Garden Themes- Using your other hobbies, interest as a guide.

Choosing a garden theme isn't all that different from decorating a room in your house. Plan it around location (sun/shade) with whimsical ideas, a specific style (cottage, classic, country), or something close to your heart.
 
One of my themed gardens, is the Anniversary Garden (see photo right). My husband, John and I put in on our a wedding anniversary a couple years back. (Truth be told, I designed and did the digging and planting, and he used the tractor to move the dirt. That is his idea of gardening.) The garden is filled with plants named for love and longevity. Fitting with the "couple style," I try to put in two of every plant. The garden hosts a variety of species including: Passion plant,  Forever and Ever Hydrangea, and a couple of Knock Out roses.

Another way to envision a theme is through a hobby, person, life event, or any interest you have a passion for. Here are a few ideas get you thinking:

Meringue, Coneflower

In the off season, do you like Snowmobiling or skiing?
Try incorporating your love for snow into the space by using all white flowering plants. Or try to find plants with the name "snow" in them- but not SNOW ON THE MOUNTAIN! Unless you have large wild area that you don't mind filling up quickly. I do have a creeper call Snow in Summer, that is much more manageable, but still adds that white fluff as a ground cover. Click here for white perenials ideas.

Compact Little Spire, Russion Sage

Do you long for sandy beaches?
Include that feel into your garden by adding a small sandy area, surrounded by grasses, Russian Sage and drift wood. You might even want to include a water feature for sound. Simple fountains are becoming more budget friendly. A water free idea can be obtained using a dry creek bed, made with small rocks and plants. Now just place a couple of those colorful plastic aerodeck chairs, stir up a margarita and your good to go!

If a cabin is in the woods is where you long to be?
Mix in a rustic feel for your garden with ferns, a dwarf conifer, log bench, carving, bird houses created with a log cabin feel, or a simple log stump to rest on.

On the more whimsical side, I put in a garden for my husband called the Frog Garden, via his nickname, Frog. The garden  has a fake pond, IE: Bird bath, surrounded by mini hostas, grasses and frog garden art.


As you can see garden themes can encompass a wide variety of interest and ideas. What kind of interest do you have? Can you see how these might fit into your garden space? Leave a comment and lets share some of your ideas!

Redecorating - Your Garden

Winter doldrums usually throw me into a turmoil of what room to redecorate next. Last winter it was the bathroom, the year before it was a small hallway, before that the living and dining room, and the list goes on.
But this winter seems to be different. No plans - and it got me to thinking.

One spring not long ago I experienced this dejavu. I  was digging up a ton of plants and laying them about the space. Trying to see if I liked where they were, how they fit together. I love to decorate. And what easier way to freshen up a room,  than to move the furniture around? Add color or texture with pillows or throws? Or in a garden - by using the plants?

The great thing about garden rooms is, there is never a shortage of new material. Sure you can go out and buy great new plants - but it's not always necessary. Some plants, like hostas, when divided can offer as many as 10-20 new plants. The same is true of coneflowers and daylilies. Just those few elements (IE: the plants) can add texture, as well as color. So as you can see, this really this is no different than interior decorating.

Another thing to think about is where and when the sunlight or shade hits the area. Of course, there are sun and shade plants, but many tolerate a bit of both. You can use those types of versatile plants in an area where shadows play off the plants to compliment the space.

So while your spending more time inside, look around your house, pay attention to the colors and feel you enjoy in your rooms. Then think about how you could bring that feel outdoors and into your gardens.

Next time: Garden Room - Themes

Gardening- Passion or addiction?

Welcome to On the Right Path Gardening and Design blog!

Living in Michigan and starting this blog in January - well, it's more about patience and dreaming of warm spring breezes- than actually getting my hands dirty. But let's get to know each other in the meantime!

"My name is Brenda and I have been addicted to gardening for more than 15 years." Geeze, that sounds like the beginning to a twelve step program! But I admit, I have been known to avoid housework, cooking, cleaning, and for the most part anything that interferes with my "garden time."

In the process, I have created 15 garden spaces throughout our acre and a half yard. A few are even named. For the most part, I tend to use easy to grow, and native plants. I am trying to curb my thoughts of adding more gardens spaces.

To support my gardening habit, I have decided to begin new venture this spring, On the Right Path Gardening & Design. Through this venture, I am hoping to share my visual ideas, and get my hands dirty digging, deadheading, weeding, and lending a hand to those who are in over their head. IE: get them back, On the Right Path.

Be careful feeding your passion by ogling the latest seed and plant catalogs- they are addictive!