Gardeing Factors
A garden of shrubs replicates a loose, layered “country” look but adds formality, structure and enclosure. Plant pittosporum, photinia, Italian buckthorn, dodonaea, Olive, coprosma, “coppershine”, and the many choices of azalea, camellia, and heuchera. Foliage provides color, drama, and excitement. These set the bones for your garden and then you can layer other plants in big paisley-like swathes.
Lawns are still much in demand as they help to complete “outdoor rooms” that are fully furnished with built-in fireplaces and kitchens. Green belt areas can be created with ground covers that require little or no mowing.
Water features, especially fountains, are more desirable than ever. Tuck them into the flower bed around a sitting area. The soft sound of splashing water is quite relaxing and invites one to linger awhile if you have provided a well-placed garden bench or several comfortable chairs.
Don't forget to include trees, both large for shade and small and possibly weeping for color and interest. The trend toward colored foliage, especially lime, seems here to stay. Daring color combinations keep finding their way into our daily lives and are quite pleasing when used in the garden.
Also sheared balls and cones of myrtle, pittosporum, boxwood, and lavendar tucked in and around loose foliage adds interest and personality to your landscape. These can be planted or simply set into the flower beds in pots. Remember to run a drip line into the container if they are not well watered by the sprinkler system.
One last thought. Add interest to a long or unattractive wall by covering it with espaliered plant material. Metal trellises can be custom made or use a variety of predesigned shapes made from wood or metal. One of the prettiest fruits to espalier is fig. Other choices include quince, pineapple guava, kumquat, pomegranate, and of course the classics --- apples and pears, best for formal geometric shapes. Whichever shape you choose, trained as a freestanding fence or enlivening a bare wall, an espelier is valued as an architectural tool in the garden.
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