Blanche’s Garden
Repaying a Kindness
We are big fans of the West Highland White Terrier dog breed. When we were ready to get our second Westie, we adopted from the Westie Rescue group, rather than purchase another puppy. Thus Blanche became a part of our lives. We were working at the time and were not able to walk her during the day. Our friend and neighbor Dianne came to our rescue and walked Blanche every day at lunchtime. When Blanche crossed the rainbow bridge, we wanted to repay Dianne’s kindnesses for all those walks. I knew she wanted to step up the impact of her front garden, so I offered to redesign and plant the space. The space is particularly challenging as it sits in the shade of a maple tree, whose roots greedily suck up all the available moisture in the soil.
Blanche overlooking her garden space
Throughout the Year
Spring Blooms
Spring starts in this garden with the emergence of daffodil and tulip bulbs. They are soon joined by the first perennial to bloom in the space, a pink Bergenia.
Cool Whites and Greens
The garden is located in the shade of a large Maple tree, so we have been limited to part sun and shade loving plants. The owners enjoy sitting on their front porch and engaging neighbors and passers-by. These cool and calming tones help create an atmosphere to stop and chat on a hot summer afternoon.
Colorful Foliage
Though the space doesn’t allow for many colorful flowers, the red of the Heuchera foliage, the yellow-green of the Japanese Forest Grass, and the white of the Caladiums provide an interesting mixture of foliage shapes, colors, and textures
Installation finished. Now it’s time to mulch