Last week, we completed the landscape renovations for the front porte cochere planter and adjacent areas for Stonebridge Ranch Country Club in McKinney, Texas. While the original plan was ideally suited for the space and their wishes, it just wasn't ideal for the budget. Keeping with the goals of opening up the space and creating a low-maintenance, more water-wise landscape, we made significant adjustments that will grow in beautifully. Before, this large space was a bit of a jumble, and the large planting mound blocked both the view and the light from entering the porte cochere:
With the expert installation job by Ralph Edge and Bob Behling from CGreen Landscape however, the space is greatly improved, and while far less involved and much less of a financial investment from my original design, achieves the main goals:
The folks from CGreen were able to remove over 12 cubic yards of soil in keeping with our budget, and we preserved the mature live oak, which was initially slated for removal. I added one deciduous Magnolia, and highlighted the transplanted existing variegated Yucca with soft-leaf Yucca, dwarf Texas Sage, and Drift Roses. Instead of the originally designed flag walkway bisecting the space, we created a dry creekbed feature in keeping with the stone used elsewhere throughout the grounds.
A huge thanks is due to Ralph, Bob, and the guys from CGreen Landscape. I couldn't more highly recommend these two professionals and the company, too. They delivered above and beyond our expectations and did so ahead of schedule and while keeping their workspace neat and presentable for our members. It was a great opportunity for me to bring in a contractor that I know and trust, and they made me proud. If you're considering a residential or commercial landscape and/or irrigation project in the DFW metroplex, I suggest calling them first.
As the front entry planter was drawing to a close, I got underway with some container plantings, the highlight of which was the installation of two CavidaTM wall planters from Southwest Wholesale Nursery, which I posted about last week. These highlight a stone wall in the porte cochere adjacent to the club's front entry doors, where they will benefit from the light provided by a large sklight. Here they are, freshly mounted and still empty:
I chose two of the smaller boxes, pre-framed and stained, and we mounted them together so that they will grow in to look like one. I started with some bold, structural plants, including Echeveria 'Afterglow', variegated Acorus gramineus, and Kalanchoe to begin building a basic design structure:
I worked in a variety of odds and ends, from variegated Vinca minor to Dusty Miller Senecio, and spider Tradescantia. The basic inverted 'V' pattern came together nicely:
This was my first experience using these planters, and I have to say I love their ease of use, clean lines, and stain/finish options. The drip irrigation lines are pre-installed and make a simple, sustainable product for DIY vertical gardening. We're looking forward to seeing how these grow in, and experimenting with different seasonal combinations.
Lastly, as of this morning in the greenhouse, I have a few goodies to share. First of all, Verbascum thapsus x 'Southern Charm' is starting to bloom, and how lovely it is:
This is a nice Verbascum hybrid I got seed for from Swallowtail Garden Seeds and started last August. Verbascum in its native form is a tough, hardy perennial, and this hybrid boasts the same qualities. The plants grow to 3' in height with taller bloom stalks. The seedlings are thriving and will be perfect for our spring Charity Classic Plant Sale.
Also from Swallowtail Seeds comes Nicotiana x 'Tinkerbell' --a lovely Nicotiana that produces little spikes of tubular, green bell-like flowers with red throats:
Lastly, and perhaps most exciting, is this purely experimental seed I got from Swallowtail Garden Seeds, as well. It's Rhodochiton atrosanguineum, or 'Purple Bell Vine'--a perennial vine in frost-free climates but likely an annual here:
It forms an incredibly free-flowering vine to 10' producing a pinkish-purple bell-like pendulous calyx surrounding a black-purple tubular flower.
More to come--the first crops are moving out to protected shade holding space to harden off in the current mild temps while the next rounds of seed go in and start their journey.
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