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Garden Bed Remodel
Two, four foot Nandina, vinca major, a smattering of other plants, and an in ground fountain that needed cleaning at least a couple of times a year were between me and some new paint on the storage shed walls. What to do?

If needed, the Nandina could be pruned nearly to the ground so I could prep and paint behind them. If by chance I stepped in the wrong place near the fountain while working I'd get wet feet and have to redo the fountain. After thinking about it awhile and exploring my options I decided, what the heck, it was time for a change the entrance way's appearance. And since I would be painting it would be an opportunity to change three of the shed's panels after 30 years of wear and tear. It was time for a garden bed remodel.

Before

Vinca major, spider plant and Nandina helped fill the original bed prior to the remodel.

 In ground fountain, river rocks and plants have to go.

Hanging baskets and potted plants under shade cloth next to the bed to be remodeled.

 Tall nandina before its removal.

The three foot six-inch wide and nine-foot long bed is part of a small front door entrance way that doesn't get much sunshine until summer. Shade cloth used to cover the entire area for protecting hanging baskets but that all came down for house painting and hasn't gone back up. The small area is protected from wildlife intrusion, especially javelina, by a small wooden gate and fence and wrought-iron.

It didn't take long to remove most of the plants and small fountain. The shed panels were replaced and painted, the soil reworked. Two small metal halogen, low wattage lights were added to two of the bed's corners and connected to a previously installed, timer controlled, outdoor lighting system.

After

Foxtail asparagus ferns and dianthus surround the 19 - inch high concrete fountain.

 Small concrete fountain and foxtail asparagus fern.

Variegated box - leaf euonymus, Birds of Paradise and silver dust English ivy fill space in the bed.

Ivy, euonymus, bird of paradise complete the planting.

A couple of frogs in love were added to the bed.

 Plastic frogs in love.

The subtle sound of moving water was ideal at the entrance because it was a few steps away from a flagstone patio sitting area. I could have reinstalled the original fountain but decided to see if I could find something that would be simple to maintain and still be small enough to fit in the limited space.

After a little shopping, I found a three tiered concrete fountain that was 22 inches wide. The third tier made the fountain seem too tall for the plants so I opted to install the base and a single level. As the plants grow and gain height the third section to the fountain can be added. If in the future I decide I don't want to bother with the fountain's maintenance the emptied fountain might make a nice planter for succulents.

After the fountain was installed and tested I needed to add a few plants. Below is the list of the plants I chose for the bed and why. As with any garden area the plants can change depending on how well they do.

    Plant List:

  1. Climbing fig, Ficus pumila - hoping it will grow up the burnt adobe wall.

  2. Silverdust English ivy, Hedera helix - used as ground cover.

  3. Bird of Paradise, Strelitzia nicolai - looking for height. Location is a protected area so hope they don't freeze.

  4. Variegated Box - leaf, Euonymus japonicus  - varigated to give some light to the dark area. Small leafed for limited growing area.

  5. Foxtail fern - Asparagus densiflorus 'Meyersii" - want it to surround the concrete fountain making it less obvious.

  6. Yellow Fortnight Lily, Dietes bicolor - looking for grass like appearance and clumping attribute.

  7. Bedding plants - dianthus were added during the original planting. Red caladiums will add color during the summer.

Other possibilities for the bed:

A wooden trellis may be attached to the storage shed wall and some sort of shade tolerant vine trained up the structure to soften the exposed panel on the shed. Hanging baskets may be hung above the bed along with a hummingbird feeder. Bed is opposite the kitchen window and hummingbirds have always been attracted to the area with a hanging feeder.

Fortunately this was a small planting area and there wasn't too much cost or work involved to change the bed's appearance. The hardest part was replacing the shed panels and painting. (2008)

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