13,520 Garden Web Discussions | Perennials

We're waiting for a neighbourhood meeting with the town for more details. But, yeah, coexistence is the general message. I suspect that the size of the pack will be limited by the size of the local food supply (aside from general garbage, mainly field mice, chipmunks, squirrels, and rabbits - with the occasional young raccoon, fox, and small pet! The young coyotes usually go seeking their own territory around 18 month of age I think. That was probably the age of the female that showed up here first. The male showed up a year later (last year) so this spring is the first litter for the pair. Check out these two pictures from the weekend. I think the best (most likely?) route to get rid of them is if they all get mange. In the 15 years we've been here, there have been two groups of foxes that have lived where the coyotes are now. Mange ultimately decimated them both times, with a period of 3-4 years before a new group moved in. So we're all hoping for a bout of mange :-) (although.... a lot of neighbourhood dogs - including our Golden at the time - got mange too! Easy to treat though, and we now always use Revolution for the heartworm medication as it kills off mange....)

That is very scary to us small dog owners. I saw one on my way to work one morning not too far from home. It was running across the street with a rabbit dangling from its mouth. It gave me a very uneasy feeling knowing they are so close to home. Being more out in the country, they have plenty of woods to hide in. Thankfully for this, they are not as bold as you describe....that's just crazy! Homeowners around here can shoot them if they threaten to harm you, or your animals. I have not heard any reports of attacks (on dogs) lately....thankfully! I sure hope they get a handle on them for you. With the danger and disease they can carry, it's hard to believe they won't take action. Unfortunately a lot of times it takes a tragedy to happen before they will do anything :(

Good luck and BTW, I love your gate :)

I appreciate the input, Marie. I'm still relatively new when it comes to gardening, and I've definitely made mistakes and know there are still many to come. Unfortunately the yard is pretty small. I took a risk with the serviceberry knowing it might be too big for the spot. I have a little room to extend the bed out, but not much before it hits the gate.

The fence definitely needs a powerwash and seal. I was actually trying to figure out how to do that recently without destroying the plants (while everything is dormant would be best, I'm guessing). It's a townhouse, so the fence on either side is shared.

The corner is sun from 11-2 (where the tree does not shade), roughly. I actually had another dwarf shrub planted next to the hydrangea paniculata on the end, but realized quickly it was too crowded, so I removed it. So I see what you are saying.

Here is another more aerial view of the area. I have 2 things in containers, so at least I can move them easily in the future if needed.

You are welcome. I see why you stopped the border and didn't bring it left. What's on the other side of the gate and if it is a "service" entrance why no path? Where is it coming from and where does it go? Maybe it doesn't snow where you are but a gate leading to grass=gate leading to mud path if it rains a week. .

And is a neighbor on the other side of the fence on (our) right?

If you don't use the gate and (non) path I'm still inclined to enlarge the bed. I'm sorry, but the service berry will have to move someday when you or the next owner gets tired of pruning it back!

I feel I want to see the rest of the yard before more plans are made, unless this is will be the only bed. Seeing how eager and conscientious you are I have a feeling you'll be putting in more. I understand needing to get your hands in the dirt and making some lovely mark on your new home. However, it would be much to your advantage to look at the yard as a whole before purchasing more shrubs or trees....they are expensive.

Have you googled "tiny gardens/yards" or small townhouse back yards to see if there's one that inspires you?

Good Luck

Marie

No. Too tall.

I think it's echinacea Sundown.

How about a raised planter or pots. That way you don't have to fight with the dirt that is there and you get some color in that spot. When I went through the fight with the tree roots (and they won) I went to above-ground planters and have been very happy with the plants I have put in them.

I unfortunately don't have very level ground here...I'm on a slope :( I slope down in the front and slope out to the side so everything would tumble down especially when the wind comes through here. I really, really like the plants in the ground, I just really hate the dirt lol. The only reason I put up with digging in the clay is because I don't plan on moving or taking out the majority of the flowers, so as long as they are there in the ground permantely filling in space I don't have to dig every year to keep planting. Or so that is my plan. Depending on what our winter is like this year, I may loose some and have to do it all over again next year. Some plants, like my ice plant are only hardy to 10 degrees and some -10 degrees and it can get way colder than that here so this last bunch of plants I made sure they were hardy from -30 to -40 degrees just in case.

