years.  We talked about a large trellis on the wall of siding (which I later decided two would be better) as well as other points of interest. I could tell the lack of color was tough for him.  “What about yellow?  Could we do some yellow?  How about pink?  No pink?”

“No, just green, white, and muted purple/blue.”

I know I’m in the minority when it comes to colorful gardens.  I love and appreciate them when I walk through a neighborhood, but I like what I like and, if you’ve followed me for any amount of time, you know I like blue, green, and white.

Here’s what he was working with.  (Obviously, this picture was taken in the fall.  Pretty much a clean slate…

With my limitations and preferences established, Jack stood just off the curb with a pen, ruler, and a pad of paper and started to sketch.

When he was done, we then reviewed the plan.

Have I followed the plan?  No, and yes.  I knew myself too well and was glad I chose the more economical route. The idea of the plan was what I was going for, but I have veered with the specifics and rearranged some things as I’ve done more research.  I read up on each plant he suggested, tried to scout them out on my neighborhood walks, and printed up pictures and information on the ones I liked.  There were a few, like the Sky Pencil Holly, that I just didn’t love, so I felt free to lose those.    Changing the plan from one trellis to two also necessitated rethinking the plants in front of the wall of siding.

So, I’ve been digging, weeding, smothering, tarping, mulching, and planting to get these garden beds started.  As I’ve shared, the garden bed in the center, in front of the porch, will be tarped until next spring to (hopefully) kill the Bishop’s weed that has taken over the entire area.  There is just too much to hand-pull and I want to be able to fill that area with boxwood hedges, and perennials, and make a feature around the vintage concrete birdbath.  If I want to do that, I need to eradicate or, at least, greatly inhibit the Bishop’s weed.

And, as I knew I would, I’ve already been moving things around as the beds have developed.  As with decorating a room, I sometimes need to see things in place to make final decisions.  I like to keep my options open until I’m certain.  This “I’ll know when I know” approach means delaying some decisions, but it also means I can take my time and make much better decisions in the long run.

I’ve been swinging by Lovell’s regularly to check on their new inventory and plants I’m still waiting to arrive.  They have been so helpful and have even discouraged me from purchasing plants that weren’t right for a specific location or condition or if it was too early to plant the annuals I selected.  Jack can also identify plants in a flash.  I took a picture of the evergreen hedge back by our pool (which I haven’t been able to identify through pictures online because it looks like several varieties) and he knew immediately what it was.  He even had a few leftovers from last season and sold them at a bargain since they had a few burned leaves from being in pots over the winter.

Even though I’m not following his plan specifically, I gained well more than the $20 I spent on the consultation and sketches.  He gave me a solid point in the right direction and was able to answer specific questions like where my Annabelle hydrangeas would do best and how much topsoil and compost I would need to properly grade the garden in front of the porch and fill a hole left near the light post from a tree or bush that was removed.  I learned a lot and now have a nursery where I’m known (probably as the “Annabelle lady”) when I have questions or am looking for something specific.  I ended up having to purchase my Annabelle hydrangeas from a different nursery since they didn’t get them in, but I appreciated that they suggested I purchase them elsewhere since they didn’t know when or if a shipment would arrive.

I wanted to share this experience in case you’ve been considering something similar.  I didn’t shop around to compare consultation rates from other nurseries, but $20 was much less than I expected and I have a feeling it was a bargain.  I would highly suggest checking with local nurseries and garden centers.  The affordability might surprise you!

It’s been a lot of work and there is still a lot more to do, but the front garden is on its way to being a welcoming introduction to our home.

You can read more of my recent gardening/home exterior posts here…

vintage-style garden trellis tutorial & plans

bishop’s weed update & trellis design

why Annabelle hydrangeas are my favorite

my gardening notebook

what’s in my gardening book stack

pool & patio updates | summer 2023