Tearing Up The Front

Ava and I planted a japanese maple 'Pixie' in our new front planting bed a couple weeks ago. Shortly thereafter, I cut down the bushes at the front of the house. Finally.

I feel like I can breathe and move forward.


















I'm of the opinion deciduous shrubs have no business being used solely as foundation plantings, and my house is a textbook example of why.

Foundation plants in their simplest form are supposed to have some substance to anchor and a transition between vertical and horizontal. I'm no landscaper or designer, but isn't that just a given???

These shrubs look wrong...they feel wrong. They ARE wrong.

It's been suggested to me, these shrubs look most beautiful right now (spring). Really?...REALLY? I've been told the viburnums are in bloom and smell great. The foliage on the burning bushes are fresh, lush, and unblemished. Does that really look pretty?

Can you tell these shrubs have been on my nerves for too long?

I've planted some holly shrubs on the right side of the front door. They're small right now. They're evergreen. They'll fill in and get taller. They're a perfect dark, DARK green to backdrop a new hosta garden up there. Those are gonna be great.


















I've had a lot of ideas in my head about this front planting area. Changed my mind over and over. Within 10 minutes of chopping this all down, I had my plan 95% finished in my head, and it was straightforward. All it takes is clearing the junk out so you can see truly what you're working with.

The bad news...I have to financially recover from the playhouse before putting in new plants.