Very nice, Kez.

Couldn't find the plants you were talking about, then I realized I was looking at your picture.

Plant to right - Chrysanthemum x morifolium (planted spring 2014): silver plant - Brunnera 'King's Ransom': and very perceptive! - that is part of the outline of one leaf of a Pulmonaria ('Dark Vader').

Think my 'First Love' looks neat and tidy because they've just started blooming. I'm also quite big on deadheading in general: more sensible reasons include - to encourage reblooming and/or to prevent seed formation and reseeding: less sensible reason - for neatness.

Likely, we also have more pronounced seasonality. Our perennials typically only bloom for two or three weeks.

I believe that both 'First Love' and 'Royal Candles' are interspecific hybrids (despite the name you read for the latter). So neither plant would be expected to breed true.

Sunnyborders, thanks for answering my questions about the pic you posted. I can't believe your luck in living in a zone where you can grow veronica, pulmonaria and brunnera as neighboring plants without both silver plants frying in the sun! I have to grow both in a spot where they get way more shade than most veronicas would tolerate. I can't even plant dark-leaved coral bells in even a half day of sun down here, even though supposedly the dark leaf coral bells can tolerate more sun (so they say).

It's funny how I pined for full sun when I lived somewhere that had only dappled shade everywhere. Now i have nothing but sun everywhere and most of the plants I'm dying to have now have to have a good amount of shade. My latest lust is for some spigelia marilandica. I really would love to try that. I keep looking for some spot that might possibly work.

Thanks, twrosz,. That's encouraging! I'm excited to see what mine grow to be like.

Twrosz, you were right - it's a veronica.guess it's going to have light purple flowers with leaves that are larger than the parent's (royal candles). I think I will be quite happy with it. Many thanks for your good eye!

Do you plant the crown higher tiffy? Or just cover the crown? Mine comes in a couple weeks and want to plant it right.

I bought a Geum (cocktail something) and Lady S and Mrs. B seeds that I hope to start in the next few days... wondering what you guys mean by "wet winters."

Here in NH, near Concord, mollis is blooming for me right now. It probably gets almost a full day of sun. Sherry, love your garden. Nice combination of foliage.

A. mollis, here (also alpina) I loved this plant for years--makes a great cut flower if cut just after the blooms open! Alas, I allowed it to go to seed too many times and now have it in my nearby lawn--dug it out of the border this Spring--a clump around 2-1/2 feet around. I found it moderately difficult to dig out--used a shovel and my heavy duty curved claw. The seedlings aren't that easy to remove, either, in my experience--and there are lots of them.

I may let some of it go again since I'm paying more attention to my plants! It gives a long lasting show, IMO but again, you need to cut the blooms back before they mature. Have alpina in deep dry shade for many years--it barely hangs on--gotta move it one of these years! :wink:

What Deb said...Any lysimachia will be invasive, but loosestrife takes the cake!

Hi ther

thanks for your comments.

I scanned all gardens that I happen to pass by keenly the last couple of days.

there were some groups ( or hordes ;-) ) of that Lysimachia.

Some just 3 inches high, starved by a bad shallow soil.

all were wilting and looked thirsty.

So, I think I could have handled the spreading ( it would surely not overrun my Helianthus micro-thingy Lemon Queen), but it seems not really resilient with the nasty long spell we are having right now ( for three weeks+, Which is unusual in our region).

Right now on my short list for cut flower perennials, with drought resistence are things like

Echinops

Acanthus hungaricus (? The clumping species)

Aster amellus

some simple cultivars of Echinacea purpurea ( not fance hybrids).

Perovskia

well than, thanks a lot,

bye, Lin

I'm with you twrosz - try it on pizza.

Thanks Ken, yeah I'll do that next time lol. I put it outside now since it wasn't a Lavender and it's wilting a bit so don't know if it will be good now. But if I see a small one again somewhere I'll have a try.

Just was reading today that Four O'clock flowers will get eaten by Japanese beetles and then they die! So certainly worth a try, rose lovers!

I have an ever blooming rose bush. My question is can I deadhead them after they bloom. Can anyone help?