Project #1: Pool Bed

There was an existing bed next to our pool in the backyard that had some very serious problems. Several large evergreen shrubs had gotten so enormous they were choking an established lilac and what looked like a floundering azalea. We didn't like them very much and decided to pull them.

Here's what the bed looked like when we bought the house, in September 2007:



We ripped out the shrubs in July of 2008 and here is what we uncovered:


The lilac was in pretty bad shape. We also uncovered the falling over azalea which we later found out was a barberry. As well as some purple and white flowering lamium and a bunch of flowering daisies. Plus lots of huge but oddly placed moss covered rocks.

We did some cleanup and planted some late summer perennials including Black Eyed Susan, Purple Coneflower (Echinacea), Bee Balm, and Russian Sage. Here is what it looked like by August 2008:


In September I planted a bunch of spring bulbs, including some Dutch Irises I had separated and transplanted from the beds near the garage.

April 2009:

Not noticeable in this picture, but there are purple scillia in bloom in the front of the bed, near the rock border. Grape hyacinth are also up and near blooming.


May 2009:

Lilac is blooming. Barberry is a nice purple color. Allium is in full bloom.

June 2009:

Allium and lilac are still blooming. We also have peak flowers on the lamium in purple and white. The yellow buttercup looking flowers are a weed that I later ripped out as it was too invasive. There's also a pretty purple flowering weed in the middle of the lamium that I kept as it adds a nice splash of color.