SUCCULENT SHOWSTOPPER
This charming living roof succulent display adds height and color contrast to the front border. Its 14x10-inch roof has a 2-inch lip that holds just enough potting mix for this collection of shallow-rooted succulents. When he built it, Jan drilled holes in each corner to allow drainage. The weight of the planted box keeps it in place on the 4x4 post. This makes it easier to lift and move indoors every winter. Even with winter protection, Jan finds that after a few years, the plants tend to look tired. When that happens, he freshens up the exterior latex paint and starts over with a new mix of plants.
Create a Friendly Front Yard
When Jan and Bette Goins started their Michigan garden 17 years ago, a couple of overgrown Hicks yews were the front yard's only inhabitants. And since Jan is a retired landscape designer and Bette worked at a local greenhouse for years, they envisioned a colorful front yard with plenty of curb appeal from spring to frost. Now that they've executed their vision, it generates lots of comments from people passing by-some neighbors even plan their routes to see the changing views.
This story is from the Issue 173 - October 2023 edition of Garden Gate.
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This story is from the Issue 173 - October 2023 edition of Garden Gate.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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Birds & The Bees (and Bunnies)
Although I wouldn’t call my raised garden beds romantic, the rabbits in my neighborhood sure like to use them in spring for their bunny rendezvous and subsequent nests.
5 Ways to Stake Tomatoes
While it might feel early to be thinking about tomatoes, it’s never too early to start planning your next garden, especially if your tomato plants tend to look wild and overgrown by the time you remember to offer them a cage for support.
Destination Gardens
Don’t miss out on these four botanical treasures!
Bee Balm
Butterflies and pollinating insects can't resist this bold summer perennial.
2024's Best New Plants!
Instead of ringing in the new year with champagne and balloons, why not treat yourself to a few new plants that you can enjoy through the growing season? There are a lot of interesting introductions to get excited about this year.
6 Pro Garden Design Secrets
Starting a garden can feel overwhelming. And sometimes it’s hard to know if you’ll like something until you’ve seen it. By then, you’ve spent enough hours, hard work and money that it’s tough to make a change.
Dreaming of Summer
Unless you are lucky enough to live where it’s warm year round, when winter starts to drag on, it may feel as if the garden is awash in dreary, monochromatic browns and grays. Time to close your eyes and dream of summer—a colorful season when foliage is vibrant, fl owers are blooming and pollinators are active. If you need a bit of summer inspiration, here are three colorful low-maintenance combos that will also attract wildlife. Who wouldn’t dream of that?
Native Bees Find Winter Shelter in Surprising Places
As the buzz of busy bees gave way to the rustle of fallen leaves in my autumn garden, the last of the bumblebee stragglers hit up fading mountain mint blooms. Day by day, fewer sparkly green sweat bees and dwarf carpenter bees nectared on the asters, eventually vanishing along with the fluffy field thistle seeds.
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